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Does it matter where I buy?
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John
(last edited Apr 16, 2011 10:31PM)
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Apr 16, 2011 10:30PM
I really get a lot of pleasure reading what authors write. I'm afraid it's hard for me to get all warm and fuzzy about retailers, and to a lesser extent, publishing companies. Insofar as I can, I'd like to buy in such a way that the author gets as much out of my purchase as possible. For me, a shortage of bookcase space makes e-books really attractive. In view of this does it matter if I buy primarily from a place like Amazon, or should I give preference to publishers' own sites? Are most folks getting paid a percentage of the "suggested price" or a percentage of the actual price I pay? (And what about those "freebes"? Are publishers and authors getting shafted when Amazon gives something away for free?) Should I prefer paper over e-books?
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Authors generally earn more money from ebook sales than paperbacks. They'll also earn more money from sales through the publisher than a third party. When a book is sold through a third party, that third party takes a cut of the sales.Also, I don't think Amazon can give books away for free without permission from the publisher and author. Most of the time when books are given away for free it's for promo.
John, that's very thoughtful of you to think of the writers. In order, we get the most money from a) self-publishing through the kindle store; b) direct from the publisher's website; c) third party retailers.
Regardless, the money is pretty slim, and we have a small group of readers with an ever-increasing number of writers. I think most of us write because we love to write and for some reason our characters are gay. Who knows why?
I have somewhere around 15 books, mostly novella length, from the last six years. They make about enough to pay the monthly electric bill, and I'm frugal with the lights. I wonder sometimes if poor sales are because I'm a woman, or because I put very little sex into stories when the genre as a whole seems to be going for more sex. Or I don't market enough- but since the main rewards at this point for writing are internal, I am not going to make myself feel miserable and cheap, jumping up and down and waving a flag that says, buy me! buy me!
Oh, dear, probably too much information! Better just go write for awhile.
Regardless, the money is pretty slim, and we have a small group of readers with an ever-increasing number of writers. I think most of us write because we love to write and for some reason our characters are gay. Who knows why?
I have somewhere around 15 books, mostly novella length, from the last six years. They make about enough to pay the monthly electric bill, and I'm frugal with the lights. I wonder sometimes if poor sales are because I'm a woman, or because I put very little sex into stories when the genre as a whole seems to be going for more sex. Or I don't market enough- but since the main rewards at this point for writing are internal, I am not going to make myself feel miserable and cheap, jumping up and down and waving a flag that says, buy me! buy me!
Oh, dear, probably too much information! Better just go write for awhile.
John, if you like ebooks, the best place to buy is Amazon's Kindle store. If the book is priced between $2.99 and $9.99, the publisher (and often the author is the publisher) receives 70% of the retail price, even if Amazon discounts the book.Catherine M Wilson
http://www.catherinemwilson.com/free-...
Well, knowing that on most of what I buy, Amazon takes only a 30% cut makes me feel a little better about shopping there. Nicer still that e-books are better since my domestic deal is I have to get rid of a paper book if I buy one. Ugh.
Catherine wrote: "John, if you like ebooks, the best place to buy is Amazon's Kindle store. If the book is priced between $2.99 and $9.99, the publisher (and often the author is the publisher) receives 70% of the re..."This only works if the book is self published. For those of us with actual publishers, that means that the publisher gets 70% and we get a percentage of whatever the publisher receives.
Mod
I like hardcovers, so many of my books are remainders or used and usually cheaper than a new mass market PB and often than an e-book. But the author gets nothing. For books or series I really like I will also get an e-book version so the author gets paid for my read and so I can search the text for things I've forgotten.
Ralph said: For those of us with actual publishers, that means that the publisher gets 70% (publishing on Kindle) and we get a percentage of whatever the publisher receives.Ralph, I'd love to know how authors with a traditional publishing contract are making out with ebooks. Do you receive more from ebooks or print books? Is the author share calculated differently?
Catherine M Wilson
http://shieldmaidenpress.com/
I am trying to buy more through my local book store because I want to keep them in business.. so when I want a book I go to them now and place an order. I think it is great to give business to small business owners when you can. Often, I order my new age/wicca books through my local wicca shop.
Catherine wrote: "Ralph said: For those of us with actual publishers, that means that the publisher gets 70% (publishing on Kindle) and we get a percentage of whatever the publisher receives.
Ralph, I'd love to kn..."
I have a couple of books that are available both print and ebook. The royalty is 6% of the purchase price for paper and 35% for ebooks.
Ebooks are usually priced lower. But purchase price is different differnet places. If a retailer discounts a book, then we get our percentage of the discount price, minus their commission.
Despite a few exceptions, the majority of ebook writers aren't making much money because sales are still low.
Ralph, I'd love to kn..."
I have a couple of books that are available both print and ebook. The royalty is 6% of the purchase price for paper and 35% for ebooks.
Ebooks are usually priced lower. But purchase price is different differnet places. If a retailer discounts a book, then we get our percentage of the discount price, minus their commission.
Despite a few exceptions, the majority of ebook writers aren't making much money because sales are still low.
Thanks, Ralph, for the reply. My, that sounds complicated!
I would love to support my local gay bookstore by buying books (gay themed or otherwise) from them. Unfortunately, when I got a Kindle in Nov 2009 (and later a Kobo in May 2010), I haven't been interested in buying a physical book. There's no way to buy e-books from them so ... well, relationships sometimes change over time, don't they?Living in Canada, I buy from Kobo or Amazon in Kindle format and, generally, I prefer the Kindle format. Yet most of my purchases have been Kobo because of discounts or the availability of content not at Amazon.
I'd like to encourage more writers to lobby to get their books on Kobo so there is a choice.
