Lock Down Is Just Beginning

The revenge of the 3 month delay

The shut down started about three months ago, the same amount of time that distributors take to pay publishers for books sold. On July 5, we will receive payment for books ordered in March. This means that publishing will now catch up to bookstores, bars, hair salons, Chuck E. Cheese, airlines, and all the other industries whose revenue was suddenly slashed.

At Belt, we have a bit of padding, because large advance orders for our April books shipped in early March, right before the end. So in July we will receive a decent check from our distributor.

But in August, when we receive the money for April sales, we will receive $0.00 from them. In September, when we receive payment for May sales, we will receive a nominal amount, far far less than we need. October—the June month—is also looking pretty grim. I hope to hell that November (July) gets closer to normal. But who the hell knows.

This means that Belt is entering at least three months of austerity. I have no idea how many other publis…