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From: hoffman@hdsvx1.UUCP (Richard Hoffman)
Newsgroups: net.books,net.research
Subject: Re: Re: getting a book published
Message-ID: <328@hdsvx1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Jul-86 12:37:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: hdsvx1.328
Posted: Mon Jul 28 12:37:18 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 29-Jul-86 07:59:43 EDT
References: <8189@duke.duke.UUCP>
Organization: Schlumberger-HDS, Houston TX
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Xref: mnetor net.books:2368 net.research:398

Kim Collins states: 
> I saw that 15% royalties (85% publisher?) is about standard.  Does 
> anyone else think that this is outrageous?  

The author of a book has no recurring publication costs.  That is, for
each book sold, the publisher has to pay printing, distribution, marketing
and overhead, whereas the author gets a free ride -- especially if he
got paid for writing the book itself.  In light of these costs, the
15-85 split seems fairly reasonable.
-- 
 Richard Hoffman                | "If you take a starving dog from the street
 Schlumberger Well Services     | and make him prosperous, the dog will not
 hoffman%hdsvx1@slb-doll.csnet  | bite you.  This is the principle difference
 PO Box 2175, Houston, TX 77252 | between a dog and a man." -- M. TWAIN