[no subject]

>>My limited book experience involves writing one (non-technical,
non-fiction)
book for which I received no advance and a meager 8% royalty.
However,
I did manage to find a publisher (North Atlantic Books) without
having
to go through an agent, and with a mere 2 rejections from other
publishers
before I struck pay dirt.  So I consider myself fairly fortunate.

>>My question for John Hedtke and the other book authors on this list
is:
Given a modest success with my first book (sales equalled my
publisher's
expectations), how much more in royalties and/or advance should I ask
for with my next book?
> >

Part of the answer is a function of the market you're dealing with
(computer books
pay a lot better than some other books, for example).  Another part
of the answer
is how many copies you sold versus what the publisher wants for a
break-even deal.
For example, computer books usually need to sell between 10,000 and
15,000 for it
to be "worth it" for the publisher.  If you sold more than that, you
can probably ask
for more money apportionately.  Other considerations that would make
sales more
likely or guaranteed would be helpful for a case, too.

My experience is that my advances are about 20-25% of the book sales.
 Like I said
in a post yesterday, a good deal in computer books is 12-14%, 15% is
about the max
you can reasonably expect from anyone.  On my last book deal, I got
an increase in
the advance by $2000 because of the sales history of the previous
book.  Bear in mind
that other industries have lower basic rates but the volume is much
higher.  Take
that into account when you're negotiating.  Ask your acquisitions
editor what to
the expectations for sales are.  If the ack ed is professional and
reasonable,
they'll likely help you some with this information.

> > Yours Truly,
> >
> > John Hedtke