Most writers don't even come close to making a living with their writing. Almost all of them have a day job or a husband or wife who supports them. Many write for the joy of seeing their work in print. Or they write because it feels wonderful to create something. These people often don't mind giving away free books or to entertain an audience for free. I envy them, but alas I am the other kind of novelist. I depend entirely on selling books for my income. When my family moved from Zimbabwe to the United States, we were only allowed to take $500 with us. While we were very happy to be in the U.S., it meant several years of frightening poverty. This ended when I began to sell books.
Yet we have never become rich. We are like the people who run the mom-and-pop store on the corner. Expenses are high and one bad year can ruin the business. I am trying to explain why I don't give away free books. Many people have written to me for them, expecting me to pay the postage as well. I can't do this any more than a grocer can give away free hamburger. So please don't think I am being heartless turning you down. It's simply how the business works.
26 Comments
Julie Minnette
11/7/2008 10:29:49 am
First of all I want to say I LOVE THE SEA OF TROLLS! I teach 7th grade literature and we read the book as a class. You cannot imagine the response. Students who never liked reading are already reading THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES. I don't "talk books" with them right now, because I myself have not read the sequel, and want to find out what happens on my own! I have spent the last 30 minutes reading some of our Q&A's and comments. To answer, "why people want to meet authors"... because on paper you seem so interesting. My students are pumped to know you are still living...(most authors read in school today died a long time ago:) I will point them to your website, just so they can "meet" you here. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that 27 (myself included) people in East Tennessee think that you are an excellent writer. My class is working me up to read THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES next. I selfishly want to read it myself first! Your writing covers so many skills needed to be taught, that I think next year they could name my class TROLLS 101, and we will just read your Troll series and use if for everything... obviously I am a HUGE fan. You write with such detail that we all felt like we were with Jack on his adventures...right down to the nastiness in the bottom of the boat. Most of my students were disappointed when Jack left Thorgill...even my boys are romantics in hiding:) Thank you for the experience to get to read such a wonderful book with my students!
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Aaron Staples
12/2/2008 09:26:54 am
Dear Ms. Nancy Farmer,
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Ashley Birdwell
12/21/2008 09:31:36 am
Hi Nancy I'm Ashley Birdwell and I'm a 6th grader. You really made me cry, because The Sea of Trolls is the BEST BOOK I ever read, and it was real disapointing to see the end of the book,and also knowing Olaf One-Brow had died, I even ended up cring on my best friend's shoulder, at least he's in that good old Valhalla. The book first cault my eye with the word TROLL. You see I play this online game called World of Warcraft and one of the characters you can chose from are the trolls. Well any ways at first I thought this was going to be an ordanory book so I just started reading it, and since I'm into history, legions, and folklore it just sucked the gamer girl right out of me. I'm glad there's a sequel to it and I can't wait to read i, I hope it's as long, or longer than The Sea of Trolls. By the way I too started writing my own book, I even started last year, but it's kind of going slow at least it was until I read your book and remembered to read up on legions and such.
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1/12/2009 05:41:12 am
Dear Mrs. Farmer,
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Cassandra C.
1/25/2009 09:44:58 pm
Hey, i have a question. Me and my friends @ Northwest Middle School are debating on whiether Tam Lin is dead or alive after El Patrons funeral. I say he is dead but my friend Ricky thinks he is alive. We are debating on it in class if you can answer me i would greatly apprieate it. thanks,
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Denisha
1/25/2009 09:50:36 pm
why did you make tam lin die my frend cassandra says that he died but i dont care cause he still lives on in my heart
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Hope Madden
1/28/2009 03:26:32 am
Dear Ms. Farmer,
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2/23/2009 05:46:54 am
i wonder if you could in the future do the next part of the house of the scorpions
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Peter Wilson
3/9/2009 12:51:03 pm
Ms. Farmer:
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Cassie
3/19/2009 05:57:11 am
Dear Mrs Farmer im reading your book House of the scorpion you did a great job. How did You ever come up with all these great ideas. I like writing but it just seems like it takes for ever. One day i would love to have made a whole series that would be great. i have a Question at what age did you start writting.
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Cassie
3/19/2009 05:59:35 am
Are you going to write a sequel to
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jordan
4/9/2009 02:30:22 am
Can you tell me why you wrote the book the warm place?
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drew thompson
4/23/2009 12:36:57 pm
I read your book house of the scorpion i LOVED it the beast book i ever read.It defiantly earned it's 3 awards.also I am glad you did not take the contract ware they get all the characters and what-ever.I also think that the book is something that the makers of the muffets should not get any rights to.however I can not what for gods ash tray.also I am a 11 year old and I found that book quite easy.I think you should make the next book actually not a less than one week read.besides that the book and am hopping that all of your other books will be as excellent of a read.thank you for writing this book.
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Mikayla
4/28/2009 03:02:58 am
Me and my grade 8 class have just finished reading The House of the Scorpion and we absolutley fell in love with your characters!We are so excited for the movie to come out and for the sequel to come out also.Do you have any plans to continue on your series after you are finished the sequel.I have just ordered a Girl Named Disaster from my school and i am getting myself prepared for another heartwarming story!
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Alana Kilcoyne
5/6/2009 10:29:23 am
In my 6th grade humanities group, we have just started reading The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm. I find the book very easy, almost to easy, and I was wondering if you thought that the book was appropriate for my class to be reading. Also, what age group do you write for, if any?
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Sarah Hawley
7/10/2009 02:22:43 pm
Dear Mrs. Farmer,
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Megan Holden
10/5/2009 05:33:26 am
Hi Nancy,
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noel knight
10/20/2009 09:21:54 am
hey! i seriously want to become an author. can you help me. please... i already have ideas for books. if you can help me please e-mail me at knightno@wsdmail.net please. because i know this is my calling. thank you
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Benjamin
11/13/2009 10:50:18 pm
Hello Nancy Farmer, I love your Trolls trilogy so much but I was a little disappointed about the ending of the third book. It would be a good one if you were to write a 4th book. So if you could, tons of people would love it. If you were to write a 4th book then I would love to hear more about Jack and Thorgil at the school of bards. And also is the Bard telling the truth about St. Columba or is he himself St. Columba? Sorry about your eye. Thanks, Benjamin Gallegos PS My Mom and sister are your biggest fans. My Mom can read the Old English, so she was the only one... but she says you do the best job of people who use it.
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Joe
11/20/2009 05:27:21 am
Wow, Nancy Farmer. You make the *best* books ever. I'm in the 7th grade, and I am hooked to the book The House of the Scorpion. I hate to say it, but that's actually a good plan to live forever: get a clone and replace your organs with his/hers every, say, 100 years. I feel bad for Matt; he thought El Patrón loved him but he only wanted Matt's organs. I want a clone!
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Dear Nancy!
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j
12/14/2009 12:57:22 am
i luv 2 write.plz,tellme how u do it! im Jadybug1998@yahoo.com.plzplzplz
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Lorose Williams
1/7/2010 01:35:15 am
Nancy,
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Lucas and Julian
1/15/2010 09:49:23 pm
Hi Nancy,
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Adam Edwards
5/11/2010 07:20:42 am
Hello Nancy I just wanted to say that im your biggest fan EVER!! I'm just wondering , if you don't mind, that you can tell me what inspired you to write your book *The House Of The Scripion* because it's my favorite book. Please write back your BIGGEST FAN, Adam Edwards
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