Are Readers Rejoicing?

So here it is...the library where no one has to leave the comfort of their own home. Amazon is making it all too easy to rely on them. The unlimited choices for the reader and all you have to do is pay a monthly fee. Is this a bargain & a modern convenience? Is it worth it for the readers as well as the authors?



I tend to put out book reviews for others and usually these hardworking authors are willing to send their work. Once in a while though, wouldn't it be easier to pick it up at Amazon in the Kindle Unlimited section? I soon realize the amount of time and gas I spent driving back and forth to a brick and mortar library. This could definitely make up for the monthly fee and also pay an author. Could it really be worth it? I decided to give it a try.

As we all know, the best course of action is to buy books to support an author and through Kindle Unlimited you essentially do. Your paying the monthly fee, so they get paid. But wait, you have to crack open that book and read it first, at least a certain percentage. So the next question is, do you read enough to actually make that Amazon monthly fee of $9.99 worth it while helping an author? In my case, absolutely! I really try to pick out books I know for a fact I'll read. I can enjoy great books and the author can get paid. In theory, this is pretty fair to both parties.

But like most everything else in life, there are drawbacks. For the reader, you're only allowed so many on your list. You don't read them, those books just sit there and gather dust, so to speak. If you see an enticing book and your Amazon account happens to be full, a sacrificial lamb has to go to make room for another. Or worse yet, the book you wanted to check out now gets left behind as you wave goodbye while promising you'll come back and pick it up later.

Choices need to be made, that's abundantly clear. And even on Kindle Unlimited, not all books are included in this subscription. Some are left out. Others choose not to be part of the program. So, now yet another question needs attention, are you still spending money outside your subscription to buy books that are not on the unlimited program?

Some people are stomping mad about this program, because they only read big name celebrities or authors. Most of those books are not available on the Unlimited plan much to my disappointment. Hey, I like a scandalous celebrity tell-all like anyone else.

I did find, however, with my support of indie authors and being able to find books that I do like; it does save me time, gas and money as long as I'm actively reading and sticking to the program.

You can see this is a multi-layered beast that isn't so cut and dry. As we ride another wave into this always changing and uncertain future of book publishing, we shall see how this all pans out in the big scheme of things.


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SK Thomas is a writer, author, book reviewer and the curious creative complex brain behind this blog.

Connect at https://lnkd.in/bYFM6-4 or http://www.skthomasauthor.com to learn more about her Pawned Queen Thriller/Mystery series.