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I recently made a Facebook post about some of the realities and challenges facing publishing in 2019. I decided to copy the post to Twitter because...well, something has to give and it's up to us (the authors) to change the current standards. So, here it goes...
1/
I began writing my first book in 2013. I self-published it on December 27, 2015. I was new to the business and I literally knew nothing. I made my own cover, which I’m embarrassed of now. But hey – I was brand spanking new and was learning as I went.
I began writing my first book in 2013. I self-published it on December 27, 2015. I was new to the business and I literally knew nothing. I made my own cover, which I’m embarrassed of now. But hey – I was brand spanking new and was learning as I went.
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And yes, there were typos galore in this first book. My January 2016 sales raked in a whopping $1500. I was shocked! After all, I was a nobody – a brand new author who nobody had heard of and I made $1500 in my first month!
And yes, there were typos galore in this first book. My January 2016 sales raked in a whopping $1500. I was shocked! After all, I was a nobody – a brand new author who nobody had heard of and I made $1500 in my first month!
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I charged $5.99 per ebook for my debut title (Heart of Stone) and it was enrolled in KU. Looking at the sales, I thought I really had something going. My husband convinced me to quit my day job and do the author gig full time.
I charged $5.99 per ebook for my debut title (Heart of Stone) and it was enrolled in KU. Looking at the sales, I thought I really had something going. My husband convinced me to quit my day job and do the author gig full time.
4/
My second book published a year later (Stepping Stone). It was a continuation from the first book, which would eventually become The Stone Series. Since I initially published, I’d learned a lot. I set up a pre-order, I planned a release party, & everything was going well.
My second book published a year later (Stepping Stone). It was a continuation from the first book, which would eventually become The Stone Series. Since I initially published, I’d learned a lot. I set up a pre-order, I planned a release party, & everything was going well.
5/
I was still a “nobody” in the grand scheme of things, but I managed to get 839 pre-sales at $5.99 a pop. Great! Things were going well, so I hired a PA to hopefully help me with the busy work so I could write more. She didn’t last very long, but it was a learning experience.
I was still a “nobody” in the grand scheme of things, but I managed to get 839 pre-sales at $5.99 a pop. Great! Things were going well, so I hired a PA to hopefully help me with the busy work so I could write more. She didn’t last very long, but it was a learning experience.
6/
Eventually, I brought on two other PA’s who are still with me to this day – they are amazing! At this point in my new writing career, life was good.
Eventually, I brought on two other PA’s who are still with me to this day – they are amazing! At this point in my new writing career, life was good.
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The third book, Set In Stone, was the 3rd book in The Stone Series. I published that in January of 2018, a little more than a year after book 2. My pre-orders were through the roof, I managed to snag one of the coveted BookBub featured spots & came close to hitting USA Today.
The third book, Set In Stone, was the 3rd book in The Stone Series. I published that in January of 2018, a little more than a year after book 2. My pre-orders were through the roof, I managed to snag one of the coveted BookBub featured spots & came close to hitting USA Today.
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I was so grateful because I knew I was doing better than the average indie author. I wasn’t sure if it was my marketing/business background that was aiding my success or if it was solely because of my writing. It may have been a little of both.
I was so grateful because I knew I was doing better than the average indie author. I wasn’t sure if it was my marketing/business background that was aiding my success or if it was solely because of my writing. It may have been a little of both.
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To me, I was just appreciative for the small measure of success I had achieved.
But then, something changed…
To me, I was just appreciative for the small measure of success I had achieved.
But then, something changed…
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$0.99 price points were literally everywhere. The market was flooded with authors like RR Banks, Cassandra Dee, or Mia Ford. The list was endless. They were top of the charts, beating traditionally published, well known NYT bestselling authors like Maya Banks & Nora Roberts.
$0.99 price points were literally everywhere. The market was flooded with authors like RR Banks, Cassandra Dee, or Mia Ford. The list was endless. They were top of the charts, beating traditionally published, well known NYT bestselling authors like Maya Banks & Nora Roberts.
