tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8377726367531297645..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Top Ebook QuestionsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74047409186748281342010-06-23T07:43:31.365-05:002010-06-23T07:43:31.365-05:00Joe, I've got a question that stems from one o...Joe, I've got a question that stems from one of your answers here.<br /><br />What does your relationship with your agent actually look like with these ebook sales? Is he/she getting 15% of all of them? Did you have to convince him/her to let you go this route? How would you advise someone going your route to do it? Find an agent, and then tell them you want to self-publish instead of NY publish?<br /><br />Also...I know you haven't seen any of my work, but I do book covers also, in a different style from your cover designer. My style's not suited to horror or thriller or suspense novels...more to inspirational, romance, etc. If anyone's interested, you can view samples of my graphic work here: <a href="http://www.katiediddesign.com" rel="nofollow">KatieDid Design</a>Kathleen MacIverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16445884398825552734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3097874093324639862010-05-27T19:47:42.191-05:002010-05-27T19:47:42.191-05:00Curious about how you made your book into an ebook...Curious about how you made your book into an ebook? Is it a special program?Sarah Collins Honenbergernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25262797693944087772010-05-18T17:02:12.961-05:002010-05-18T17:02:12.961-05:00I have nothing intelligent to add. I simply found ...I have nothing intelligent to add. I simply found this enlightening. Thank you for doing it.John Wiswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416044628686736927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41888997765613100282010-05-17T16:19:55.602-05:002010-05-17T16:19:55.602-05:00This is really helpful and great information for a...This is really helpful and great information for authors. I appreciate your willingness to take your own experience and share it with others so they can learn.Penny Sansevierihttp://twitter.com/Bookgalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77235723764140150212010-05-17T08:05:06.602-05:002010-05-17T08:05:06.602-05:00Many thanks for this post.
My publisher has gone...Many thanks for this post. <br /><br />My publisher has gone belly up with the recession and I've been toying with the idea of publishing by ebook.<br /><br />I fully realise I can't translate your figures to mine, but it's good to hear that you can be successful by this route.Dialoguehttp://www.bukisa.com/articles/251790_uncovered-12-important-points-of-dialoguenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8294861654529407322010-05-16T12:23:15.863-05:002010-05-16T12:23:15.863-05:00It's all about the money. As long as Amazon is...It's all about the money. As long as Amazon is making money from it's DTP program, they'll continue it. Smashwords and other sites, too.<br /><br />If economic and technological shifts should occur, I still don't think Amazon would cut out self-pubbers who are making money. They might cut out the little guys who are only pulling in a few books a month, but not the money makers.Tyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09192814826756623212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41719185833258190912010-05-16T10:26:47.618-05:002010-05-16T10:26:47.618-05:00Joe:
Thanks for this post.
You know how Elvis...Joe: <br /><br />Thanks for this post. <br /><br />You know how Elvis was the King of Rock and Michael was the King of Pop? Well, I think you're King of the Kindle. <br /><br />I think my covers are great - but then my hubby does those and he's a great graphics guy, so that doesn't speak to anything about the author. Hubby also does my formatting for Kindle and Smashwords - his stuff gets through the Meatgrinder the first time and slid right through the criteria for being distributed through the premium catalog. <br /><br />That only leaves that one WEE, ITTY BITTY other hurdle that's all mine to scale - the great book part. I like my stories, but I've a feeling that perhaps I have a ways to go before they approach greatness. Some readers think they have a long way to go while others seem to get them. <br /><br />I wonder - how long does it take before a low Kindle price point will attract sales? One of my (many) flaws is impatience. I keep playing with my price point. However, after reading this, I've reduced it to $2.99 and I swear I'm going to leave it there for a while to see if the Konrath Magic kicks in. <br /><br />Maybe, I'll have to name 1 of the 2"lucky ducks" that too rarely)visit my yard KONRATH. That can only multiply the luck, right?Mary Anne Grahamhttp://www.quackingalone.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45224740722930982532010-05-16T02:21:59.395-05:002010-05-16T02:21:59.395-05:00Very interesting, Redstar! I'm on critters.org...Very interesting, Redstar! I'm on critters.org, btw.<br /><br />One thing for us to keep in mind with that study is that it's asking which prices seem "fair." That's different than, "what prices would you likely buy at?"<br /><br />For example, someone might think that a new $9.99 ebook is at a "fair price," but they might not actually buy it unless it was $4.99 or lower (or whatever the case may be).<br /><br />However, this seems to show that with 93% saying that a $11.31 ebook seems "too high," that the agency model of pricing ebooks is at a price which nearly everyone thinks is too high. Of course, that might be exactly what the big publishers are aiming for: not wanting people to buy ebooks for new releases.Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasybooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-10183630272448936312010-05-15T23:34:35.526-05:002010-05-15T23:34:35.526-05:00Interesting survey on e-book price over at:
http:...Interesting survey on e-book price over at:<br /><br />http://www.critters.org/ebookpricing.htRedstarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29957856634222857572010-05-15T12:38:29.389-05:002010-05-15T12:38:29.389-05:00No problem.
