Thursday, October 13, 2005

Another Royalty Statement

I got a royalty statement for the year's sales of my second book, Ethnic Cleansing in the USSR, 1937-1949 today. It is doing slightly better than my first book which sold one copy in the last six months covered by the latest royalty statement. My second book has sold six copies in the US and Canada and three abroad in the last year. Foreign sales generate very little money. The three foreign copies earned me $5.28 versus the $33.77 for six domestic sales. The statement shows that the publisher owes me $39.05. However, since they only write checks for amounts of $75.00 and more I will see no actual money from them this year. Maybe next year I will sell another nine books and reach past the $75.00 threshold. I would encourage people to buy my book, but it is cheaper and faster for everybody to just send me the money directly.

8 comments:

KRISTIN said...

I just love your self-ironic kind of humor :P
How much does your bestseller cost? I don't think I could find it here but maybe you'll send me a copy and I'll send you some Estonian kroons eh?
( you would frame them too :P)

J. Otto Pohl said...

Kristin:

I believe it is running for a little over $100 right now. Valeri Kalabugin has a copy of it. I am not sure who else in Tallinn does. I already have a wallet full of Estonian Kroons from my trip there in February. I need British pounds sterling right now for my trip in a couple of weeks.

KRISTIN said...

:O:O:O
VALERI KALABUGIN??? He's my best friend's husband! I can't believe it!!!!
WOW. What a small world. I'm lost for words.

J. Otto Pohl said...

Give Valeri my regards next time you see him. I am sure I will see him again next time I am in Tallinn. Valeri is quite an interesting fellow, don't you think?

KRISTIN said...

YEA, he's a QUITE INTERESTING fellow LOL! We are having arguments practically all the time we meet :P I'm not happy with his Estonian language though, actually it's funny - when i hear his talking I always think about my English skills and how I might sound for native English speakers and I have to blush :( My theory is that Valeri isn't really listening to those that speak Estonian or he really can't understand it, I'm not sure which is right. But when he replies he's often way off base... But I'm sure he's a lot better at speaking English though.
Anyway, last night I sent him an e-mail about you and here's what he replied me this morning:
"Tere, Kit,

Jaa, maailm on väike, aga Otto suhtes pole suurt imestada. Tema ju hoiab sidemeid Eestiga juba ammust-ammust ajast. Meid viis kokku Mari-Ann Kelam. Aga ma ei usu, et tema "bestseller" võiks Sulle kuigi suurt huvi pakkuda. Tegemist pole populaarteadusliku ja laiale publikule mõeldud raamatuga nagu, näiteks, "Kommunismi must raamat", vaid süvaajaloolise uurimistööga, mis on mõeldud spetsialistidele NSVL ja Balti riikide ajaloo alal. Otto on väga sümpaatne inimene, palun tervita teda minu poolt!

Aga kokkusattumus on tõesti vapustav!!"

He's saying that you were introduced to each other by Mari-Ann Kelam (Rikken) and you are a very nice person, he also says there that your book is a bit toooo scientific for my taste ( ans he knows my taste LOL) - well it was a joke on sending me your book anyway! He also asks me to give you his BEST REGARDS - so I did :D and he agrees it's a great coincidence that I found your blog online and stayed to read it and so on. :D Well seems to me, Otto, that we will meet one day for sure, maybe at Valeri's home, who knows :D He and his wife (my friend from kidergarten, Riina are very nice people with a very nice home too, trust me!

J. Otto Pohl said...

I am sure we will meet next time I am in Tallinn. I find the best meeting place in town to be in front of the Hotel Viru near the taxi stand. :-)

KRISTIN said...

HA HA OTTO

J. Otto Pohl said...

Thanks for stopping by Valeri. I will definitely come see you again next time I am in Tallinn.