tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post8334057613601547001..comments2024-03-28T05:28:28.567-04:00Comments on Editorial Anonymous: Definitions for the Perplexed: Merch and/or AncillaryEditorial Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06294247222893767117noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-36836840794416552192010-01-18T14:13:11.315-05:002010-01-18T14:13:11.315-05:00I'm trying to figure out how even successful c...I'm trying to figure out how even successful children's book authors make a living.<br /><br />Given the odds & the royalties, it seems one is better off starting a garage rock band.<br /><br />At least there are cheap pubs, legion clubs, the odd wedding or high-school dance, that will pay you enough to get you through one week of living (two would be great).<br /><br />Professional street-beggars can make $150 a day, with the right 'hook' (!) and the right location. Sure pride matters, but the effective beggars are not expecting to live under a bridge.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479600882274172677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-22330302364632117052009-09-22T18:16:39.272-04:002009-09-22T18:16:39.272-04:00Thanks for answering my question, EA. Cheers!Thanks for answering my question, EA. Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-78319424925117790502009-09-22T15:46:28.484-04:002009-09-22T15:46:28.484-04:00I would pay money for a plush editor monster chewi...I would pay money for a plush editor monster chewing through the slush pile...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-56539650649228454362009-09-22T02:13:07.051-04:002009-09-22T02:13:07.051-04:00"Did you sell 50,000 copies last year?" ..."Did you sell 50,000 copies last year?" <br /><br />Reminds me of a story my hubby told me. A few years back, he was hired to turn a comic book series into a cartoon series. He met with the comic creator to recommend certain alterations to make the comic better for animation. The creator complained that his "100,000 fans" wouldn't like the changes.<br /><br />My husband looked him in the eye and said, "If every one of your fans watched the show -- and ONLY your fans -- it would be the biggest disaster in the history of television. Our audience numbers in the millions." <br /><br />"Successful" book numbers impress no industry outside of publishing, especially not merchandising.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-90840312209587874912009-09-21T21:36:27.925-04:002009-09-21T21:36:27.925-04:00Exactly! The best thing is that I'm really enj...Exactly! The best thing is that I'm really enjoying tormenting my agent with my fantasies. She's very kind. And I've got a three-degree connection to a licensing agent who I'm thinking of harassing. <br /><br />I guess I kinda figure that given my chances are pretty much zero already, I can't really screw this up any worse! (And I'm actually quite polite to my agent.)<br /><br />Plush Quixote (who loves your blog, despite only commenting anonymously)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-73301677207951163452009-09-21T15:06:53.496-04:002009-09-21T15:06:53.496-04:00Anonymous 1:21 said: "Does the author receive...<i>Anonymous 1:21 said: "Does the author receive any money? Or just the illustrator?"</i><br /><br />The standard on this is a 50/50 split, first between the creators and the publisher, then between the creators (if the author and illustrator are different people).<br /><br />So, the author would get 25% of that income, assuming that the contract didn't specify something else. I've worked with well-known authors who got a higher percentage of the split because... well, because they were famous.<br /><br />Any sub-rights income, though, goes into the royalty account and you'll only get a check after the book as a whole has earned out its advance.<br /><br />In some cases, the sub-rights money alone can cause a book to earn out. I had one book that didn't sell 5000 copies in hardcover, but the film rights were optioned, then sold. That sub-rights deal - all by itself - caused the title to earn out, with enough left over for both the author and me to get really nice checks in the mail.working illustratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-85507809331192878042009-09-20T18:20:29.696-04:002009-09-20T18:20:29.696-04:00Lol, when you put it like *that*, anon... Sure, wh...Lol, when you put it like *that*, anon... Sure, what the hell. <br /><br />If you're enough of a Don Quixote to tilt at the publishing industry, you might as well follow that up with plush!Editorial Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06294247222893767117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-80816020639385094722009-09-20T17:30:34.353-04:002009-09-20T17:30:34.353-04:00I'm in exactly this position. My book's no...I'm in exactly this position. My book's not even out for another eight months, but I'm sure that I'll make all my money in annoying plastic objects made in China--and I'm gonna pursue that like crazy. Of course my chances of success are slim, but that's true of *everything* in publishing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-73540561114662325072009-09-20T13:44:26.226-04:002009-09-20T13:44:26.226-04:00Eric Carle has a line of merchandise for "Ver...Eric Carle has a line of merchandise for "Very Hungry Catapillar"---some cute baby clothes.... but that's been a best-seller for about 40 years!<br /><br />Beatrix Potter, of course, is everywhere, and Paddington Bear still comes up too.....<br /><br />But really, it seems like merchandise only happens when you cross from 'popular' to CLASSIC..... which makes sense. Most of the people BUYING the merchandise are grandmas, after all!Deirdre Mundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357363160387734552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-91914937610911352632009-09-20T13:36:24.151-04:002009-09-20T13:36:24.151-04:00I figured only books made into successful movies c...I figured only books made into successful movies could maybe, MAYBE look forward to a line of merchandise...<br /><br />Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing a deluge of Despereaux dolls.Victoria Neelyhttp://newberybush.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986595816238301046.post-68319432314519570682009-09-20T13:21:12.298-04:002009-09-20T13:21:12.298-04:00Let's say a picture book wins the lottery and ...Let's say a picture book wins the lottery and becomes popular and does have ancillary rights or merch rights sold... Does the author receive any money? Or just the illustrator?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com