[ajbarnett]

I'm envious of the sales you guys accrue. Wish mine amounted to something worth while.

Guess I'll stack mine for ten years then blow it on a bottle of wine.

 

[jimbronyaur]

My first earnings check was enough to cover a can of formula for my son with enough left over so that I could buy each of my sons a Hot Wheels car.  Best money I've ever spent. 

-jb

 

[Debi F]

I bought a Jaguar XJ220.

Here's a photo of it.

Nice!

My brother got my son a limo for his ride home from the hospital (after said son was born). It came in the same sort of packaging!

 

[xandy3]

Back in the day, when I went the TP Route:  two music CD's.

My first as an indie author: A full tank of gas I think.  Oh wait no...I used it for emergency vehicle repairs.  I knew it was something auto related. 

 

[sportourer1s]

A cup of tea and I was still 13p short!

 

[MariaESchneider]

My first check will go toward paying the cover artist for my second book.

Mark, Who did the cover art for your first book? It's awesome!

 

[J. Carson Black]

My first significant author earnings were back in the early 90s, when I wrote a comic script that did very well (right before the comic book boom turned into a comic book bust). I had heard from James Ellroy that when he sold his first novel, he bought an expensive sweater he'd had his eye on, knowing that the money would soon be gone but he would have the sweater forever. Since my first comic script paid me about as much as his first novel, I followed his lead and I bought a fairly pricey fringed western jacket (that I still have, and it's still in good shape). The money didn't last long, but the jacket is forever.

That jacket is quite handsome, Jeff! I've always admired it.

 

[JodyWallace]

With my first advance, years ago, I bought my first laptop. Mostly the checks go into our general fund, but when I got a nicer than usual check from one of my publishers last year, it boosted us into a situation to invest in a fancy tv to replace our 15 yr old monster set . MUCH easier to see Castle when we don't have to squint! Now I'm waiting for the self-pub checks to add up to my next cover and/or copyedit. Wax on, wax off. Etc.

 

[Mark Fassett]

Mark, Who did the cover art for your first book? It's awesome!

An artist named Joe Slucher did the art. He was really great to work with and I can't wait to see what he's going to do for the next one (but I have to wait, anyway ).

 

[southerntype]

when I got a nicer than usual check from one of my publishers last year, it boosted us into a situation to invest in a fancy tv to replace our 15 yr old monster set . MUCH easier to see Castle

I LOVE Castle.

 

[MQ]

I'm still waiting for my first big fat royalty check

Whenever I get one I'd probably re-invest by buying another KND (the last one really boosted the sales and my fragile ego )