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**pickarooney** · 02-04-2012, 09:10

I presume this is the book about the traveller kid, Livvie?

Livvie · 02-04-2012, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickarooney

I presume this is the book about the traveller kid, Livvie?

That's the one.

Have started work on second novel, but it's really hard to break away from those characters.

You put so much effort and thought into that first book, that you feel that you've exhausted the supply of ideas!

I still can't believe that anything will come of this and am prepared for that. Just concentrating on the positive.

OneColdHand · 22-06-2012, 03:54

I have a question about publishing. I should clarify that I know literally nothing about the process of getting a book published, and next nothing about writing one.

My question is sort of a how-long-is-a-piece-of-string question. It's regarding pricing/costs. I'm wondering what is the break down of the price of a book? For example, if I was to buy a book for €20, how much goes to the author, how much to the publisher, and how much goes to the shop that sells it? Are there any other parties in there that get a cut of the money?

I know this is a very general question, and I'm sure it varies greatly from book to book, but even a general answer would do. Is it different for non-fiction as opposed to fiction?

Thanks.

Livvie · 22-06-2012, 08:55

Quick update, by way of offering hope to all! My m/s was reviewed and accepted and am waiting for contract to arrive in the mail. It doesn't seem real - this is something that happens to someone else, not to me! In other words, if I can do it, there's a chance for everyone.

**pickarooney** · 22-06-2012, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livvie

Quick update, by way of offering hope to all! My m/s was reviewed and accepted and am waiting for contract to arrive in the mail. It doesn't seem real - this is something that happens to someone else, not to me! In other words, if I can do it, there's a chance for everyone.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it

Will it be e-published, paperback or both?

Livvie · 22-06-2012, 09:03

Both. Will give you more details once the contract is actually signed.

**EileenG** · 22-06-2012, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneColdHand

I have a question about publishing. I should clarify that I know literally nothing about the process of getting a book published, and next nothing about writing one.

My question is sort of a how-long-is-a-piece-of-string question. It's regarding pricing/costs. I'm wondering what is the break down of the price of a book? For example, if I was to buy a book for €20, how much goes to the author, how much to the publisher, and how much goes to the shop that sells it? Are there any other parties in there that get a cut of the money?

I know this is a very general question, and I'm sure it varies greatly from book to book, but even a general answer would do. Is it different for non-fiction as opposed to fiction?

Thanks.

Obviously it varies, but as a general rule, on a €10 paperback, the distributor will get close to half of the price. The bookshop will get somewhere around a third to a quarter, the rest goes to the publisher to pay for editing and printing, and the author will get about 80 cents to €1 per book.

This is why e-books can be so much cheaper, even with the same editing and promotion. The distribution is much cheaper.

OneColdHand · 22-06-2012, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by EileenG

Obviously it varies, but as a general rule, on a €10 paperback, the distributor will get close to half of the price. The bookshop will get somewhere around a third to a quarter, the rest goes to the publisher to pay for editing and printing, and the author will get about 80 cents to €1 per book.

This is why e-books can be so much cheaper, even with the same editing and promotion. The distribution is much cheaper.

Thanks, that's very helpful.

Wouldn't have thought the distributor would get so much, but that just shows how much I know about publishing!

**EileenG** · 22-06-2012, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneColdHand

Thanks, that's very helpful.

Wouldn't have thought the distributor would get so much, but that just shows how much I know about publishing!

That's why self-publishing is so difficult. It's not the cost of the printing, it's the distribution. Shelf space in shops is valuable, most will not give it except to the big distributors.

oterra · 05-07-2012, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livvie

Both. Will give you more details once the contract is actually signed.

Great news Livvie.
I'm delighted for you.

Livvie · 07-07-2012, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by oterra

Great news Livvie.
I'm delighted for you.

Thank you.

I just PMd you - sorry I didn't see yours until now.

**FutureGuy** · 10-07-2012, 10:44

Hi all,
Just few questions to the people who are close to publishing or are already published (congrats!).

Given the incredible differences between the cut given by regular publishers and those offered by selfpublishing (ie Kindle), which option are/were you considering?

At what stage in the writing process did you contact a publisher?

Is selfpublishing to Kindle first to gauge reaction a good idea or would it hamper your efforts to get a publisher later? Would they see it as less profitable and thus not bother with publishing the book?

**EileenG** · 10-07-2012, 13:10

If you self-publish, you get more of the cover price, but you'll sell a lot less. Quite apart from the marketing and promotion power of a publisher, you wouldn't believe the difference a proper professional edit makes to a book.

And it has to be said, particularly for Irish authors. The biggest market is American, so really unless your book is aimed only at Ireland, you need to be aware of that market. It's not just a matter of colour/color etc. It's the whole way we use language and because it's how we speak, we're not aware of it unless there's an American editor pointing it out.

