Healthy living and money

Two days is definitely not long enough to qualify as a pattern, but if this almost-pattern continues, not only will I have a new book, but I’ll be back in shape.

I wound up walking again yesterday, walking to think through the plot of my new book. I walked 5 miles. Yes, that’s a lot of thinking. After I came home I wrote like a madwoman, then fell into bed at 8:30 pm. (If I find the bird that woke me up at 1 am, I will acquire the necessary plumage for a new hat.) Except for the rude wake-up call, I was very happy with the way the day went.

In other news, the stage play version (put on by the Gifford Family Theater) of FEVER 1793 won the Best New Original Play Award from SALT, the Syracuse Area Live Theater group. Congrats to script writer and director Steve Braddock and all the fine actors who worked on the production.

Patricia Newman posted an article about me on her website. I especially love the last paragraph.

Max writes: I was recently searching Lois Lowry’s website and decided to read the FAQ section. In it, somebody had asked her if they would get rich being a writer. She responded no. I was wondering if you felt the same way. I plan on becoming a writer when I grow up, and though I already knew I wouldn’t make a tremendous amount of money like J.K. Rowling, I am still hoping to live off the money I make.

*pauses for hysterical laughter*

No, most authors are not rich. J.K. Rowling is the exception. Authors earn a percentage of every book sold. For a hardcover book, it’s usually 10% of the cover price. For a paperback, it’s about 6%. I signed up SPEAK before I had an agent and made a very bad deal. I earn about 9 cents on most of the SPEAK paperbacks. Now I have an agent, so that won’t happen again. But agents take 15% of your gross income (20% for foreign deals).

If you go into writing to get rich, you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for rewarding, inspiring work, and you are a frugal person who is willing to work hard, you’ll be fine. Good luck!

More fan mail in the next few days. I need to do a PROM post, too. I have some good news about the book and a really funny article that Julia sent me to share.

Off to walk and write.

18 Replies to “Healthy living and money”

  1. “rewarding, inspiring work”

    That sentence is kind of pseudo-inspiring itself. Like it’s a gift to be able to write, and doesn’t correspond with the rest of the world’s system of money and the need to get ahead. I like that. Props to you.

  2. “rewarding, inspiring work”

    That sentence is kind of pseudo-inspiring itself. Like it’s a gift to be able to write, and doesn’t correspond with the rest of the world’s system of money and the need to get ahead. I like that. Props to you.

  3. “rewarding, inspiring work”

    That sentence is kind of pseudo-inspiring itself. Like it’s a gift to be able to write, and doesn’t correspond with the rest of the world’s system of money and the need to get ahead. I like that. Props to you.

  4. author study

    hi for the last 3 months my school has been doing what is called an “author study” I read three of your books( Catalyst, Speak and Prom which you signed:)) Right now i am writing you biblography and i figured to tell you what i have been doing… well just to give you some flattery i chose you out of about 30 other authors we picked from…even though i already wanted to my project on you before we saw the list!i have already done 3 auhtor study sheets on those books and trust me they are not easy..i had to dissect those books like no tommorow!! i even had to get a seperate folder for my info on you and your books! You recently came to my area(san diego) but i wasnt able to come eventhought i think one other girl from my school who chose you came…well i was so excited when i saw you signed Prom..my english teacher got the book too but she didnt think hers was signed so she was jealous but it turns out hers was signed…darn i thought i finally had gotten something over her..well oh well just thought you would know that three girls from my school chose to you for our project and if i get the chance i will send you a picture of our boards!

    -shannon

  5. author study

    hi for the last 3 months my school has been doing what is called an “author study” I read three of your books( Catalyst, Speak and Prom which you signed:)) Right now i am writing you biblography and i figured to tell you what i have been doing… well just to give you some flattery i chose you out of about 30 other authors we picked from…even though i already wanted to my project on you before we saw the list!i have already done 3 auhtor study sheets on those books and trust me they are not easy..i had to dissect those books like no tommorow!! i even had to get a seperate folder for my info on you and your books! You recently came to my area(san diego) but i wasnt able to come eventhought i think one other girl from my school who chose you came…well i was so excited when i saw you signed Prom..my english teacher got the book too but she didnt think hers was signed so she was jealous but it turns out hers was signed…darn i thought i finally had gotten something over her..well oh well just thought you would know that three girls from my school chose to you for our project and if i get the chance i will send you a picture of our boards!

    -shannon

  6. author study

    hi for the last 3 months my school has been doing what is called an “author study” I read three of your books( Catalyst, Speak and Prom which you signed:)) Right now i am writing you biblography and i figured to tell you what i have been doing… well just to give you some flattery i chose you out of about 30 other authors we picked from…even though i already wanted to my project on you before we saw the list!i have already done 3 auhtor study sheets on those books and trust me they are not easy..i had to dissect those books like no tommorow!! i even had to get a seperate folder for my info on you and your books! You recently came to my area(san diego) but i wasnt able to come eventhought i think one other girl from my school who chose you came…well i was so excited when i saw you signed Prom..my english teacher got the book too but she didnt think hers was signed so she was jealous but it turns out hers was signed…darn i thought i finally had gotten something over her..well oh well just thought you would know that three girls from my school chose to you for our project and if i get the chance i will send you a picture of our boards!

    -shannon

  7. you are an amazing author

    I love your books. You are one of the only author whos books relate to teens so well. You are amazing can’t wait untill you publish another one.

  8. you are an amazing author

    I love your books. You are one of the only author whos books relate to teens so well. You are amazing can’t wait untill you publish another one.

  9. you are an amazing author

    I love your books. You are one of the only author whos books relate to teens so well. You are amazing can’t wait untill you publish another one.

  10. Re: author study

    How cool is this?? i am honored, Shannon. I would the work wasn’t too boring. I’d love it if you sent a picture. I’ll post it on the journal, if you’d like

  11. Re: author study

    How cool is this?? i am honored, Shannon. I would the work wasn’t too boring. I’d love it if you sent a picture. I’ll post it on the journal, if you’d like

  12. Re: author study

    How cool is this?? i am honored, Shannon. I would the work wasn’t too boring. I’d love it if you sent a picture. I’ll post it on the journal, if you’d like

  13. Re: author study

    its shannon again i was reading about u and guess what..we’re born the same day..haha i thought that was a funny coincedence and by the way i was doing a biography im just really bad at spelling…-shannon

  14. Re: author study

    its shannon again i was reading about u and guess what..we’re born the same day..haha i thought that was a funny coincedence and by the way i was doing a biography im just really bad at spelling…-shannon

  15. Re: author study

    its shannon again i was reading about u and guess what..we’re born the same day..haha i thought that was a funny coincedence and by the way i was doing a biography im just really bad at spelling…-shannon

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