Red Room Royalties & Red Room Relationships
Please note that this section addresses questions authors may have. If you have questions about how these programs work from the perspective of a reader buying books, please see the FAQ for the Red Room Bookstore.
How does Red Room sell my books?
What is Red Room Royalties?
What is Red Room Relationships?
How do I opt in to Royalties and Relationships?
How do I know if I’m eligible for Royalties and Relationships?
How do I know if my book is eligible?
I’m not sure what type of membership I have, how can I find out?
I’m a Red Room “Founding Author,” do I still need to purchase a paid, annual Premium Membership to participate?
What if I already purchased a paid, annual Premium Membership—do I still need to opt in?
What if I have a Premium Membership at a reduced scholarship rate?
What if I opt in but you don’t carry my book for sale on Red Room?
If I buy copies of my own book on Red Room, will I still earn Royalties? Is there a limit to the number of copies I am allowed to buy?
What kinds of books are eligible for Red Room Royalties?
I have an eBook or other type of published work that isn’t available for sale by Red Room. Should I still upload it and opt in now?
How are Royalties calculated? Is there a limit to my Royalties?
When will I receive my Royalty checks?
Is there anything else I should know about receiving my checks?
How will I know how many of my books have sold and how much money I’ve made?
Do my Royalties start accruing and my Relationships begin immediately upon opting in? How does Red Room Relationships work?
How does Red Room sell my books?
Red Room recently launched a major online bookstore: The Authors Bookstore. While it will take time, we’re aiming to become one of the biggest online book retailers in the world. We work with the largest distributors, who work directly with publishers large and small, and with self-publishing companies, to keep your books in stock and ready to ship same-day from one of many distribution centers all over the country. If your book is available for sale by other online retailers, we’re probably able to carry it, too. We currently sell books at their publisher’s list price, but as we grow, we may be able to discount prices to consumers. We pay you 15% of your book sales out of our earnings as a retailer.
What is Red Room Royalties?
Red Room Royalties, which we often refer to as just “Royalties,” is a program we created so we can share revenue with authors. When your book is purchased on Red Room, we pay you 15% of your book sales, in addition to what your publisher pays you, so you make double—or more—what you make when your book is purchased anywhere else. We retail books so we can provide authors with more income. Learn how it works here.
What is Red Room Relationships?
Red Room Relationships, which we often refer to as just “Relationships,” is a program we created so we can introduce authors to the people who buy their books. Most retailers think the customers who buy your book are their customers, not yours. When your book is purchased on Red Room, we put you in direct contact with buyers so you take control of your customer base. We retail books to help our authors connect with their readers. Virtually all readers want to connect with authors, and those who don’t can opt out.
How do I opt in to Royalties and Relationships?
If you are an author who would like to participate in this revolutionary program, but you haven’t joined Red Room yet, learn more about Premium Membership. If you’re ready to sign up, purchase a Premium Membership for $250 per year. We also offer a limited number of scholarships for authors in financial need, and scholarship authors are fully eligible for Royalties and Relationships. Once you’re a paid, annual Premium Member of Red Room, you can opt in to Royalties and Relationships at no extra cost.
Before opting in, please make sure you and your book are eligible (see the definition of eligibility below). Then, opt in to both programs at the same time through the “Edit” screen for each of your books. You won’t have an Edit screen if you haven’t uploaded the book yet, so if you have a new title to add, here’s how to upload a book. If you have already uploaded your book, here’s how to get to the Edit screen and what to do when you get there:
- Log in. You’re already logged in if you see: “Hi Your Name!” in small white letters at the top of the page. If you need help logging in, read this, or contact us.
- Select a book you believe is eligible. There are several ways to locate your books, but the quickest is typing redroom.com/member/your-name/books into your browser address field or search box. If this fails, go to your profile and click the Books tab below your name.
- Click the “Edit” tab above your name. Your name is displayed prominently on the top left side of the page.
- Read the Opt-in Terms. Near the end of the page, just below a large brown bar of text that says “Opt In to Red Room Royalties and Relationships for this book,” you’ll find a checkbox to agree to the Opt-in Terms, and a link to the Opt-in Terms; follow the link and read the Opt-in Terms.
- Check the box that says you agree to the Opt-in Terms.
- Provide your valid U.S. mailing address. No P.O. boxes or international addresses at this time, please. We need this in order to send you Royalty checks.
- Write a personalized “Thank You Note” to be sent to all buyers of this book. Enter this in the field provided, which allows for up to 350 characters.
