So, despite coming up with a dozen reasons not to, I actually listed something for sale on Amazon. I'd been trying to build up the gumption for months, even going so far as creating a seller account, and almost uploading one of my favorite stories no one has ever read (I may still do that, someday). But I let things like not having cover art (and cowardice) get in the way.
But all the response to my Broken Mirror story "The Calling" on the Dunesteef really encouraged me. I sat down and incorporated a couple of the suggested changes into the tale, and went ahead and listed the text for sale on Amazon.
If you heard it on the Dunesteef, it's the same story about a family that believes itself charged to slay demons in human form, but it has a change or two, including the ending. Here's the link: www.amazon.com/The-Calling-ebook/dp/B00ENMZIGC
It's my plan to do this many times, and make little collections of my stories, if I can overcome the cover art problem. And if anybody out there buys it, maybe I'll do it faster.
Rish Outfield, Aspiring Bookseller
Are you buying stock art and doing your own covers? I use depositphotos.com--they don't have the selection of the bigger sites, but for 70 dollars you get a LOT of photos. If you are hiring someone, I know a few folks who take cover art and build covers for fairly cheap.
ReplyDeleteMaria
Hey Rish,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting about this. I wanted to mention something that I noticed when I was clicked through to Amazon, namely that if you have a Kindle and an Amazon Prime membership (which I currently have neither), the story can be borrowed for free. Were you aware of this? And if someone with a Kindle and Amazon Prime downloads this story, do you get any sort of payment? Or do you at least know that it's been downloaded?
Mike, I'm vaguely aware of what goes on with Kindles and on Amazon's various sales platforms, but I've never read anything on a Kindle, and amn't even sure the file looks right (there's a "Virtual Kindle" in the uploader I viewed it on). It had several options for the sale of the story, and I didn't know which ones to choose. I clicked Yes on the one that said if you have bought the file you can share it with anyone for free, and I may have chosen the Amazon Prime one too. I won't get paid for that, but since story is already available for free elsewhere, I won't sweat it.
DeleteNot sure if I'll see how many folks have read it or shared it, for free or otherwise. I'll try to figure out the details better as I upload my second one (which I've been trying to do for an hour now).
Yes, you do get paid for the Amazon prime borrows. You selected to go exclusively with Amazon and while the reader does not make a payment, Amazon pays you a small amount from a monthly pool. This amount ranges from about a dollar to 2.50 or so.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the book available via other vendors, you need to take it down because the exclusivity means you agree to have it at Amazon only. If they find it elsewhere, they will hold your funds and lock your account.
People who buy the story can share it ONCE and only once. So the number of lends can only be equal to the sales. See Lendleme for more information on how that works.
People "Sharing" the file via Amazon is NOT the same as the Primer borrowing lending program. Two different programs.
Thanks, Maria. It sounds like you know what's going on. I don't have the book available anywhere else (though I remember Abbie telling me how easy it is, and which ones to go for), hence the exclusive contract, but as it IS available in audio on the Dunesteef, I initially hesitated to agree to it. I read the contract, though, and it seemed to be talking about digital files for a Kindle (or Nook or Chingareader etc.), rather than audio.
DeleteRight now, I don't really care if I make any money off of it, as it's fun to just upload stories. But, like my work for Audible, I'm sure that once the novelty has worn off, I'll start to moan if things sell zero copies.
As far as cover art goes, maybe I'll get someone to design it for me (Andy Dillbeck and Gino Moretto each made me one), but more likely, I'll try to be ambitious one weekend and make three or four of them myself. We'll see.
The exclusivity only pertains to ebooks. You can have print copy or audio and you're okay. Although if it's "Free" on other sites in some form, they take issue with that. Since your site is private, they are not likely to find it or care and it is audio so I think you're okay anyway. I'm a little gray in that area.
DeleteWhen I do artwork for mine, I get a month subscription to depositphotos (I can get you a referral code which gives me 5 free downloads and I think it gives you some too). The sub runs about 70 for the month (look online--you can usually find a coupon for at least 10 percent off). Then you download 5 pieces of art every day for 30 days. REMEMBER TO CANCEL THE SUB or it rolls over and charges you again. Then you have plenty of artwork to play with--or you can have your artist work with it without having to pay the artist for downloading. I sort plenty of artwork into a bucket before I do the sub. That way I don't have to hunt artwork every morning. You're able to only get 5 per day and if you don't use them you lose them. They are the cheapest I've found out there. Dreamstime is in second place but I think their cheapest sub is 200.
Yeah, I've been at this a while. You published Around the Bend (my short story) a long while ago. I took that one and made it available on my blog for Kindle and ePUB. I may do a "send to kindle" with it, but I haven't published it on Amazon. I have several other stories and novels up there though. Let me know if I can answer any questions or help with anything. Find me at www.BearMountainBooks.com -- there's an email contact on the left side if you scroll down.