Today I received a royalty check 20 years after my book was published

The other day I was pleasantly surprised to receive a mail from McGrawHill that a royalty amount was due to me

This brought back memories of the grind in writing the book going through the editorial cycle and finally holding a copy in hand

My book was published much before the proliferation of self-publication and eBooks where one can simply push any good, bad or ugly piece of work online on the largest bookstore in the world with a click of a button. So here are my experiences.

Working with a publisher

Working with a publisher can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also requires clear communication, understanding, and patience. When you partner with a publisher, they handle many elements of the publishing process, from editing and design to marketing and distribution. A good publisher brings professional editors who help polish your manuscript, ensuring it’s free of grammatical errors, consistent in style, and engaging for readers. Editors may suggest content edits to improve structure, clarity, and pacing, and it's essential to be open to their feedback to enhance the final product.  

• About 20 years ago, I was an active blogger and columnist for Express computers – which I did in addition to my day-job as an IT manager 
• One of my popular pieces on the growth of offshoring IT services caught the attention of editors at McGraw Hill
•  They reached out to me and asked if I could write a book on the topic I had explored in my blog. After all, working at Infosys, an upstart offshoring company, I was best positioned to share my insights 
• McGraw Hill assigned, Deepa V, an editor who began reviewing my draft narrative for content flow, clarity and readability.

The publication

One important aspect of working with a publisher is understanding the contract. This document outlines your rights and responsibilities, the publisher’s rights, royalties, and timelines for publication. It’s wise to review it carefully, and even consult a literary agent or lawyer, to ensure you’re comfortable with the terms. Throughout the process, maintaining open communication with your publisher is essential. Publishing can be slow-moving, so staying proactive and responsive can help keep your project on track. 

• After initial editorial reviews, Deepa worked with the typesetting team and graphics editor to update images and diagrams I had shared. A cover was selected and we were ready to move
• The initial print run was about 1,000 copies which is normal for non-fiction works  
• The initial print run quickly sold out since the book was topical – offshoring was just taking off 
• The next print run was about 5,00 copies 
• Infosys, my employer and their marketing  got interested in this project and assigned Vijay to work with me 
• Vijay suggested I start an internal corporate blog making me one of the first corporate bloggers in India

Royalty

Book royalties are payments authors receive from the sales of their books, typically calculated as a percentage of the sales price. Royalties are an essential component of the income authors make from their published works, and they’re usually outlined in the publishing contract, specifying the royalty rate, payment schedule, and any specific terms.

Royalty rates can vary significantly depending on the publisher, the format of the book, and the sales channel. For traditionally published print books, royalties often range from 5-15% of the book’s retail price. Hardcover editions typically offer a higher percentage than paperbacks. For ebooks, royalties are generally higher, often ranging from 25-50% of the net proceeds, as digital production costs are lower. Self-published authors usually retain a higher percentage of royalties because they take on more of the upfront costs.

• McGraw Hill and I had a contract agreeing to a royalty of 15% of the sale price of a copy, which is quite common in the industry 
• Unlike popular authors with bestsellers no advance was offered 
• I began receiving annual royalty statements that was exciting for a few years when the book continued to sell well 
• If you are wondering, for most authors the royalty doesn’t pay the bills. 
• One time writers, especially in non-fiction genera rarely get rich from royalty 
• But the reflected glory of being a published author and the egoBoo that comes with it is worth the effort!

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Writing

Most authors will agree that writing is a lonely endeavor and what keeps you going is a muse and the urge to finish the project. You need to write what you know and you are passionate about

The real effort begins after the book is published –

• Thousands of books are added to marketplaces like Amazon every day. How do you stand out?
• Authors must hustle to ensure that the book stands out in the crowded marketplace
• As an old Chinese saying goes - you might make the best candle in the world but your neighbors will buy it only if they know about it.