Bristol: The Inside Story

[TLF799R]

The retailer decides the actual price of the book, the publisher
"suggests" a price on the book but these days that is very rarely taken seriously.
The retailer buys the book at retail minus a percentage (usually 40% but
higher if you have big buying power). Nowadays you are better putting a higher
set price on the book as you know it will be discounted down heavily
anyway.

In my experience the author has very little say beyond "suggestions"
initially. The life of an author is a pretty poor one unless you hit a
bestseller. Usually your advance covers the potential royalties for the print run
the publisher has printed. No one generally makes any money until you reprint
and these days that is pretty rare unless you are JK Rowling.

Philippa