Iain Rob Wright's Blog, page 2
January 27, 2015
New marketplace for Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital have added a large German platform to their quest to compete with KDP as an alternative for self-publishers. This is in addition to their existing platforms of Apple, B&N (Nook), KOBO, Page Foundry, and Scribd
I have recently added Savage to D2D and will also be adding Sea Sick and Ravage next month. When all 3 titles are set up and available on all sites, I will start to record data and share it so that others can see my results. My hope is that the revenue I make via D2D is enough to cover the loss of these books being removed from KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited. As much as I love Amazon, it would be a healthier marketplace all round if we sold our books in as many places as possible. I intend to test the waters with these three books, and will decide the fate of my others after I have enough data to see clearly the best decision.
Below is the press release from D2D concerning their new partner, Tolino:
'Starting today, you’ll be able to make all of your books available through Tolino.You may not have heard of Tolino but trust us: Once we tell you a little about them, you’ll be putting on party hats and throwing streamers along with us.Tolino is a cooperative of five German tech and media companies who teamed up to create a response to Amazon’s Kindle in their home country. They offer their own proprietary ebook readers that tie into a shared infrastructure.But don’t worry if you don’t sprechen sie deutsch. The German ebook market is the third-largest English language ebook market in the world. And recent reports suggest that Tolino has as much as 42% of it. In addition, Tolino has recently made moves into other European countries as well. Through partnerships with Belgian, Italian, and Dutch booksellers, Tolino now has a significant footprint in central Europe.When you combine this set of new digital stores with our global territorial pricing, Draft2Digital is making it as easy for you to break into the European market as we’ve made it for you to manage your North American sales.We’ll provide monthly sales reports from Tolino and pay the same royalties you’ve come to expect from our other digital stores. If you’re interested in adding your published books to Tolino, you can opt-in next time you visit Draft2Digital. With any new books, just opt into Tolino like any other store.As always, feel free to contact Customer Support if you have any questions. Thank you for using Draft2Digital and, until next time, auf wiedersehen!'
You can check out D2D (which is a pleasure to use btw) here:https://www.draft2digital.com
I have recently added Savage to D2D and will also be adding Sea Sick and Ravage next month. When all 3 titles are set up and available on all sites, I will start to record data and share it so that others can see my results. My hope is that the revenue I make via D2D is enough to cover the loss of these books being removed from KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited. As much as I love Amazon, it would be a healthier marketplace all round if we sold our books in as many places as possible. I intend to test the waters with these three books, and will decide the fate of my others after I have enough data to see clearly the best decision.
Below is the press release from D2D concerning their new partner, Tolino:
'Starting today, you’ll be able to make all of your books available through Tolino.You may not have heard of Tolino but trust us: Once we tell you a little about them, you’ll be putting on party hats and throwing streamers along with us.Tolino is a cooperative of five German tech and media companies who teamed up to create a response to Amazon’s Kindle in their home country. They offer their own proprietary ebook readers that tie into a shared infrastructure.But don’t worry if you don’t sprechen sie deutsch. The German ebook market is the third-largest English language ebook market in the world. And recent reports suggest that Tolino has as much as 42% of it. In addition, Tolino has recently made moves into other European countries as well. Through partnerships with Belgian, Italian, and Dutch booksellers, Tolino now has a significant footprint in central Europe.When you combine this set of new digital stores with our global territorial pricing, Draft2Digital is making it as easy for you to break into the European market as we’ve made it for you to manage your North American sales.We’ll provide monthly sales reports from Tolino and pay the same royalties you’ve come to expect from our other digital stores. If you’re interested in adding your published books to Tolino, you can opt-in next time you visit Draft2Digital. With any new books, just opt into Tolino like any other store.As always, feel free to contact Customer Support if you have any questions. Thank you for using Draft2Digital and, until next time, auf wiedersehen!'
You can check out D2D (which is a pleasure to use btw) here:https://www.draft2digital.com
January 21, 2015
First Bookbub of 2015 & a note on piracy
For those writers who like to know the results of others (especially concerning Bookbub). My most recent freebie promotion (the Picture Frame) has shifted over 30k free downloads in 3 days thanks to Bookbub. To compare, my last freebie promotion (without Bookbub) shifted about 3k downloads; so Bookbub has given me 10x as many downloads (for $150 outlay) and sent the book to no 1 in it's respective genre and into the top 50 for all books on Amazon (Got to 20 in UK). Hopefully a large portion of these 30k downloads will result in new readers who will buy my other books. It usually does. The Picture Frame has also had about a dozen reviews already and will probably get many more considering the book has gone to 30k Kindles.
I know some authors don't like giving their books away for free, but I always have done and it has never hurt me. The hardest part of selling books is getting someone to read your work and a freebie is the best way to make someone take a risk on you.
On the same token, writers should stop worrying so much about piracy. Newsflash. You will not stop it. Why will you succeed where Sony Pictures, Britney Spears, and Stephen King have failed? Piratebay is down, but already it is being ressurected on other servers. The UK government have blocked EZTV; there are already mirror links to get round it. Piracy will always exist. It always has. The forged paintings of the Renaissance were piracy. The dodgy VHS tapes on the market were piracy and that was 30 years ago. Don't be so arrogant to think that your strongly worded emails or threats will make any dent in illegal sharing. It won't.
Don't waste your time worrying about piracy. It is a quantifiable section of the market that is neither growing or shrinking. It is just there and always will be - it is the wastage that we deal with in the same way as a supermarket writes-off broken eggs. The money being spent on books exists outside of this piracy segment and that is where you need to focus your attention. Focus on those who are happy to spend their money on legitimate work. Also, don't take it personally. The more well-known I have become, the more my books are pirated. J K Rowling is probably more pirated than anyone but she still managed to make over £200 million and become a celebrity. If you'e a good writer, your books will get pirated and purchased in a correlated measure. More sales-more piracy. Less sales-less piracy. Just ignore it and accept that it is linked to your fate as a writer but in no way affecting of it. YOU CANNOT STOP PIRACY. You will not stop it. In fact, piracy may even help you.
A pirate steals one of your books and loves it. Maybe he steals ten books a year but every now and then pays for one or two (maybe when he's on holiday away from his computer). If he likes you then he may spend that small amount of cash he is happy to spend on you. Maybe a pirate steals your book and loves it, tells his non-piratey friends (yargh!) how great it was, who then go and buy your books on their Kindles. Maybe a pirate steals your book and loves it. Feeling guilty he at least leaves a glowing review. Two people read that review and buy that book. That pirate has just recovered the loss you made on him plus added a profit. A pirate steals your book and loves it. He goes online and buys a signed copy of the paperback from you.
Pirates are people (pretty ordinary people to be honest), and the aim of this game is to get people reading your books in whatever ways you can. Piracy is actually helping you, not hurting you. There is no money being taken away from you by pirates, because they are not spending anything anyway. But they are becoming aware of your work and, like a virus they may spread that awareness on to others. The baseline for a pirate is that you get no money from them. That is the same for any writer and doesn't get worse. You don't lose money (you have no physical stock) but you don't gain anything, The best case scenario is all the things I listed above. So for every pirate who steals your book, there is a chance you may get a net positive result in some way at some point. There are no risks with a pirated copy, but there are potential gains.
