The Sad Tale Of My Very Fat Royalty Payments

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The Imperative Subterfuge (When Eva Braun Met Gandhi)

The Imperative Subterfuge (When Eva Braun Met Gandhi)

So, first, I thought I’ll go for some prime real estate in London. Preferably the townhouse next to JK Rowling so I could go borrow sugar or the occasional copy of her next book written under an innocent pseudonym whenever I wanted. But then I worried that her neighborhood might be infested with the Russian Mafia of many hues – after all, they are the only folks buying property in London, as per the newspapers. I didn’t want to get shot just because I don’t have a ‘Y’ and a ‘Z’ in my name.

In any case, one book was hardly likely to cause that kind of monetary windfall, so I pegged my sights a bit lower.

I thought, how about an expensive holiday? I considered Brazil, Turkey, Egypt and Japan, the only four places I might be interested in as a tourist (I am not much of a traveler). A quick Google search on the first three landed me on news reports of Anna Hazare – Kejriwal styled street demonstrations (or British soccer fan styled hooliganism, take your pick). Mental images of me at a hospital getting six stitches on my forehead because a stone (or broken beer bottle, take your pick) landed there promptly made me scratch those country off the list. As for Japan, I still remember the tsunami videos quite well. (I just saw them recently in fact – someone was passing those off as “Must Watch Video From Uttarakhand!”)

Good that the luxury travel plans were scaled down from 100 to 0, quite likely that the royalty checks were not going to be that substantial anyway.

Maybe I’ll just upgrade to a brand new computer, I thought next. My old laptop is still going great, but it is 5 years old. And, it runs Windows Vista, for goodness sakes. ‘How’s your Windows 8 laptop doing’, I asked a friend. It was not nice to see a grown man weep like that.

So, no computer either.

New phone, you suggest? Yep, I suggested that to myself, too, only to find out that the iPhone 5S (or 6) is still a few months away. Plus, no one buys Apple these days and I won’t touch Android.

All this happened while I patiently waited to hear back from the kind editors at Amazon Kindle Singles. They had been reviewing my debut book – The Imperative Subterfuge (When Eva Braun Met Gandhi) – for several weeks. Yesterday, they wrote back to me declining my request to have my novel be considered as a Kindle Single, but offering me to go ahead and release it via Kindle Direct Publishing. Rejection! I instantly felt kinship with Rahul Gandhi – a pretty face and yet no takers.

Amidst watered down images of JK Rowling, that luxury spa in Rio, and the swankiest new iPhone, the image distortions possibly caused by welled up eyes and heartache, I did just that – self-publish my first book via Amazon last night. (For the worriers, the heartache was because of some terrible samosas I ate the evening before, so STOP worrying!)

And now that I am a self-published author who is unlikely to see any large (or small) royalty checks in his mailbox anytime soon, I will just have to settle for a self-funded ice cream at best. But, in order to afford that, YOU, my dear reader, will have to go and check out my book at the Amazon store. And download a copy.

Won’t you do that for me? And while you are at it, do spread the word around as far and wide as you possibly can!

 

Note : You don’t need a Kindle device for reading the ebook. All you need to have is the Kindle App on your smartphone, tablet or PC. Click here to get the free app for your preferred device.

 

 

Comments

comments

72 thoughts on “The Sad Tale Of My Very Fat Royalty Payments”

  1. phoenixritu

    Congratulations, you’re a published author. Now enter the next step of the game … Promote, Promote, Promote.

    Go meet everyone, hold workshops, invite people to discuss books and feed them chai samosa (some day we shall get into the champagne canapes category), practise your book signature – they tell me it has to be different from your bank signature. It made me laugh – bank swindle of an author?

    Now off to check your book

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thank you, thank you!
      I think before I do all that, I might just need to enable my Facebook account again! Astonishing to see how my destiny is really in Mark Z’s hands! 😀

      Reply ↓
  3. Rachna

    Rickie, Congratulations. When you start the hard way (publishers ke dhakke), your journey to the top is more satisfying :). So self publish it is! I must tell you that I’ve read it half way through, and it is very well written. I am awaiting the thriller bit. I will of course give you a more detailed review once I am through with it :). Good luck!

    Reply ↓
  5. blogwatig

    Whoa! Way to go Chikni Soorat! So, so, so happy for you. And I’m gonna do as promised. Wait and watch 🙂

    Good luck. It will only get better from here!

    Reply ↓
  7. janu

    Congratulations! Now, I can proudly say that I know few authors. But, this takes lot of work. Hope you don’t squash your bollywood dream.

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thank you so much, Bhavana!
      It is available in electronic format from the Kindle store, but you don’t have to have a Kindle to read it. If you download the Kindle App on your smartphone, tablet or PC, you can download the book directly on that device.
      Since it is a novella, I am not pursuing a print option.

