Help out a Star Trek author

[Defcon]

Just want to make sure I am understanding correctly, when a book is bought or downloaded say from Amazon, the author gets a little money? If true that is good to hear!

If I'm not totally mistaken he/she only gets extra money if/when their advance has been topped by the royalties he would have gotten if there hadn't been an advance.

Note: the following numbers are just made up by me, no idea how the real numbers look like

Let's say Christopher would get a 5000 $ advance for his latest Trek Book, and would get 0,40 $ royalties on any book sold, he wouldn't get any additional money until the 12,501st book is sold.

 

[Greg Cox]

Just want to make sure I am understanding correctly, when a book is bought or downloaded say from Amazon, the author gets a little money? If true that is good to hear!

If I'm not totally mistaken he/she only gets extra money if/when their advance has been topped by the royalties he would have gotten if there hadn't been an advance.

Note: the following numbers are just made up by me, no idea how the real numbers look like

Let's say Christopher would get a 5000 $ advance for his latest Trek Book, and would get 0,40 $ royalties on any book sold, he wouldn't get any additional money until the 12,501st book is sold.

Exactly. Your advance is an advance against future royalties, and you don't see any extra money until the original advance has "earned out."

For the record, that's pretty standard for all kinds of commercial publishing, not just STAR TREK novels. The only difference with tie-in books is that the pie gets cut into more slices because there are more cooks involved . . ..

 

[vegaslover62]

Forgive me if I sound cold and heartless, but how does this happen to a bestselling author? If he made bad investments, I fail to see why other people should bail him out. I mean, I've been deep in school loan debt for a few years now, and I'm managing it myself, not begging other people to give me a handout. Plus, if I ever did, it would take way much longer because I'm not famous. I'm just seeing a double standard here.

Getting kicked out of your house? Find a cheaper one. Have a yard sale. No money for gas? Ride the bus. Making bad investments? Admit you suck at it and find a source of income doing something you CAN handle. Having the courage to ask for help is all well and good, but even rarer is having the courage to admit you're doing something wrong and need to change.

 

[Christopher]

Forgive me if I sound cold and heartless, but how does this happen to a bestselling author?

Because "bestselling author" is not what fiction makes it out to be. Shows like Castle portray bestselling authors as rolling in wealth, but authors at that level, your Kings and Rowlings and the like, are exceedingly rare. For most of us, being a full-time author is a financially insecure proposition.

Besides, Keith explained the situation clearly on the site where he asked for help. Some of his expected contracts or checks were unexpectedly delayed by months. He knew there would be money coming in eventually, but not in enough time to allow him to pay his rent this month and avoid eviction. That's the problem with making a living by writing -- the money comes in intermittent chunks months apart rather than on a regular basis. So writers can find themselves stretched quite thin financially if there's a long interval between payments. I've been in similar straits myself lately, having to tighten my belt for the past few months because a contract was late in coming. It's often feast or famine for writers, although the "feast" part is relative.

Anyway, it's hardly unprecedented these days for writers, artists, and other creators to solicit donations through sites like Kickstarter, Patreon, and Gofundme. Artists have always relied on the support of patrons; but instead of kings and dukes and doges, today we have crowdfunding.

 

[zarkon]

Artists have always relied on the support of patrons; but instead of kings and dukes and doges, today we have crowdfunding.

Dogecoins are still good man

Don't think they're italian anymore though

 

[Greg Cox]

I will say this: "bestselling author" is sometimes more about bragging rights than cold, hard cash. Showing up on a list in a newspaper is good for the ego, but doesn't necessarily mean that a big check is in the mail.

I'll never forget the episode of BONES in which her publisher gave her a new car as a bonus because her new book had just hit the bestseller list. Trust me, this doesn't happen. I think I got a fruit basket once . . ..

And, to be clear, that's not directed at any particular publisher or franchise. That's just the nature of the biz. And, yes, CASTLE is a fantasy.

 

[DonIago]

But was it nice fruit?

 

[Greg Cox]

One of my publishers also sent me a rubber kidney once, after one of my own was removed.

