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C. Gockel's Blog, page 104
August 15, 2014
August 14, 2014
I Gave Up on Publishing Direct
For those of you not in the indie publishing biz, there are two ways to get onto a site like Amazon, B&N, Apple, and Kobo. You can publish directly with them, or you can go through a distributor like Smashwords or Direct to Digital.
I was determined with the release of Warriors to go direct…
Sounds like I’ll be going direct only with Amazon and Google as well when the time comes.
Thanks for sharing!
Well, it depends … if you want to be part of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, you can only go with Amazon. Some writers have been having great success with it and I will probably put my next series in KU, at least for a little while. If I was going to go with two places, I would chose Amazon and Smashwords—just one doc to Smashwords will get you into B&N, Apple, Kobo, Scribd, Oyster, and a bunch of other tiny sites.
My most profitable sites in order are: Amazon, B&N, Apple, Smashwords store, Oyster, Scribd, Kobo.
Direct to Digital makes prettier files, and gets you into B&N, Apple, Kobo, and now Scribd. But it doesn’t have it’s own store and I actualy make money in the Smashwords store.
Do whatever the tits you want, man. We're here to read your work. We don't own you. You just do what's best for you. No need to explain.
Awww … thanks … but I do! My fans are the ones that brought me. Communication is key.
August 13, 2014
I Gave Up on Publishing Direct
For those of you not in the indie publishing biz, there are two ways to get onto a site like Amazon, B&N, Apple, and Kobo. You can publish directly with them, or you can go through a distributor like Smashwords or Direct to Digital.
I was determined with the release of Warriors to go direct with Kobo, Apple, and Barnes & Noble (I already go direct with Amazon and Google Play). But a funny thing happened on the way to that plan … The cold dark anvil of reality landed on my head.
I had thought that going direct would mean faster service for my customers.
… And then I discovered that Apple took longer to publish books direct than Smashwords takes to publish through Apple. So Apple was out.
… And then I learned that Kobo only paid twice a year and ONLY if you earned $100 in the six months previous. I had a six month stretch when I earned less than $100 with them. I decided to nix the idea of going direct with Kobo.
That leaves Barnes & Noble. I got all the way through the account setup process and then I realized that their system wouldn’t accept my files, and I’d have to create a special file just for them. I have heard some authors say Barnes & Noble Nook publishing system is a breeze, but it won’t accept the file I use on Google Play and SmashWords. Which meant not only one more place to upload each and every new book, it meant seven* new files I’d have to create each and every time I publish because I have to update the back and front matter** on every ebook every time I publish.
I could go direct, honestly, I could figure out every system … I know especially at Barnes & Noble it would make some of my fans happy. All I would have to do is pay for more child-care and see less of my children, get a less sleep, or do a little less design and coding work which is my bread and butter income, or I could give up some writing time and write a few thousand less words a month. None of those tradeoffs make sense for me at this time. When I start selling a thousand books a month on those other retailers, I’ll have to change. Of course, at that point, I’ll be able to hire an assistant.***
* of course next time I publish it won’t be seven updated files, it will be eight, and then nine, and then ten; you get the picture.
** back matter and front matter is where you list all your books for sale at the front of a book. I still haven’t done this yet for all my files on Amazon, SW, or Google Play.
*** at this point going through Smashwords means I miss out on about $30/month at Barnes and Noble (that’s $30 total if I decided to go back and make all my titles direct with them). That isn’t enough money to hire an assistant with.
Oh, I didn't know smashwords gave you higher royalties! Going to buy everything that way now.
Oh, thanks! Yep, they pay 80% on every ebook, no matter the price—but they don’t have the cloud which I think is less convenient for my customers. I’m actually just about to post about my failure to go direct with Barnes & Nobles. I feel really bad about it, but at this time I can’t justify it.
OKAY FINE. Bought it on Smashwords instead of trying to be patient for stupid Barnes & Noble. Which I love, don't get me wrong, but I want to read this for my train trip tomorrow!
Thank you so much! To be honest, Smashwords gives me higher royalties than anyone else, but I understand it’s more of a pain to download it that way.
I hope you enjoy it—and your train trip!
August 12, 2014
Monsters has 70 reviews on Amazon U.S.
THANK YOU REVIEWERS! Monsters I Bring the Fire Part II just hit 70 Reviews on Amazon US! Thank you The Archer, Florence Beeler, Tami rada, Rachel D., Amazon Customer, Deborah Johnson, Michelle H., Jan Niblock, Pasha210, and Gloria Terry-Gamron. Also, thank you Nocturnus, Matt, and David Jones for your reviews in the U.K. And thank you Victoria Case and Beverly Miller for your reviews on Google Play.
Reviews of I Bring the Fire Part I help readers decide to download a free book, reviews of the rest of the series help readers decide to pay for the next installments. Reviews also remind authors that people are reading our books when sales are slow, and help us get the next one out. I appreciate them so much. Thank you everyone!
davidcball:
Odin at the Well of Mimir. Experimenting with a new...
Odin at the Well of Mimir. Experimenting with a new style.
Mimir! In case you just thought I had a really great imagination.