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The book covers almost all looked the same, each one boasting bare chests and abs or scantily clothed women and messy script-like fonts. None of these authors had pictures of themselves anywhere, but pretty logos where a profile pic should be.
The book covers almost all looked the same, each one boasting bare chests and abs or scantily clothed women and messy script-like fonts. None of these authors had pictures of themselves anywhere, but pretty logos where a profile pic should be.
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They didn’t attend book signings. They were spending tens of thousands of dollars on marketing, and regularly achieving the Amazon All-star bonus, bumping legitimate authors from attaining it. Their books all followed themes, such as Daddy, Virgin, Seals, Sold, Wanted.
They didn’t attend book signings. They were spending tens of thousands of dollars on marketing, and regularly achieving the Amazon All-star bonus, bumping legitimate authors from attaining it. Their books all followed themes, such as Daddy, Virgin, Seals, Sold, Wanted.
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But the thing that was most puzzling was the content of the books – these books were very poorly written. They were shorter in length too, averaging 30-60k words. They were also miscategorized on Amazon.
But the thing that was most puzzling was the content of the books – these books were very poorly written. They were shorter in length too, averaging 30-60k words. They were also miscategorized on Amazon.
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Naturally, other authors and publishers began to get curious about these rising all-stars. It didn’t take long to discover that these “authors” were Amazon scammers. Many of them were men who lived in India or the Philippines, and published under a female pen name.
Naturally, other authors and publishers began to get curious about these rising all-stars. It didn’t take long to discover that these “authors” were Amazon scammers. Many of them were men who lived in India or the Philippines, and published under a female pen name.
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These scammers worked the system multiple ways. Some “stuffed” ebook content to artificially inflate page reads on Amazon, which in turn boosted their ranking and visibility on Amazon. Typically, they released a book every 3-5 weeks.
These scammers worked the system multiple ways. Some “stuffed” ebook content to artificially inflate page reads on Amazon, which in turn boosted their ranking and visibility on Amazon. Typically, they released a book every 3-5 weeks.
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Most weren’t authors at all, but hired ghostwriters to fill their catalogue. While I don’t have an issue with ghostwriters, I do have an issue with someone owning success when they never even wrote the synopsis.
Most weren’t authors at all, but hired ghostwriters to fill their catalogue. While I don’t have an issue with ghostwriters, I do have an issue with someone owning success when they never even wrote the synopsis.
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Because of these people, the world of indie publishing completely changed. More people began to see the book world as a business opportunity and nothing more. The craft, the art, and the time perfecting written words was beginning to get lost.
Because of these people, the world of indie publishing completely changed. More people began to see the book world as a business opportunity and nothing more. The craft, the art, and the time perfecting written words was beginning to get lost.
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Buying and selling recycled ghostwritten manuscripts became common place – I have actual proof of this happening.
Buying and selling recycled ghostwritten manuscripts became common place – I have actual proof of this happening.
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If you’re an author who does this and are or were in the infamous Chance Carter Bookclicker chat, you might want to block me now because I have no issue calling you out and posting proof…I’ve truly had enough of the scams.
If you’re an author who does this and are or were in the infamous Chance Carter Bookclicker chat, you might want to block me now because I have no issue calling you out and posting proof…I’ve truly had enough of the scams.
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Perhaps to some people, they aren’t scammers. After all – hiring a ghostwriter, advertising, and selling content (even if they didn’t write it) is actually perfectly legal.
Perhaps to some people, they aren’t scammers. After all – hiring a ghostwriter, advertising, and selling content (even if they didn’t write it) is actually perfectly legal.
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Pulling stale books off Amazon and selling the manuscripts to others to use, repackage, and republish is also perfectly legal (whether this is a violation of Amazon’s TOS is unknown to me).
Pulling stale books off Amazon and selling the manuscripts to others to use, repackage, and republish is also perfectly legal (whether this is a violation of Amazon’s TOS is unknown to me).
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In my opinion, the way this practice is flooding the market is tainting the publishing industry and ruining it for those who ACTUALLY WRITE WORDS.