It's sitting on my bookshelf as I type this.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

If he made bad investments, I fail to see why other people should bail him out.

Why are you assuming KRAD's situation was of his own making?

Getting kicked out of your house? Find a cheaper one. Have a yard sale.

Evictions may show up on an individual's credit report, making it difficult to find other types of housing. Additionally, it's possible any back-rent KRAD owed would have been pursued via a collection agency or litigation, which would have adversely affected his credit score; many apartments will not accept applications from prospective renters who fail to meet their credit requirements.

Having the courage to ask for help is all well and good, but even rarer is having the courage to admit you're doing something wrong and need to change.

Again, what basis do you have for accusing KRAD of any wrongdoing? It's precisely this sort of mentality that makes it difficult for people struggling financially to ask others for assistance.

--Sran

 

[Paris]

I assume KRAD will pay back those who donated to his cause, right? After his contract money comes in. This was just a loan, right?

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

I assume KRAD will pay back those who donated to his cause, right? After his contract money comes in. This was just a loan, right?

I'm not sure that's any of our business either way. I must admit that I'm a little uncomfortable with the direction this thread has taken. There's a fine line between helping someone in need and meddling in something that's not our business. As KRAD's immediate crisis has been solved, it may be better if we let this matter rest.

--Sran

 

[Christopher]

I assume KRAD will pay back those who donated to his cause, right? After his contract money comes in. This was just a loan, right?

You don't seem to understand the meaning of the word "donation." Nor have you bothered to get your facts straight. Nowhere on the GoFundMe site was this alleged to be a loan. Anyone who chose to donate would understand fully that it was a gift. Although Keith did offer a free PDF copy of one of his original stories to each donor as a thank-you. The terms were clearly spelled out, as you would know if you had bothered to check the facts before you cast aspersions.

Do you expect PBS to repay the people who donate to its pledge drives? (Other than with tote bags and T-shirts and the like?) There's nothing untoward or even unusual about donor support for the arts.

 

[Paris]

^Wow. Relax dude. I wasn't insisting that he pay it back or anything. I never saw the goFundMe thing, so I didn't know the stipulations. I was going by what other people said in the thread, and it sounded like he was looking for a loan. I don't begrudge KRAD anything. Take it down a notch.

Your attitude is not appreciated.

 

[DimesDan]

Yeah, that was seriously uncalled for. You asked a perfectly valid question with a question mark at the end.

I was also like you and thought it may have been a loan type affair as until now, never really heard of that service.

 

[Christopher]

^Wow. Relax dude. I wasn't insisting that he pay it back or anything. I never saw the goFundMe thing, so I didn't know the stipulations.

It was linked to in the very first post of the thread. You could have easily found out for yourself.

 

[Paris]

Lots of info is available online that people can check out for themselves, but ask here anyways.

Hell of an apology, by the way

 

[DimesDan]

^Wow. Relax dude. I wasn't insisting that he pay it back or anything. I never saw the goFundMe thing, so I didn't know the stipulations.

It was linked to in the very first post of the thread. You could have easily found out for yourself.

You are aware of what a question mark denotes don't you?

Hell of an apology, by the way

You've got more chance of a pig flying or a unicorn appearing in your back garden than Chris saying he is sorry.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

I was going by what other people said in the thread, and it sounded like he was looking for a loan.

And therein lies the problem. You were relying on people's interpretations of what KRAD was asking, which isn't always the best approach when trying to gather information. Go to the source.

I reiterate that I'm uncomfortable with the direction this thread has taken. Whatever arrangement KRAD has made with his benefactors is no one's business but his, and I don't think it's right for people to speculate about something that doesn't concern them.

--Sran

 

[DimesDan]

I was going by what other people said in the thread, and it sounded like he was looking for a loan.

And therein lies the problem. You were relying on people's interpretations of what KRAD was asking, which isn't always the best approach when trying to gather information. Go to the source.

--Sran

Does that excuse the manner in which Chris addressed Paris though?

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

Does that excuse the manner in which Chris addressed Paris though?

Perhaps not, but that's something you should take up with Christopher.

--Sran