So, there’s a few news stories about books recently that have me thinking of this topic.
It’s been reported that the RNC purchased $100,000 worth of ‘Triggered’ which is currently #2 on the non-fiction listings. The RNC claims it has made $500,000 from sales of the book, but there are not really any sources provided to understand what the cost per book they paid or what sort fundraising was done with the book.
This book is retailing at $30 but sells for $18 on Amazon. There is a Salon article claiming that other Republicans are ‘offering’ the book with donations greater than $35 (Rep. Matt Gaetz aka Rep Turdnugget and Rep Kevin McCarthy). Also according to the Times, "The Texas Republican Party bought copies of the book (Triggered) to give 'as a gift to each of the attendees.”
I recalled when they were trying to shame Bernie about being a millionaire that he stated he had a best selling book. So I looked at his last few tax returns and it indeed seems that he made approx $700k in '16 and '17 from such royalties with only $300k in '18. His book is selling hardcopy on Amazon for $9 but can be purchased on his campaign page for $15.
The above seem likely at least arguably ok but now to something much worse. Former Baltimore Mayor Caroline Pugh served on the board of the University of Maryland Medical System as a member of the board. She wrote a series of childrens books called ‘Healthy Holly’ which a vendor of the UMMS purchased at least 20,000 copies of (she claimed $100k profit from these books on a disclosure form but NYT claims the total figure is above $500,000). To make things more hilarious 9,000 copies turned up in the basement of a Baltimore School District warehouse, so clearly they were well sought after.
So what’s the deal with these? Do you think these vanilla book deals are legit, in bad taste or otherwise?