In my opinion, the way this practice is flooding the market is tainting the publishing industry and ruining it for those who ACTUALLY WRITE WORDS.
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Unfortunately, real authors began to see the uptick in $0.99 price points and the stellar Amazon rankings that came with it. They began to think they’d rather sell 10 ebooks at $0.99 than 1 eBook at $2.99.
Unfortunately, real authors began to see the uptick in $0.99 price points and the stellar Amazon rankings that came with it. They began to think they’d rather sell 10 ebooks at $0.99 than 1 eBook at $2.99.
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More and more LEGITIMATE authors and publishers began to change their covers to include sexy abs and priced their books at $0.99.
This eventually became the norm, especially in indie publishing.
More and more LEGITIMATE authors and publishers began to change their covers to include sexy abs and priced their books at $0.99.
This eventually became the norm, especially in indie publishing.
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If you go on Amazon right now, you’ll find a sea of covers that are practically identical. Many readers now expect a $0.99 price point and won’t ever pay more for a book.
If you go on Amazon right now, you’ll find a sea of covers that are practically identical. Many readers now expect a $0.99 price point and won’t ever pay more for a book.
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In the meantime, I’m sitting back watching it all – watching how scammers/non-authors changed the rules of publishing and manipulated the entire book world in a matter of a few short years.
In the meantime, I’m sitting back watching it all – watching how scammers/non-authors changed the rules of publishing and manipulated the entire book world in a matter of a few short years.
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The thing is, real authors aren’t helping each other by falling in line with a precedent set by these people. We are only ADDING to the problem when we do this. The best advice I ever received was from Sylvia Day – she told me that my time & effort was worth more than $0.99.
The thing is, real authors aren’t helping each other by falling in line with a precedent set by these people. We are only ADDING to the problem when we do this. The best advice I ever received was from Sylvia Day – she told me that my time & effort was worth more than $0.99.
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Okay, great…easily said by someone as big as her, but let me break this down mathematically for you.
Remember how I mentioned my pre-sales? Let’s take my second book, Stepping Stone, and use it as an example.
Okay, great…easily said by someone as big as her, but let me break this down mathematically for you.
Remember how I mentioned my pre-sales? Let’s take my second book, Stepping Stone, and use it as an example.
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839 pre-sales x $5.99 = $5025.61
Subtract Amazon’s cut of 30%, and I actually saw about $3518.
This book took me one year to write.
Divide $3518 by 52 weeks in a year = $67.65 per week/$9.66 per DAY.
839 pre-sales x $5.99 = $5025.61
Subtract Amazon’s cut of 30%, and I actually saw about $3518.
This book took me one year to write.
Divide $3518 by 52 weeks in a year = $67.65 per week/$9.66 per DAY.
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Considering that…how many people do you know who can afford to work for less than $10 per day?
Now, let’s take the author who charges $0.99 per book because that seems to be the new industry norm…
Considering that…how many people do you know who can afford to work for less than $10 per day?
Now, let’s take the author who charges $0.99 per book because that seems to be the new industry norm…
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839 pre-sales x $0.99 = $830.61
Subtract Amazons cut of 70% (since all books priced under $2.98 only receive a 30% royalty), the author would only receive $249.
Divide that by 52 weeks in a year = $4.79 per week/$0.68 per DAY.
839 pre-sales x $0.99 = $830.61
Subtract Amazons cut of 70% (since all books priced under $2.98 only receive a 30% royalty), the author would only receive $249.
Divide that by 52 weeks in a year = $4.79 per week/$0.68 per DAY.
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Considering that…how many people do you know who can afford to work for less than ONE DOLLAR per day?
Yes, backlists matter. That adds to the income, but only if an author has a decent sized backlist.
Considering that…how many people do you know who can afford to work for less than ONE DOLLAR per day?
Yes, backlists matter. That adds to the income, but only if an author has a decent sized backlist.
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Keep in mind, most indies don’t have pre-sales totaling 839. During the entire release week, most are lucky to crack 200 sales. Now think about advertising, editor & cover design, the general costs of doing business (website charges, purchasing of ISBN’s & copyrights, etc).
