N. writes,
I am wondering if you are going to continue to allow Kindle Unlimited readers to enjoy your Innkeeper series. If not, will the books be in the libraries? I’m shamelessly addicted to your books, and when we actually had a bookstore, I swore I’d never own a Kindle, but small town Zanesville, Ohio has zero bookstores within 50 miles, and I started using Amazon, got hooked on my Kindle, started reading everything Kindle Unlimited offered,
…
and since I read a book a day, on average, I just plain can’t buy everything I want to read.
The problem with KU availability is two fold.
First, KU books must be exclusive to Amazon. If the book is in KU program, it can’t be sold by any other retailer including the author. Amazon does account for the majority of readers, but there are people who read on other platforms such as Apple Books, BN, and Google. By entering KU, we would have to ignore all of those readers.
Second, KU isn’t as profitable for us. Over half of KU customers have never purchased a book from Amazon. KU attracts people with a limited income, students, retirees, people who are experiencing a financial crunch, bargain hunters, etc. The entire point of the platform is that it’s cheap.
Kindle Unlimited pays the authors between $.004 and $.005 per page. The common wisdom says that Amazon considers an average page to be 187 words. So, some quick math:
ONE FELL SWEEP is about 90,000 words / 187 = 481 pages x $.004 = $1.9 x .85 (agency’s cut) = $1.61. This is assuming the reader would read the entire book. A lot of times they may not read it right away, they might abandon it halfway through, or have to set it aside for some other reason.
ONE FELL SWEEP is priced at $4.99 x.70 x.85 = $2.96 take home pay.
Financially KU makes sense for people with high output, for example romance authors who can do at least 6 releases a year. If you write, let’s say, a regency romance, starting with one duke and then writing sequels about all his brothers and friends, and you do it fast enough, it’s a fair bet readers will follow, since the books are pretty much free. It’s a winning formula.
That’s also why you will see KU develop sharp trends quickly. Let’s say someone writes romance with mermaids and it reaches #1. Everyone copies the idea, because if you are a KU customer and you liked the original, you might try a similar book. It’s free. You lose nothing. Even if you abandon it, the author gets paid a little bit. Suddenly everything is mermaid romance.
You can see a wide variety of paranormal series on KU, for example, and most of them sound kind of the same, the latest trend being reverse harem, which they borrowed from manga.
I’ve spoken to a couple of KU authors before, and while this may not be true for everyone, for most people speed is a priority. A year ago one woman told me that if she didn’t write a book a month, she wouldn’t be able to pay her bills.
I can’t do that. I can’t write that fast. I can’t work for six to eight months on a book, sink money into editing, cover, audio, etc, and then get paid less than $2.00 per sale and a lot of times significantly less. For us, KU amounts to a loss, and because most KU customers don’t buy books at all, it’s not even good promotion. Why advertise to people who won’t buy the product?
I am sure right now someone is typing a comment letting me know that they are a KU user and they do buy books. Remember, we are discussing statistics.
In conclusion, we already provide the first draft of Innkeeper Chronicles free to you. If we then put it into KU permanently, we would end the series, because we wouldn’t make enough money to continue. But Innkeeper Chronicles are readily available to libraries, in ebook form, in dead tree form, and, as mentioned above, they are given away free in the beginning. If you want access, it’s there. It may not be as convenient as clicking KU borrow link, but that’s the best we can do. š
Good to know about Kindle Unlimited. As one of those readers who does not have a Kindle, thank you for making all your books available to everyone. š
Ah…statistics…the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly (this is coming from a biostatistician). š
Me too. I won’t buy anything from only one vendor, but one vendor I avoid like the plague is Amazon. Monopoly anyone? Not that I think any less of the many people who have little choice but to use Amazon, but I have a choice, and I use it.
Exactly! That’s why I don’t have a Kindle though I did think about getting one when the last update was released in October. I do read over at Webnovel (mostly they’re translated Chinese novels, but they have an increasing amount of originals), and one of the more popular original authors has caved and is putting their book on KU (Webnovel does offer contracts to popular authors but the terms are iffy according to the gossip about them).
Having seen the breakdown now, I see why they were tempted, but from my limited understanding, how exactly are they going to expand their reader base which those who buy will come from?? Their Book One starts at chapter 6 of the story so I’m baffled…
Okay…enough ranting…(Amazon is one of my ‘rant’ buttons…) ^_^
1+
I wish they had an option to turn KU offers off entirely. Every time I go to buy a book I have to make sure I’m clicking on the correct button for buy and not the button for KU.
YES!! Have inadvertently joined KU twice and had to rant when I found it outto be able to withdraw
+1
That math was very interesting. Thanks for breaking it down like that. I will feel better about using KU for the first in the series and paying for the rest, since this equation seems to pay better for the work the author is putting into it. Again, thanks for the breakdown.
Yeah, that’s fair.
I mean I do read KU books and buy actual books but I’m more likely to abandon KU books for something I’ve paid for.
KU is like my “You seriously need to take a break from Ilona Andrews books and read something else. Just once.” thing.
I’m not invested in the books, I’m more likely to put them down and never pick them up again, and I feel guilty for not actually paying for a book if I really like it and want to support the author.
Agreed. With Kindle Unlimited, I often get books and don’t finish them for some reason, and then swap them out for other KU books and hold on to them forever before reading them or swapping them out again before even reading them. However, if an author catches my attention, I do buy them. For instance, I bought KF Breene books after reading them on KU, and I also just purchased the TA White Dragon-ridden series after reading them on KU (thanks to the BDH recommendations in that wonderful post that the authors put up as a sticky).
Unfortunately, HAVING a Kindle makes this a real problem for me. How can I read something other than Ilona Andrews when all their books are right there! I have Seanan McGuireās new Wayward Children sitting on my Kindle, pre-ordered months ago, and I LOVE that series. But it came in while I was rereading Hidden Legacy for roughly the 150th time*, and I must finish before I can go read Seanan.
