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Author contracts need updating to reflect the fact that writers are taking an increasingly active role in promoting their books, Philippa Milnes-Smith, president of the Association of Authors Agents, has said.
Milnes-Smith said that contracts, which have historically precluded supplying books to authors for resale, are in need of a revamp. "If an author can make significant sales on his/her behalf should this not be actively facilitated?" she said.
She also questioned the level of discount given to authors, saying: "It used to be the case that authors received favourable discount terms on author copies—i.e. terms above standard trade discounts. But while publishers have extended further discounts to trade customers they largely haven't done so to authors, with the result that many authors now get worse discount terms than most customers."
Mark Le Fanu, general secretary of the Society of Authors, said the issue was one where practice had "crept away" from the contract. "Authors these days should be free to sell copies and in practice they do—it's good for the publishers. Once upon a time they were a bit worried about offending booksellers but publishers are so promiscuous about who they sell to nowadays." However, he said he was "happy" with current discount levels, which are 50% as standard for trade books, although there are publishers which offer only 35%. "Of course one would like 80%," he added.
A prominent author, who preferred not to be named, said: "If a discount percentage is enshrined in the contract for 'direct author sales', it should be along the lines of 'at least x%' so there's still room for some negotiation (for the author's benefit) should market forces change."