A new article about the current blockbuster novels has spurred some intriguing discussion. Coupled with the general air of resentment aimed at remakes of iconic films--looking at you, horrific and unnecessary nightmare of a Dirty Dancing remake--has people asking the question, "Books are published literally every single day...why are only a handful of titles getting the star … [Read more...] about Who Cares about the Indie Authors?
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The Power of a Book Tweet
Self-published authors have resorted to "buy my book" tweets for so long that social media is a minefield of useless book commercials. But one purposeful--albeit off the cuff--tweet from an independent bookstore led to an exponential increase in sales. According to Book Web, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky, reached out to author Shea Serrano after he directed … [Read more...] about The Power of a Book Tweet
Winning the Buy Box: What Does Amazon Owe to Authors?
Amazon is once again ruffling the feathers of publishers and authors alike, this time for a change in its policy that allows the "buy button" to redirect to the seller with the best customer service rating and pricing for the item. That's all well and good if you're purchasing a kayak from a third-party seller--after all, lower prices and faster order fulfillment are what keep … [Read more...] about Winning the Buy Box: What Does Amazon Owe to Authors?
New Feedback App for Writers Taking Beta Testers
By now, most serious indie authors understand what it takes to produce a book. Sadly, for most authors, the writing is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What follows is a time consuming and often expensive process, one that serves as an investment towards a greater final return. But what if there was a way to maximize the value of paid editing? One company has a new … [Read more...] about New Feedback App for Writers Taking Beta Testers
IndieReader’s “Buff” Book Checkup
For years, authors and readers alike have bemoaned the "glut" of content available from online ebook retailers. In the beginning, the get-rich-quick authors who slapped up worthless content gave the entire notion of self-publishing a bad name; but even with the fading away of those types of "authors," even the number of really worthy reads makes it hard to discover great new … [Read more...] about IndieReader’s “Buff” Book Checkup
The Ongoing Curse of Author Bullying
Over the years, a number of authors--both high profile and never-heard-ofs--have suffered under the joint efforts of internet trolls who come together to leave one-star reviews, often on books they've never bought, never read, and never heard of. Entire blogs have been created about author bullying and the just as guilty behavior of some authors who've attempted to take matters … [Read more...] about The Ongoing Curse of Author Bullying
Is Kindle Unlimited a Good Idea?
Amazon has developed a lot of programs over the years, some aimed at making the customer experience better, others intended to take care of its worldwide stable of authors. Unfortunately, the hush-hush nature that all book retailers and publishers have about sales figures can mean that the public doesn't have full transparency about the process. One source has now broken … [Read more...] about Is Kindle Unlimited a Good Idea?
Amazon KDP Unveils Kindle Create Word Doc Conversion Tool
If you're a self-published author, writing your book is only half the battle. Some might even argue that it's the easy part of being an author. Indies have been beaten over the head for years now about the need to hire professionals to take the manuscript and turn it into a book, with costs associated with editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, and marketing. The … [Read more...] about Amazon KDP Unveils Kindle Create Word Doc Conversion Tool
New Prime Reading Offer Asks Authors to Give Up Royalties. Here’s Why They Should.
As if Amazon didn't already have enough critics, the company has unleashed a new invitation-only offer that is going to raise some author ire. It's new Prime Reading membership, a free benefit of having an Amazon Prime membership which is not to be confused with the monthly fee-based Kindle Unlimited, lets customers read pre-selected books at no additional cost. It can easily … [Read more...] about New Prime Reading Offer Asks Authors to Give Up Royalties. Here’s Why They Should.
Should Authors Go Exclusive with Amazon?
The Author Earnings report has come out once again, and if there's any criticism to be lobbed its way, it's that the data is thorough enough to make even the most fanatical number cruncher see spots. The breakdown in last month's report is once again by sales channel, English speaking sales market, publication route, and more. But one thing hasn't changed about the report, … [Read more...] about Should Authors Go Exclusive with Amazon?