      Reply ↓
  11. Ruch

    You know I just realized, I never did say the word congratulations to you ! So congratulations 😛
    You are such an outstanding writer, I tell you one day Royalties will start pouring in and your dream of travelling to Japan is so going to come true 😛

    Reply ↓
  14. asteria

    I have immense respect for people who instead of talking about writing a book actually write one..well done, hope this is just the proverbial ‘aaghaaz’ ..

    Reply ↓
  15. Rainbow Hues

    That’s great news Rickie! Congratulations…its coming soon, the royalties and then you can get that iPhone 5 of yours, a new lappy/tablet, travel the world around and buy a plush little place in J K Rowling’s neighborhood!! Good luck 🙂

    Reply ↓
  16. Gurdev

    Congrats, Rickie! May this novella be the first stepping stone towards your buyout of the Russian Mafia. The J K Rowling will come to your house to borrow sugar 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Hahah! Yes! Or perhaps I should just use my newly acquired billions in purchasing Random House and Amazon! My solution to all manuscript rejection problems!
      Thanks for the encouragement!

      Reply ↓
  17. alkagurha

    Congratulations pretty face celebrity. Your FB disappearing act has already added to the curiosity factor. I read the first chapter and it was a compelling read. The idea holds so much potential and with your dazzling style, I am sure you can take all Gurgaon wasis on your luxury yacht.

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thank you so much, Alka, for your kind words and all the promotion you did on my behalf!
      Yes, next monsoon, and we can all go on a ride around Gurgaon in my brand new yacht!

      Reply ↓
      1. Rickie Khosla Post author

        Thanks so much, Sunil! Yes, please do spread the word! And do get a copy, I think you’ll like the book.
        Glad you like the cover. It’s my amateurish attempt at cooking something up on Paintbrush of all things!

        Reply ↓
  20. Anurag Seth

    Hi Rickie, Many Congratulations. About the house next to JK Rowling, look forward to your dream fulfilling. Best Of Luck Buddy.

    Reply ↓
      1. Rickie Khosla Post author

        Oh dear…that doesn’t sound good! Could you try purchasing it through the Indian Amazon site? I feel you’ll need an Indian credit card for that, if you have one.
        I really thank you for trying, in any case! Very grateful.

        Reply ↓
  22. Amit

    Congratulations! Your book is really good. Every great writer faces obstacles initially. Give me an autograph when we meet next. God knows, phir hamare naseeb main ye baat ho na ho. 😛

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thanks so much, Amit! I usually chicken out in face of obstacles – I am just glad that I pressed on this time. It is a great feeling to have the book out there, for whatever it’s worth!
      About that autograph, we’ll see! 😀

      Reply ↓
      1. Amit

        One more thing. Check the Amazon link you have shared. It says – Price of the item is not available. I hope you have given the Indian Store’s link.

        Reply ↓
  23. afshan18

    self publishing is always helpful… No rejection pain at all 🙂 anyway I hav a kindle app on pc (windows 8 one 😉 ) and I will buy it. Once I read will let u know. Till then good luck . Congratulations and celebrations. This deserves more than an icecrean

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thanks, Afshan! I did try to have this published as a Kindle Single, but the editorial team there rejected my manuscript – so I did face some rejection! Here I was, thinking they were going to welcome me with open arms! 🙂

      And thanks for wanting to read it. I hope you do. Do write a review on the Amazon page once you are finished reading it!

      Reply ↓
  25. Corinne Rodrigues

    I’ve just downloaded your book, Rickie and look forward to reading it. Having read your blog, I know that the book will be a winner! Congratulations – here’s to many more books and Bookers. 🙂

    Reply ↓
  26. Jyoti Mishra

    Many congratulations 🙂
    and rejections are always there 😛
    but, who cares.. you will tread your way through ..

    I always enjoy your writing.. I’m sure I’ll love this one too..
    will check it soon 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thanks for your support, Jyoti! Hope you’ve downloaded the novella by now and have enjoyed reading it! Do share your feedback on the book’s Amazon page.

      Reply ↓
  27. Deepa

    Wohoo! Downloaded it, haven’t read it yet! But soon. Needless to say I feel proud to have contributed to your royalty (considering I paid for it back then!), albeit ice cream if it is! 😀

    Reply ↓
    1. Rickie Khosla Post author

      Thank you so much, Deepa! I am hoping that you have managed to read the book by now and didn’t totally hate it! Would love to get your review on Amazon or GoodReads…preferably both! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  29. Ashwini C N

    Congrats 🙂 A feeling of having achieved something with a small ice cream all by yourself would be the best gift you could give yourself :-). Will try downloading the book 🙂

    Reply ↓
  30. IGBG

    When I downloaded my version, it was free…now it costs a couple of dollars. I owe you! Or… I can send you a postcard when I get to one of your dream-destinations 🙂

    Reply ↓
  32. kayemofnmy

    Congratulations, Rickie. I’ve only just come to know. Have downloaded it. The swastika on the cover immediately caught my eye and the subtitle is intriguing. Can’t wait to read the story. Congrats, once more.

    Reply ↓

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