Advice for writers
for writers
Will Atmosphere Press Get Rich If My Book Succeeds? (No.)
The Short Answer: No (and Here’s the Math)
Will Atmosphere Press get rich if your book succeeds? Short answer: no. If your book becomes the next blockbuster, you’re the one who should be shopping for a yacht. We keep just 10% of net royalties. You keep 90%, along with 100% of your rights.
The longer answer is worth reading, though! Before you sign with any publisher, you should understand exactly how it makes money, how royalties are calculated, and whether its incentives line up with yours. This post covers all three, with real numbers.
How royalties work at Atmosphere Press
Every Atmosphere Press package includes the same core terms:
90% of net sales go to the author. Atmosphere keeps 10%.
You keep 100% of your rights. That includes your copyright and any future film, TV, audio, translation, or other deals.
You have final say over your content and your book.
“Net” is the key word, and it trips up a lot of authors, so here’s what it means.
What “net” royalties mean
When a reader buys your book, the retailer and distributor take their share, and the book has to be printed. The amount left after those costs is the net. Royalties are a percentage of that net amount, not the cover price.
The math: what you earn vs. what we earn
Here’s an illustrative example: a 300-page, 6″ × 9″ paperback priced at $17.99.
Sold through bookstores (via a wholesaler at a standard 55% discount):
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Cover price | $17.99 |
| Received after the retailer/wholesaler discount | ~$8.10 |
| Printing cost (print-on-demand, approx.) | ~$4.60 |
| Net per copy | ~$3.50 |
| Your 90% share | ~$3.15 |
| Atmosphere’s 10% share | ~$0.35 |
Sold on Amazon:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Cover price | $17.99 |
| Amazon’s 60% royalty | ~$10.79 |
| Printing cost | ~$4.60 |
| Net per copy | ~$6.19 |
| Your 90% share | ~$5.57 |
| Atmosphere’s 10% share | ~$0.62 |
Figures are illustrative and rounded. Actual printing costs, discounts, and prices vary by book.
And if your book takes off?
| Copies sold | Your royalties (approx.) | Atmosphere’s share (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $3,150–$5,570 | $350–$620 |
| 10,000 | $31,500–$55,700 | $3,500–$6,200 |
| 100,000 | $315,000–$557,000 | $35,000–$62,000 |
| 1,000,000 (congratulations!) | $3.15M–$5.57M | $350,000–$620,000 |
Those are paperback numbers only. Ebook, hardcover, and audiobook sales add to them, and so do any film, translation, or audio deals, which are 100% yours because you keep all your rights.
So no, we won’t get rich off your book, but you might!
How does that compare to traditional publishing?
In traditional publishing, the publisher pays for production and gives the author an advance. In exchange, the publisher keeps most of the income from each sale and usually controls key rights.
| Traditional publishing | Atmosphere Press (hybrid) | Self-publishing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author royalty | Often ~7.5–10% of cover price on paperbacks, 10–15% on hardcovers, ~25% of net on ebooks | 90% of net, all formats | 100% of net |
| Author’s share on our $17.99 paperback | ~$1.35 | ~$3.15–$5.57 | ~$6.19 on Amazon |
| Upfront cost to author | $0 (plus an advance paid to you) | Package investment | You pay all vendors directly |
| Rights | Publisher typically controls many rights for the life of the contract | You keep 100% | You keep 100% |
| Creative control | Publisher has final say on title, cover, price | You have final say | You have final say |
| Professional team | Yes | Yes | You hire and manage it |
One more important difference: traditional royalties only start once your book “earns out” its advance, meaning your royalties have repaid the advance. Many traditionally published books never earn out. In that case the advance is the only money the author sees, and royalties are typically paid twice a year.
So how does Atmosphere Press make money?
Transparency is one of our founding values, so here’s the straight answer: most of our revenue comes from publishing packages, not book royalties.
That’s how hybrid publishing works. The author invests in professional editing, design, distribution, and marketing, and in return keeps far more of each sale (and all the rights) than a traditional contract would allow. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) describes hybrid publishers this way: they earn income from a combination of publishing services and book sales, and they pay authors “a higher-than-standard royalty.”
Our current packages are listed on our Publishing Packages page, with no mandatory or hidden costs beyond what’s listed.
“If you’re paid upfront, why would you care whether my book sells?”
It’s a fair question, and a smart one to ask any hybrid publisher. Here’s why your success matters to us:
Our reputation depends on it. Every Atmosphere book that earns great reviews, wins an award, or sells well is the best advertising we could ask for. Authors choose us because of the books we’ve already published.
We’re selective. We don’t publish everything that comes in. Manuscripts go through an editorial review and a pitch meeting with an acquisitions editor before any offer is made. A publisher that accepts everyone has no reason to care about quality. We do.
We still share in sales. Our 10% is small by design, but it’s real, so when your book does well, we do too.
We want you back. Many of our authors publish their second and third books with us. That only happens if the first one is a good experience.
How to evaluate any publisher’s royalty offer
Whether or not you publish with us, ask every publisher these questions before you sign:
➜ What exactly is the royalty rate, and is it based on cover price or net? Get the definition of “net” in writing.
➜ Who owns which rights? Look for audio, film, translation, and future-edition rights.
➜ How often are royalties paid, and can I see sales reports?
➜ What’s the full cost upfront? Are there any fees after signing, such as for author copies, extra edits, or marketing add-ons?
➜ Do you vet submissions? A publisher that accepts everything is a red flag.
➜ Can I see books you’ve published and talk to your authors?
➜ How do I end the contract if I need to?
A reputable hybrid publisher answers all seven clearly and in writing. For more, see the IBPA’s hybrid publisher criteria.
Hybrid Publishing Royalties FAQ
What percentage of royalties does Atmosphere Press take?
Atmosphere Press keeps 10% of net royalties. Authors receive 90%.
Do I keep the rights to my book?
Yes. Atmosphere authors keep 100% of their rights, including film, audio, and translation rights, and any income from them.
How do hybrid publishers make money?
Hybrid publishers earn income from a mix of author-funded publishing services and book sales. In exchange for that investment, authors keep a much larger share of royalties and their rights than in traditional publishing.
Is 90% royalties realistic, or is there a catch?
The 90% is calculated on net sales, meaning the amount left after retailer discounts and printing costs, not the cover price. That’s standard for hybrid publishers. Always ask for the definition of “net” in writing, from any publisher.
How does a hybrid royalty compare to a traditional one?
On a typical $17.99 paperback, a traditional royalty is often about $1.35 per copy, and only after your advance earns out. A 90%-of-net hybrid royalty on the same book is roughly $3 to $5.50 per copy, depending on where it sells.
How many copies do I need to sell to earn back my investment?
It depends on your package, price, and where your book sells. At roughly $3 to $5.50 per paperback, every 1,000 copies returns around $3,000 to $5,500 to the author. See our guide to setting realistic sales expectations.
Your book, your rights, your royalties
We built Atmosphere Press on five principles: Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Being author-friendly means your book is your book. No one should get rich off it but you.
Ready to talk about your project? Submit your manuscript. If it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to a pitch meeting with one of our acquisitions editors.
Related reading: Book Publishing FAQ · Atmosphere Press Reviews · First Steps to Publishing a Book
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.