The proof for me will be in the pudding. I have just given away 30k copies of my newest novel FOR FREE! What kind of a businessman am I? But I can almost guarantee that my sales will now go up for as long as a 3-month period. I have moved up the ranks, got a bunch of new people reading my work and am getting reviews up the wazoo. This business is about finding readers, not gouging customers. If I ever release a sequel to the Picture Frame I have over 30k people who have read book 1. If only a 20th of those people buy a copy of the new book, I am quids in.
As a final note, if you have ever pirated one of my books, I forgive you. :-)
I know some authors don't like giving their books away for free, but I always have done and it has never hurt me. The hardest part of selling books is getting someone to read your work and a freebie is the best way to make someone take a risk on you.
On the same token, writers should stop worrying so much about piracy. Newsflash. You will not stop it. Why will you succeed where Sony Pictures, Britney Spears, and Stephen King have failed? Piratebay is down, but already it is being ressurected on other servers. The UK government have blocked EZTV; there are already mirror links to get round it. Piracy will always exist. It always has. The forged paintings of the Renaissance were piracy. The dodgy VHS tapes on the market were piracy and that was 30 years ago. Don't be so arrogant to think that your strongly worded emails or threats will make any dent in illegal sharing. It won't.
Don't waste your time worrying about piracy. It is a quantifiable section of the market that is neither growing or shrinking. It is just there and always will be - it is the wastage that we deal with in the same way as a supermarket writes-off broken eggs. The money being spent on books exists outside of this piracy segment and that is where you need to focus your attention. Focus on those who are happy to spend their money on legitimate work. Also, don't take it personally. The more well-known I have become, the more my books are pirated. J K Rowling is probably more pirated than anyone but she still managed to make over £200 million and become a celebrity. If you'e a good writer, your books will get pirated and purchased in a correlated measure. More sales-more piracy. Less sales-less piracy. Just ignore it and accept that it is linked to your fate as a writer but in no way affecting of it. YOU CANNOT STOP PIRACY. You will not stop it. In fact, piracy may even help you.
A pirate steals one of your books and loves it. Maybe he steals ten books a year but every now and then pays for one or two (maybe when he's on holiday away from his computer). If he likes you then he may spend that small amount of cash he is happy to spend on you. Maybe a pirate steals your book and loves it, tells his non-piratey friends (yargh!) how great it was, who then go and buy your books on their Kindles. Maybe a pirate steals your book and loves it. Feeling guilty he at least leaves a glowing review. Two people read that review and buy that book. That pirate has just recovered the loss you made on him plus added a profit. A pirate steals your book and loves it. He goes online and buys a signed copy of the paperback from you.
Pirates are people (pretty ordinary people to be honest), and the aim of this game is to get people reading your books in whatever ways you can. Piracy is actually helping you, not hurting you. There is no money being taken away from you by pirates, because they are not spending anything anyway. But they are becoming aware of your work and, like a virus they may spread that awareness on to others. The baseline for a pirate is that you get no money from them. That is the same for any writer and doesn't get worse. You don't lose money (you have no physical stock) but you don't gain anything, The best case scenario is all the things I listed above. So for every pirate who steals your book, there is a chance you may get a net positive result in some way at some point. There are no risks with a pirated copy, but there are potential gains.
The proof for me will be in the pudding. I have just given away 30k copies of my newest novel FOR FREE! What kind of a businessman am I? But I can almost guarantee that my sales will now go up for as long as a 3-month period. I have moved up the ranks, got a bunch of new people reading my work and am getting reviews up the wazoo. This business is about finding readers, not gouging customers. If I ever release a sequel to the Picture Frame I have over 30k people who have read book 1. If only a 20th of those people buy a copy of the new book, I am quids in.
As a final note, if you have ever pirated one of my books, I forgive you. :-)
December 24, 2014
Have a fantastic Christmas everyone!
Have a fantastic Christmas everyone!
December 21, 2014
Merry Christmas and Sorry for all the bickering...
My wife, Sally, says I should post something nice. She says that, although I have a duty to state my opinion and my fears about current issues in the publishing world, the reason I found success in the first place was because I am a nice guy. Whether or not that is true, I have always maintained the philosophy that nobody likes a complainer. In the past I have followed the mantra of "If you can't post something positive, don't post anything at all."
So I apologise for the vitriolic, acrimonious statements I have been making as of late. I have been duty-bound to speak out against certain things I disagree with and to inform people of certain facts, but ultimately the only thing I have any control over is my work and my fans. I don't want to alienate the latter by being a moody goose all the time. So in the new year, I will concentrate on writing, come what may. The future scares me for many reasons, but perhaps I have had things too easy. If I have to work hard to maintain my career, then I suppose I am in the same boat as everyone else in the world. Being successful is hard and perhaps I am just now learning that.
Ignoring all the negatives, 2014 was one of the best years of my life. I had a son, Jack, who is a massive pain in the arse, but who I love dearly. Sally doesn't work for the time being, and is at home with me and Jack, which is wonderful. I love being a father and that is part of the reason I now fear so much for the future. I want to give Jack everything.
I have also made many new fans this year (which I won't name for fear of missing anyone), and if one thing makes me feel truly blessed it is them. The love and support I get daily from my fans is unbelievable and really helps motivate me to keep on going. If it all ends tomorrow, I will consider myself a success if only for the friends and fans who have enjoyed my work up until now.
I have also made many new colleagues, who again I will not mention, but it has been fun meeting and working with new authors, editors, and artists. I work with some really great people.
Next year I will be writing a sequel to Soft Target, a horror series called The Gates, and a low-fantasy series not yet named. I will also be releasing several shorter works, which the current sales-model on Amazon requires me to do. Rather than reduce the input of my longer work, however, I intend to work harder and longer to get these shorter works out in addition to my longer works. A is for Antichrist was just the first of a 26-part series and I will also write more novellas based around Redlake.
Anyway, I just want to end the year by giving you all a Merry Christmas and a huge I love you. I will see you all in the New Year. :-)
So I apologise for the vitriolic, acrimonious statements I have been making as of late. I have been duty-bound to speak out against certain things I disagree with and to inform people of certain facts, but ultimately the only thing I have any control over is my work and my fans. I don't want to alienate the latter by being a moody goose all the time. So in the new year, I will concentrate on writing, come what may. The future scares me for many reasons, but perhaps I have had things too easy. If I have to work hard to maintain my career, then I suppose I am in the same boat as everyone else in the world. Being successful is hard and perhaps I am just now learning that.
Ignoring all the negatives, 2014 was one of the best years of my life. I had a son, Jack, who is a massive pain in the arse, but who I love dearly. Sally doesn't work for the time being, and is at home with me and Jack, which is wonderful. I love being a father and that is part of the reason I now fear so much for the future. I want to give Jack everything.
I have also made many new fans this year (which I won't name for fear of missing anyone), and if one thing makes me feel truly blessed it is them. The love and support I get daily from my fans is unbelievable and really helps motivate me to keep on going. If it all ends tomorrow, I will consider myself a success if only for the friends and fans who have enjoyed my work up until now.
I have also made many new colleagues, who again I will not mention, but it has been fun meeting and working with new authors, editors, and artists. I work with some really great people.
Next year I will be writing a sequel to Soft Target, a horror series called The Gates, and a low-fantasy series not yet named. I will also be releasing several shorter works, which the current sales-model on Amazon requires me to do. Rather than reduce the input of my longer work, however, I intend to work harder and longer to get these shorter works out in addition to my longer works. A is for Antichrist was just the first of a 26-part series and I will also write more novellas based around Redlake.