________
*oh, how I wish this was an exaggeration.
Thank you for the statistical analysis of pricing! Also, many libraries have electronic books to check out.. I find the option to browse my library, from my couch, invaluable!
My library also provides a streaming service that includes ebooks. The innkeeper series is there. For us, it’s Hoopla. Worth looking into, even though I find it has more audio books than e-books which are my preference.
Our library offers kindle books through Overdrive. I own hard copies of all the books but sometimes use the library kindle version when we travel. ?
I second and third the above for Hoopla, Overdrive and Libby via my library. I do purchase books written by my favorite authors as soon as released but use my library’s resources when book recommendations (recent blog post) come through from the BDH. It’s an inexpensive way to discover new favorites without any financial risk – just my time. I love my Kindle, Amazon and modern tech that allows me to take thousands of books wherever I go whenever I go. Reading is essential to my well being š
Libraries are still free and the authors have to make a living! I find it very easy to get library books for the things I want to read but not own. It might be worth joining the library!
I find the ābusinessā of art, writing, music, etc. so depressing. The arts give us such joy and yet is seems so difficult to make a living at it. Thank you for discussing the business of KU. Very eye opening.
Thank you both for all your hard work. Even when you love what you do it’s still work.
I may be the last hold out but I have actually never bought anything on amazon!!! When I did eventually but an ereader I very deliberately bought one where it is a universal format, so as not to get tied in. Saying that I still more or less buy from the couple of stores.
The stats are very interesting though. So thank you for writing these books (I love them all), thank you for putting them on different retailers and the explanation as to why.
The Innkeeper books don’t cost that much, so I don’t mind buying them. KU is mainly good for discovering new authors in my experience.Plus if I find a series on KU that’s good, I’ll often go back and buy the books because I’ve literally had authors quit doing series because they didn’t generate enough income. And I don’t blame the authors for that. It’s just sad to lose possibly great books over things like that so I do what I can to support the continuation of the series.
I am a Kindle Unlimited customer and I buy…
*cough*
No seriously, I do. But yeah, it makes no sense to me for you to put your books up on KU. To me that’s either for authors as you describe, or new self-published authors who want a debut or similar novel to reach as wide a target audience as possible, with the hope that people will like what they read and buy sequels not available on KU. (I have done this, as a reader).
I imagine very very few people buy books they have already read on KU to own afterwards. I have, but only occasionally when I really enjoyed a book.
That also makes me curious how much you make on audiobooks compared to ebook or printed format.
I mostly just buy the audiobooks now because I can at least multitask (clean house, fill orders for my business) while listening.
Problem is when I sit down to read a book, I have to finish it right away, which means no sleep and other stuff not getting done.
Lol,,,I know what you mean! Once I start a book I read it in one sitting. Red eyes the next day due to lack of sleep!! Reading the blog is teaching me patience haha.
It’s really rare that I will read a book with my eyes these days – though with some time off coming up, I might try it again? I don’t even know if I’m forever spoiled by being used to moving around and getting things done at the same time. I find myself kind of looking the idea of taking that kind of time, though…
(BTW, barring unforeseen events, North Carolina is a go… But not until summer! And at least some of the intervening time will be down time.)
I hope the audiobook cut is decent, though…
As a librarian, chiming in to add, if you want your public library to carry something that you think it doesn’t ASK THEM, whether print or ebook. If you have an e-reader, a large proportion of public libraries now have access to Overdrive (ebooks and audiobooks), hoopla (ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, graphic novels), RBdigital (ebooks and audiobooks). Not everything in the world is available in ebook form, and not every platform can carry any given book, but if you don’t see something you want on a given platform or in a given format, please, please, please, tell your librarian and we will see what we can do to get you your book. A lot of libraries have a “suggest a purchase” button or form on their website or available at the library itself. Even though I purchase all the Ilona Andrews books in audio for my own personal collection, and I purchase them for the library’s print collection I also always put all the titles through as purchase suggestions for our ebooks collection, since I want the library system to have them as ebooks and downloadable audio and I’m not in charge of buying those. And we always end up purchasing them, because lots of people want them and put in purchase requests.
Libraries purchase based on popularity/use/gaps in the collection and so on. We often don’t know about gaps in the collection if someone doesn’t point them out to us. So please, point them out, ask for what you want.
Taking off my library hat now.
Keri, I didn’t see your post and I just encouraged library e-book reading. It’s hard to take off the library hat!
+1 Great suggestion to *ask* your library to get something you want!
As a library user, yes this works! I ask all the time, and so far, I’ve gotten everything I’ve asked for. Can’t guarantee that success rate, but if you never ask, you have a guaranteed failure.
Same here. I use to go to the library all the time and check out book or request they purchase either hard copy or for the e-reader. So far, it’s been 100% successful for me.
The online library works really well. I got hooked while living in a little tiny town that had no bookstores within 90 miles. The real book library was as tiny as the town but they got attached to a much larger online library that was awesome. I was able feed my book addiction and stay within my budget at the same time.
I keep meaning to look around Amazon to see if it’s an option, but maybe you know the answer, Kerri. I will donate dead tree books to my local library, but is there an option in Amazon to donate an ebook to my local library?
Tink, I cannot speak for all libraries, but when I broached the topic on mine they said it wasn’t possible. They use a different system for ebooks. And they are expensive and limited. So for instance they may have to pay $25 bucks for an ebook that they can only lend out 25 or 26 times or only for a year or two.
And so while I would think it would be super cool for Amazon to have a buy for library button like you can buy for your friends, I don’t think it seems like anyone wants to be too public on how they are treating libraries.
This! I’m in Auckland new Zealand and our library, both hard copy and ebook, is awesome. Clean sweep ebook – just checked and available to borrow from my sofa. No driving needed. I also do purchase requests and usually get them. Best thing is if you requested it you are top of the holds list so get it first.
