Apart from the fact they're a really good place to borrow free books, libraries - and I'm talking about British libraries here specifically - can be a source of sometimes significant income for a writer.
I'm not sure enough people are aware of this, and since a new annual payment has just rolled around, I think it's worth highlighting. Every year, the UK library service takes all of the loans its made of an author's book and pays the author based on the number of loans. The amount of money varies from year to year, but this year, it's 8.2 pence per loan.
That's one of the great things about UK libraries; not only do they let you find writers you like for free, they still pay the author. Yes, it's a minimal sum, but it's also a good way for people to find writers they like - and to later go and buy their books instead of just borrowing them.
Again, 8.2 pence a throw might not seem like much, and it isn't: but it adds up, and fast, especially if you've got a good few books out, like me. It's one of the things I look forward to and factor into my annual income.
This year, I'll be getting about £450 in total - the equivalent, at current exchange rates, of $620. It's not the highest, or the lowest, payment I've had. The lowest was £251 in 2008, the highest £840 in 2016.
I had ten novels published through Tor, and all are represented in the latest statement. Extinction Game this time around has the highest number of loans: just under one and a half thousand. Against Gravity has the lowest number of loans, at just 67. All the others range between that figure and the one for Extinction Game.
You can see how it adds up quickly. That money goes towards food, bills, mortgage, etc, etc. and the less libraries there are, the harder it will be for most working writers. So if you can't afford to read my books or anyone else's, remember: every time you borrow one of my books, I will benefit.
I'm not sure enough people are aware of this, and since a new annual payment has just rolled around, I think it's worth highlighting. Every year, the UK library service takes all of the loans its made of an author's book and pays the author based on the number of loans. The amount of money varies from year to year, but this year, it's 8.2 pence per loan.
That's one of the great things about UK libraries; not only do they let you find writers you like for free, they still pay the author. Yes, it's a minimal sum, but it's also a good way for people to find writers they like - and to later go and buy their books instead of just borrowing them.
Again, 8.2 pence a throw might not seem like much, and it isn't: but it adds up, and fast, especially if you've got a good few books out, like me. It's one of the things I look forward to and factor into my annual income.
This year, I'll be getting about £450 in total - the equivalent, at current exchange rates, of $620. It's not the highest, or the lowest, payment I've had. The lowest was £251 in 2008, the highest £840 in 2016.
I had ten novels published through Tor, and all are represented in the latest statement. Extinction Game this time around has the highest number of loans: just under one and a half thousand. Against Gravity has the lowest number of loans, at just 67. All the others range between that figure and the one for Extinction Game.
You can see how it adds up quickly. That money goes towards food, bills, mortgage, etc, etc. and the less libraries there are, the harder it will be for most working writers. So if you can't afford to read my books or anyone else's, remember: every time you borrow one of my books, I will benefit.
