I’m spreading my wings!! #Smashwords #Kobo #Apple #B&N #Google Play

 


Okay, you’re probably going to wonder why I’m making such a big deal out of this that I’d write a blog about it.  Well, to me, it’s BIG!!
In case you’re not aware, I’ve published my work exclusively on Amazon. 
Okay – that’s a fib. Here’s what happened.
Years ago, when I first went Indie, I personally formatted and published My Cheeky Angel on Smashwords also. Vicious headaches, suicidal thoughts and a near divorce later, getting my book through that blasted meatgrinder and equal to their Style Guide so it would get in the premium catalogue, had put me through a meatgrinder—oh yeah! After those 2am nights redoing the upload over and over, I decided that I would rather lick clean every window of a twenty story building rather than go through that again. Funny enough, because I’m stubborn, I was eventually successful and the book was made available. In the next few months it earned such a pittance that when I finished the next in the series, His Devious Angel , I quickly changed my path. Publishing exclusively with Amazon became my goal.
 
-         I told myself that the Amazon market was big enough for little ole me. True!
-         Their select program was worth not spreading the books to other channels and those 5 free days were gold. True!
-         Amazon’s site was easy to work with and they took a word.doc easily. Very true!!
-         And… I wouldn’t have to face that freaking meatgrinder again. Sooo true!
Until now!
I’m beginning to see that the free books aren’t such a draw anymore. Let’s face it, the market is becoming saturated. Once an author has a following, I feel that not every new book released needs to be made available as a freebie. I’m sure the readers who know they’ll get their money’s worth are more than willing to spend the few dollars we charge nowadays to be able to read what they know is worth the price.

Smashwords and their affiliates have some pretty impressive numbers now. Is it smart to disregard those opportunities?
Apple is making up a good amount of wages now earned by many authors and that just seems silly to ignore.
Google Play will be a big percentage of the market if their plans continue working the way they surmise.
And, being a Canadian, lots of my personal friends have Kobo e-readers and so I figure why not share the wealth, right?
***What do you think – are you publishing on all channels? Sure would like to hear your views?
If you're a reader and not an author, is it important to you that books be available on multi channels?