Ka-Ching!

I love the first week of October, and not just because it begins with my birthday. No, I love it because it's when royalty statements arrive.

For the most part writers are paid twice a year--the first week of April and the first week of October. The April check is for books sold during the previous July through December, and the October check is for books sold during the previous January through June. There are other royalty payment systems, but this is the standard one.

This week I received tw...