Lily’s New Strange World Today

I get discouraged when I go to the accounting section of my author’s center on my publisher’s website and see my sales–none since February of 2008–and then I get an email from someone who wants to tell me that they just picked up a copy of my book…

From a used book seller–sigh…

I have nothing against buying used books–okay, I have more against buying used books than I did before I became a self-published author. A writer makes nothing from the sale of a used book. Granted, I can see it as advertising that I don’t have to pay for. Still, a self-published author is hurt a lot more by their books being sold used than an author under contract with a big publisher who gets a big chunk of his/her money in the form of an advance from said publisher. In principle, I have nothing against buying used books. However, if you’re going to buy it used, buy it from Better World Books. They donate to literacy programs around the world. I’ll feel good about that.

With the forthcoming book, I’m also not going to be a big naif that sends out a freebie autographed copy to everyone who encouraged me along the way. Unless you’re in the business and my sending you a copy is going to benefit me in some way, you’ve got to pay for it. Because I’ve got this feeling that most of those gift copies ended up with…ahem…USED BOOK SELLERS! And that certainly isn’t doing me any favors.

I’m only crying the blues about it because I’m still in the “starving writer” stage and it ain’t no fun waitin’ round to be a millionaire! But if I keep giving away the goods to people who are just going to give the goods away, I surely will never be one either.

The lesson here is that it’s one thing to be nice to other people, but you have to look out for yourself first. Cause most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to look out for you.

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