Editor’s Note: This submission is from Tracy Falbe, author of The Rys Chronicles epic fantasy series, previewed in video below. Also see Rich Adin’s comments. – Paul Biba
As a self-published author of four fantasy novels and one nonfiction book, I can wholeheartedly say that the e-book reading medium is making all the difference as I seek recognition, cultivate an audience, and even make a little money. I’ve been selling the paperback versions of my books at Amazon for nearly four years, and I am satisfied as a book vendor in its Advantage sellers program. However, when the opportunity arose to add the digital versions of my books to the Amazon system, I was borderline
insulted by the payment terms. An e-book seller gets a mere 35 percent of the suggested retail price on a sale. And then Amazon drags its feet and takes at least 60 days to send payment. These terms were a terrible turn-off for me because my existing terms as a paper book seller were 45 percent of suggested retail price and payment after 30 days. On principle I had to take a pass on the e-book deal.
Not that I have ever been thrilled with the 45 percent deal on the paperbacks, but I understood that Amazon took on the considerable operating expenses of warehousing the books and, when one is sold, paying an actual human employee to box it up and ship it. Such expenses are greatly reduced for an ebook selling system.
I understand that Amazon feels it offers value because of the huge customer base and exposure their online store can provide, but realistically I could only expect to sell a few e-books now and then. So, 35 percent of a small amount has not motivated me to go through the trouble of entering my books into the Amazon Digital Text Platform. Also selling through Amazon denies me the important, some would say crucial, capacity to know my customer. When I have a sale at Amazon, I do not know who bought from me and I can never market myself to that person again.
Maybe I’m wrong to be so obtuse about the Kindle Store. I’d like to be exposed to more Kindle readers, but I believe that my efforts are better applied to marketing my Web site where I can establish a relationship with a reader and provide a DRM-free product at a reasonable price while gaining a larger margin of profit.
In general, I’m very excited about e-books. The digital medium is clearly the future of publishing. Paper books will continue to have a place as well, but ebooks offer a chance for greater business efficiency in the publishing industry and opportunity for small players to effectively enter the marketplace.
Four and a half years ago, when I decided to self-publish my creations, I was focused on the traditional publishing model of paper books and bookstores. I almost did not even make any e-books because their death had been declared official in the media. But I figured: Why not make some e-books and put them on my web sites? It will only cost me a little time and effort. And you know what? They started to sell. E-books also allow me to broaden my audience to a global scale because there are no shipping charges. I routinely sell e-books to people outside the United States.
Maybe a day will come when I sell e-books on Amazon. I get tempted sometimes because after all it is Amazon. But then I see that 35 percent figure, shrug my shoulders, and accept that I got my bandages to keep me warm.
First, Tracy’s fantasy novels are excellent — I’ve read them all as ebooks — and highly recommended.
But to the point of Tracy’s post, the terms of the Amazon contract. Amazon’s contract for ebooks are significantly more one-sided than Tracy’s post would lead one to believe. I doubt any sane small publisher would agree to its terms in the absence of Amazon’s market dominance. The problem is that each time a contract is signed, Amazon’s dominance is enhanced a bit, which makes me wonder what contracts down the road will look like.
Agreed. Amazon’s a vampire.
I did put mine in the Kindle store, but I see Amazon as marketing and thus, a cost, not a revenue stream.
Agreed, also. I took one look at Amazon’s terms: that was enough for me — and uploading to their store just isn’t worth the hassle.
“Also selling through Amazon denies me the important, some would say crucial, capacity to know my customer. When I have a sale at Amazon, I do not know who bought from me and I can never market myself to that person again.”
I wonder if the Kindle edition might not include a final ‘About the Author’ page with a hyperlink to your site. Would the Kindle-user be able to click on the link and hop to your site?
With Amazon’s raising of its royalty to 70 percent, I can gladly reverse my decision to withhold my titles from the Kindle store. Except for the first book in my fantasy series, I’ll be earning the 70 percent on my sales. Book I has always been a loss leader to introduce the series to readers, so I won’t earn much on that one, but that’s OK.
http://www.amazon.com/Union-Renegades-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B003UES7U8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1278424098&sr=1-1