Okay, time for some depressing math.
This information is not for the feint of heart or anyone considering self-publishing. But that’s who I’m putting it up for [beyond my own information and planning for The Riddle Box], anyone else thinking of taking the plunge. It’s one of my proudest achievements and I don’t regret it – – but damn, she do cost, don’t she?
Spell/Sword Sales – Year to Date
Paperback – 65 units …….$114.10 total Royalties
Kindle – 58 units …….$63.65 total royalties.
- Free Downloads: 316
Spell/Sword Gross Profit: $177.75
Incomplete List of Spell/Sword Costs [approximate]
- Cover Illustration, Layout and Design: $500.00
- Purchase of unique ISBN number: $100.00
- Printing of Beta Copies for review and proofing: $150.00
- Giveaways and Promotional Material: $175.00
- Shipping of Giveaways, Promotional Material: $50.00
Approximate Total Publication and Promotion Cost: $975.00
Spell/Sword Net Profit GRAND TOTAL:
-$797.25
Hoo. Ouch. Damn, buy some books, people.
This was way more depressing than I thought it would be. I clearly have an expensive habit, and it is called Swordpunk.
Why am I self-publishing again?
spell-sword.com 
T-shirt sale revenue?
Ha, I sold those at cost — and I haven’t even beaten up everyone for their money yet.
Got keep going. Write more, publish more. Keep improving your work. Consider getting shorter works published in online magazines to get your name noticed. And don’t think traditional publishing is closed to you now. This is just the start! 🙂
Thanks, Nila! I’m honestly not too discouraged, it’s a long, long process and I know that.
An ouch up to this point. You’ve got time to sell, my friend.
It’s the nature of the beast, most of my research made it pretty clear it would be this way. It’s only when I get 3-4 books deep that I’ll see any sort of positive return on the investment. In the immortal words of John Vance – “Eh, it’s cheaper than therapy.”