Anyway, I just want to end the year by giving you all a Merry Christmas and a huge I love you. I will see you all in the New Year. :-)
December 11, 2014
Interview with Australia's Horror Maestro, Aaron Warwick Dries...
Today I interview Australia's top Horror writer, Aaron Warwick Dries. He wrote a crazy awesome book called House of Sighs. You should all grab a copy from the link at the bottom of the page.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Aaron.A little about myself… (*strokes chin*). Well, I’ve got the whole Bruce Wayne (sans fortune) /Batman (sans crime fighting) thing going on when it comes to my professional life. By day I work in the Aged and Disability sector, a frontline job, doing the nitty gritty. And by night I write these nasty little horror novels … in the dark. These dual paths rarely cross, and for the sanity of all involved, I think I’d like it to stay that way. I’m also an avid traveller (when I can afford it); I burn really easy in the sun (of which I have no choice); my first pet was a fish named Flipper (who committed suicide by leaping from his bowl); I’m the eldest of three boys (and I don’t let the other two forget it); and I spend way too much time wasting time (no excuses — or at least that’s what I tell myself).
Could you tell us what work you currently have available?At the moment I’ve got three novels, a novella and a couple of short stories floating around on shelves across the world. My first novel is the award-winning HOUSE OF SIGHS, which is about a mentally disturbed bus driver who takes her passengers home with her to meet the family who drove her to insanity – grisly stuff, indeed. My second novel is THE FALLEN BOYS, a twisted psychological horror novel about a father’s journey to find out why his young son committed suicide, leading him from Australia’s sunlit streets to a rat-infested basement in the U.S. My third novel is A PLACE FOR SINNERS. And to find out what that beast is about, feel free to read on!
Tell us about your latest release.The latest is A PLACE FOR SINNERS. It’s my great big backpacking book – a kind of evil Lonely Planet guide. Among other things, it’s about a young deaf woman trying to outrun her personal demons, running all the way to a scenic beach in Thailand, only to be confronted with … something … so much worse than her past. Ominous, enough? Basically it’s balls-to-the-wall horror, extreme, full-on, and absolutely merciless. I wanted to write a book that took the reader beyond blackness. It actually hurt to write the ending, but I had to go there. Sometimes, there are no choices.
For someone unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your writing?I write as truthfully as I possibly can. Character always comes first with me. The only thing that doesn’t really register on my radar is mercy, which I guess is why a lot of people describe my work as brutal. Stylistically, I’m interested in the contrast between beautiful language, syntax, and rhythms vs. brutal, abrupt carnage. My words exist in that juxtaposition. There are some kind readers and reviewers out there who have described my writing as a mix of Thomas Harris meets Jack Ketchum, or William Peter Blatty meets Richard Laymon. I’m humbled by the comparisons as I’m a huge fan of all of the above authors, but I just write what comes out of my head. It’s working thus far. I hope. In essence, I like to think of myself as the ‘other kind of horror guy’. I’m never on-trend. I don’t give a shit about what’s popular. I write about what scares me, so it’s always personal. Honesty is everything — and I can’t expect a reader to hand over their hard-earned cash unless I give them a part of myself. Otherwise, what’s the point? In essence, my books are my own emotional vivisections. So come on over and see what’s on the slab. Chances are it ain’t pretty. But at least it’ll be raw, which not a lot of modern popular fiction is brave enough to be anymore.
What else do you have in the pipeline?I’m about half-way through my new novel, titled LADY GUILOTINE. (I think) it will be the first in a projected trilogy. This one though … it’s different for me. It’s my first endeavour into supernatural horror, only it’s grounded in a reality I’ve already established, tonally, in my other works. I’m pouring all of my heart, soul, and secrets into this one. It’s the book I’ve always wanted to write, but wasn’t quite brave enough to put myself through the ordeal. Writing doesn’t come easy for me. Confronting my own past, my own losses, well, that’s even harder. It’s bleak. It’s painful. And I can’t wait for the world to experience it. It’s set in a nursing home and I know what they’re like. I know what they are like, deeply.
What writers have had the most influence on your own writing?Like pretty much all writers, I write because I read. And there were a handful of wordsmiths who made me who I am today. I proudly stand on their shoulders. People like Robert Bloch (Psycho 2 is my favourite), Richard Matheson (whose The Incredible Shrinking Man blew me away), Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca), Stephen King (so many great titles, but the one that really shook me up was Gerald’s Game), James Herbert (The Fog taught me about just how much reading can physically hurt…) and Clive Barker (whose Imajica I’m convinced is the greatest novel ever written). These were the authors who influenced me at the time I really needed influencing. But was it not for R.L. Stine, I wouldn’t have even got into reading in the first place. Looking back, I owe a lot to that man. I’m quite proud to say that.
What was the last thing you read?I’m one of those people who will read a couple of books at any given time. At the moment I’m re-reading Mick Garris’s Development Hell in preparation for his latest, Salome. I’m halfway through a play called Veronica’s Room by Ira Levin, which is absolutely diabolical. And I’m almost done with (fellow Australian) John Safran’s non-fiction piece, Murder In Mississippi — and that one’s got me on the edge of my seat. I’ll probably finish it up tonight.
Anything else you’d like to tell us about?I write, direct, shoot, edit (the whole shebang) all of my book trailers, too. I worked in Video Production and television before evolving into my current role as a novelist. This is just one of my many creative outlets (I also paint and I’m an illustrator). I couldn’t have predicted the reception they’ve been gifted with, and with a lot of authors telling me I’ve set some kind of benchmark as to how they should be done. I find that incredibly humbling. I’m a huge movie fan, and cinema has influenced my writing as much as any of the above authors. And I think it shows in my fiction. HOUSE OF SIGHS is the kind of thing Peckinpah would’ve made; THE FALLEN BOYS is like a techno Lucio Fulci film, or as sweaty and anarchistic as William Friedkin; and A PLACE FOR SINNERS is David Lynch meets John Boorman.
Check out Aaron's book trailers below:A Place for Sinners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-olJdOZqxho&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ
The Fallen Boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXAWo0JvZTo&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ&index=3
House of Sighs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ogZtwRjRDE&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ&index=4
Check out Aaron's official website for the latest news: http://www.aarondries.com/
Connect with him on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/AaronDries
https://www.samhainpublishing.com/author/1658/aaron-dries
Get his books here:
http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Dries/e/B008GXNU64/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Tell us a bit about yourself, Aaron.A little about myself… (*strokes chin*). Well, I’ve got the whole Bruce Wayne (sans fortune) /Batman (sans crime fighting) thing going on when it comes to my professional life. By day I work in the Aged and Disability sector, a frontline job, doing the nitty gritty. And by night I write these nasty little horror novels … in the dark. These dual paths rarely cross, and for the sanity of all involved, I think I’d like it to stay that way. I’m also an avid traveller (when I can afford it); I burn really easy in the sun (of which I have no choice); my first pet was a fish named Flipper (who committed suicide by leaping from his bowl); I’m the eldest of three boys (and I don’t let the other two forget it); and I spend way too much time wasting time (no excuses — or at least that’s what I tell myself). Could you tell us what work you currently have available?At the moment I’ve got three novels, a novella and a couple of short stories floating around on shelves across the world. My first novel is the award-winning HOUSE OF SIGHS, which is about a mentally disturbed bus driver who takes her passengers home with her to meet the family who drove her to insanity – grisly stuff, indeed. My second novel is THE FALLEN BOYS, a twisted psychological horror novel about a father’s journey to find out why his young son committed suicide, leading him from Australia’s sunlit streets to a rat-infested basement in the U.S. My third novel is A PLACE FOR SINNERS. And to find out what that beast is about, feel free to read on!
