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My first book was published six years ago. The title is in my profile, if you're willing to click through for the plug. It has continued to sell well, and abo
by jawns 7y ago
My first book was published six years ago. The title is in my profile, if you're willing to click through for the plug.
It has continued to sell well, and about two years ago I "earned out," meaning my royalties exceeded my advance, so now every six months I get a royalty check.
I've also agreed to several deals that allow my book to be translated and sold in different countries. Those deals are usually on the small side, but the only work involved is picking up a pen and signing the paperwork.
The success of that first book has allowed me to write several related books, and while the advances I've received for those don't count as passive income, my hope is that they will generate some passive income in the future, if I should be so fortunate as to earn out again.
To anyone who is thinking about writing a book, I offer this advice:
There are some cases where it makes sense to self-publish even if you can get a book deal. Niche e-books on technical topics written by people with large built-in audiences are one example.
But in general, if you can get an agent, get an agent, and if you can get a book deal, get a book deal.
- twox2 7y agoCongrats. FYI - there are a bunch of dead links on the correlated dot org site in the footer.
- amerkhalid 7y agoThat is amazing, I have gifted your first book, "Experimenting With Babies" to almost all of my friends who had babies. Going to buy "Experimenting With Kids" now.
- kinow 7y agoI feel like I heard about this book somewhere. Big Bang Theory?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- aws_ls 7y agoYep. At 2:03 in this video clip :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wzXqa_2KZ0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wzXqa_2KZ0
- amerkhalid 7y agoI think I found it accidentally while searching for gifts for new parents in Google or Amazon.
- edanm 7y agoOh awesome, I really enjoyed your book! Now I'm wondering if I first heard about it on HN, or through some other means. If you don't mind answering - what made you decide to write this book in particular?
- jawns 7y agoI had a baby who wouldn't sleep, and at 3 a.m. one night, while in a rocking chair with him, my sleep-deprived brain thought it would be funny to write a book of science experiments you can perform on your baby. Woke up the next morning, still thought it was a good idea, and decided to pursue it.
- sunw 7y agoNice job, and congratulations! How did you first get connected to your publisher? For that first book, did you have an agent representing you?