Erin,
Our library allowed people to donate funds earmarked specifically for e-books. Then weād use those funds to buy more digital materials. The licenses are expensive and they do expire. Folks can ask their library if they can donate directly.
Sadly, no, there’s no way to directly donate ebooks to the library. When the library gets ebooks, the library doesn’t buy them it’s essentially renting them – we purchase a license (that costs a lot more than a regular ebook) and it that expires after either a set amount of time or a set amount of checkouts. You can, with most libraries, donate money to be put directly towards ebooks or eaudiobooks, but the systems libraries use to provide ebooks doesn’t allow for items to be added from outside those existing systems.
Yea for libraries! Iāve suggested several ebooks on Overdrive for our library and had almost 100% success rate. And our library lets you be first on the list for checkout if your suggested ebook license is obtained.
I love checking out ebooks from local libraries. Yes, Iām lucky to live in an area that has 5 local libraries! I looked up Ilona Andrews in all 5, 3 had a decent selection and 2 had 20+ titles, counting anthologies.
Libraries are wonderful places, for books, ebooks, audio books, dvds magazines, and a good many other things. I say this as someone who got her 1st card at age 4 and never gone without 1 since. So if you not have a library card go get 1 ASAP. And then suggest they invest in Ilona Andrews…
My local library is part of an inter-library loan program. I’ve borrowed lots of books through this great co-operative system. Some are local libraries, and some are not. One book came from Phoenix, AZ!! (And I’m in Illinois.)
Libraries are an amazing and awesome resource!!
+1000
I tried KU twice and did not like it. I think it is difficult to find good books to read on KU and was often surprised at the books that got high ratings on there. They actually read like a book that was written in less than 30 days. Thanks for letting me us know why that is. It now makes sense that a lot of the books there read like fan fiction.
Daniel, I keep a wish list of KU titles I have interest in as I come across them and then can stock up and when I am at my sister’s who does KU I can binge.
Every reader has different needs. For me, KU is addicting because I tend to download books that I wouldn’t normally read and binge on them and ignore other books that I should be reading.
I suggest you check to see if your library system offers any sort of e-book program. Overdrive and RBdigital are popular ones but there are others. In this way, you can borrow library books for your e-reader. I was helping a patron this week and saw one of Ilona’s books on Overdrive so I know you can get them on these platforms. The library digital book program helps a lot of readers like yourself and provides great selection.
Good luck and happy reading!
Overdrive has some of the audio books too. That’s who I use.
Correct in every way. I’m a “book a day” reader and have been for long ages. I’m also a KU subscriber. Reading a KU book, for me, is better than reading cereal boxes (yes, I’m *that* compulsive a reader).
I buy books from authors whose stories are well constructed with worlds and characters worthy of my time and investment. I buy books from authors who I want to financially support and encourage. I buy KU to keep me away from food packaging.
+1
+1
And I really thought that was just me. With the cereal packaging.
Yes, absolutely. As much as I would like to purchase good books all the time, I don’t have that much money, and I don’t have the time to go to the library every day or sometimes even every week. Also, sometimes one has a craving for really trashy things that one does not want to own *cough cough*.
I solve that by simply not admitting I own them. I have some books I read where I turn off the post to Goodreads option. Itās not ātrashyā as in āsmutā for me, though*. Itās trashy as in āreally terrible writing but I still like the story.ā
______
*Not to judge anyone who enjoys smut. I have often wished I could. It sounds like it couldāve helped with some of my dry spells. I just get bored really fast (ESPECIALLY with magic sex) and start flipping pages āyes, yes, sex, more sex, yes, stopping soon? Ok, not yet.ā I have books (including Hidden Legacy *cough*) where I have literally highlighted the dialogue during the sex scenes for easy reread. Itās the exact same with fighting scenes, although IA manage to write fighting scenes ā even the large scale battles! ā that donāt bore me. Itās a miracle.
+100. As a child, I read the encyclopedia set that shoppers used to get at the supermarket, at one particular relative’s house, that had no other reading material than the newspaper….and they didn’t always have that. I’m
Gotta add another +1. I started reading in the 50’s, including cereal boxes almost immediately. I’m still at it. (I recycled my reading material of last week (Grape-nuts) and am looking forward to a nice organic raisin bran.)
In my case it’s supper, not breakfast, so I’m actually awake when I stare at the box…
I do have a KU account, but I probably should let it go. I seldom find much I want to read that I’m not willing to pay for. And I won’t pay $3 or $4 for a short story (under 30 to 40 pages), no matter how much I like the author’s full length books.
Not the AuthorLords, no! They are more than generous on the content per dollar front. Some other folks are “mighty proud” of what they’ve written. Those I pick up at the used book store.
I read those darn boxes if they are in front of me and I donāt even like cereal!
I read food packaging. I’ll also read cosmetic or skincare ingredients. I’ve usually gotten more of a sense of achievement from reading labels than some KU books which were well rated but alas, not for me. My choices would have been a bit different if they broke down the ranking by purchased vs KU’d.
I wish KU came with machine learning analyzed labels like:
40% alpha male who never breaks out of the stereotype
35% slightly vapid and unremarkable heroine who does a single plucky thing
35% talking cats
^^ See, the cats would probably make up for the rest.
I’m in a very awkward position as an author. I’m wide, so no KU to me–I left that ship over a year ago and I’m very glad to be out of it. (For all the reasons you listed and then some.)
Problem is, I still have to produce a book of some sort around a frequency of once per month. (I’m just basically a cute little nobody who likes to write swimming in the pond. So I write, and write, and the fans I do have buy my books, so I can keep writing. And I get a little more traction each release, but it’s very much release a book every month or plummet off the cliff of obscurity.)
I’m fortunate in that I *can* write a book a month and have a staff who can keep up with me. But it hurts. (It hurts so much.)
