Publisher Brooke Warner On Returns (Yes, they're "heart-troubling" for authors, but there's more to consider...)

Over on substack, Brooke Warner wrote this column, Things That Make Authors Cry.

So when your publisher sells your book to a retailer it's not a for-sure sale, because the retailer then needs to sell it to a customer. If they don't, the retailer can send it back to the publisher, which is called a return. And they'll want their money back. And they'll charge for the shipping. This all impacts your royalty statement (look carefully and you'll notice there's a reserve usually held for future returns).

In addition to explaining more about how returns work and how publishers figure out how many books to print in the first place, Brooke also shares wisdom from her publisher perspective, including:

“It doesn’t feel good to have books returned, but it’s also the case that it’s not an indictment on a given book.”

and

“Your publisher will always do everything in its power to push your books out the door, to get the most possible exposure, the most possible buys.”

and

“Authors who hoped they’d sell more are also proud of their books. Books can surprise us with their longevity, opening up doors and possibilities many years after they come out.”

The article is well-worth checking out.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!
Lee