Keep in mind, most indies don’t have pre-sales totaling 839. During the entire release week, most are lucky to crack 200 sales. Now think about advertising, editor & cover design, the general costs of doing business (website charges, purchasing of ISBN’s & copyrights, etc).
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Then there are the reviewers who think nothing about shredding an author in a review, yet mark it as DNF. It’s no wonder why most indie’s struggle to stay afloat.
Then there are the reviewers who think nothing about shredding an author in a review, yet mark it as DNF. It’s no wonder why most indie’s struggle to stay afloat.
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So…to the people who say they can’t afford to spend more than $0.99 on an ebook or email authors to ask them for free books – please stop. If we CHOOSE to run a sale or offer a book for free, that’s one thing. But please don’t expect it.
So…to the people who say they can’t afford to spend more than $0.99 on an ebook or email authors to ask them for free books – please stop. If we CHOOSE to run a sale or offer a book for free, that’s one thing. But please don’t expect it.
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Authors know you have to eat, but authors also have to eat. Five years ago (a.k.a. the Golden Years), it was rare to find an ebook priced under $2.99. Now, it’s the norm and authors actually get criticized for charging too much.
Authors know you have to eat, but authors also have to eat. Five years ago (a.k.a. the Golden Years), it was rare to find an ebook priced under $2.99. Now, it’s the norm and authors actually get criticized for charging too much.
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Now…let’s move on to production time. Scammers influenced this too. I remember waiting 2 years for a Harry Potter book to come out. Nowadays, people are so trained to getting a book every six weeks, the pressure is on legitimate authors to turn out books faster.
Now…let’s move on to production time. Scammers influenced this too. I remember waiting 2 years for a Harry Potter book to come out. Nowadays, people are so trained to getting a book every six weeks, the pressure is on legitimate authors to turn out books faster.
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So…what do you get? Rushed work. If you thought an author who produced a book once every three months was good, imagine how good that book could be if the author had 6 months to write and perfect it.
So…what do you get? Rushed work. If you thought an author who produced a book once every three months was good, imagine how good that book could be if the author had 6 months to write and perfect it.
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Speaking of Harry Potter…how many waited until the ENTIRE series was out before picking it up? Personally, I don’t know anyone who did. Yet, all I see now on Facebook are comments from people saying they're waiting until all books are out. When & why did that mindset change?
Speaking of Harry Potter…how many waited until the ENTIRE series was out before picking it up? Personally, I don’t know anyone who did. Yet, all I see now on Facebook are comments from people saying they're waiting until all books are out. When & why did that mindset change?
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I’m just going to throw this out there for the sake of putting things in perspective. My recent release, Cadence Untouched fell completely flat – despite the fact I spent the same amount on ads & used the same strategy from a year before when I came close to USA Today.
I’m just going to throw this out there for the sake of putting things in perspective. My recent release, Cadence Untouched fell completely flat – despite the fact I spent the same amount on ads & used the same strategy from a year before when I came close to USA Today.
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So many people said they were waiting for book 2 to come out. Fine, great. However, if I didn’t already have Cadence Defined (book 2) completed, I probably wouldn’t have finished the duet – the sales weren’t there for me to justify it.
So many people said they were waiting for book 2 to come out. Fine, great. However, if I didn’t already have Cadence Defined (book 2) completed, I probably wouldn’t have finished the duet – the sales weren’t there for me to justify it.
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Authors are generally their own worst critic. Poor new release sales are almost worse than bad reviews. They make us second guess literally EVERYTHING we are doing.
Authors are generally their own worst critic. Poor new release sales are almost worse than bad reviews. They make us second guess literally EVERYTHING we are doing.
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So, if you’re waiting for an entire series to be out before you buy, the author just might not give you the conclusion because they think there isn’t an interest.
So, if you’re waiting for an entire series to be out before you buy, the author just might not give you the conclusion because they think there isn’t an interest.
