Thursday, October 2, 2014

Amazon email: Get your submissions ready! Amazon's new publishing program launching soon.

There seems to be a lot of mystery and speculation surrounding Amazon's new crowd-sourced publishing program. Here's a screen cap of the email I received.


This appears to be a hybrid program aimed at the hybrid, traditionally published, or Indie author who hasn't experienced extraordinary success. The terms aren't quite as favorable as going it alone (50% versus 70%). On the other hand, the publicity and opportunity associated with being on the ground floor launch of a new Amazon program may very well make up for that 20%.  (There's an 800-pound gorilla in the room and it ain't one of the Big 5.)

The timing strikes me as particularly fortuitous. Revisions to Battle Cry are nearing completion and my cover is ready to go. I'm leaning heavily toward submitting the book to this program. I think the buzz this creates will probably be worth the 2 to 4 weeks delay to my release date.

Mistake or smart choice?  That's the crux.

4 comments:

  1. I'm sure I'm not the only one anxious to hear what you decide and what the results are if you DO go with the new Amazon program.

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    1. Thanks, Dena. It's a question that really pops. I have to wonder how much competition there'll be in the first round. How many authors have a manuscript and cover ready to go RIGHT NOW. How many are willing to gamble? I'm incredibly excited and nervous at the same time.

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  2. It just occurred to me that my book is registered under my own imprint. I don't think that's going to work as a submission if they're publishing us. I'll enter my next manuscript after NaNo.

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    1. I don't think that matters if it's unpublished. But I really don't know for sure. Were you thinking about doing it?

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