If I opt my book into this program, can I then remove it?
Yes. However, any library that has already purchased will keep that book for the remainder of their purchased period. Your book would not be available to any new libraries once it is removed and would be removed on renewal in the case of a subscription.
Can I have more than one book in the collection?
Yes! Actually, the best way to ensure you have a good chance to earn as much as possible from the royalty pool is to submit new books regularly. Older books tend to circulate less, so adding new books will help you be discovered as an author, and once you capture a reader’s attention, they can then easily move on to read other books you have submitted.
I published my book on Amazon Kindle. Can I still participate?
We do not give authors legal advice, and Amazon has different programs with different rules. If you are part of the Amazon KDP Select program, you have given a commercial exclusive to Amazon. As you go through the sign-up process, you will be able to elect to forgo royalties. If you are not part of KDP Select, there should typically be no conflicts with participation. We encourage all authors to know what rights they have given away that may limit their participation in this program.
What if my book is already for sale on OverDrive and/or other library eBook platforms?
This is a different sales model than the typical library eBook sales model where libraries purchase one copy of an eBook to lend to patrons. In our model, libraries are building collections, and the purchase takes place at the collection level. You are part of the collection because curators thought your book was of high enough quality to be included. This does not preclude you from making your eBook available to libraries in the traditional model, and if you have availed yourself of the traditional model we encourage you to continue to do so. The different models are compatible with each other. To differentiate and ensure there is no conflict, we may issue a new identifier as the book is put up for sale in our collections.
Can I send you updated covers and/or book block files for my eBook?
If you have any updates to your eBook file or cover, you may submit the new book through the Indie Author Project program. Your new file(s) and/or information will be updated on OverDrive and other platforms upon the next collection update (typically every quarter). If you have any questions about this process, contact authors@indieauthorproject.com
How will royalties be paid?
We’ve recently partnered with Tipalti to pay royalties to authors in the program. Once you’ve opted in, you’ll receive an email from Tipalti to the payment email address provided. Simply fill out the information in the form, and you’ll be granted access to a Tipalti account where you can manage any payments. Once you receive a payment, you’ll be alerted by Tipalti and provided with several options on how to receive payment (including ACH, check, or PayPal).
How often will royalties be paid?
We are currently paying royalties in March, July, and December. Royalty payments will be based on usage and sales 6 months previous to payment (e.g. July royalty payments will reflect January sales and usage). Tipalti also requires that $20.00 USD be amassed in royalties before allowing a payout; this helps to cut down on transaction fees.
How will royalties be calculated?
Royalties are paid from a royalty pool. The royalty pool is equal to 20% of the revenue we receive from the sale of IAP collections to libraries. Not all books are included in all library collections; so, 50% of the royalty pool is paid on a per capita basis. That means you will receive a pro-rata royalty when your book is part of a collection purchased by a library. The other 50% of the royalty pool is paid out based on the usage of books. The more your book is read, the higher your portion of this 50% part of the royalty pool will be. Get the word out that your book is available in the library, and earn more royalties!
Do you offer a similar library distribution service for my print-on-demand books?
Not yet, but one is coming soon. When the program launches, we will contact you about opting in. There will be no cost to authors, and you will not need to remove any existing print books from the market. We will focus only on selling your print-on-demand book to public libraries, and you will earn money when we succeed. Participation in the digital program will be a prerequisite for participation in the print program.
I’ve opted in, so why don’t I see my book in the collection on OverDrive, cloudLibrary, etc.?
We update each Commercial Collection every 6 months (typically in June and December). If you have opted in, but don’t see your book in the current collection, it will likely be included in the next update. You’ll be notified when your book is available.
Do I have access to any information about specific sales or lending data?
At this time, we do not have an author dashboard. That is on our development roadmap. We can provide authors with information about which libraries have purchased their book(s). Regarding specific lending information, we are working with libraries and distribution partners to provide as much information as we can while preserving patron privacy.
Do you accept audiobooks?