I wish I could write a book every three months. I’d probably write more because I just love to write and keep doing it, and I have a zillion projects on the go at the same time, but I’d love to just be able to relax.
But I got to pay the bills. Amazon’s algorithms, unless you’ve got a huge fanbase, kicks you in the groin after three weeks, approximately. Which is sad.
But that’s okay. I just keep swimming.
I can’t do KU for the exact reasons you mention–and I *have* the frequency.
As I don’t write to trends, I’d never thrive in KU like some authors do. (More power to them for being able to write to trends. No judgment from me.)
But it sure would be nice to be able to slow down. š
For now, I’ll just stick to the grind and hope I can eventually.
(I could live without the 12+ hour days 6-7 days a week, though. But bills, they must be paid.)
+1
And I really thought that was just me. With the cereal packaging.
Why did this post here a second time? Thatās weird. Iām sorry.
RB I enjoy your books… Sorry you have such a demanding schedule don’t want you to burn out…
RJ i love your books and recommend for witty fun romances. SNORT—Were-alpacas and cindercorns (which prompted a need to make a stuffed version, along with ninja ferrets)…Write on!!!!
Honey, you write it and I’ll buy it. I could wish you had more time, too – just because you deserve a breather. I am not criticizing. You do a fabulous job writing as fast as you do.
(Yes, your cat is a slave driver, but she could let you have the occasional day off. I hope your new overlady is well.)
I’m sorry you haven’t had the chance to take a decent break to recharge. The changing of the guard certainly hasn’t helped your stress levels. My condolences on the loss of your lovely Tia the Majestic OverLady. I’m sure Princess and Zazzle will do their best to fill in any kitty gaps, but it really isn’t quite the same.
I’m a little selfishly glad, though, that you have a high output because I *devour* books and it has been a slog finding authors who tell a decent story on a consistent basis. You are one of my most recent finds, and I love the “Body Count” series (I just slurped down “Cheetahs Never Win”) and the Witch/Wolf world books, as well as the “Royal States” series you write under Susan Copperfield.
Thank you for the good stories and laughs (the cindercorn drunk on magical naphtha was highly entertaining, as was the auction ass-kicking). Please keep them coming, and I’ll keep on buying š
Is it possible for you to start a Patreon like Seanan McGuireās? Yes, sheās a big name author, but I support a number of Patreons (admittedly most at the 1ā¬ level) who arenāt big names. She puts out a short story/month at the $1 level. You have some fans here. I bet you would have people who would support you.
Like Tiffany said, I do use KU as a sampling ground to try new authors risk free. Because I am aware of how the math works (and because I *can* afford it), I always make sure to pay for the books I read beyond the first in a series, and I usually go back and buy that first book, too.
It seems fair to me that an artist is well-compensated for their creation. I want the authors I like to be able to make enough money to keep writing, so I don’t begrudge doing my part to support them. Most books cost less than going to a movie, and I get far more than 2 hours of entertainment from them.
Furthermore, I salute our Authorlords for making their work so available to us! I am so grateful that we get a *free* serial book from them every year or so, and they still find time for multiple other writing projects! The amount we pay for each book or novella can’t approach the joy we get in return. So, yeah, I’ll be lining up to pay full price for the next Innkeeper as soon as it’s available…and the next Hugh book and the next Kinsman and the next Hidden Legacy and anything else they write.
Same here. KU has cost me a lot of money for the same reason. I read very quickly and I love to support as many new authors as possible. So, I usually get a first book and then buy the rest by that author if I like their stories. Thanks for the economic breakdown. That really explains why some writers start off strong and then fizzle. What a shame! Thanks for all your hard work! Now, if someone is amazing, like you two, then I buy the ebook, the paperbacks, and the hardbacks. But I love to reread treasured books. Woe betide me if I ever get into audio books! I had two wonderful libraries that would buy books for me by request. Books are the same as food as far as my budget goes.
Most people who can afford to support art, do. Amanda Palmer (one of the artists I support) has a post or article about this with data that supports that. And most KU books are really, really, terrible. Really. Iām a member, and I carefully read the negative reviews before borrowing something*. Itās actually a mark against an āAmazon recommendsā if itās on Kindle Unlimited.
All that being said, I will also buy if I find one of the good ones (i.e. Cassandra Gannon, Elizabeth Hunter, Scott Meyer). Because Iām one of most people. I imagine this particular community self-selects for those of us who will (the BDH).
That being said, itās Amazonās exclusivity clause which completely screws authors over.
Because without it, IA would most likely NOT lose money on KU, any more than they do on their library versions.
______
*āit sucks!ā will not put me off. āThereās a clichĆ© every third paragraphā, with examples, will**.
**I read this book. Worse, I paid for it first because it was all 5 books of a series for $5 (I didnāt read the other 4 books, but I did finish book one, just to see if there was any treasure falling out of that shipwreck). It is, in fact, what started me reading the reviews. I tried to get my money back (to buy a box of cereal), but I had read too much.
I wish it was possible to edit my comments. Can we pretend I only wrote āthat being saidā once, and found another intro phrase for the other time (your pick)?
Just wanted to add Ella Summers to the list. She, more than others I like, could really use an editor, but even without one, her world-building and story-telling is pretty nifty.
Yes I use kindle unlimited but also buy certain authors books like yours, Jim Butchers Harry Dresian, sean Mcguire, faith hunter, etc. So your policy works for me. Once I find an author(s) I like, I generally pre order and buy most of their books.
I will read KU or from the library if it is a new author and I’m not sure if I will like the book/series. I’ll also use the library if I find a new-to-me author and I’m plowing through a backlist.
For new releases from authors I know I enjoy I try to buy the books because:
1. I want them to write more and helping them get paid for writing encourages that. (Private good)
2. I should support the creation of art to the extent I can. (Public good).
I know there are some people who can’t afford to buy new releases and use the library. That’s cool and I’m all for taxes supporting libraries. There have been times when I could not afford to buy a book and the library was my best friend. But now that I can afford to pay for new releases I feel like I should.
