A Warning to Indie Authors

Many Companies Want to Take Advantage of Indies

If you are lucky, talented, and/or hardworking you can make a living as an indie author. Right now, because of the eBook explosion, writers who struggled to find a publisher in the past can offer their work to readers. The "big business" of writing has been circumvented. Now readers decide what they like and don't like.

However, there is a money element to it. Companies see the money going to individuals and want a piece of the action. With my last book, Brie Bows to Her Master, I gave out the book for 99 cents for three days as a thank you to my fans before increasing the price. I went online and changed the list price on Amazon to 2.99 knowing that I would get 70% royalties instead of 35% (Amazon's incentive to price higher). That is a huge difference and the reason you see so many eBooks priced 2.99 or more.

What I didn't realize is that Amazon has a box you must check to receive 70%. Trust me, if you price under 2.99 the royalties default to 35%. However, if you increase the price the percentage of royalties suddenly becomes a "choice". Why would any author CHOOSE the lower percentage of royalties? It makes no sense. When I alerted Amazon, I was told they could not reimburse me for the income lost. I am positive I am not the only one who has made this mistake and did not get the incentive they were promised.

Okay, lesson learned.

For all indie authors out there - CHECK THE BOX!