Kindle's Expansion In Euro Markets: Why You Should Care

Guess who was doing the happy dance this morning, as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) unveiled amazon.es and amazon.it? This person! But, it's not for the reason you may expect - no, I don't enjoy obsessively tracking my sales in each market. Well, not as much.

The new Spanish and Italian sites for Amazon customers allow residents of those countries to buy the thing nearest and dearest to my little author heart: books on Kindle! Since Amazon went live with the German and French sites, there was speculation that Italy would be the next foreign market made accessible to publishers and self-published authors. For reasons which should be very obvious to anyone who knows me, I was rooting for Spain. For now, I earn 85% of my sales on paperbacks and ebooks through Amazon alone. In fact, 90% of my sales come from Kindle ebooks. To say I'm heavily invested in Amazon's every move concerning ebooks would be an understatement. So far, I've had less than ten sales in Germany and nothing in France. Why am I possibly more hopeful with the inclusion of these two new markets? Allow me to explain.

For one, penetration of English language books into any foreign market is great for authors and English-speaking residents of those countries. It introduces readers to books that  may not have been translated into the language of their particular country. It gains more exposure for smaller publishers and self-published authors, like me, who might have been weighing the heavy costs of translation fees against a strong desire for access to European markets.  In addition, Kindle sales in these new countries qualify for the 70% royalty on ebooks priced within the equivalent of 2.99 and 9.99 US dollars - before, the maximum royalty earned was 35%. Double the royalties and more English language books available? Sounds good to me.

Speaking of sales, did you know your Kindle book used to cost an additional $2 or more to readers in the aforementioned European countries? Money that you never saw? Thanks to David Gaughran, who first exposed that nasty little detail on his blog, it became clear why getting sales in certain European markets were that much tougher - why would anyone choose to pay such a high surcharge on an ebook? With each European expansion, Amazon has now removed this surcharge in that particular country. I'm all for making ebooks more affordable across the globe. So Sultana on Kindle, which retails for $3.99 is now available for the equivalent price of 3.22 Euros, without an additional fee imposed. Only two things might make European buyers even happier - learning if or when the new Kindle Fire will be launched in their respective countries, or having all the newly available Kindle books free for download.

Lastly, as a writer of historical fiction, which remains more popular in Europe than it does in the US, and the author of two books set in Spain, subtitled "A Novel of Moorish Spain", Amazon's entry into that particular market couldn't come soon enough for me. Now that it's here, I'm already looking at how I can enhance my author page on amazon.es. Also, I'm betting as the holiday sales of Kindles rise, the Italians may be saying 'Buon Natale' and the Spanish 'Feliz Navidad' with Kindle books. Let's hope some of that holiday cheer finds its way into the pockets of Kindle authors. What am I betting on next? Do I hear whispers of Amazon India? 

Be sure to check out David Gaughran's blog today too; he has a much more in-depth analysis of what this new move from Amazon may mean for us all. If you're not following his blog, you should be!

Self-Publishing: A Brave New World, Or The Same Old One?

I knew I had no business going on to Salon.com and reading Laura Miller's article on the "brave new self-published world" especially since I have a particular sensitivity to the topic. Still, I like living dangerously, so I stepped right into the fray...and almost had my eyeballs pop out of my skull. The section that really stuck out in my mind, aka bugged me, was how writers see agents and editors as gatekeepers, thwarting their humble efforts for a little recognition, a little money. If the same agents and editors would just move out the way, a million adoring fans would snatch up all those great books. I'm paraphrasing here. God, I hate sweeping generalizations.

Please excuse me as I rant. Sorry, Laura Miller: FAIL. Who in the hell really thinks that way? Please, let's find such writers and clue them in. If you're a writer considering self-publishing because it will bring fame and fortune overnight, I'm going to tell you what Susan Powter used to tell people in her 90's infomercial: STOP THE MADNESS. I'm about to burst your little bubble of insanity - fame and fortune will never come just because you've self-published. Why? It doesn't often come to midlist, traditionally published authors, who actually have large publishing houses behind them with a marketing department. The fact that most of that marketing money seems to go to the big names is a topic for another blog post. Back on topic, no right-minded author really thinks that self-publishing is the key. Those of us who've done it have a variety of reasons for not going the traditional route, and often, it's not for lack of trying.  

The article suggests that instead of editors and agents separating the wheat from the chaff, or as I liked, finding the good stuff among the "really, really, really, really terrible...vast majority", now the readers will suffer that mind-numbing task, as they choose among the 700,000 (!) self-published books and God knows how many traditionally published ones. So, I have to ask (and I did in a comment on the article), how is that any different from what readers have always done? Readers have always chosen with their wallets and they will continue to do so. Books of merit will rise to the top (of the sale's ranking, that is), and the dregs will remain where they belong. Self-publishing hasn't muddied the mix, it's opened up the field for some, notice I wrote some, who haven't gotten the lucky break they may otherwise deserve.

Ok, rant over.

The article did raise a point I found particularly interesting: Why should extroversion be required of a great novelist? It's interesting for me, because at heart, I am an introvert. I can still count on both hands the number of true friends that have gotten to know me, the real me, over the years. When I decided that writing was more than a hobby, I also quickly figured out that in order to get people interested in my writing, the naturally shy, reserved me would have to go. After all, how could I get people to buy my books, if I avoided talking about them?

