This is the fourth in a series of posts offering a quick overview of what costs you might encounter when you publish an academic book. Because yes; even reputable presses will ask you to cover some of the expense of publishing.
Let’s talk author copies
As part of the terms of your contract, you should receive a number of “author copies”—these are free copies given to you to distribute as you see fit. (Just don’t resell them, please!)
What you’re allocated here probably won’t be a huge number. Think carefully about who you’ll want to give these bad boys to. Your grandma, your husband, and the mentor who said just the right thing at just the right time? The number offered by your press will probably be enough.
When to ask for extras
If you have some strategic promotional plans in mind, you can—and should—ask your editor to dole out additional copies. Where would these go?
- Maybe your colleague who eats lunch with the book review editor at Journal Fantastique every week.
- The fellow who coordinated that great Author-Meets-Critics session at the last national conference. (Consider including a note saying you’d be happy to help out with such sessions in the future.)
- Or even a colleague who teaches on the topic at a different school—you could send a note with the book offering to guest lecture when you come to town in a few months. (Thanks to Bill Frank for that great suggestion!)
These are all reasons I, as an editor, would be happy to hand over additional author copies. Just bear in mind that the number isn’t unlimited…and you can always buy additional copies after publication at a special discount. Expect to pay 50%-60% of the list price of the book. And no, you won’t earn royalties on these.
Score a lot of extras
What if you have a large promotional plan in mind—say, you are already working your way into the public intellectual market and want to be sure you’ll have stacks of books to give out to the folks at NPR and BookTV? Or maybe you want to deliver one copy of the book to each of your 200 interviewees. What then?
Ask your editor about a special sale.
Remember that print runs on academic books can be quite small—so if you know you’ll want 150 or 200 or more copies of your book and you’re not planning to distribute them in some way that would compete with your publisher’s market, you can probably swing a great deal by agreeing to pre-purchase a set, sizeable number of copies. Instead of paying $27.50 per book (your price with the 50% discount on a $55 hardcover), you may be able to arrange a cost-per-book that is closer to $20 or $18. Paperbacks can be had for less, of course. And again, don’t expect to earn royalties on these.
Your turn
What do you do with your author copies? Have you ever wished you had more (or less)?
Other posts in the series:
- Indexing: You or your publisher?
- Royalties: Whodathunkit?
- Wrapping up your book: Jackets and cover art
- Permissions: Who pays?
- Getting the word out: Publicity and PR
Stay tuned!