Yes, the Indie Author Project Select program has expanded to audiobooks. You can submit your audiobook here for consideration: Indie Author Project – Audiobooks If your book is selected, you will receive an email about opting into the commercial collections. The process and terms for royalties for the audiobooks program are the same as those in place for eBooks.
Will I receive a 1099 at the end of the year?
We currently mail 1099s for authors earning royalties of $600 or more in a calendar year. For authors eligible for a 1099, it will be physically mailed to you using the address specified in the Tipalti system. Please note, the 1099 will be from Lyrasis. the parent company of the Indie Author Project. The company will appear as follows:
LYRASIS
3390 PEACHTREE RD., NE
SUITE 400
ATLANTA GA 30326
I’m having trouble signing up through the Tipalti system.
Tipalti requires that your legal and/or business name and address be entered exactly as it appears on your required W9 form. If you’ve uploaded the form and believe your information is entered exactly as it appears and are still receiving an error, please reach out to us at: payments@indieauthorproject.com
How can I access the IAP Author Panel?
Use your BiblioBoard account to log into the IAP Author Panel.
You should have received account information via email after you opted into the IAP Commercial Collections.
If you don’t have a BiblioBoard account, you can create one using the prompts on the Author Panel sign in, or contact support@biblioboard.com to receive account information.
My book information is incorrect in the Author Panel. What should I do?
If you see any errors in the book information (including outdated covers, typos, incorrect descriptions, etc.), please contact authors@indieauthorproject.com and describe the changes that need to be made. We will address those as soon as possible.
Am I able to make changes to my books in the Author Panel?
Currently, authors are unable to edit their book details. We are planning on adding this functionality in the near future, so please look out for more information on how this panel will expand and develop.
My total royalties don’t match what I’ve been paid in Tipalti. What should I do?
It is possible for there to be some discrepancies between payment month in Tipalti and payment month in the Author Panel (due to Tipalti processing times, account status, etc.). However, if your royalty total in the author panel does not match that displayed in Tipalti, this is in error.
Please reach out to payments@bibliolabs.com with your name and book title(s). We will hunt down the issue and provide you with detailed reporting to ensure this is resolved.
I waived my royalties, or I opted my books out of the program. Why do I still have royalty payments?
If you’ve opted in your books and opted to receive royalties at any point in the process, you may have been opted in when a sale was made. You are entitled to any royalties generated during this time.
The current status of your waived royalties or opted out books are reflected in the Author Panel. If you wish to change any of these statuses (i.e. would like to opt in or unwaive royalties), you may do so by emailing payments@bibliolabs.com for assistance.
I’ve never received any royalties from Tipalti. How do I get this set up?
You’ll need to receive a secure link to set up your Tipalti account. Reach out to payments@bibliolabs.com with your name and book title(s) to get this sent to you.
If you have set up your Tipalti account, you may have some incomplete information that is preventing your payments from processing.
Log into Tipalti here: https://suppliers.tipalti.com/bibliolabs/account/login
NOTE: Depending on your screen size, you may need to scroll to the right to see the login fields.
I opted in my book several months ago. Why don’t I have any royalties?
If you’ve opted in your book and don’t see any royalties, there could be a few reasons for this:
- Royalties are paid 6 months after a sale is made. It could be that you have earned royalties, but the payment window has not started yet. Royalties are paid starting 6 months after the sale of your book.
- Your book isn’t active in the Commercial Collections. It could be that your book has been opted in, but we’ve been unable to add it to the Commercial Collections successfully. This is typically because we do not have the appropriate EPUB format of the eBook. You would have been notified by email if this was the case.
- Your book hasn’t been a part of any library sales. It could be that your book hasn’t been purchased by any libraries just yet. Visit your local library or libraries in your area to spread the word about this collection and how it helps give back to creators in the community.
I have other books in the Indie Author Project. Why don’t I see them here?
The Author Panel is currently displaying information about Commercial Collections books. If you have other books in the general Indie Author Project, you won’t be able to see them here today. However, we have plans to add this information to the panel later in 2022. You’ll receive email communication when we do. If you have other requests or feedback about what you see here, please contact us!