I thought of a little question to add...No problem.<br /><br />I thought of a little question to add to this list, and I hope everyone will feel free to answer. I'm on Facebook and Twitter, and I have a site/blog, but then I hear about sites like Shelfari, Goodreads, and another one I can't remember the name of (Red-something?). Which of these, if any, is most likely to be worth my time as a writer?Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasybooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85202291871868228352010-05-15T11:40:22.743-05:002010-05-15T11:40:22.743-05:00That's one heck of a review, Moses.Thank you k...That's one heck of a review, Moses.Thank you kindly.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26539046417583010842010-05-15T00:02:08.110-05:002010-05-15T00:02:08.110-05:00An important part of Amazon's business strateg...An important part of Amazon's business strategy is the "long tail" (see http://tinyurl.com/8tau9) so I doubt they'll be barring anyone from selling their indie books. Raising minimum price or, as mentioned, imposing a listing fee, would make more sense, it seems to me. Besides, I know it seems like everyone has a novel in them, but there is actually a limited number of people who actually complete one--of whatever quality.Eric Christophersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03959682464031525374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70662936185586175892010-05-14T22:12:37.694-05:002010-05-14T22:12:37.694-05:00I just put my first novel, "St. Cochrane'...I just put my first novel, "St. Cochrane's World", up on Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M5IOEO). Of course the Kindle logo covers part of the title (sigh).<br /><br />My second novel is out to the major print publishers (via my agent) and my third is in my agent's to-be-read pile.<br /><br />Thanks for all your insight Joe, it's been invaluable.<br /><br />dbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57460409240098770702010-05-14T19:57:11.432-05:002010-05-14T19:57:11.432-05:00Joe, I've been thoroughly enjoying 'The Ne...Joe, I've been thoroughly enjoying 'The Newbie's Guide to Publishing,' (though it's definitely for more than just newbies), and I just wrote a lil' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R12MQW9DKQUFWT/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm" rel="nofollow">Amazon review right here</a>.Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasybooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88942464672960772762010-05-14T19:03:13.584-05:002010-05-14T19:03:13.584-05:00Thanks, I hadn't heard of Kindleboards.com bef...Thanks, I hadn't heard of Kindleboards.com before.Perry Wilsonhttp://www.paperboxbooks.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64032891046564508772010-05-14T17:34:54.373-05:002010-05-14T17:34:54.373-05:00I don't think Amazon will be eliminating their...I don't think Amazon will be eliminating their DTP progam. It's an easy way to bring in extra revenue and attract new authors (customers).<br /><br />One of my two books on Amazon, ANGELA, hasn't been doing very well there, mostly because it's free everywhere else via Smashwords. I read that Amazon has been sending out letters to authors complaining about their books being priced lower on other sites. <br /><br />ANGELA (a ghost story) has only been getting an average of 1 sale per day on Amazon, and not wanting to be further embarrassed by her dismal rank, I unpublished her. She disappeared an hour later.<br /><br />The next morning she reappeared, and had sold a few copies. As soon as they were done processing it, I checked and saw that the "kindle store" box had been rechecked.<br /><br />I figure if Amazon wants to sell my book, who am I to stand in their way.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63396067347802486122010-05-14T15:54:36.751-05:002010-05-14T15:54:36.751-05:00Lee,
Don't you think a moderate listing fee w...Lee,<br /><br />Don't you think a moderate listing fee would solve the problem if it became one? I'd certainly be willing to pay a reasonable fee for access to Amazon.<br /><br />I could understand if Amazon didn't want to be available to self-publishers but there are a lot of small pubs who aren't self-publishers who would get shut out in such a situation as well.<br /><br />If there wasn't something reasonable like a fee I can see a lot of indie authors forming co-ops and figuring out whatever the new requirements would be to get listed and getting in through a side door that way.Zoe Wintershttp://zoewinters.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3838411336347138392010-05-14T15:31:15.583-05:002010-05-14T15:31:15.583-05:00Joe,
