TroyRutter.com » Kids in the Biz

Unexpected Royalties

Troy — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:15:07 +0000

It’s always a good feeling when you receive an unexpected check in the mail, no matter how small. Yesterday I received one of my semi-annual royalty checks from my book, Kids in the Biz. All my visions of making millions of dollars were shattered a long time ago, so I was very content to deposit a much, much, much smaller but nice incidental-money check.

Now all I need is about oh… 20-30X that amount and I’d be good.

Kids in the Biz sales milestone

Troy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:30:39 +0000

From my publisher records, it appears as though I have now sold…

2004 copies of my book Kids in the Biz.

Which leaves less than 1000 copies available.Â Act fast, buy it by clicking on the link over on the right.Â Cmon, I know you want to.

Absent Friends

Troy — Tue, 02 May 2006 06:58:42 +0000

There is a feeling of loss this morning, as I was informed that someone I had never met has passed away. In 2002 I sent a small query letter to Heinemann, and within a day received a response from Lisa wanting more. Fast forward almost a year…

Dear Troy -

I’m cleaning up files and such, and cannot remember if you have already
found a publisher for your book, or if you were going to send me additional
material, or what. Could you just drop me a line to let me know? I’m happy
to still consider it for our list, if you haven’t already placed it…

All good wishes -

–Lisa

I let the book project sit for over a year, and she wrote me back saying they were still interested. The rest as they say is history. The book turned out wonderfully, has been submitted for several design awards, and continues to sell in good numbers every month.

Lisa died this morning surrounded by her family, another bright light that cancer took from us. Fortunately, I found a message board where I was able to write my thanks to Lisa yesterday and those were read to her before she passed. For someone whom I never talked to on the phone – and never met face-to-face, she has had a tremendous impact on my life.

I now have a reason to finish editing my NaNoWriMo novel.

I’ll miss you, Lisa.

Crowning Royalty

Troy — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 22:51:51 +0000

I received an envelope from my publisher, and I furiously opened it up. Last time I received a statement, in September, I was very close to the “break even” point where my book had almost made me back my royalty amount. In other words, soon I was going to get paid again for the book! Yippee!

I opened it up and read it… $34.

Ok, so I made it over the limit by about 34 books, no problem. Then at the bottom of the statement…

“Balances under $100 carry over to next statement.”

Sigh. Oh well, so now I need more people to buy the book so I can get my first check. Cmon, you know you want to buy the book. Just click on the book over there on the right hand side of the page and then click on “Order Online” to order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or even Walmart.

Every home needs the book. Really! Your bookshelf told me so.

Web Site Redesigned

Troy — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:36:22 +0000

I redesigned the web site for my book last weekend. I used tables temporarilly until I fix the css… but it is still perty.

http://www.kidsinthebiz.com