Re: what's a realistic for a first time author?

**C* T* E* <c*@gardenvista.com>**

Dear Roger,
    Congratulations on being approached by publishers. 
    As the author of 9 garden books (and I've contributed to others), I 
can tell you that the experience varies with the book and the 
publisher.  Briefly, here's a summary of my experience:
Lead time to write (publishing date): Storey came to me one winter and 
asked me to write a book to be called Poolscaping.  They said they would 
release it two years from the time they contacted me.  I wanted a book 
out sooner so I said it could be released a year earlier and that I'd 
happily write it in 3 or 4 months (the topic was one I had written about 
a lot, so it wasn't going to require a lot of research).  They were 
delighted.  By the time the contract was signed and I got going in 
earnest on the project, I had about 10 weeks to write the manuscript and 
pull photographs to illustrate the book (I have more than 25,000 garden 
photos I've taken).  Well, as you know, nothing focuses the mind like a 
deadline, my life became the book for those weeks, and I finished it 
within a week of the deadline (considered on time in the book world).  
In short, if you know your subject and can write quickly, by all means 
suggest they push up the publishing date.  They will probably be delighted.
Money: There are several options: flat fee (more money up front, nothing 
later) and then variations on how royalties are structured.  The lawyer 
on retainer with GWA can help you with the contract so you get the best 
possible deal, and you don't pay a penny.  With the royalty system, the 
more advance you get, the longer it is likely to take to earn it back so 
you start getting those royalties.  The amount they are willing to pay 
overall will depend on your negotiating skills and how much they believe 
in the book and its salability.  If you go with royalties, you're better 
off getting a larger percent of the sales (watch whether it's based on 
the cover price of the book or the wholesale price - makes a big 
difference to your earnings) than a big advance.  In the long run, 
you'll earn more, assuming the book does well.   Anyway, the last thing 
you want is a book that doesn't earn its advance.  The publisher is 
unlikely to come to you again if that happens.
     I've never written for Timber, but I hear they make writers pay for 
their photographs out of their advance.  Ugh.  Very hard on writers who 
can't supply all their own photos.  The best deals are ones where the 
publisher pays for photos separately from the writing.  In some cases, 
I've made a tidy sum on top of the writing fees for selling my 
photographs (if you sell, say, 30 photos at just $100 a picture, you've 
done well).
    Speaking of which, if you need photos for your book, please keep me 
in mind.  I've got lots of great vegetable garden shots, including 
French potagers, as well as vegetable portraits.
    Good luck.  I'll be interested to hear what you decide to do.
    Catriona
Catriona Tudor Erler
965 Pintail Lane
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
434 953-6780

Roger Doiron wrote:

>I've had a few publishers contact me in the past few months to see if I'm
>interested in submitting a book proposal.  I've been considering this idea
>for quite some time, but would like to have a better sense of what I need to
>invest in the project in terms of time and what I can reasonably expect back
>in terms of an advance.  
>
>Although I've never written a book, I have a growing list of food and
>gardening publishing credits and a bit of a national profile in my area
>(kitchen gardens), including some attention recently in the New York Times.
>
>
>The idea I have in mind is a simple, short how-to book for people interested
>in planting their first small kitchen garden. I'm not sure if it matters,
>but I'd be providing text and photos.
>
>I'm also trying to understand whether it's feasible to get something out in
>the spring of 2009 or whether that's too ambitious a timetable. 
>
>I'd be happy to have any insights off-list or on (if you prefer). 
>
>Thanks,
>
>Roger
>
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