Tell us about your latest release.The latest is A PLACE FOR SINNERS. It’s my great big backpacking book – a kind of evil Lonely Planet guide. Among other things, it’s about a young deaf woman trying to outrun her personal demons, running all the way to a scenic beach in Thailand, only to be confronted with … something … so much worse than her past. Ominous, enough? Basically it’s balls-to-the-wall horror, extreme, full-on, and absolutely merciless. I wanted to write a book that took the reader beyond blackness. It actually hurt to write the ending, but I had to go there. Sometimes, there are no choices.
For someone unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your writing?I write as truthfully as I possibly can. Character always comes first with me. The only thing that doesn’t really register on my radar is mercy, which I guess is why a lot of people describe my work as brutal. Stylistically, I’m interested in the contrast between beautiful language, syntax, and rhythms vs. brutal, abrupt carnage. My words exist in that juxtaposition. There are some kind readers and reviewers out there who have described my writing as a mix of Thomas Harris meets Jack Ketchum, or William Peter Blatty meets Richard Laymon. I’m humbled by the comparisons as I’m a huge fan of all of the above authors, but I just write what comes out of my head. It’s working thus far. I hope. In essence, I like to think of myself as the ‘other kind of horror guy’. I’m never on-trend. I don’t give a shit about what’s popular. I write about what scares me, so it’s always personal. Honesty is everything — and I can’t expect a reader to hand over their hard-earned cash unless I give them a part of myself. Otherwise, what’s the point? In essence, my books are my own emotional vivisections. So come on over and see what’s on the slab. Chances are it ain’t pretty. But at least it’ll be raw, which not a lot of modern popular fiction is brave enough to be anymore.
What else do you have in the pipeline?I’m about half-way through my new novel, titled LADY GUILOTINE. (I think) it will be the first in a projected trilogy. This one though … it’s different for me. It’s my first endeavour into supernatural horror, only it’s grounded in a reality I’ve already established, tonally, in my other works. I’m pouring all of my heart, soul, and secrets into this one. It’s the book I’ve always wanted to write, but wasn’t quite brave enough to put myself through the ordeal. Writing doesn’t come easy for me. Confronting my own past, my own losses, well, that’s even harder. It’s bleak. It’s painful. And I can’t wait for the world to experience it. It’s set in a nursing home and I know what they’re like. I know what they are like, deeply.
What writers have had the most influence on your own writing?Like pretty much all writers, I write because I read. And there were a handful of wordsmiths who made me who I am today. I proudly stand on their shoulders. People like Robert Bloch (Psycho 2 is my favourite), Richard Matheson (whose The Incredible Shrinking Man blew me away), Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca), Stephen King (so many great titles, but the one that really shook me up was Gerald’s Game), James Herbert (The Fog taught me about just how much reading can physically hurt…) and Clive Barker (whose Imajica I’m convinced is the greatest novel ever written). These were the authors who influenced me at the time I really needed influencing. But was it not for R.L. Stine, I wouldn’t have even got into reading in the first place. Looking back, I owe a lot to that man. I’m quite proud to say that.
What was the last thing you read?I’m one of those people who will read a couple of books at any given time. At the moment I’m re-reading Mick Garris’s Development Hell in preparation for his latest, Salome. I’m halfway through a play called Veronica’s Room by Ira Levin, which is absolutely diabolical. And I’m almost done with (fellow Australian) John Safran’s non-fiction piece, Murder In Mississippi — and that one’s got me on the edge of my seat. I’ll probably finish it up tonight.
Anything else you’d like to tell us about?I write, direct, shoot, edit (the whole shebang) all of my book trailers, too. I worked in Video Production and television before evolving into my current role as a novelist. This is just one of my many creative outlets (I also paint and I’m an illustrator). I couldn’t have predicted the reception they’ve been gifted with, and with a lot of authors telling me I’ve set some kind of benchmark as to how they should be done. I find that incredibly humbling. I’m a huge movie fan, and cinema has influenced my writing as much as any of the above authors. And I think it shows in my fiction. HOUSE OF SIGHS is the kind of thing Peckinpah would’ve made; THE FALLEN BOYS is like a techno Lucio Fulci film, or as sweaty and anarchistic as William Friedkin; and A PLACE FOR SINNERS is David Lynch meets John Boorman.
Check out Aaron's book trailers below:A Place for Sinners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-olJdOZqxho&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ
The Fallen Boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXAWo0JvZTo&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ&index=3
House of Sighs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ogZtwRjRDE&list=UUzQCzOybh6-HPDcyH6kH8cQ&index=4
Check out Aaron's official website for the latest news: http://www.aarondries.com/
Connect with him on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/AaronDries
https://www.samhainpublishing.com/author/1658/aaron-dries
Get his books here:
http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Dries/e/B008GXNU64/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
December 10, 2014
My conversation with Amazon concerning Kindle Unlimited...
I just got off the phone with two people at the Amazon KDP UK office and overall I am disappointed. Not because the two people I spoke to didn't care (I'm certain they did). Not because I feel as though my voice wasn't heard (I know it was), but because I came away knowing nothing I didn't know before.
The only thing I can say about the Kindle Unlimited situation is wait and see (which is what i would have said before). One of two things is true.
1) Amazon are trying to shift sales to a model that better suits them and we will all find that conditions worsen as a result, but have no choice but to accept it as Amazon now have enough control to do as they please. This happened with the ACX royalty reduction in the Summer, but they would never get away with doing the same with KDP (as they have competition from other vendors) so they have sought a more subtle way of redirecting profit to themselves.
Or 2) Amazon created Kindle Unlimited with the best of intentions and what we are seeing right now is mere teething troubles. Things may very well be tweaked and improved soon to a point where we embrace and love the service. After my phone call with Amazon, I can genuinely say I am 50/50 on what I believe. They convinced me that Amazon is looking at unhappy authors and thinking of ways to make them happy again, but thinking about it doesn't mean anything will come to fruition.
I was told that there has been as much positive feedback about KU as there has been negative. I struggle to believe that based on what I have seen, read, and heard, but perhaps that's the truth. Perhaps we are the unlucky few who have been hurt. Maybe we just need to get with the new system and try to succeed all over again within the new framework. If that is the reality of things, then I am going to get to work climbing back to the top where I was before. Changing the game does not mean any of us are out of the game. Perhaps what we have just been through was a golden era and things are destined to settle at a lower standard of prosperity. If so, then I will quit whining and start trying to learn to play the new game and make what money there is to be made.
I wish I could tell you that Amazon assured me things would get better, but they did not. They gave me hope that Amazon is taking things seriously and will be looking at making the KU platform the best it can be, but authors may not factor into the outcome as much as profit or value to customers. I truly do not know. There is every chance that the Amazon boffins come up with a brilliant solution. We will have to see. I am sorry I have no answers.
My advice is to wait until January. Amazon will not change anything over the holidays. If things get better, then the end of January is my estimation as when they will. Wait with me and then decide. We must decide amongst ourselves what is best to do. While we have to look after our own interests, we have more power as a collective. If things are still bad in the new year, then I would ask you to seriously consider taking your books to other platforms and working against Amazon until things improve. It may hurt us in the short term, but if we do not think about the long term also and act accordingly, then we are willing lambs to the slaughter. If Amazon truly cares about authors, now is the time to show them. If we are still leaking our livelihoods away come February 2015 then I would feel safe in saying that our fears about Amazon caring only about profit are true (and perhaps obvious). We then must fight not for ourselves, but for each another. We deserve to make a living at something we are good at and that people are willing to pay for. Make sure Amazon hear your voices. If you are unhappy, complain now! If your earnings are dropping, let Amazon know now! If a new platform comes out to challenge Amazon, support it! Don't sit back and hope for the best. Get fighting. Make the effort to keep things fair. Fight for your fellow authors and yourselves.