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Do I dare bring up Amazon’s role in all of this? Oh, where to begin with the retail giant that got its start because of authors…
Do I dare bring up Amazon’s role in all of this? Oh, where to begin with the retail giant that got its start because of authors…
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While they’ve cracked down on some of the scammers (by removing authors such as Chance Carter, Julianna Connors, Sierra Sparks, Amy Brent, and Cassandra Dee), many are still running rampant. Just take the recent situation with Christiane Serruya as an example.
While they’ve cracked down on some of the scammers (by removing authors such as Chance Carter, Julianna Connors, Sierra Sparks, Amy Brent, and Cassandra Dee), many are still running rampant. Just take the recent situation with Christiane Serruya as an example.
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Amazon also has its own romance publishing label. I just recently started paying attention to it. The books they publish get better Amazon visibility in general, effectively forcing all other authors to spend more on Amazon AMS ads just to be seen.
Amazon also has its own romance publishing label. I just recently started paying attention to it. The books they publish get better Amazon visibility in general, effectively forcing all other authors to spend more on Amazon AMS ads just to be seen.
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Then there’s the issue with what Amazon is doing on Audible. They’re driving all attention to the Audible Studios audiobooks. For authors who paid thousands for narrators out of pocket, we’re kind of SOL in that department since there’s no way to get paid ads over there.
Then there’s the issue with what Amazon is doing on Audible. They’re driving all attention to the Audible Studios audiobooks. For authors who paid thousands for narrators out of pocket, we’re kind of SOL in that department since there’s no way to get paid ads over there.
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The pressure to sell is ridiculous. I made a post a few weeks ago about an author who’s posting bogus “mega” giveaways to gain traction and visibility on Facebook. I honestly think she’s doing this because she’s folding under the pressure.
The pressure to sell is ridiculous. I made a post a few weeks ago about an author who’s posting bogus “mega” giveaways to gain traction and visibility on Facebook. I honestly think she’s doing this because she’s folding under the pressure.
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So many are turning to unethical practices just to keep up, while authors who follow the rules are getting lost in the publishing abyss.
So….readers, if you want to help an author…
So many are turning to unethical practices just to keep up, while authors who follow the rules are getting lost in the publishing abyss.
So….readers, if you want to help an author…
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- BUY their book. Don’t ask them to gift it for free.
- EXPECT and be WILLING to PAY more than $0.99… after all, prior to 2012, you probably paid a small fortune for paperbacks at Borders or B&N. It shouldn’t be any different now, but it is.
- BUY their book. Don’t ask them to gift it for free.
- EXPECT and be WILLING to PAY more than $0.99… after all, prior to 2012, you probably paid a small fortune for paperbacks at Borders or B&N. It shouldn’t be any different now, but it is.
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- If you can’t buy the books, consider the library – yes, you can “check out” ebooks at the library and authors still get paid (we do get paid less, but it’s something at least).
- WRITE A REVIEW – one sentence is all you need to do. It helps an author’s visibility on Amazon.
- If you can’t buy the books, consider the library – yes, you can “check out” ebooks at the library and authors still get paid (we do get paid less, but it’s something at least).
- WRITE A REVIEW – one sentence is all you need to do. It helps an author’s visibility on Amazon.
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- Do not wait to buy a book until the whole series is out.
- Try something new. If you're bored with "the same old stories", maybe don't buy the "same old cover" just because it's priced cheap. Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for.
- Do not wait to buy a book until the whole series is out.
- Try something new. If you're bored with "the same old stories", maybe don't buy the "same old cover" just because it's priced cheap. Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for.
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And to my author friends…
- In the words of Sylvia Day… “Don’t feed the beast.” Do not cheapen your effort, your time, and your work by charging $0.99.
And to my author friends…
- In the words of Sylvia Day… “Don’t feed the beast.” Do not cheapen your effort, your time, and your work by charging $0.99.