My 2 cents.
Yep. Everything Drew says. ?
+1
+1
I personally don’t have KU and never will due to some good informative post by Grace Draven and others. I’m lucky in that I can prioritize buying a fair few books a month and also am a re-reader of Olympic quality. (My favorite books I can read over and over again, so that saves on the Amazon bill). The reason I won’t subscribe to KU is the same reason I’m very happy to pay full price for computer games, subscriptions to newspapers I like – I need the game developers to afford to make good games, I need good journalists to keep writing informative news, and I need good authors to make money off what they create so they can keep Writing for a living. I’m that selfish, I don’t want to live in a world with crap games, bad journalism and no good books.
Not only do I re read, but It makes hubby crazy that with some genres, I read to the middle, then the last 8 pages(personal research on where the “end” begins, for me), and THEN resume from the middle. He doesn’t understand how that could possibly enjoy my experience but it does. I’ve re read my favorite books scores of times. My mom and I laugh because she replaced 101 Dalmatians the original by Dodie Smith, 3x in my childhood. Never lost, just read to disintegration. I have my 5th copy at home. What I don’t understand is buying videos/dvds, and watching them 1x.
I thought I was the only one! I also read to the middle with some books, then read the epilogue or the last bit of the last chapter. I think I do it most when there’s a lot of emotional tension or physical danger and I want to know the characters survived. Once I know, I can go back and enjoy the journey. Drives my husband nuts too.
I also reread favorite series. I go Kate Daniels books from the library when I read the series the first time, but when the last book came out, I bought the whole series. I never did KU (and am glad now) but I will buy a book through Early Bird Books or Bookbub for cheap, and then buy subsequent books if the series grabs me. Sort of the point of those book services.
My childhood book was Black Beauty. My Mom started hiding it because I’d read it over and over and cry so hard when his friend Ginger died….
I really wish the world was kinder on artists and writers. I think it’s a crime used books can be sold with no residuals for the author.
Thank you for laying this out so clearly with the numbers behind it.
I was at a book signing a few years ago and someone asked the author if they were going to put their books on KU. The answer was no because KU did not pay the authors enough for the work. Since then I have avoided KU because I want the authors I love to be able to afford to keep writing š I feel that I don’t pay for the binding or the art or the editing (though they are all important) but for the idea of the book.
Thanks. I dont use Kindle. If it is only on kindle I am not likely to get it unless it is one of my top authors (yes that means you) but even then I will be grumpy because I have 1000 or so ebooks on my other platforms. Also the anticompetitive practice bothers me on principle. It’s not going to sell me on a new author. I have passed on trying out new authors because they are only available on kindle. It is a very high bar. On the other hand if I am bored and have a few dollars I will pick a new author and if I like what I read blast through their backlist. Even if they never get onto my must read on the pub day list they’ll get sales.if they have an epub available.
Itās funnyāI got an email today offering KU for $0.99 for 3 months. I started to click, then stopped. Iām lucky that I can afford to buy ebooks/audiobooks. If I want to read them, I want to āownā them in some format. And, for some authors (ahem), multiple formats!
As a fellow Ohioan, may I recommend the Ohio Digital Library? It is a collection of libraries that have pooled resources and share their ebook libraries. If you have a card to a member library, you have access to all of them. They have the Innkeeper series too š
I was literally just about to leave a similar comment, lol. I don’t live in Ohio but I live just outside Boston and the Boston library has a similar program. I think most cities/states have some form of library that does this. It’s a great resource!
+1 to Carolyn’s remark!
N: The OverDrive platform does offer Ilona’s works, and our library made sure that they are in the Ohio Digital Library.
As an Ohio resident, you can get a card at any Ohio public library that is a member of the ODL, and then access the collection. Some of us offer a digital card that you can actually apply for on our website. I encourage you to check it out! (ooh sorry bad pun)
I’m in Minnesota, in the Twin Cities, and just by registering my St Paul Public Library card, I have access to Hennepin County, Ramsey County and Minneapolis library ebooks and actual books (don’t like thinking about dead trees, uhuh). If those libraries don’t have a specific book, I can use InterLibrary Loan and find it anywhere in the state. I know you can get different formats, but not sure all libraries will share ebooks.
I am a KU person, but use it to find different authors. that said, there are a lot of books I never finish! because you have to go through so much horrible writing to find the good ones.
I can see why authors don’e want to use it though.
I follow your blog, and love the Innkeeper novels here.
I then buy the books. I have now been buying all of the audio CD versions, as you narrators have done such a wonderful job that I find _more_ in the books, and get to enjoy them all over again.
As for KU – it is like Audible – I detest not owning the book, and the thought that it might disappear on me.
I am a bibliophile, plain and simple. When KU first started, as a Prime member, I was gifted 3 months free access. I hated it. I’m a little OCD when it comes to collecting my reads. I want them all in the same format. I would rather buy all of the books so that I can reread them in order without having re-barrow one from KU. Additionally, most that I tried were not well written/edited/executed. And all of them were WAY TOO SHORT. Most of my favorite authors I buy in multiple formats, hard copy, electronic, and audio. I prefer to buy new ventures as hard copy, so that I can exchange it at a re-sell shop if it was not a ‘keeper’–but I’ll be honest, I keep a lot. I usually only buy electronic and audible of my favorites as the travel easiest and provide entertainment while driving.
I grew up in a library- literally, my grandmother was a librarian whom I stayed with for weeks at a time. However, I have fallen off of the library wagon after being told that local library does not take suggestions for book purchases. They also have very little in sci/fi/fantasy.
But I would rather buy books than food. Mawmaw used to say I fed my mind better than I did my body. I can spend hours in a book store, but I have recently realized that I’m reading less and less new stuff… I’ve found that I don’t really like the suggestion algorithms that Amazon uses, and the closest bookstore is over an hour away, and does not carry a wide selection.