I love Amazon, I truly do. They have had my loyalty for 4 years now, but I do not owe them my life. If they are unwilling to treat me fairly, then my loyalty will go to whoever will (maybe that's not the definition of loyalty in that case, but you get my point).
Think hard and think carefully about what you will do in the new year. When you decide, I will be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, brother and sister. I'll always be here to fight for you.
Iain Rob Wright, December 2014
The only thing I can say about the Kindle Unlimited situation is wait and see (which is what i would have said before). One of two things is true.
1) Amazon are trying to shift sales to a model that better suits them and we will all find that conditions worsen as a result, but have no choice but to accept it as Amazon now have enough control to do as they please. This happened with the ACX royalty reduction in the Summer, but they would never get away with doing the same with KDP (as they have competition from other vendors) so they have sought a more subtle way of redirecting profit to themselves.
Or 2) Amazon created Kindle Unlimited with the best of intentions and what we are seeing right now is mere teething troubles. Things may very well be tweaked and improved soon to a point where we embrace and love the service. After my phone call with Amazon, I can genuinely say I am 50/50 on what I believe. They convinced me that Amazon is looking at unhappy authors and thinking of ways to make them happy again, but thinking about it doesn't mean anything will come to fruition.
I was told that there has been as much positive feedback about KU as there has been negative. I struggle to believe that based on what I have seen, read, and heard, but perhaps that's the truth. Perhaps we are the unlucky few who have been hurt. Maybe we just need to get with the new system and try to succeed all over again within the new framework. If that is the reality of things, then I am going to get to work climbing back to the top where I was before. Changing the game does not mean any of us are out of the game. Perhaps what we have just been through was a golden era and things are destined to settle at a lower standard of prosperity. If so, then I will quit whining and start trying to learn to play the new game and make what money there is to be made.
I wish I could tell you that Amazon assured me things would get better, but they did not. They gave me hope that Amazon is taking things seriously and will be looking at making the KU platform the best it can be, but authors may not factor into the outcome as much as profit or value to customers. I truly do not know. There is every chance that the Amazon boffins come up with a brilliant solution. We will have to see. I am sorry I have no answers.
My advice is to wait until January. Amazon will not change anything over the holidays. If things get better, then the end of January is my estimation as when they will. Wait with me and then decide. We must decide amongst ourselves what is best to do. While we have to look after our own interests, we have more power as a collective. If things are still bad in the new year, then I would ask you to seriously consider taking your books to other platforms and working against Amazon until things improve. It may hurt us in the short term, but if we do not think about the long term also and act accordingly, then we are willing lambs to the slaughter. If Amazon truly cares about authors, now is the time to show them. If we are still leaking our livelihoods away come February 2015 then I would feel safe in saying that our fears about Amazon caring only about profit are true (and perhaps obvious). We then must fight not for ourselves, but for each another. We deserve to make a living at something we are good at and that people are willing to pay for. Make sure Amazon hear your voices. If you are unhappy, complain now! If your earnings are dropping, let Amazon know now! If a new platform comes out to challenge Amazon, support it! Don't sit back and hope for the best. Get fighting. Make the effort to keep things fair. Fight for your fellow authors and yourselves.
I love Amazon, I truly do. They have had my loyalty for 4 years now, but I do not owe them my life. If they are unwilling to treat me fairly, then my loyalty will go to whoever will (maybe that's not the definition of loyalty in that case, but you get my point).
Think hard and think carefully about what you will do in the new year. When you decide, I will be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, brother and sister. I'll always be here to fight for you.
Iain Rob Wright, December 2014
December 3, 2014
Slasher: the Escape of Richard Heinz...available now!
My latest novella, Slasher, is now available to download on Amazon Kindle. Get it here:
United Kingdom
United States
SLASHER
When convicted killer and certified psychopath, Richard Heinz, escapes from a secure mental hospital, his re-capture falls on the shoulders of MCU agents Dr Jessica Bennett and Howard Hopkins. Entering a dark wood on a rainy night, they must try to understand and anticipate the mind of the sick killer before it's too late.
Richard Heinz is out for a reason, and he’s just taken a hostage.
IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS TONIGHT, YOU’RE SURE OF A BIG SURPRISE…
United Kingdom
United States
SLASHERWhen convicted killer and certified psychopath, Richard Heinz, escapes from a secure mental hospital, his re-capture falls on the shoulders of MCU agents Dr Jessica Bennett and Howard Hopkins. Entering a dark wood on a rainy night, they must try to understand and anticipate the mind of the sick killer before it's too late.
Richard Heinz is out for a reason, and he’s just taken a hostage.
IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS TONIGHT, YOU’RE SURE OF A BIG SURPRISE…
November 19, 2014
I've been selfish, arrogant, and maybe even wrong...
I've recently done something I always strive not to do...I've been selfish. And I've also been arrogant. I recently posted my reservations about Kindle Unlimited and instead of looking into the matter properly and trying to make a balanced argument, I assumed that how I felt was correct and that everyone else would feel the same way. Turns out that not everybody does feel the same. In the last 48 hours I have heard differing opinions and would like to amend my previous statement. While for the most part my opinion is the same, I have become aware of some things that I would like to address. Again, feel free to rip me apart if I'm talking rubbish.
The first thing I would like to say about my previous post is that I in no way intended to lump short story writers in with 'scammers', I realise that when I wrote the article (in an emotional state) I didn't look at the situation from all sides and I ended up making it seem like I see short stories as somehow unworthy. I do not. Short stories are as valid as any novel and I do not wish to see their earning potential taken away. However, I do maintain that they hold less intrinsic value than a novel. Now, many people will shout at me now, saying things like: 'I've read some short stories far better than some novels I've read. Short stories are a valid art form. I work just as hard on my short stories as any novel.' These arguments are all subjective. Quality is not part of the argument I am making here. If a short story or novel is good or bad will be determined by reviews, word-of-mouth, sales ranking etc; therefore the argument here needs to be about what the fundamental differences between novels and short stories are. One is short and one is long. Both are the same medium that provide the same type of entertainment. But one is short and one is long. Let's assume that all short stories and all novels are perfect masterpieces with ultimate enjoyment factor. The short story entertains a person fully for one hour. The novel entertains a person for 10 hours. Which is worth more? To make an analogy: a starter is just as delicious as the main meal but costs less. Why? Because it is smaller. It isn't worse quality--it is just as delicious--but it is smaller. The amount you pay for a starter is less than the main meal (in most cases) for no other reason that there is less of it. Taking quality out of the equation and thinking only about what the two types of writing fundamentally are, a short story is just as enjoyable as a novel, but there is less of it. Thus, it is worth less.
One of the problems I have with Kindle Unlimited can be explained thus: My novel 'Ravage' is 100k words long. It counts as one title in Kindle Unlimited. If I were to cut Ravage up into ten chunks of 10k words and release them all separately, I would have ten eligible title entries in Kindle Unlimited. Who does this help? My readers wouldn't benefit from a choppy, cut-up novel. I wouldn't enjoy having to slice up all my work into segments, knowing that the power of my stories would be diluted. Other authors don't benefit as me doing that would force them to do the same to their novels.
