Announcement: My New Store!
I am exhausted, physically and mentally, but I finally have my new store up and running! I had to not only figure out how to build one and get all the finer details down pat, but I also had to register for two different vendor’s licenses for Ohio to collect sales tax from other Ohioans. Psst…if you’re an author, I do not suggest trying to cheat the system if you plan on keeping inventory and selling it. Make sure you do things right to avoid IRS and state agency headaches later. Uncle Sam knows. Oh, he knows!
For the unsigned copies of my books, Amazon handles all the business side of things, to include collecting sales tax. I don’t have to do anything except continue to write books and collect royalties. Oh, and promote, promote, promote. If you haven’t read my blog “8 Lessons Learned from the Literary Publishing and Media World,” I talk about how you will have to be your own best salesperson and fan of your book. For the most part, it’s been great not having to deal with the business side of things! Ahhhhhh! Until I have to pay taxes on said royalties. Ha ha! Yes, if you are thinking of becoming an author, your royalties are taxable as regular income.
But people wanted signed books, and I have to say I am completely flattered. It was an unexpected surprise, and one that makes me very happy!
So I ordered a batch of books to see how this goes, upgraded my Squarespace website plan to accommodate a store, and educated myself on Ohio’s laws. Lots of work! Whew! And I thought California laws were confusing. It actually wasn’t that bad once I was able to get out from under the mounds of information just to get where I needed to register. Ohio, if you’re reading this…please streamline it better. At least have a section about internet sellers. That would be so helpful! I was pretty confused for a while. But now that registrations are conducted online, that part was a snap! Last time I had a reseller’s license in California, nothing was done online. It was all paperwork and visiting different agencies. Yeah, that’s how long ago it was.
So, now I hold Ohio’s county vendor’s license—required for internet sales—and a transient vendor’s license for when Rob and I do conventions and maybe even fairs in the future. Woo hoo!
My store has one item right now in limited quantities, which is a personalized and signed paperback copy of my book The Ghosts of Misawa Air Base and Other Phenomena. You can find the shop in the menu bar above, or by clicking HERE. Signed copies are only available here on my website. If there is a demand, I may offer this indefinitely, especially for future books.
If you want unsigned copies, please visit my Amazon listing. Amazon purchases are cheaper because they handle everything with no overhead or inventory on my part. Plus you get free shipping with them if you have Prime! I am now also an Amazon affiliate for my own book, as well. I decided to go ahead and sign up after discovering a podcaster was making money off my Amazon listing. There’s nothing wrong with what he did, but I’m bringing it back home to where it belongs for our kids, grandchild, and future generations.
I so appreciate everyone who has bought my book or supported it in one way or another. You have made this newbie author’s dream come true and the journey has been amazing. I couldn’t do it without you all! Without readers, the book may have well just continued living in my head and oral stories. Thank you a million times over!