There's one assumption that you and I kee...Joe,<br />There's one assumption that you and I keep making that may not hold true in the future...and that is that Amazon, iStore, etc, will continue to let individual authors make their books available on their websites. <br /><br />I can see that Amazon, the iStore, etc. getting swamped with self-published work, taxing their resources and eating up lots of their web real estate, and creating restrictions on what they will and will not sell.<br /><br />LeeLee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69000513602528762512010-05-14T15:25:23.034-05:002010-05-14T15:25:23.034-05:00In a recent survey of 13,000 consumers in 14 count...In a recent survey of 13,000 consumers in 14 countries, nearly half (49%) plan to buy an e-reader in the next three years.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-46750" rel="nofollow">E-reader survey results</a>David Wiseharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01438917127132239969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8372403176367917922010-05-14T15:01:52.747-05:002010-05-14T15:01:52.747-05:00I love how giant your enthusiasm is getting. It...I love how giant your enthusiasm is getting. It's like a runaway train! (Do trains actually runaway?)<br /><br />Anyway, I was talking to a friend the other night about my numbers because I'm on target to sell over 800 copies of Kept this month (if i stay on track will be highest month so far, yay whoohoo etc.) and she's all going: "Aren't you afraid of running out of people to sell too?" <br /><br />And I laughed and was like "Joe Konrath is selling a crapload more books than I am. <br /><br />Ebooks ARE still a minority of sales, but what a lot of people don't get is, that minority market is still pretty freaking huge when it comes to actual numbers of people you can potentially sell to. <br /><br />Especially when you're just starting out. I have no danger of reaching market saturation, and even with your numbers, I don't think you do either.<br /><br />Isn't the Internet awesome!Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55105694330856380282010-05-14T15:00:44.484-05:002010-05-14T15:00:44.484-05:00You're an inspiration, Joe. It's awesome t...You're an inspiration, Joe. It's awesome to see how your career has progressed.<br /><br />Thanks for the post.J.H. Moncrieffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18045467689291025137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29625751320229516482010-05-14T13:41:37.186-05:002010-05-14T13:41:37.186-05:00Thanks for the information. As a new writer, I fi...Thanks for the information. As a new writer, I find your posts so helpful!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08240719494747780399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-76169423668138519092010-05-14T13:36:40.326-05:002010-05-14T13:36:40.326-05:00Joe,
I am unconvinced about Sony, iPad, Nook, Goo...Joe,<br /><br />I am unconvinced about Sony, iPad, Nook, Google, and author-website ebooks.<br /><br />But...<br /><br />Kindle is the greatest thing to happen to writers since Gutenberg.<br /><br />Just wait until this fall when Amazon brings out the next Kindle with faster chips, a lower price, and full color digital paper.<br /><br />- JackJack H. H. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495812906987846109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69879691755735381322010-05-14T10:48:40.971-05:002010-05-14T10:48:40.971-05:00Thanks, Joe. I'm positively elated by the ene...Thanks, Joe. I'm positively elated by the energy here. Finally, as this week ends, my romance, DISCONNECTED, went live at Amazon. They had a problem initially believing the book to be in public domain and wrote to ask me to prove the author was dead. I wrote back and said I couldn't prove it.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950289036813327685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41939284231345518792010-05-14T10:33:53.190-05:002010-05-14T10:33:53.190-05:00Another great post...I'll be bookmarking this ...Another great post...I'll be bookmarking this one! Thanks for sharing!Karly Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032213203101470326noreply@blogger.com