Geniuses who once lived in their own insular writing world are relics of the past, and in the competition for critical acclaim and those all important dollars, can't afford to stay silent .  If that means you tweet your little heart out on Twitter, friend a random stranger on Facebook, keep updating a website and blog, just get over it and do it.  Also, it might be helpful to keep a working email or comments form on your website where people can write to you.

Case in point, I recently came across a beautiful synopsis of a SELF-PUBLISHED medieval on an author's website. Since I LOVE medieval settings, particularly the early Norman period, I emailed the author expressing interest in a review copy for the Historical Novel reviews blog. What did I get in reply? A bounceback because the email account was no longer valid. No comments or contact form either, but that didn't deter me because this person must have a Facebook page. My mother has a Facebook page. Anyway, I thought luck was with me. Instead, I found "Author Name only shares some of her profile information with everyone. If you know...."  Maybe I'm being too judgmental, but if you don't list an active email on your website AND you put up obstacles, however minor, for people who may contact you, you've just made it that much harder on yourself to connect with readers in this brave new / same old world of publishing. 

P.S. Even Anne Rice agrees with me: http://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage/posts/131658676868510

The Author Pays the Price

During this morning's long, snow-bound commute, I read this article in the New York Times, the latest on the rising cost of e-books.  The topic's been in the news lately, feed by the brouhaha between Amazon and McMillan.  Some vocal readers are making their disgruntled feelings known, by going online to leave one-star ratings and negative reviews if the price is too high or the digital version is delayed.  For authors who've developed a loyal following, the loss of a few potential customers aren't going to put a dent, if any, in their sales.  But I've still gotta ask, why blame the author at all?  I understand angry readers' sentiments, being an avid book buyer myself, and the owner of a few e-book titles - I say a few because I only got into them last summer, while still being very attached to the traditional printing formats.  Sorry, but there something about the smell  and feel of a newly printed book...ok, back to topic.

This backlash on e-book prices and delays can only harm the author, who is often blameless. Despite the talk about Stephen King's Under The Dome last fall, in a traditional publishing model, you won't find many authors who have any say in the prices or release versions.  For books produced in any format, the author's time, the editor's energy and the publisher's money all play a part in the final product and its pricing.  Regardless of opinions about the quality of the writing, editing and promotion, there's still a bunch of hard-working people to be paid for their involvement in each aspect of publishing.  Besides, how is a publisher releasing the digital format of a book after several months, any less forgivable or unfair than a mass market paperback that comes out a year after the hardcover release? 

Leaving negative comments for authors because of their pricing or delays in digital delivery format, is unfair and harmful because it damages the author brand.  If you don't buy a book because it's overpriced, then the author has just lost a potential sale.  But if you buy the book, and trash the author over the pricing, maybe the book performs poorly and now that author is associated with poor sales and slammed by readers who may swear off buying or recommending his or her other books. For a newbie author, that's death, and almost assures that the next contract, advance or potential royalties are that much harder to get.          

Readers can get the best pricing by comparison shopping.  We all have choices in when and where we part with our hard-earned cash. If I think something is ridiculously priced, I don't buy it.  But, I also take it one step further and shop around, and you can bet if Amazon, or Borders or B&N.com, or a brick and mortar store has something cheaper, then that's where I'll go to buy it.   

By all means, readers, vote with your wallet. I do the same. But please, don't hate the authors for issues beyond their control. And yes, I'd still say that even if I wasn't trying to join their ranks.

Recession? What Recession?

These days, it seems all anyone can hear or read in the news is about the recession, except when it's about the swine flu. Swine flu - that's such an obnoxious sounding name.

It appears publishers are paying attention to doomsday forecasters, but readers aren't. Thank God. I know readers are still buying, cause I'm one of them. I just added the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel, another book on pirates and my personal favorite title, "Bullies, Bastards & Bitches - How to Write the Bad Guys of Fiction" to my shelves. Honestly, the last thing I need is more books on the shelves. I can't even stack them properly so there's a little pile of books forming on the floor next to the bookcase.

Anyway, scanning the news on book sales during this recession, the common theme is: books sales are up, despite the recession, whether it's e-books or romances. Theories abound from books offering a cheap means of escape from economic realities (if you can't fly to Parish this year, read about someone who did) to the escapism books offer as a whole (if you're working long nights to bring home the bacon and leaving little time for romance, at least you can read about someone else's romantic adventures). I'll also add that if you're a historical fiction writer and you like to have your research aids handy, and avoid running off to the library each time you need to check your sources, you aren't going to stop buying books any time soon either.

Unfortunately, bookstores have been cutting back on their orders in anticipation of slower sales and some have closed altogether. Even worse, I'm hearing that publishers don't want to take on new authors or have significantly reduced their advances. Some New York publishing houses have announced layoffs and / or executive shake-ups. All of this seems out of step with the needs of readers, who are still buying books.

So what does all this mean for the writer? Keep on writing. To flip the age-old adage, what goes down, must come up. And hopefully, the economy that is tanking has bottomed out or will very shortly. When you've hit rock bottom, the only direction is right back up. And, in the year(s) that it takes the economy to rebound, that gives a writer plenty of time to research, write the first draft and revise for the second. Plenty of time to hit the ground running when publishers realize readers still want their books, even during a recession.

I just found out Penguin was formed in 1935, during that really, really, really big recession known as the Great Depression. If Penguin survived that period, I think the large publishing houses can ride out this one out too.