A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Help! Kindle is offering my e-book for free!

 


It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

Today's topic is about Kindle Unlimited and is a response to a question (or call for help) I get from time to time from our authors: Help! Kindle is stealing my book! That is the understanding that happens when an author sees his/her book being offered for free by Kindle Unlimited. So, is Kindle stealing your book? What is really going on? Here is the answer:

Readers on Kindle Unlimited pay a monthly fee and get free access to all Kindle books that receive 70% (vs 35% royalty). You actually do get paid -- if the book is read, you get payment for the number of pages read. At the lower, 35% royalty, your book would be exempt from Kindle Unlimited. The higher royalty rate (70%) requires that you allow the book to be shared and read. 

From what I have seen as a managing editor, those books that are on the 70% rate not only receive better royalties, but they also get better sales. Often when readers take a look at a few pages, they will go ahead and buy the book because they like it. Of course, that means that the book has to be good enough to sell itself.

Bottom line: Some giveaways do not pay off (including some Kindle giveaways), but Kindle Unlimited seems to be a decent deal. Having pages read on a regular basis adds up to additional revenue.

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Investigate and determine the whole picture before panicking.




 Read more posts about publishing HERE.



The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                             

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