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Responses for ~ Richard Ide's |
Richard,
Oh yes, and then there is the tax that's never collected to avoid adding salt in the wound. California is now at 8.75%, subtract that and the 35% the publisher takes, then round off your price to even dollars, and if you do make a sale, it's peanuts. At this point I convince myself it's cheaper to give it away.
J.Wolf
F&Q
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Poor Richard,
In all honesty I haven't had this experience. True, I have given away a score of books, but never to one who had the audacity to "mooch." I gave one copy to the Haitian plumber who rescued my defunct cell phone from the john where it had rested incognito for several weeks. It finally made its presence known in no uncertain terms, much to my discomfiture. You would have thought I handed him a a signed copy of the Bible, he was so excited and began calling me "Babe," much to my chagrin. My experience has been that the prospective reader offers to buy the book. But, I've known many "moochers" of a different ilk. All that aside, I enjoy your writing.
Dahris H. Clair
The Infinite Writer
Email_address: dclair@verizon.net
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Richard,
Your "Magnanimous Moocher" reminds me of the time I was visiting reltives in Massachusetts. I told my cousin that I had just written a book, but it wasn't in the bookstores or on the internet yet. She was jubilant upon hearing this and in the same breath she said, "Oh, I would love to have a signed copy." Since I live in California, it would have been awkward to tell her to buy a copy, send it to me so I could sign it, and then return it to her. In addition to her, I had to send a copy to another cousin, who lives in the same town, so as not to show favoritism. So not only did I lose out on the sale of two books, I had to pay postage.
The following year, my husband and I visited friends in England. I told my friend that I had written a book. She replied, "Oh, jolly, did you bring it with you? I would be happy to read it." Fortunately, I left it at home.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Thanks for the "free read."
Pauline Hager
e-mail: pauline@thehagers.org
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It does seem an autor's nemesis at time. I really do think that a good share of the general public is under the false impression that authors 'own' their books. It never enters their skulls that just because we may have written it, we aren't in total ownership of each copy, that we actually have to purchase our own work. I've taken up the habit of simply employing honesty. If someone asks me that, I thank them profusely for their interest and the apologetically explain that I simply cannot afford to pass them out gratis. It usually works along with assuaging any feeling of my not being honored by their interest.
Another ploy I find rather annoying is at a group signing event people will suggest 'trading' books. I may not be interested in their genre. I then offer the excuse that I've already got a stack of ten kazillion books waiting to be read as is. Which also usually the truth with all the reviews I do. I'd suggest everyone resort to honesty!
It is more difficult as in Pauline's case when your dealing with family. That's sad too, because I'd hope my family would be first to want to support my efforts. And, too, beware of the passer arounder. I had an instance where one lady did, in fact, purchase my book but then proceded to pass it around the entire cul de sac. :) It's a rough business, my frends! You have to be hard as nails on occasion.
Best,
Susan Haley
AuthorYes: More from this author.
Email_address: shaley1112@verizon,net