- Hit the “Save” button. You’ll start accruing Royalties immediately, and within two business days, your opt in will be formally approved (or not) and you’ll start meeting the customers who received your Thank You Note and are buying your books.
Please note that you will have to opt in separately for every book title you believe is eligible. And remember, you won’t have an Edit screen if you haven’t uploaded the book yet, so if you have a new title to add, here’s how to upload a book.
How do I know if I’m eligible for Royalties and Relationships?
For you to be eligible, you must be an annual, paid Premium Member of Red Room, and have uploaded at least one book (if you haven’t yet uploaded a book, see how to upload your book, and, if needed, see how to determine what type of membership you have.) If you are not an annual, paid Premium Member, you can sign up now for $250 per year. We also offer a limited number of scholarships for authors in financial need, and scholarship authors are fully eligible for Royalties and Relationships.
How do I know if my book is eligible?
For a book to be eligible, you must be the primary author of the book. The primary author is the person most responsible for the content and creation of a book and featured first by the publisher in marketing materials and on the cover of the book. If no one meets both of these criteria (such as because a book was co-authored equally, ghostwritten, or the name featured first is that of an editor or illustrator), the person whose name is featured first by the publisher on the cover of the book is considered by Red Room to be the primary author.
For example, a book written solely by you is clearly eligible. However, an anthology comprised of twenty essays, which you contributed an essay to, is not eligible—the editor of the anthology would be considered the primary “author” (i.e., creator) of the book. You may opt in for as many books as are eligible. You must also be an annual, paid Premium Member. If there is any confusion or dispute regarding who is the primary author of your book, or if you have any questions, please contact us.
I’m not sure what type of membership I have, how can I find out?
- Log in. You’re already logged in if you see: “Hi Your Name!” in small white letters at the top of the page. If you need help logging in, read this, or contact us.
- Find your Dashboard. There are several ways to navigate to your Dashboard, but the quickest is typing redroom.com/member/your-name/dashboard into your browser address field or search box. If this fails, select the “Me” tab on the site-wide navigation menu across the top of the page, and mouse down the options in the drop-down menu to “My Dashboard.”
- You’ll see your member type on the right underneath your author photo. If it says “Paid Premium Member” then you have the correct type! If it says “Limited Trial Membership” or “free Premium Membership” or something else, you’ll need to upgrade to paid Premium. (If you believe we are displaying the incorrect type, please contact us.)
Yes. As a Founding Author, you will always have a special type of free membership unique to your status as one of the earliest members of our community—we couldn’t have done it without you! However, new programs with significant additional benefits, such as Royalties and Relationships, are not included in your membership. In order to participate, and we know you’ll love the benefits of participating, you will need to purchase a paid, annual Premium Membership for $250. We also offer a limited number of scholarships for authors in financial need, and scholarship authors are fully eligible for Royalties and Relationships. Once you’ve upgraded to a paid, annual Premium Membership, you’ll be eligible to opt in immediately.
What if I already purchased a paid, annual Premium Membership—do I still need to opt in?
Yes. Your paid, annual Premium Membership makes you eligible for Royalties and Relationships, but opting in to these programs is not automatic. Please follow the instructions above to opt in for each of your eligible books. If you have any trouble doing so, please check the type of membership you are listed as having (and if you believe we are displaying the wrong type, please contact us).
What if I have a Premium Membership at a reduced scholarship rate?
Yes, you are eligible. We don’t want anyone to miss out because they are in financial need—if we’ve selected you to receive a scholarship, you probably need Royalties and Relationships more than anyone. Please follow the instructions above to opt in for each of your eligible books. If you have any trouble doing so, please check the type of membership you are listed as having (and if you believe we are displaying the wrong type, please contact us).
What if I opt in but you don’t carry my book for sale on Red Room?
We carry more than 99% of our authors’ book titles and we do want to carry your book. We can only provide Royalties on books sold by Red Room, so please contact us immediately so we can research if we’re able to get your book in stock. When your book isn’t available for sale by Red Room, whether temporarily or permanently, we provide links to other retailers plus give you the opportunity to indicate where you prefer your readers purchase your books, so it’s still very worthwhile to list your books and capture those sales. Be sure to opt in to Royalties and Relationships anyway, so you don’t miss out on the benefits if and when we do carry your book.
If I buy copies of my own book on Red Room, will I still earn Royalties? Is there a limit to the number of copies I am allowed to buy?
Yes, you will earn Royalties on your own books even if you purchase them yourself, and no, there is no limit on the number of copies you may purchase. The only restrictions are that there are no returns allowed on purchases of your own books, nor are returns allowed on sales of more than five copies of the same title to any one customer or address. So if you need to buy copies of your book for an appearance, or to send someone a copy of your book, order it through Red Room and earn Royalties on your purchases.
