@727de273 @0aaea717 

Of course, this is nothing compared to what's happening in the Supreme Court - with Justice Jackson getting $3mil, Barrett receiving a $2mil, Gorsuch $650k - all in advances. 

And it isn't uncommon as you mentioned, many senators, ex-presidents, or other staffers or related folks have done it. 

Is it right? I don't know. Making money via a creative outlet as a side gig, I'm kinda cool with. But 100% whoever has done this needs to exclude themselves from making decisions that impact publishers or publishing as this would be a conflict of interest. I think this is actually the bigger question - are they doing this?

Can they do it? Sure. I've tried writing a novel while working full-time, it takes forever and kinda sucks but I do work more than 133 days a year and don't travel. If I was on buses or planes I could write there I suppose (I've done it before). Writing a kid's book (and not doing the illustrations) would be easily tackleable with a full-time gig.

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