Something you may not have thought about before – what happens when a self-published writer dies

Very useful information

This is an interesting article by Derek Haines, a Cambridge CELTA English teacher and author who has been blogging for years about writing and related issues.

Here he digs into what happens to books and royalties after the death of a self-published author. For traditionally published authors there’s unlikely to be an issue as there’s usually a clause in the original contract which covers the situation. However, things aren’t always so clear for those who have gone down the self-published route – although the eventual outcome should be the same ie: your books form part of your estate.

What struck me is that we can’t take for granted that our non-writing friends and family will be aware that copyright does not die with the writer. It exists for 70 years after the death of the author: 70 years when your books might still be earning money.

Click on the link…

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About Daniel Kemp

At the age of seventy-six, Daniel Kemp has started his second year of studying the science of Psychology at the Open University. He is a member of The Society of Authors and also a bestselling writer. However, in early September 2025, he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in palliative care at home, being looked after by his ex-wife. When he was writing his novels, he enjoyed writing stories that appealed to those who liked challenging themselves to solve mysteries that were set out before their eyes, but they couldn't. His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself! On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden. Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company. All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series. He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel. Less

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