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- Newsletters - if you are sending them daily, it’s no wonder why open/click rates are down across the board. Many scammers send daily, sometimes more than once a day. Flooding a reader’s inbox is just plain annoying. Eventually, we all get ignored because of this…
- Newsletters - if you are sending them daily, it’s no wonder why open/click rates are down across the board. Many scammers send daily, sometimes more than once a day. Flooding a reader’s inbox is just plain annoying. Eventually, we all get ignored because of this…
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I miss the days when opening an author’s newsletter was fun. I’m sure readers share the same sentiments.
I miss the days when opening an author’s newsletter was fun. I’m sure readers share the same sentiments.
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- AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT’S HOLY, stop placing high bids on AMS ads – we only hurt each other when we do it. WE are our own worst enemy. The more you bid this time, the more you’ll have to bid next time. It’s an unending cycle that only Amazon benefits from.
- AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT’S HOLY, stop placing high bids on AMS ads – we only hurt each other when we do it. WE are our own worst enemy. The more you bid this time, the more you’ll have to bid next time. It’s an unending cycle that only Amazon benefits from.
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The scammers and the cheaters set this precedent – don’t exacerbate the problem. A keyword list I used a year ago had an average bid of $0.15 - 0.25 per click. That exact same list now suggests I pay $1.00 – 1.40 per click.
The scammers and the cheaters set this precedent – don’t exacerbate the problem. A keyword list I used a year ago had an average bid of $0.15 - 0.25 per click. That exact same list now suggests I pay $1.00 – 1.40 per click.
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As for me and where I stand in the middle of all this mess… I’ve spent a good portion of my time over the past two months thinking about whether or not I should just walk away from writing all together. I work an average of 14-16 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As for me and where I stand in the middle of all this mess… I’ve spent a good portion of my time over the past two months thinking about whether or not I should just walk away from writing all together. I work an average of 14-16 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Currently, because of what I feel like I’m up against (scammers, $0.99 price points, a market saturated with ghostwritten work, the Amazon giant, etc), I’m reevaluating my entire career path.
Currently, because of what I feel like I’m up against (scammers, $0.99 price points, a market saturated with ghostwritten work, the Amazon giant, etc), I’m reevaluating my entire career path.
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My family is suffering because both my husband and I work VERY long days. While he has something to show for it, I’ve definitely been falling short as of late. Work-life balance has fallen to the wayside.
My family is suffering because both my husband and I work VERY long days. While he has something to show for it, I’ve definitely been falling short as of late. Work-life balance has fallen to the wayside.
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I feel tired, beat down, & exhausted from the constant uphill battle. I’m not saying any of this for sympathy or to make you run out and buy my book – not at all. I’m saying that, based on several conversations I’ve had with other authors, we are all under the same pressures.
I feel tired, beat down, & exhausted from the constant uphill battle. I’m not saying any of this for sympathy or to make you run out and buy my book – not at all. I’m saying that, based on several conversations I’ve had with other authors, we are all under the same pressures.
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Many solid writers are reevaluating whether or not this is all worth it. The deck has seemed awfully stacked as of late. It doesn’t matter if you are a big or small author – we are all being hit hard right now.
Many solid writers are reevaluating whether or not this is all worth it. The deck has seemed awfully stacked as of late. It doesn’t matter if you are a big or small author – we are all being hit hard right now.
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If you can relate to any of the above, be the change that's needed.
Okay...that's all from me for today :)
If you can relate to any of the above, be the change that's needed.
Okay...that's all from me for today :)
Wait...one more thing. Perhaps @amazonbooks should reconsider the All-Star bonus program. Some authors won’t like my suggestion, but getting rid of it will solve a whole ton of plagiarism issues and book scam issues... what do you say @JeffBezos? Ready to wipe out the scammers?
Since people have been asking... I blacked out names so I don't get sued for slander. There's a whole community of so called "authors" buying & selling recycled ghostwritten manuscripts. They also sell newsletter subscriber lists, which is against the law.
Screenshot 1/5:
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Clarification for anyone who wants it. Apparently I offended a few people, although that wasn’t my intent.
Here’s a great detailed breakdown on what’s happening from @shilohwalker.
shilohwalker.com/website/2019/0…
shilohwalker.com/website/2019/0…