What kinds of books are eligible for Red Room Royalties?
All print books that are for sale by Red Room are eligible for Red Room Royalties. We’ll be offering Red Room Royalties for eBooks and other formats in the near future—stay tuned!
I have an eBook or other type of published work that isn’t available for sale by Red Room. Should I still upload it and opt in now?
Yes, please do upload it or information about it. If your eBook or other type of published work isn’t available on Red Room, whether temporarily or permanently, we provide links to other retailers plus give you the opportunity to indicate where you prefer your readers purchase your books. Be sure to opt in to Royalties and Relationships anyway, especially on eBooks, so you don’t miss out on the benefits if and when we do support or carry your eBook or other published work.
How are Royalties calculated? Is there a limit to my Royalties?
The Red Room Royalties program pays you 15% of the sales of your books sold on Red Room. Sales numbers reflects the price the books were sold for, not necessarily the publisher’s list price. We subtract any costs directly associated with your title, such as copies that were returned.
Royalties are unlimited. We’re happy to send you Royalties in the hundreds of dollars, thousands of dollars, or even millions of dollars, as a result of your book sales on Red Room. The more you succeed, the more we succeed. Keep in mind that any sales of your book made through a link to another bookseller (such as Powell’s) do not count toward Royalties, so please recommend that your readers buy on Red Room.
When will I receive my Royalty checks?
Red Room calculates Royalties on a quarterly basis: January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-September 30, and October 1-December 31 of each year. We’ll send you a check two to three weeks after the end of each quarter. Any balance of less than U.S. $50 in Royalties will be carried over to the following quarter—so you only get big checks.
Is there anything else I should know about receiving my checks?
The checks will be written to your name exactly as it appears on your membership records, and checks will be sent to the address you entered into the Address field in the Book “Edit” screen when you opted in to Royalties and Relationships. If you have multiple books, we may combine your Royalties into one check each quarter. Checks must be cashed within ninety days of the date the check was issued. If you have any questions, please contact us.
How will I know how many of my books have sold and how much money I’ve made?
Sales figures and the resulting Royalties earned for each book and collectively will be displayed on your Dashboard. No one else can see your Dashboard. To see your sales and Royalties information:
- Log in. You’re already logged in if you see: “Hi Your Name!” in small white letters at the top of the page. If you need help logging in, read this, or contact us.
- Find your Dashboard. There are several ways to navigate to your Dashboard, but the quickest is typing redroom.com/member/your-name/dashboard into your browser address field or search box. If this fails, select the “Me” tab on the site-wide navigation menu across the top of the page, and mouse down the options in the drop-down menu to “My Dashboard.”
- You’ll see your Red Room Royalties stats on the left side of the page directly below Red Room Analytics. If you have any questions about this information, please contact us.
Do my Royalties start accruing and my Relationships begin immediately upon opting in?
Your Royalties start accruing immediately upon opting in, but your Red Room Relationships data will not display immediately. Our editors will review your request to opt in, and approve you within two business days, at which time your Relationships data will display and you will be connected to all of your customers, even those who bought your book between the time you opted in and were formally approved.
How does Red Room Relationships work?
You opt in to Relationships at the same time as opting in to Royalties. The Relationships program is described here. We are not providing a detailed FAQ on Relationships at this time, because we are refining and improving it dramatically on a regular basis over the next several months. Currently, there are two major features included:
1. When a customer buys your book on Red Room, they receive a personalized “Thank You Note” from you. Writing the note is part of your opt-in process. You will write a different note for each book, which we encourage you to make as book-specific and “behind the scenes” as possible to deliver the most value to the book buyer and begin a conversation they will enjoy. If you have any questions about Thank You Notes, please contact us.
2. When a customer buys your book on Red Room, they are added to your “Customer” list of contacts. Individual customers who bought your book will be connected to you, with their real first and last name, through Red Room “Connections,” our social networking feature, under the category “Customers.”
Although customers may decline to notify you of their purchase if they wish, most customers are interested in connecting with you and receiving messages from you. You will also be able to see what book they purchased and on what date. This is invaluable data that you can’t get anywhere but Red Room.
As a result, the more you encourage your readers through other social media outlets (such as FaceBook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) to purchase their books on Red Room, the more accurate and complete your customer database will be, and the more significant your success will be when you contact them in the future. If you have any questions about Relationships, our Connections feature, your Customer list, or anything else, please contact us.
Still have a question? See our main FAQ or contact us—we love hearing from you!