Furthermore, the current system forces authors to write for an economic framework instead of for their fans. One of the beauties of Kindle was it allowed authors to write whatever the hell they wanted and find an audience for it. This was one of the benefits over traditional publishing which ignored anything that wasn't part of their normal gamut (mainly autobiographies and whatever is 'hot' during that 15 minutes). Authors are now being nudged to write short, serialised work, not because they or readers want it, but because that is the best way for them to make money. I fear it will lead to a very stunted catalogue of titles. I'm an avid reader too and I don't like to read short works. I want long novels, but the number of these is in danger of reducing.
My next point is that most short stories are priced at 99c. Most novels are above $2.99. The authors and readers have already decided that there is a difference in value (if not then why are novels and short stories not priced identically on the open market?). If the novel is worth more on the open market, then why is it valued equally to a novel when sold within Kindle Unlimited?
Again, taking quality out of it, I take on average 3 months to write a full length novel (working 30 hour weeks), whereas a short story might only take me 3 days. My writing is the same quality for both, but one took a great deal more manhours to complete--which makes it intrinsically more valuable. I expect a higher compensation for the novel because it required much longer to create. I would have to pay a decorator more to paint my entire house than just one room, because it requires more manpower. Doesn't mean his painting of that one room was any different to when he did the entire house, he just did more of it.
Now, these are just my opinions, and if I suddenly find out that even 60% of people disagree with me, I will shut up. I embrace whatever suits the majority, even if I am not a part of it. If I suddenly find out that Kindle Unlimited suits 90% of authors than I will no longer complain. The reason I am complaining now is because I feel it is hurting the majority. Now, I have had people tell me that I am just whining and that Amazon can do whatever it wants. If I don't like it then just leave, sell my books elsewhere. Of course Amazon can do whatever they want. Doesn't mean we have to embrace bad decisions, though. Look what happened with Microsoft when they launched the Xbox One. It had all kinds of features that people hated (always online, DRM, no pre-owned sales, mandatory Kinect use). Now, Microsoft could have gone: 'we're a free company, we'll do whatever we want. You don't like it, buy a Playstation (many did)'. No, they did a complete 180 on many of the things consumers didn't like. People complaining changed the product. Amazon can do whatever it wants, but it's up to us if we let them succeed. We always look at Amazon and say 'well, they have all the power,' but they do not. We have all the power as consumers, authors, and suppliers. We helped grow Amazon because we decided we like to use them. If tomorrow we all stopped using Amazon, the company would go away. We have the right to complain and our opinions do matter.
I don't feel like Amazon owes me a living or that I am entitled to anything, but when I have worked hard for 4 years to play by the rules and give readers what they want, do I not have the right to feel aggrieved when everything changes on a whim? I hate to complain, because I am so lucky to do what I do. I feel lucky and that I have no right to whine, but then I look at my son and my wife and I want more. I want to be as successful as I can be. I don't want to just sit back and let money be taken out of my pocket. I want a great life for my son and wife and that is what I am fighting for. If that makes me come of as entitled then I am sorry. I'm just trying to do my best for the people I care about.
Anyway, my point is, I am not against short stories. I value them and understand their worth. I just feel that authors do a job like anyone else and their compensation should be equal to their work. I have written 13 full length novels, but suddenly the market has shifted out of my favour to benefit shorter works. If that is what people want (and feel free to tell me) then so be it, but if readers still want full length novels, then why am I being penalised for giving them what they want?
Overall, Kindle Unlimited frightens me because of what it represents. For the last few years, Amazon has been conditioning us to demand fair pay for our work and to charge whatever we think it is worth. The pricing decisions have belonged to the author. Inside Kindle Unlimited, Amazon is deciding at the end of each month how much they think our work is worth. One month they decide to put 3million into the pot that values our work (all placed into a homogeneous lump) at $1 a title. The next it may put 10million into the pot and value our work at $3 a title. Why should Amazon ever be in a position where it tells us what our work is worth? Wasn't that the problem with the old publishing industry? The old system of sales was fair, because good books rose to the top via reviews, rankings, etc. A good book could charge more and people would pay it because reviews and word of mouth said it was worth the money. A good short story could charge more, too, if it was noteworthy. This new system lumps everything together and takes away individual success. It doesn't matter how good a book is, it will make the same as a 20 page leaflet that's been cut and pasted from Wikipedia. A bestseller, no matter the length is destined to earn $1.33 a download. Why? Because Amazon are decided that that is how much they want to pay. It also means none of us have any idea what we are earning each month, which makes it harder to manage our lives.
Now, my hope is that Amazon have launched KU with the best of intention. They may be aware of these issue and already working on them. They may still care a great deal about the welfare of authors and these problems will be corrected. We will just have to wait and see. But if Kindle Unlimited continues to get worse, then we all need to think seriously about what we are supporting here. Our livelihoods depend on it.
I have seen many suggestions from people far smarter to me on how to fix things and I just hope Amazon is paying attention. I have seen a payment tier suggested that would account for title length. I have heard calls for Amazon 'curators' to get rid of spam. Someone said a short story should count as one entry in KU whereas a novel should count as 2. I do not know which answer would suit the most amount of people. What I would like to see myself is a royalty commitment from Amazon (ideally a minimum $2 per download, although I would probably accept $1.50 if I had assurances it would go no lower). We need to know what we are earning month to month. Currently all we have been sure of is that the royalty amount will drop each month, and that is what has happened. What id that continues. What if we suddenly find KU paying the same rates Spotify pays for music downloads (0.006c). Would any author reading this be happy with that?
The first thing I would like to say about my previous post is that I in no way intended to lump short story writers in with 'scammers', I realise that when I wrote the article (in an emotional state) I didn't look at the situation from all sides and I ended up making it seem like I see short stories as somehow unworthy. I do not. Short stories are as valid as any novel and I do not wish to see their earning potential taken away. However, I do maintain that they hold less intrinsic value than a novel. Now, many people will shout at me now, saying things like: 'I've read some short stories far better than some novels I've read. Short stories are a valid art form. I work just as hard on my short stories as any novel.' These arguments are all subjective. Quality is not part of the argument I am making here. If a short story or novel is good or bad will be determined by reviews, word-of-mouth, sales ranking etc; therefore the argument here needs to be about what the fundamental differences between novels and short stories are. One is short and one is long. Both are the same medium that provide the same type of entertainment. But one is short and one is long. Let's assume that all short stories and all novels are perfect masterpieces with ultimate enjoyment factor. The short story entertains a person fully for one hour. The novel entertains a person for 10 hours. Which is worth more? To make an analogy: a starter is just as delicious as the main meal but costs less. Why? Because it is smaller. It isn't worse quality--it is just as delicious--but it is smaller. The amount you pay for a starter is less than the main meal (in most cases) for no other reason that there is less of it. Taking quality out of the equation and thinking only about what the two types of writing fundamentally are, a short story is just as enjoyable as a novel, but there is less of it. Thus, it is worth less.
One of the problems I have with Kindle Unlimited can be explained thus: My novel 'Ravage' is 100k words long. It counts as one title in Kindle Unlimited. If I were to cut Ravage up into ten chunks of 10k words and release them all separately, I would have ten eligible title entries in Kindle Unlimited. Who does this help? My readers wouldn't benefit from a choppy, cut-up novel. I wouldn't enjoy having to slice up all my work into segments, knowing that the power of my stories would be diluted. Other authors don't benefit as me doing that would force them to do the same to their novels.
