In response to a couple readers letting me know they didn't like a hyperlink that took them to Amazon, let me tell you all why:
All the other bookstores, to greater or lesser degree, finance themselves on returns credit for unsold books. This is charged against the author's royalties, so it comes out of our small pile of walnuts. Barnes & Noble is the worst of these - they often order twice what they know they'll sell. Other independents are unfortunately under-capitalized, which leads to late payments and returns credit games.
Amazon sells everything they order. They pay on time. I don't lose a dime from my publisher doing business with them. In fact I see more dimes because the readers' recommendation system really works as a sales tool. 80-85% of my income comes from Amazon sales.
Sorry to be so mercenary, but I don't really mind a business run by an asshole who runs it like a business. I like that better than some sweet someone who just loves books discovering mine and then shorting me because of their inability to keep up. Not all independents are like that. I love Powell's, they act like Amazon - they sell what they order and they pay on time.
If I have a choice between "purity" and paying the bills without problems, I'll take the latter, every time. So will any other freelancer - if they want to keep being a freelancer.
In response to a couple readers letting me know they didn't like a hyperlink that took them to Amazon, let me tell you all why:
All the other bookstores, to greater or lesser degree, finance themselves on returns credit for unsold books. This is charged against the author's royalties, so it comes out of our small pile of walnuts. Barnes & Noble is the worst of these - they often order twice what they know they'll sell. Other independents are unfortunately under-capitalized, which leads to late payments and returns credit games.
Amazon sells everything they order. They pay on time. I don't lose a dime from my publisher doing business with them. In fact I see more dimes because the readers' recommendation system really works as a sales tool. 80-85% of my income comes from Amazon sales.
Sorry to be so mercenary, but I don't really mind a business run by an asshole who runs it like a business. I like that better than some sweet someone who just loves books discovering mine and then shorting me because of their inability to keep up. Not all independents are like that. I love Powell's, they act like Amazon - they sell what they order and they pay on time.
If I have a choice between "purity" and paying the bills without problems, I'll take the latter, every time. So will any other freelancer - if they want to keep being a freelancer.
Cheers..
Congratulations!! Stunning cover!!!
Will be getting one for nephew Colin!