Community Resource

Vanity Publishing & Royalty Reporting: Facts, Questions, and Helpful Guidance

This page is intended to help authors and readers understand how paid publishing services and “publisher of record”
arrangements can affect sales reporting, royalty statements, and rights clarity.
It is written respectfully, focused on facts and practical steps—not personal attacks.

Author Rights
Royalty Reporting
Print-on-Demand
Distribution Chains
Transparency & Documentation

What I’m trying to do here (and what I’m not)

Goals

Share a clear, factual checklist for verifying sales, returns, and royalties.
Explain how third-party retail sales (Amazon, bookstores, etc.) often reach the publisher with delays.
Encourage respectful communication and documentation so issues can be resolved professionally.

Not the goal

Not a personal attack on any company or employee.
Not legal advice—contracts vary, and you should consult a qualified attorney for your situation.
Not a claim of wrongdoing—only a request for clarity and accurate accounting.

Core principle: If the numbers don’t reconcile, the next step is not outrage—it’s documentation,
specific questions, and a request for a complete lifetime report broken down by title, format, channel, and returns.

Key facts every author should know

Distribution is a chain. Retail sales often report back in batches; delays of weeks to months are common.
Returns matter. Returns can reduce counted sales later—even after you’ve seen early numbers.
Payout thresholds exist. Some companies only pay once your balance crosses a minimum amount.
Net royalty ≠ retail price. Print costs, retailer discounts, and service fees can shrink royalties significantly.
Resales don’t create royalties. Used sales (eBay resellers, secondhand) generally do not generate new royalties.

My current status (transparent, factual)

Awaiting full lifetime sales reports
Awaiting written explanation of royalty process
Requests sent respectfully and documented

I have requested complete lifetime sales and royalty breakdowns for my titles. Until I receive the official reports,
I’m treating this as a matter of clarification and reconciliation.

Company-specific sections (respectful and factual)

Xlibris

Request: lifetime units sold since publication date, broken down by title, format, channel,
and returns, plus the royalty calculation method and payout rules.

Titles: Bereft Reality, Picking Murphys, First Responder
Formats requested: eBook, Softcover, Hardcover
Why: known purchases through multiple channels/events need reconciliation with reported figures

Gotham Books

Request: lifetime sales reporting and royalty statements for 2024 titles, including confirmation of payment timelines,
thresholds, and whether any sales categories are excluded from royalties.

Titles: SITE 123, They Heinous
Formats requested: eBook, Softcover, Hardcover
Why: no royalty statements or payments received to date; requesting documentation and process explanation

What I’m asking for is standard: A complete sales and returns report, plus a plain-language explanation
of how royalties are calculated, reported, and paid.

Communication archive (links)

I keep an organized archive so discussions remain factual and easy to follow. Links below are redacted to protect privacy
(no personal addresses, account numbers, or private identifiers).

1) Sent Emails (Redacted PDFs)

View the redacted sent letters
Drafts and/or sent copies, with identifying information removed.

2) Responses / Statements

View statements or replies (if/when received)
I will post only what is necessary and redact private info.

3) Timeline & Notes

View a dated timeline of communications
Dates, methods, and what information was requested or provided.

Suggestions for authors working with paid publishing services or imprints

Before you sign

Confirm who owns the ISBN and who is listed as publisher of record.
Get a written explanation of royalty calculation (print cost, discounts, fees).
Verify the payout threshold and the statement/payment schedule.
Ensure you retain derivative rights (audio, film/TV, foreign, merch) unless you intend to license them.
Read the termination / reversion clause carefully: how to exit and get files back.

After you publish

Keep a simple spreadsheet of known purchases, events, and dates (even rough counts help).
Expect reporting delays from third-party retailers; request the official breakdown if gaps persist.
Ask for sales totals by title + format + channel + returns—not “overall performance.”
If you don’t receive statements, request them in writing and keep your communications polite and documented.
Separate used/resale activity (no royalties) from new retail activity (should be reportable).

Helpful facts you may want to add over time

If you’re building a community resource, these additions keep it factual and useful:

Publication dates and formats for each title (ebook/paperback/hardcover).
Where the books are listed (Amazon, B&N, Ingram listings), with screenshots or links.
Known events (book signings) with dates and approximate quantities sold or given away.
Royalty threshold and statement schedule (once confirmed in writing).
What questions were answered and what remains unanswered—kept calm and specific.
Outcomes: reconciliation achieved, corrections made, or next steps taken—without editorializing.

Tip: A resource page lands best when it reads like a consumer guide—clear, fair, and practical—rather than a rant.
“Facts first, help second, opinion last.”

Disclaimer: This page reflects the author’s personal experience, questions, and opinions.
It is not legal advice. All communications shared publicly are redacted for privacy.
Company names are used for identification only.