The numbers - just the numbers

I am often asked how much money I make from publishing books.  My typical response is:  unless you’re only goal is to write commercial fiction and make money – it is a ridiculous question.

I do not write and publish novels with the intent of making money.  I am fortunate that in my third act I don’t need to rely on income from book sales.
The truth is, since I published my first book in 2014, I have lost money.  So here is how the money works out.  I purchase books from my publisher at a 50% discount – I pay $8.48 per book and sell them at $16.95 for revenue of $8.47 per book.  That is true only when the publisher delivers the books.  If I pay shipping add $2.08 per book to my cost then the revenue is $6.39 per book.
Why do authors have to pay for books they’ve written you ask?  I don’t know.  It’s the way it is.

The revenue from 50 books would be $319.50.  Selling 50 books at any event would be spectacular but let’s use it as an example.  To sell that many books means attending a two day event meaning a hotel stay of $125.00 per night.  There would be at least four meals at an average of $15.00 per meal for a total of $60.00. Next there is mileage.  In Wisconsin most round trips are about 200 miles for a cost of $107 (federal tax basis).  The final cost is what the event charges typically a table fee or percentage of sales.  At the Milwaukee Irish Fest the fee was 10% of sales or $31.95.
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So – here’s the math:        $319.50  revenue

• $125.00 hotel
•     60.00 meals
•   107.00 mileage
•     31.95 selling fees

                                               4.45 Net Loss
 
I suppose I could sleep in my car and take baloney or peanut butter sandwiches to eat to save $185.00.  That would make a profit of $180.55 or $3.61 per book.  Really?
 
So, write for your heart and soul – not for your pocket book.