Sigh… I’ve gotten to where I am craving new books, but you’ve spoiled me for great, well written, compelling stories with gripping plots and riveting characters!
I love what you said. Ditto for me, Iām a voracious reader, always have been. I re-read all of my favorites, and do what you do, buy the paperback and the ebook. KU would drive me crazy. Books feed my soul, so I spend money on that, rather than on extra boots, shoes, and handbags that I know I wonāt use. Reading is a form of self care that I feel Iām worth. And writers that create universes that I can escape to, deserve my support. I canāt begin to imagine the hard work that goes into it. Iām just grateful for the results. There are certain authors that know I will buy every book they publish. You are on that list. Thank you.
I agree, I do not care for the suggestion algorithms Amazon uses. I used to have emails from Amazon saying, ‘you liked this book, can you suggest other books like this one for readers and say a few words about why they are similar’. I liked volunteering my time and ideas to these requests because I do a better job than a computer algorithm and I have no profit motive. It was fun to find obscure authors’ books with only a few reviews and recommend their books, to help them build their readership — I know I appreciate a good tip! But I no longer receive those emails from Amazon. I do “follow” 100 authors and readers for their recommendations. A couple times a year I follow someone’s advice. I rarely buy blogger-promoted books. I don’t quite understand the “street team” book marketing — how does a reader join a street team and would he/she/they be paid? — but the first customer of the street team seems to be the author and not the reader.
Am I the only one who wants to know what a reverse Harem is? Literally a harem full of guys? Do they all cook and clean? Because that would be my fantasy.
+1
I stumbled into a reverse harem book back in the early days of the trend ( it didnāt say it was a reverse harem book). Yes, itās a book about a woman who has multiple male suitors and sheās in a sexual relationship with each of them. Iām not sure why theyāve become so popular in urban fantasy/urban paranormal, but I heard rumors that it was an āAnita Blakeā effect.
Alas, in the one book I started the harem did not cook or clean or anything that would actually be helpful to a woman battling the supernatural. I think one of them might have picked up some food once though.
Lolololol.
Oh, and I bet he made a big production of it, too. Like, “Hey, see how I brought the food, here, my woman? Tell me now how I am the best man in the harem.”
At least Anita Blakeās harem DOES cook & clean & work bodyguard detail & otherwise support, if not Anita directly, then the others in her harem.
This comment is for the OP. Ohio has a fantastic digital library. Download Overdrive or Libby. All those books are free!
I buy books, yours especially, and I also have KU- mainly because my spouse goes through books (and abandons them) like crazy. I occasionally buy a KU book if I really like it, but most of what I find there is not all that good. Too many examples of quickly/poorly written/overused/contrived plot, books.
I tend to look at KU as a platform for writers that can’t make it in the real world of publishing. One gets accustomed to (spoiled by) your beautifully crafted, well written stories. You don’t even realize or appreciate it till you read stuff that was thrown together in a few weeks and is full of typos, duplicate sentences, and paragraphs totally unnecessary to the story line. While the wait can be agonizing, it’s always worth it to read a quality story by someone who writes with skill and truly cares about their craft. You are way to goods for KU!
I think of KU writers as the pulp fiction writers of yesteryear. A lot of successful writers started as pay by word pulp writers. Once they started to be able to pay bills by selling books, they stopped the pbw.
I like KU to discover new writers , I more likely to download a new author and see what they are about than straight out buy someone I’ve never read. I’m only going to buy a book if I want to read it more than once. If I like a writer, I want to read everything they have ever written. I want to own everything so I can reread at my want. I buy electronic and paper.
The way I look at it… I support my writers so they can keep entertaining me. If I don’t spend, they have to work at other things that don’t entertain me… I have one author that I have been reading for 20 plus years. She loves her rt job and only posts segments of her current book a couple times a year. It sucks…
As to KU not compensating writers fairly. People know the pay scale before they sign up. Also, some of the books… sigh well they would never be published if it wasn’t for the electronic platforms. Writing is a skill, not just having an idea. I have read a couple world builds that I wish IA/GA had written instead of the author…
So the way that I think of it is… PPl want to pump out beige books to pay their bills, go for it.. PPL want to work on a book for a year or two and have to work a 9-5 while trying to make it .. go for it…
Thanks so much for explaining this. I do have a Kindle but have never used KU because I want authors to be fairly compensated for their work and I am employed and have the means to pay for my books. But I have always wondered how KU works and how it compensates authors. Good to know. As far as Innkeeper, I wait until they are published and then purchase them so I can gobble them up in one sitting. Take all the time you need to write; your fans will stay loyal and will wait for the good stuff.
Thank you for your wonderful books! I love them however you put them out. I can hardly wait for the kindle edition of Sweep of the Blade. I know I can still read it for free right now. I would buy it just because you both put it out. I do not want yāall to quit making these beautiful stories I can take my vacations in. Yāall are wonderful!
I’m curious, for KU I have a couple of authors I’m consistently going back to and rereading (and eventually purchasing when I’ve realized I’ve done this a few times), does the author get paid each time I borrow their book? Or just the first time I borrow it?
Anyone know?
From what I remember another KU author blogging, they get paid each time you borrow & read.
Dead tree is the way this old fogy rolls; I’ve got three Innkeeper and I’m anxiously awaiting the chance to put ‘Sweep Of The Blade’ on the shelf alongside them.
After reading it, of course.
I tried KU and found that it wasn’t a good value for me. I didn’t enjoy the stress, because although I may sometimes go through a lot of books, I may then go a month or two where I only do audiobooks or maybe I get busy and don’t read for several weeks. I stressed out that I would forget I’m paying monthly for something I’m not making the best use of. Then I would also be annoyed that of the KU offerings, the good ones are available as an ebook from the library and the rest of them are crap I don’t want to read anyway. I did find a few obscure authors I liked, but mostly it was a waste. It reminded me of when we had to pay per-minute for cell phone calls. It ruined the experience because THE METER IS RUNNING! LOL. Good for you for saying no to Amazon’s world-domination efforts.
