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?
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@faduda @susankayequinn
I have my hands more than full with my small art business and can't afford any co-op fees. Nor do I have time for setting up a co-op. (You mean business sense, right?)I could maybe trade services with someone to help me manage the workload...but thus far haven't found anyone who would barter those skills for art. (^_^)*
My dreams aren't dead yet, but I know some who are so utterly dejected they might not write anymore at all.
I want to offer to trade, bc I could really use art for book covers rather than trying to cobble something up myself, and I don't mind doing publishing stuff. But my health is such I'm not very reliable in terms of getting shit done in a timely fashion.
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I will just toss out that after I stopped paying for Amazon Ads, Google Play Store has become the biggest earning place for me.
And you can't reach them through D2D anyway, you have to go direct with them. They make it fairly easy, too.
It took about a year for my books to take off there, but now I'm glad I publish with them.
(Even if they are evil... *sigh*)
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart wait, you can publish on Google Play Store? That's news to me.
Honestly, I only really use KDP for physical copies of my book (in case someone wants one). But I really need to diversify my revenue streams (both as an author and as a content creator)
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@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart wait, you can publish on Google Play Store? That's news to me.
Honestly, I only really use KDP for physical copies of my book (in case someone wants one). But I really need to diversify my revenue streams (both as an author and as a content creator)
Yes, you can. They call it the Partner Center, you have to set up an account, and that's it.
Their uploading interface is simple, but you can't set up keywords or categories, they do that on their own (and it can be hit and miss for a while).
I'm also not entirely sure how the downloads work, I tried once and it seems they use something from Adobe (and that part was down). But people do buy books through it.
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Yes, you can. They call it the Partner Center, you have to set up an account, and that's it.
Their uploading interface is simple, but you can't set up keywords or categories, they do that on their own (and it can be hit and miss for a while).
I'm also not entirely sure how the downloads work, I tried once and it seems they use something from Adobe (and that part was down). But people do buy books through it.
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart interesting. I'll give it a check.
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@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart interesting. I'll give it a check.
It's only for ebooks and audio, though, they don't have a print branch.
On the other hand, my print sales are far and few between... I'd say 98% of my royalties are ebook.
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It's only for ebooks and audio, though, they don't have a print branch.
On the other hand, my print sales are far and few between... I'd say 98% of my royalties are ebook.
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart same here. People are preferring digital copies of books more than physical copies it seems.
So I think having just one place for physical copies is fine at the moment. And KDP seems to be doing fine for that (as much as I have my own issues with Amazon and their subsidiaries)
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I want to offer to trade, bc I could really use art for book covers rather than trying to cobble something up myself, and I don't mind doing publishing stuff. But my health is such I'm not very reliable in terms of getting shit done in a timely fashion.
@JessMahler
Would you like to dicuss this more via email?
I would like to know more about your skilllsets and time line that you could possibly work with.
if your skills match, I'd love to work with you.My email is: hiisikoloart@gmail.com
Also my website for you to see my art skills:
https://mxmilo.wixsite.com/hiisikoloartMy very sad author website that has not seen updates for a while: https://mxmilo.wixsite.com/marareboi
(Website updates are on my long to-do list)
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@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart same here. People are preferring digital copies of books more than physical copies it seems.
So I think having just one place for physical copies is fine at the moment. And KDP seems to be doing fine for that (as much as I have my own issues with Amazon and their subsidiaries)
I recently started using D2D for print distribution (yes, yes, I know), because they use Ingram Spark without any cost to me.
And that means I can get my print books into the German bookstores and distribution system, among others. This is huge.
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I recently started using D2D for print distribution (yes, yes, I know), because they use Ingram Spark without any cost to me.
And that means I can get my print books into the German bookstores and distribution system, among others. This is huge.
@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart wow. This change must really suck for you then.
I tried using it for print distribution as well, but the page count just didn't line up for me.
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@Firlefanz @susankayequinn @hiisikoloart wow. This change must really suck for you then.
I tried using it for print distribution as well, but the page count just didn't line up for me.
I basically just take the print files I toss up on KDP and dump them into D2D. Works easily.
Haven't *sold* a print copy that way yet, but... it's all about making it possible for readers.
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I basically just take the print files I toss up on KDP and dump them into D2D. Works easily.
Haven't *sold* a print copy that way yet, but... it's all about making it possible for readers.
@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
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@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
@susankayequinn @Firlefanz @hiisikoloart I was actually considering Kobo, but I'm still struggling to get my bank details sorted (branch location issue).
But I'll definitely check out IngramSpark
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@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
@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.
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@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.
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@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!
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@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.
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@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.
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@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.
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@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.
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
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@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!