An awful lot of self-pubs are very very bad. They have messy covers and are full of typos, grammar mistakes and dodgy punctuation. I sometimes buy books from publishers I know without clicking "Look inside", but I never do with a self-pub.

Normally I contact a publisher when my book is finished, edited as much as I can do, and polished. If they like it, they send me contracts and rip the book apart.

I would not self-publish any book that I think might get accepted by a publisher, but if I had a short or a related story to a published book, I might stick that up as a self-pub.

kilrush claire · 24-09-2012, 13:44

Hi, I've enjoyed reading all the entries here and find them very helpful. Could anyone advise me if it is a good idea to submit a first novel to several agents and publishers at the same time. Also is it a good idea to submit my work to overseas agents and publishers even though my story is set between Ireland and America. I welcome any advice that anyone thinks relevant. I'm on my second book and loving it.Thanks, K.C.

Livvie · 24-09-2012, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilrush claire

Hi, I've enjoyed reading all the entries here and find them very helpful. Could anyone advise me if it is a good idea to submit a first novel to several agents and publishers at the same time. Also is it a good idea to submit my work to overseas agents and publishers even though my story is set between Ireland and America. I welcome any advice that anyone thinks relevant. I'm on my second book and loving it.Thanks, K.C.

What genre is your book?

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02-04-2012, 09:10	#166
pickarooney Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: France Posts: 21,290 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Creative Writing, Write Club	I presume this is the book about the traveller kid, Livvie?

22-06-2012, 03:54	#168
OneColdHand Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,277 Adverts \| Friends	I have a question about publishing. I should clarify that I know literally nothing about the process of getting a book published, and next nothing about writing one. My question is sort of a how-long-is-a-piece-of-string question. It's regarding pricing/costs. I'm wondering what is the break down of the price of a book? For example, if I was to buy a book for €20, how much goes to the author, how much to the publisher, and how much goes to the shop that sells it? Are there any other parties in there that get a cut of the money? I know this is a very general question, and I'm sure it varies greatly from book to book, but even a general answer would do. Is it different for non-fiction as opposed to fiction? Thanks.

22-06-2012, 08:55	#169
Livvie Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 469 Adverts \| Friends	Quick update, by way of offering hope to all! My m/s was reviewed and accepted and am waiting for contract to arrive in the mail. It doesn't seem real - this is something that happens to someone else, not to me! In other words, if I can do it, there's a chance for everyone.

22-06-2012, 09:03	#171
Livvie Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 469 Adverts \| Friends	Both. Will give you more details once the contract is actually signed.

10-07-2012, 10:44	#177
FutureGuy Category Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Limerick, Ireland Posts: 7,276 Adverts \| Friends CMod: Fantasy Sports Arena, Xbox, Games, Games Mods	Hi all, Just few questions to the people who are close to publishing or are already published (congrats!). Given the incredible differences between the cut given by regular publishers and those offered by selfpublishing (ie Kindle), which option are/were you considering? At what stage in the writing process did you contact a publisher? Is selfpublishing to Kindle first to gauge reaction a good idea or would it hamper your efforts to get a publisher later? Would they see it as less profitable and thus not bother with publishing the book?

10-07-2012, 13:10	#178
EileenG Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,531 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Nutrition & Diet	If you self-publish, you get more of the cover price, but you'll sell a lot less. Quite apart from the marketing and promotion power of a publisher, you wouldn't believe the difference a proper professional edit makes to a book. And it has to be said, particularly for Irish authors. The biggest market is American, so really unless your book is aimed only at Ireland, you need to be aware of that market. It's not just a matter of colour/color etc. It's the whole way we use language and because it's how we speak, we're not aware of it unless there's an American editor pointing it out. An awful lot of self-pubs are very very bad. They have messy covers and are full of typos, grammar mistakes and dodgy punctuation. I sometimes buy books from publishers I know without clicking "Look inside", but I never do with a self-pub. Normally I contact a publisher when my book is finished, edited as much as I can do, and polished. If they like it, they send me contracts and rip the book apart. I would not self-publish any book that I think might get accepted by a publisher, but if I had a short or a related story to a published book, I might stick that up as a self-pub.

24-09-2012, 13:44	#179
kilrush claire Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 15 Adverts \| Friends	Hi, I've enjoyed reading all the entries here and find them very helpful. Could anyone advise me if it is a good idea to submit a first novel to several agents and publishers at the same time. Also is it a good idea to submit my work to overseas agents and publishers even though my story is set between Ireland and America. I welcome any advice that anyone thinks relevant. I'm on my second book and loving it.Thanks, K.C.