I looked at KU when it came out but I prefer to own the books. The hard part is remembering which format I purchased that author in, to make my collections easy to read. I do make use of my library but to be honest it ends up being for older books or new to me authors. Since I can I usually buy my favorite authors as they come out, I do as I hate waiting.
I use my iPad for my books on iBooks, Overdrive and kindle. Then I stuff my paper ones wherever I can fit them in the house.
Thanks for explaining KU from an authorās perspective.
Thank you for explaining to readers the nickel and dimes of KU, for an author.
To me as a reader, for all it proports to be of benefit to emerging and struggling authors KU fails to uphold the integrity of a written product.
For me the due diligence of capability & integrity of a written product on KU is upheld solely by the contributing authors. Who are then denied adequate salary solely so KU can make a profit.
Then KU who makes no effort to guard the intellectual property of those who write well crafted stories, complains of property thieves who lighten their (KU) profits by all means foul.
You reported fairly & logically why it doesn’t work for you. May the universe heap blessings upon your head for your forbearance.
Got to say it …TYPOS, on KU drive me nuts.
Your explanation of the time constraints on payment exposes much of the writing difficulties of those who contribute to the platform.
I’m one of the people who wrings every penny’s worth out of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. However, there are certain authors that I pre-order as soon as the book is available. I’m very much looking forward to buying Sweep of the Blade, since I already have all of the others.
The Ohio Digital Library also allows you to recommend a certain number of titles each month.
I use KU mainly because my husband and I travel in a trailer and there is no room for real books. I also read an incredible amount. I can read 10-20 books just driving across the country. I agree that much of the quality is nonexistent but there are some good authors and like all authors some books are better then others. Their method of payment is sad. On the other hand how many of the authors on KU would ever reach the reading public. If I were a published author I would not want to start on KU as it is a trap. I will be going through my library soon and will use that more often. Amazon is a monopoly but I have lived long enough to see many unstoppable monopolies collapse. I like being able to find odd out of the way books. You mentioned that KU readers don’t purchase books. That may be true but how many people believe they should get something for nothing. I read other author blogs and the comments on pirating and readers getting mad if it is not free. KU is bad but at least it is not pirating. Good work is expensive and we get what we pay for. That said I buy your books and will continue to do so.
Ilona, I am a KU member and I have bought all your books, both ebook and hardcover. One of these days I will run across the pair of you and get them signed. Until then I will joyously reread them and live vicariously through your characters and your awesome writing talents.
I suppose that I use KU for scouting new authors as well as for tech books available there.
I have a Kindle, too –
(ok, actually I read on my computer or phone K app far more than the Kindle itself)
– but I BUY the books instead of the KU route. They don’t cost that much, and they are WELL WORTH THE COST. I hope that amount of money is enough for my authors to get by on. If not, I am more that willing to buy my favs at a higher price.
The care and feeding of our authors is important !!!!
I rarely buy “dead tree” books anymore – just no more room in the house for more physical books – EXCEPT for my most favorite. If Innkeeper ever comes out in a leather-bound edition, I will MAKE ROOM !
I do kindle, I do not do KU. KU is a glorified lending library, I can download lots of books from my library and they are pretty good about getting ones I request. If I REALLY like a book I am buying it, KU does not cater to my needs and promotes the type of book I hate… churned out, badly written, full of annoying grammatical errors and that make your teeth grind present tense, or worse tense switching. Pick one and stick with it people! ?. Ummm oops, sorry about that, errrr as I was saying, I would much rather have the variety and quality that is not engendered by the KU mindset
As an author, I agree with everything in this post. I will add that KU has become a dangerous game. In recent months, Amazon has started stripping KU page reads from authors after the fact. For example, I know several authors in the very popular Reverse Harem genre, which is by and large a KU readership. Back in late 2018, Amazon went back and retroactively removed thousands and thousands of pages read from authors in the genre, and then emailed the authors stating they had done an audit, and “suspicious borrow activity” was detected, and “fraudulent page reads” were being removed. They offered ZERO explanation for what this suspicious activity entailed, or how they determined a “real” page read from a “fraudulent” page read. When pressed via email, they flat out told authors their decision was final and they would be offering no further information on the subject.
Let me be super clear: these are people I know. They are authors. Some of them fairly new. They are not trying to scam the system. They have NO idea what Amazon means by their statements, and some of them lost thousands of $ in income. Amazon has repeated this several times since. Around the same time, Amazon also suspended the accounts of two very popular military SF authors – also in KU. They shut down their accounts completely. These were authors making a full time living on their books one day, and suddenly their income is gone the next. Again, Amazon cited some nebulously unexplained account activity, and offered no further explanation. ATM, these authors are pursuing the matter through lawyers.
Me and my small potatoes pages read weren’t touched, but plenty of people at my level were, and I decided in the new year I’m leaving KU as an author and a reader. I refuse to support a system that uses authoritarian rules it applies arbitrarily and without explanation, ruining lives and livelihoods along the way.
It sucks, because I’ll be honest: most of the little money I make comes from KU. I’m afraid to go wide. I’m afraid my books will sink and what little visibility I have as an author will vanish. But I’m even more afraid of the worst that could happen: if Amazon takes my entire account away someday, or continues to strip income at its whim, how is that any better? It’s so much worse, because they ARE the biggest game in town. They control 70% of the market.
