Answering Your Questions Part 1: How Do Book Deals Work?

How Publishing Contracts Work—and When Authors Get Paid

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Many of you know this already, but for those who are new here: my mission—and what I’ve dedicated the last decade to—is covering the mystery and thriller genre from top to bottom. Before that, I spent years in sports journalism, even covering an NFL team for a full season, before making the leap to publishing and launching The Real Book Spy (which is now moving to Substack). My approach hasn’t changed: I bring the same mindset I had on the sidelines to my favorite genre—treating it with the same depth, detail, and respect.

That means I’m not just tracking new releases, but also spotlighting authors, their characters, and breaking exclusive news, covering all the big developments shaping the publishing industry. My goal is simple: to keep you informed on everything you care about in the thriller world.

To do that, I welcome questions and suggestions—so don’t hesitate to reach out here on Substack Messenger or by email at Ryan@TheRealBookSpy.com anytime.

One thing I’ll be trying to do every week or two is a write-up answering the questions you all send my way. And hands down, the most common one I’ve heard over the years—usually from aspiring authors—is about book deals. How do they really work? More specifically, how and when do authors actually get paid once they sign a publishing contract?

Whelp, to kick off this new TRBS Substack segment, I’ll start by tackling that very question.

In addition to being The Real Book Spy, I have also been a freelance developmental editor for many years, working with some exceptional writers, including New York Times bestsellers such as Ted Bell, right on down to hopeful debuts. Then, in 2021, I signed my first book deal, and the following fall, my debut thriller, Fields of Fire—the first book in my Matthew Redd series—hit bookstores. Since then, I’ve published five more novels, including my first since taking over Bell’s Alexander Hawke series, Ted Bell’s Monarch, and am set to launch a new series I co-wrote with Simon Gervais, a good friend of mine, later this winter when The Second Son comes out.

I’ve signed traditional publishing contracts with three major publishers, including Penguin Random House, which is worth noting before I answer your question because the first thing you should know is that every contract is different. Let’s get into it . . .

For many writers, landing a publishing deal is the ultimate dream. Sure, it’s a nice payday, but it can also feel validating after years of working, pounding away on your keyboard—hoping, praying someone will want to read your work.

But after the champagne corks pop, questions quickly follow:

What exactly did I just sign?

When will I see money?

I’ll explain everything below and list different standard payout structures to help simplify things as much as possible.

Now, just an FYI—but I’ll be breaking down how fiction publishing contracts typically work and what authors can expect when it comes to receiving payment. Nonfiction is more or less the same, but there can be some slight differences, which I’ll touch on another day.

Landing Your First Book Deal

A publishing contract is the legal agreement between an author and a publisher. That part is obvious, right? Here’s another thing that may seem obvious to some, but others may not know, and it’s the first crucial step.