Textbook Authoring Insight: Percentage of Royalties to Offer New Coauthor on Long-Running Successful Textbook

We asked several veteran TAA textbook author members to respond to a fellow member’s inquiry on how to compensate a new coauthor, and we’re sharing those responses with all members who may find it helpful as they also grapple with this issue.

This was the question posed: A TAA author with a long-running, high-earning solo textbook is transitioning to retirement and is about to engage a junior coauthor. They plan to coauthor about two more editions before the senior author retires entirely. The senior author is seeking information or recommendations on the initial division of royalties—what percentage of the royalties to offer the new coming author for their first edition together, to be fair, incentivizing, and within professional norms.

Your Author Bio: Time to Shine

By John Bond

 If you’re an academic venturing into the world of publishing, your author bio is a small but important tool. It travels with your work, shapes how readers see you, and often determines whether media, conference organizers, or potential collaborators take a second look. But too many scholars undersell themselves here. Let me be blunt: humility has no place in your author bio. This is not your departmental webpage. It’s your moment to shine.

2026 TAA Textbook Awards Nominations Open Until Nov. 1

Nominations for TAA’s 2026 Textbook Awards is now open. Recognize your textbook today by nominating it for one our industry-respected awards:

McGuffey Longevity Award – to recognize long-standing textbooks and learning materials that have been in print for at least 15 years.

Textbook Excellence Award – to recognize excellence in current textbooks and learning materials.

Most Promising New Textbook Award – to recognize promising textbooks and learning materials in their first edition.

Learn more and start preparing your nomination.

TAA Reduces Nomination Fees for Member Author Nominators

Starting with the 2026 Textbook Awards, TAA member author nominators will be able to nominate their works at a discounted rate. The TAA member-author nomination rate will be $250 (one book or two-book series) and $400 (three-book series). Publisher nomination rates will increase to $450 (one book or two-book series) $700 (three-book series). 2026 Textbook Awards Nominations are open September 1 to November 1.