SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR FRIENDSThis *INSANE* email from Barnes & Noble WTF—no more than 100 books and they start deleting??—removing titles that don't meet minimum sales?
-
@Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart
You need to do what works for you, but with enshittification, there's no "clean" answer for "where to publish your books." Earlier in the year, I sat down and took a hard look at all the terrible things happening (including D2D, AI in KDP etc) and decided it was more important to get my subversive books to people, even if I have to use shitty retailers. But I would try to move people toward bookshop (and the library) because it's a more ethical option.
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart definitely. I'm not exactly stingy because of how many hoops I end up having to jump through as an author based in Kenya. So if I get a place that works, I rarely pass it up.
-
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart definitely. I'm not exactly stingy because of how many hoops I end up having to jump through as an author based in Kenya. So if I get a place that works, I rarely pass it up.
@MisWiredKE @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart
Authors outside the US definitely face challenges that it's hard for me to see; but the biggest challenge seems to be that things just change so quickly. Just when you think you know how it all works, Ingramspark will drop their fees (or D2D will introduce new ones!). It's a challenge to keep up, but that's also why I love the indie author community -- because we help each other out!
-
@MisWiredKE @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart
Authors outside the US definitely face challenges that it's hard for me to see; but the biggest challenge seems to be that things just change so quickly. Just when you think you know how it all works, Ingramspark will drop their fees (or D2D will introduce new ones!). It's a challenge to keep up, but that's also why I love the indie author community -- because we help each other out!
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart true. Like I just took a look at IngramSpark and apparently my country doesn't support digital signatures (something I didn't know or realize until now).
So I absolutely appreciate the indie author community when they talk about things. Even if I ultimately don't use it, I can always share that information.
-
@Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart
Just FYI: I use IngramSpark direct for print distribution (to get to Bookshop, libraries and bookstores worldwide, etc). They did away with upload fees, free ISBN, same (if not better) quality as KDP. I haven't got all my books moved over there yet, but just because I have a big catalog.
Kobo also has an option to distribute ebooks to libraries, which is a great reason to go direct with them.
In case you haven't seen it: https://wandering.shop/@susankayequinn/115895107254032111
Oh! I didn't realize that Ingram Spark did away with the fee. That does make it easier to go direct with them for print.
-
@Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart
You need to do what works for you, but with enshittification, there's no "clean" answer for "where to publish your books." Earlier in the year, I sat down and took a hard look at all the terrible things happening (including D2D, AI in KDP etc) and decided it was more important to get my subversive books to people, even if I have to use shitty retailers. But I would try to move people toward bookshop (and the library) because it's a more ethical option.
Oh, yeah. I sorted my links in B2R accordingly (although I did put my direct store first). Need to bring the libraries up higher, but I did push Amazon down.
-
@Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart
You need to do what works for you, but with enshittification, there's no "clean" answer for "where to publish your books." Earlier in the year, I sat down and took a hard look at all the terrible things happening (including D2D, AI in KDP etc) and decided it was more important to get my subversive books to people, even if I have to use shitty retailers. But I would try to move people toward bookshop (and the library) because it's a more ethical option.
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart My current Evil Idea (tm) is to put the so-called "reader magnet" stuff (background stories, et. al.) up on Amazon as low cost e-books and have the back matter point readers to my website where they can get the full book. The inexpensive stuff will still be complete works, but adjacent to the actual novel.
-
R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
-
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart My current Evil Idea (tm) is to put the so-called "reader magnet" stuff (background stories, et. al.) up on Amazon as low cost e-books and have the back matter point readers to my website where they can get the full book. The inexpensive stuff will still be complete works, but adjacent to the actual novel.
I understand that plan, but you will make readers angry more than anything - at least that would be my worry.
I have backmatter that points to my store, and I offer a Book of the Month there at a price reduced by coupon (that way, Amazon doesn't wince).
It is difficult to move Kindle readers away from their walled garden, I mean, I'm trying. I buy direct as much as I can, at least.
I hope it works for you!
-
I understand that plan, but you will make readers angry more than anything - at least that would be my worry.
I have backmatter that points to my store, and I offer a Book of the Month there at a price reduced by coupon (that way, Amazon doesn't wince).
It is difficult to move Kindle readers away from their walled garden, I mean, I'm trying. I buy direct as much as I can, at least.
I hope it works for you!
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @MisWiredKE @hiisikoloart Hey, they can get an EPUB file from me and read it on their device, DRM free. If you mean Kindle Unlimited, I ain't never touching that crap.
As for making them angry, I'm not going to be misleading. This stuff (if I ever execute on the idea) would be billed as backstory/sidestory stuff right up front.
-
R relay@relay.publicsquare.global shared this topic
-
I understand that plan, but you will make readers angry more than anything - at least that would be my worry.
I have backmatter that points to my store, and I offer a Book of the Month there at a price reduced by coupon (that way, Amazon doesn't wince).
It is difficult to move Kindle readers away from their walled garden, I mean, I'm trying. I buy direct as much as I can, at least.
I hope it works for you!
@alan I agree with @Firlefanz that Amazon readers will not be excited about having to go off-platform to get the books. It's fine to have free reader magnets on Amazon (great in fact)and it's fine to have other options for getting books and encouraging people to go there, but making your stuff exclusively available on your website will limit your reach.
My approach is to make my books available everywhere and try to educate readers to move to more-ethical book buying:
https://susankayequinn.com/how-to-buy-sues-books-a-guide-to-retailers -
@alan I agree with @Firlefanz that Amazon readers will not be excited about having to go off-platform to get the books. It's fine to have free reader magnets on Amazon (great in fact)and it's fine to have other options for getting books and encouraging people to go there, but making your stuff exclusively available on your website will limit your reach.
My approach is to make my books available everywhere and try to educate readers to move to more-ethical book buying:
https://susankayequinn.com/how-to-buy-sues-books-a-guide-to-retailers@susankayequinn @Firlefanz Free? Free my ass. Pay $0.99 for my side-story or GTFO. You want free, join my mailing list! I'm sick and tired of indie authors being so complicit in building their own ghetto.
TANSTAAFLAlso, excluding Amazon doesn't mean I'll be excluding other platforms. It's really a question if they go over an enshittification threshold, and Amazon has just recently cleared that bar.
