"Career stage is important!" The typical first-time author earns roughly $600. Self-published authors make far less than officially published authors, while some claim to trade book sales for school visits. School visits can be fun and exciting - but also expensive. The average cost of a tour is about $10,000 with expenses including travel, food, and lodging. A top university professor said that he spent as much as $50,000 on research for his books alone.