Furthermore, the current system forces authors to write for an economic framework instead of for their fans. One of the beauties of Kindle was it allowed authors to write whatever the hell they wanted and find an audience for it. This was one of the benefits over traditional publishing which ignored anything that wasn't part of their normal gamut (mainly autobiographies and whatever is 'hot' during that 15 minutes). Authors are now being nudged to write short, serialised work, not because they or readers want it, but because that is the best way for them to make money. I fear it will lead to a very stunted catalogue of titles. I'm an avid reader too and I don't like to read short works. I want long novels, but the number of these is in danger of reducing.
My next point is that most short stories are priced at 99c. Most novels are above $2.99. The authors and readers have already decided that there is a difference in value (if not then why are novels and short stories not priced identically on the open market?). If the novel is worth more on the open market, then why is it valued equally to a novel when sold within Kindle Unlimited?
Again, taking quality out of it, I take on average 3 months to write a full length novel (working 30 hour weeks), whereas a short story might only take me 3 days. My writing is the same quality for both, but one took a great deal more manhours to complete--which makes it intrinsically more valuable. I expect a higher compensation for the novel because it required much longer to create. I would have to pay a decorator more to paint my entire house than just one room, because it requires more manpower. Doesn't mean his painting of that one room was any different to when he did the entire house, he just did more of it.
Now, these are just my opinions, and if I suddenly find out that even 60% of people disagree with me, I will shut up. I embrace whatever suits the majority, even if I am not a part of it. If I suddenly find out that Kindle Unlimited suits 90% of authors than I will no longer complain. The reason I am complaining now is because I feel it is hurting the majority. Now, I have had people tell me that I am just whining and that Amazon can do whatever it wants. If I don't like it then just leave, sell my books elsewhere. Of course Amazon can do whatever they want. Doesn't mean we have to embrace bad decisions, though. Look what happened with Microsoft when they launched the Xbox One. It had all kinds of features that people hated (always online, DRM, no pre-owned sales, mandatory Kinect use). Now, Microsoft could have gone: 'we're a free company, we'll do whatever we want. You don't like it, buy a Playstation (many did)'. No, they did a complete 180 on many of the things consumers didn't like. People complaining changed the product. Amazon can do whatever it wants, but it's up to us if we let them succeed. We always look at Amazon and say 'well, they have all the power,' but they do not. We have all the power as consumers, authors, and suppliers. We helped grow Amazon because we decided we like to use them. If tomorrow we all stopped using Amazon, the company would go away. We have the right to complain and our opinions do matter.
I don't feel like Amazon owes me a living or that I am entitled to anything, but when I have worked hard for 4 years to play by the rules and give readers what they want, do I not have the right to feel aggrieved when everything changes on a whim? I hate to complain, because I am so lucky to do what I do. I feel lucky and that I have no right to whine, but then I look at my son and my wife and I want more. I want to be as successful as I can be. I don't want to just sit back and let money be taken out of my pocket. I want a great life for my son and wife and that is what I am fighting for. If that makes me come of as entitled then I am sorry. I'm just trying to do my best for the people I care about.
Anyway, my point is, I am not against short stories. I value them and understand their worth. I just feel that authors do a job like anyone else and their compensation should be equal to their work. I have written 13 full length novels, but suddenly the market has shifted out of my favour to benefit shorter works. If that is what people want (and feel free to tell me) then so be it, but if readers still want full length novels, then why am I being penalised for giving them what they want?
Overall, Kindle Unlimited frightens me because of what it represents. For the last few years, Amazon has been conditioning us to demand fair pay for our work and to charge whatever we think it is worth. The pricing decisions have belonged to the author. Inside Kindle Unlimited, Amazon is deciding at the end of each month how much they think our work is worth. One month they decide to put 3million into the pot that values our work (all placed into a homogeneous lump) at $1 a title. The next it may put 10million into the pot and value our work at $3 a title. Why should Amazon ever be in a position where it tells us what our work is worth? Wasn't that the problem with the old publishing industry? The old system of sales was fair, because good books rose to the top via reviews, rankings, etc. A good book could charge more and people would pay it because reviews and word of mouth said it was worth the money. A good short story could charge more, too, if it was noteworthy. This new system lumps everything together and takes away individual success. It doesn't matter how good a book is, it will make the same as a 20 page leaflet that's been cut and pasted from Wikipedia. A bestseller, no matter the length is destined to earn $1.33 a download. Why? Because Amazon are decided that that is how much they want to pay. It also means none of us have any idea what we are earning each month, which makes it harder to manage our lives.
Now, my hope is that Amazon have launched KU with the best of intention. They may be aware of these issue and already working on them. They may still care a great deal about the welfare of authors and these problems will be corrected. We will just have to wait and see. But if Kindle Unlimited continues to get worse, then we all need to think seriously about what we are supporting here. Our livelihoods depend on it.
I have seen many suggestions from people far smarter to me on how to fix things and I just hope Amazon is paying attention. I have seen a payment tier suggested that would account for title length. I have heard calls for Amazon 'curators' to get rid of spam. Someone said a short story should count as one entry in KU whereas a novel should count as 2. I do not know which answer would suit the most amount of people. What I would like to see myself is a royalty commitment from Amazon (ideally a minimum $2 per download, although I would probably accept $1.50 if I had assurances it would go no lower). We need to know what we are earning month to month. Currently all we have been sure of is that the royalty amount will drop each month, and that is what has happened. What id that continues. What if we suddenly find KU paying the same rates Spotify pays for music downloads (0.006c). Would any author reading this be happy with that?
November 17, 2014
My letter to KDP executives concerning Kindle Unlimited...
For the first time since becoming a full-time writer, I have begun to see my sales drop below previous years (basically my sales are now going down year by year instead of up). This shouldn't happen as I have more books out and more fans. I am keeping my part of the deal by regularly releasing new books that people enjoy, so my earnings really should not be going down (they should, in a perfect world, go up). The slump began for me with the advent of Kindle Unlimited. My books were automatically entered into this 'Netflix for books' scheme and I at first had no problem with it as I trust Amazon a great deal and have always been treated fairly by them. However, in the last 3 months I have watched the average royalty drop from over $2 to $1.33. If the trend continues then my full-length novels will soon be making me less than a $1 per sale (I then lose even more money on the exchange rate which is very poor once Amazon's bank take their cut). Rather than do nothing, I have forwarded my concerns to a contact I have on the KDP UK team. The letter is below and hopefully it will get taken seriously as I feel confident that I am speaking on behalf on many many panicking authors.
Please leave your comments below so that I have evidence that my concerns are representative of others (I know my contact checks my blog and will see your comments).
------Hi "my contact at Amazon":
I’m really disappointed and let down by Amazon. About 50% of my traditional sales (which make me roughly £2 a sale) have migrated to Kindle Unlimited (which last month made me 80p per sale). Amazon is steering the business in its own favour and trying to create a 'Spotify for books'. Incidentally, Spotify artists make roughly 0.0006 per listen (should we be preparing to expect the same type of renumeration). The last three months I am 30% down on last year, which is crazy considering I have more books available, more fans, more platforms (ACX etc). I should be growing, not shrinking. Prior to Kindle Unlimited, I was beating last year’s figures every single month without fail (which should be the case as I continue releasing books and growing my fanbase). Now I am going backwards, earning less and less despite releasing new work.
