Book Selling Windows and Royalties

Titles released by mainstream houses have a limited window of opportunity in national bookstore chains. The on-shelf time is usually only 4 to 8 weeks. With our liberal year long return policy, we are positioning our titles for longer spans of exposure in all bookstores. Royalties are usually paid by mainstream houses only after all returns have been accounted for. Infinity will continue to pay monthly royalties on all books sold—including books sold to bookstores that are subject to be returned (when the amount of the royalty check is $20 or more).

In a recent interview with a Chicago newspaper reporter, Tom Gregory said, “Our authors need to be paid royalties on all Infinity books as they are sold. Now that our titles can be returned by bookstores doesn’t change the fact that authors need to be paid promptly. Any adjustments for returned books can be debited from authors’ accounts after the books are back in house.”

The return book game has been an imposed curse on the book publishing industry for far too long. We can appreciate the need of the bookstore manager to return books that aren’t selling to their customers. However, the traditionally published author frequently pays the price with reduced and delayed royalty payments. Of course, when 75% of all traditionally published books—secured with an advance to the author—never earn back their advance, there isn’t much concern about accounting for each of the returns, except to balance the bookkeeping.

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