Kindle Exclusive

[I. J. Parker]

I have opted for a Kindle exclusive for most of my books. No one else gets it but Kindle for one year.  For that, they do a bit of publicity on Amazon.

In the process, I've learned some things that surprised and displeased me or didn't make much sense.  First, the publicity is really minimal. Second, I get the 70 % only for books above $ 2.99.  In other words, there are restrictions on setting a price.  Third, (and this puzzles me!) I'm not allowed to share copies of the books with reviewers.

 

Any comments?  Can all this be right?

[Mark Young]

Your experience really puzzles me, I.J. Where did you go to get a Kindle exclusive. The general Kindle Direct Publishing agreement (non exlusive) gives the author 70 percent royalties for books priced from $2.99 to $9.99. Did the exclusive deal raise the lower end to something higher than $2.99? (I just checked their listed KDP agreement that I follow and they still list the 70 percent royalty agreement for the price range I listed above).

 

Are the copies a Kindle format that you did, or did Amazon/Kindle supply it? My eBook was Kindle-formated before I sent it to Amazon, and I share these copies with reviewers. Did you work something else out with Amazon?

[Benjamin Sobieck]

I'm sorry, IJ, this really sounds like you got the shaft. In the e-book market, it's important to hit as many readers as possible. I own a Nook, and now I can't buy your stuff. What little publicity Amazon throws your way isn't worth that. And that's the only bone they're throwing you. The 70% cut is standard at the $2.99 price point – you don't have to negotiate to get that. Shiste, I could throw an e-book up there through Kindle Direct Publishing and get that percentage.

 

And to not share copies with reviewers? That's murder. Reviews are what sell books.

 

You're too damn talented to settle for this bullshit.

[I. J. Parker]

Ah, yes, I think this was a bad deal. I had put all electronic publishing into the hands of the agency. They negotiated the deal on a promise by Amazon to promote. As I said, the promotion part turned out inadequate. I think I'll pass on such Kindle exclusives in the future and pay someone to do the formatting and uploading for me.  Any tried and true suggestions? (I have done my own covers and will probably go on doing them).

 

I still like Kindle a lot, but the promotion problems have really soured the deal.  And frankly, I've still had a lot of work.  Some books I had to proof 10 times before the bugs were out. I think the formatting was a co-production by someone at Kindle and someone else in my agent's office.

[Mark Young]

Regarding formating, I used Rob Siders (a Joe Konrath recommendation) and found him to be very good and easy to work with. If there are updates or corrections after the initial format, Rob is very willing to make these changes unless the edits are major work. I've linked you to his web site: 52Novels.com He will prepare a format book for Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords. I have not used him for the print PDF version, but I believe he provides this service also.

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks, Mark.  I do have his name and can link from Konrath's site.  You're very kind, and it's good to get another recommendation. The current job is still up in the air, but there is another waiting.

[I. J. Parker]

Funny.  I needed the laugh.

[I. J. Parker]

For the time being, I've stopped the upload.  Next week I'll see if the agency wants to proceed with these three books (since I've been told they invested a lot of time).  If they do, then I'll insist on a few changes.

 

Sigh!  I know it's a new world for them also, but in this case I feel I'm being blamed when I had only the best intentions.  I probably shouldn't have suggested the project.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

It's a new world, but the agency should know better. Anyone with an eye for business could see it was a bad deal.

[I. J. Parker]

No, Ben, there were complications. The e-deal was hooked to a subsequent print deal, it appears. That one would not be 70 % and involve other restrictions. I may have to abandon the print deal to get the deals everyone else is getting.  Still feeling my way with this thing.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

The thick plottens! The print deal is with Amazon, too, right? Are you able to share any details about that?

[I. J. Parker]

Can't, Ben.  In any case, I'm very likely to drop it. Any print deal involves giving up royalty shares and control. It also takes a long time, probably as long as a contract with one of the big houses. Check Joe Konrath for his arrangements.

[Jude Hardin]

You can gift a copy of a book to anyone you want to in exchange for a review. You have to pay for it, but then you get most of that back with the royalty. And if the "minimal" promotion includes being featured in a newsletter that's emailed to a few million customers, I think a year of exclusivity is worth the trade. Amazon's still the top dog in ebook sales by a mile. I don't think it sounds like a bad deal at all. I would do it.