The main problem with the Kindle Unlimited program is that it is penalising authors who write decent, novel-length work. I know a few a authors who write nothing but shorts and are benefitting because they are are getting $1.33 for titles they sell at 99c! This doesn’t seem sustainable to me. Amazon obviously want the price point to be between $2.99 and $9.99 (as they apply the 70% royalty rate to this range), so why are they making Kindle Unlimited more appealing to authors who write cheap, short books while penalising those such as myself who take a long time writing decent books with professional artwork and editing. Amazon is incentivising the wrong section of it’s author-base. It is endorsing cheap, throwaway fiction. Authors who write and release books at $2.99 “Which is what Amazon want) expect a royalty of $2, but as their sales are being eaten up by KU, they are receiving only $1.33. It is even worse for authors, such as myself, who were selling well at $3.99 and higher.
Here is an example of the problem.http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/8624129011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_4_last
This person has spammed Amazon with hundreds of 20-page leaflets (check the samples and you’ll see they barely even qualify as that) under several pen names. He is benefitting more by doing this than I am by taking my time and releasing good work and growing a readership (I’m being penalised for being a professional). This is crazy. How can Amazon give money to people doing this at the expense of its loyal authors who have supported the platform for years.
My earnings have plummeted since KU came out and I have seen droves of authors saying the same (the only exception is the prolific short story writers). Many have decided to pull their books already from Select after watching the royalty slowly dwindle from $2.20 to the latest low of $1.33. I am considering doing the same. I have been exclusive to Amazon for 4 years, but I am for the first time considering taking my work to other platforms as the benefits to being a member of Select are no longer existent. I’m really upset that my livelihood, after having worked so hard, is starting to dwindle away in favour of those looking to make a quick buck. I have been a massive advocate of KDP and have steered dozens of authors in your direction, but I feel suddenly that Amazon doesn’t care less about me.
Rather than just complain, I would at least like to say something constructive. I believe Amazon needs to do 1 of 2 things. Either commit to a $2 payout per borrow via KU, or introduce a minimum word count of 20,000 words (although I would prefer to see it at 40,000). This would immediately eliminate these ‘spam titles’ and ensure that the royalty pot is shared only with deserving authors. The pot is going to dilute even further with the introduction of the foreign platforms, so I dread to think how low the royalty will go. If authors have any sense they will remove their books as this entire scheme seems designed to help Amazon at the expense of the authors who have helped it build the superiority it currently has.----
Please leave your comments below so that I have evidence that my concerns are representative of others (I know my contact checks my blog and will see your comments).
------Hi "my contact at Amazon":
I’m really disappointed and let down by Amazon. About 50% of my traditional sales (which make me roughly £2 a sale) have migrated to Kindle Unlimited (which last month made me 80p per sale). Amazon is steering the business in its own favour and trying to create a 'Spotify for books'. Incidentally, Spotify artists make roughly 0.0006 per listen (should we be preparing to expect the same type of renumeration). The last three months I am 30% down on last year, which is crazy considering I have more books available, more fans, more platforms (ACX etc). I should be growing, not shrinking. Prior to Kindle Unlimited, I was beating last year’s figures every single month without fail (which should be the case as I continue releasing books and growing my fanbase). Now I am going backwards, earning less and less despite releasing new work.
The main problem with the Kindle Unlimited program is that it is penalising authors who write decent, novel-length work. I know a few a authors who write nothing but shorts and are benefitting because they are are getting $1.33 for titles they sell at 99c! This doesn’t seem sustainable to me. Amazon obviously want the price point to be between $2.99 and $9.99 (as they apply the 70% royalty rate to this range), so why are they making Kindle Unlimited more appealing to authors who write cheap, short books while penalising those such as myself who take a long time writing decent books with professional artwork and editing. Amazon is incentivising the wrong section of it’s author-base. It is endorsing cheap, throwaway fiction. Authors who write and release books at $2.99 “Which is what Amazon want) expect a royalty of $2, but as their sales are being eaten up by KU, they are receiving only $1.33. It is even worse for authors, such as myself, who were selling well at $3.99 and higher.
Here is an example of the problem.http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/8624129011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_4_last
This person has spammed Amazon with hundreds of 20-page leaflets (check the samples and you’ll see they barely even qualify as that) under several pen names. He is benefitting more by doing this than I am by taking my time and releasing good work and growing a readership (I’m being penalised for being a professional). This is crazy. How can Amazon give money to people doing this at the expense of its loyal authors who have supported the platform for years.
My earnings have plummeted since KU came out and I have seen droves of authors saying the same (the only exception is the prolific short story writers). Many have decided to pull their books already from Select after watching the royalty slowly dwindle from $2.20 to the latest low of $1.33. I am considering doing the same. I have been exclusive to Amazon for 4 years, but I am for the first time considering taking my work to other platforms as the benefits to being a member of Select are no longer existent. I’m really upset that my livelihood, after having worked so hard, is starting to dwindle away in favour of those looking to make a quick buck. I have been a massive advocate of KDP and have steered dozens of authors in your direction, but I feel suddenly that Amazon doesn’t care less about me.
Rather than just complain, I would at least like to say something constructive. I believe Amazon needs to do 1 of 2 things. Either commit to a $2 payout per borrow via KU, or introduce a minimum word count of 20,000 words (although I would prefer to see it at 40,000). This would immediately eliminate these ‘spam titles’ and ensure that the royalty pot is shared only with deserving authors. The pot is going to dilute even further with the introduction of the foreign platforms, so I dread to think how low the royalty will go. If authors have any sense they will remove their books as this entire scheme seems designed to help Amazon at the expense of the authors who have helped it build the superiority it currently has.----
November 15, 2014
The Second Captive
My good friend Maggie James has released her latest novel at only 99p/99c. She's a great writer so grab a copy while you can. Here is the description:
"Stockholm syndrome: the psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with his or her captor.
What happens when you love the man you should hate?
Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when Dominic Perdue abducts her. Held prisoner in a basement, she’s dependent upon him for food, clothes, her very existence. As the months pass, her hatred towards him changes to compassion. Beth never allows herself to forget, however, that her captor has killed another woman. She has evidence to prove it, not to mention Dominic’s own admission of murder.
Then Beth escapes…
And discovers Dominic Perdue is not a man who lets go easily. Meanwhile, despite being reunited with her family, she spirals into self-destructive behaviour. Release from her prison isn’t enough, it seems. Can Beth also break free from the clutches of Stockholm syndrome?
A study of emotional dependency, The Second Captive examines how love can assume strange guises."
You can buy the book here: UK US
You can visit Maggie's Official Website at: www.maggiejamesfiction.com
"Stockholm syndrome: the psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with his or her captor.What happens when you love the man you should hate?
Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when Dominic Perdue abducts her. Held prisoner in a basement, she’s dependent upon him for food, clothes, her very existence. As the months pass, her hatred towards him changes to compassion. Beth never allows herself to forget, however, that her captor has killed another woman. She has evidence to prove it, not to mention Dominic’s own admission of murder.
Then Beth escapes…
And discovers Dominic Perdue is not a man who lets go easily. Meanwhile, despite being reunited with her family, she spirals into self-destructive behaviour. Release from her prison isn’t enough, it seems. Can Beth also break free from the clutches of Stockholm syndrome?
A study of emotional dependency, The Second Captive examines how love can assume strange guises."
You can buy the book here: UK US
You can visit Maggie's Official Website at: www.maggiejamesfiction.com
