Gift from client - is this normal?

[RuneGuardian]

A few weeks back while in the process of arranging a project, my client asked me on short notice to do an illustration for an upcoming book. I got it done and was paid promptly, and today (about a month after getting the check for that image) I received a free copy of that book. I'm just wondering if this is normal or not - I'm definitely not complaining because it was a wonderful surprise and is a very interesting book. I'm just wondering if this is customary for published work or if my client happens to be very benevolent.

[Gigi]

I don't know if it's customary or not, but it was a gracious thing for the author to do, and an acknowledgement of the part you played in helping to meet a deadline.  This client sounds like a keeper.

[Lunadiana75]

It sounds like you have a gracious client who is very grateful you helped her/him get out of a tight spot. 

[Virg]

RuneGuardian wrote:

"I'm just wondering if this is customary for published work or if my client happens to be very benevolent."

It's neither customary nor unusual.  When I was working as an editor, I often got copies of publications from people I worked with, but I never expected anything.  Some liked to do it, and others wouldn't.  The biggest problem I had was that a large percentage (about 4 of 5) of my clients were from outside North America, so I'd often get books and other works in languages I can't read.  One delightful client sent me a copy of her world-famous book, and then later called to ask if I'd gotten it and if I'd enjoyed it.  It was a good thing she called, since the text was in Russian and I couldn't even divine the name of the author from the cover, so I had no idea who to thank for it until she called.

Simply acknowledge it as a kind gesture from a grateful client, and you'll be fine.

Virg

[twinkletoes]

I think it's pretty cool.  And hey, you have a nice addition to your portfolio!

[MDefarge]

I think it's pretty cool.  And hey, you have a nice addition to your portfolio!

Just going to make this point - my company recently had sweatshirts/tee shirts and rubber bands made up w. our logo on them and the printer asked for 1 of each to show to potential customers.  It is a very nice gesture to send you a copy but maybe not something that would seem unusual on their end. (if that made any sense?)

[Thipu1]

Sending you a copy of the book was a very nice thing for your client to do and it isn't all that unusual.  At least in the academic world, authors often send copies to people who have helped with the publication or the research in some way.

[caranfin]

Not standard, but not unusual either.

[RuneGuardian]

Thank you for the clarification, everyone. Also, I have no idea if it was the author who sent it to me - my client is the editor. In any case, it was a lovely surprise.

[Slartibartfast]

From what I've heard from a friend in the law-textbook-publishing business, it's fairly common to offer a free copy of your work in print, especially if you were particularly helpful to the author (acting as a primary source for material, or allowed a large amount of your own material like research or artwork to be published).  I know for young adult fiction, the artists who design the covers (which may or may not reflect how the characters are actually described in the book!) will often get a free copy if they are not part of the "stable" of regular artists employed by that particular publisher.

[Lisbeth]

A publisher I did some copyediting for sent me a complimentary copy of the book once it came out.

I hadn't expected that at all, and I wrote him immediately to thank him.

I don't know that it's "customary" to do this, but it's a nice gesture.