Not being in KU is safer. They don’t seem to mess with authors who are just selling books. They only seem to do these things to authors in KU. So next month my books will be out of KU and I’ll be relying on sales alone. When I launch book 3 in my series, it will be wide, without the rank and visibility boost the comes from being in KU. It terrifies me. What if it sinks like a stone because I’ve left KU? It might. But if I don’t do this now, the more books I write and publish in KU, the more reliant on it I will become. And like you guys, I can’t write a book a month. That’s just not the way I write. So, it is what it is. Luckily, I’ve already told my readers, and they were very supportive. Several told me they will buy my books however I choose to publish them, and that they totally support and understand my decision.
One bonus: I plan to try and get my books into libraries as soon as they are available wide. I couldn’t do that while they were in KU, because Amazon TOS precludes even libraries, as it views them as competition.
Thank you for the KU explanation.
I love reading off the Kindle app, have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, and have purchased many, many kindles for myself and fam. I love the glorp of messy and cheap romance novels. That being said, I have all your Innkeeper books (and more!) in e-pub format because you two are awesome writers with awesome editors. Your team is just that awesome.
I feel for those people who are unable to get their hands on copies, but am so gleeful to be so lucky!
A comment on Libraries –
I am a Librarian. I work full-time at one library and “as-needed” at 2 more in the area. They all own the Innkeeper series – 1 owned it before I was hired, the other 2 purchased it at my suggestion.
PATRON SUGGESTIONS ARE KING IN LIBRARIES. Libraries with a large budget will purchase EVERY patron suggestion. If the library has a smaller budget you might get a couple of friends who also read it to suggest it as well, or talk to a librarian personally AS WELL AS making an official suggestion through whatever format – an online form, a card, etc. I say “as well” because I do work at one library where purchasing is centralized (done by librarians who do NOT work the public desks) and they tend to give preference to requests done through official channels.
However Tl;dr – libraries can purchase the Innkeeper books. They are available on both of the major library supplier sites. But libraries may not KNOW about the series or may have passed it over because it’s self-published (we tend to avoid anything that looks “self-published” for lots of reasons too long to explain here) and we might need you to tell us that you, the patron, DO want this series. So – as a librarian, please please PLEASE go to your reference desk and say “There’s a series I’d love to see this library carry – how do I go about requesting it?”
Please, please, please! Do not put any of your books on KU! I don’t use it and don’t really want to start. I want to have access by ebook and library. KU is to limiting.
All books on KU are also for sale. You absolutely do not have to be subscribed to KU to have access to them.
Thanks for explaining. I am a KU user and a buyer. I wondered about the authors and if they made any money. I read 3 to 5 books a week so KU is awesome for someone like me, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of the authors. Like someone else said, I use it to weed out bad books. I purchase those books I liked. If I like 2 of their books, I usually end up buying everything I can find that they have written. I don’t like that those books aren’t available to everyone. That isn’t fair, authors need a wide array of venues to sell in to make a living.
They are available to everyone. They are not available on the most convenient platform for everyone. People who browse for books via iBooks or Nook or whatever other seller wonāt see them. Thatās true. But those things are not the same. If I had an iPad, I could put the Kindle app on it* and buy those KU books.
______
*I have several times recommended this exact process over buying a Kindle Fire. I understand that some of my friends have way more money than me, but it just seems to wasteful to have a good tablet that can read books well and a color-eBook-reader thatās not a very good tablet.
Cool, i was wondering how unlimited worked! Now i know why some of them are so poorly written and edited also. Pet peeve of mine. I use unlimited to test drive the book then buy if i like it.
Huh.. This explains the quality of KU books. I gave the trial a go a couple of years ago and abandoned ship before the trial was up because I was getting too frustrated from the obvious lack of editing in over 80% of the books. If the authors need to drop a book a month and are only getting paid a buck and change per book, it really makes sense that so many of them would forego running their books through an editor.
Amazon should make a separate program. Raise the membership fee, pay their authors more, produce better books and while they’re at it do something with their algorithms or whatever to make sure fake authors can’t pull any shenanigans that shoot their fake books to the top of the sales charts.
This is why I won’t join KU. I love my kindle and read most books on it these days (The exceptions being Comics/Manga and textbooks) but I feel like if I’m going to read more than the free sample I should pay someone for their work. I don’t begrudge anyone who uses KU of course.
I write 2 to 3 books per year and I don’t think I could turn out a quality product if I tried to go faster, and I’m lucky enough that the money I earn from writing is extra money. I don’t need it to live on. However, my books are in KU. Amazon is the largest bookstore on Earth and the Kindle Library is the second largest bookstore on Earth. As you’ve pointed out, the people who get their books from KU rarely buy books. Your choice, therefore, is not between a sale that gets you significant money and a library read that gets you less money. Since the KU readers don’t buy, they aren’t taking away from your sales. The money brought in from KU is extra money. The real decision is whether I would get enough sales from Nook, Kobo, Ibooks, etc. to make up for the loss of the money I get from KU. Since Amazon has over 80% of the ebook market and since KU brings in over 40% of my revenue, it just seems to make good sense for me to keep my books in KU.
Thank you for explaining how KU works for the author. I much prefer your Inn Keeper series as the serial and then for sale. I have all your books in ebook format, and some in PB also. Every author needs to do what is right for them. Thank you for educating us.
I can’t imagine why anyone would “sell” anything through KU. I hear, but am not sure, that they try to control prices on ePubs and dead tree versions as well. Same as they do with music. If I find something on Goodreads or through a recommendation I’ll always try to go straight to the publisher (or author if self-published).
Simon Lyon, what you said! ?
Re: KU books
I don’t buy KU books for a couple of reasons. First, I always pre-order new releases by my favorite authors so I’m paying full Kindle prices. Second, I get emails from Bookbub so I can check out books / authors I haven’t read before. These are offered at a reduced price through Amazon (and others); if I get a book and like it I will get other books by that author at the regular price. Even when offered the option of getting a KU book or paying for that same book I will pay for it because i don’t think it’s fair to the authors not to pay for it. But maybe that’s just me.
I agree with you. Kindle Unlimited is actually useless to me as my reading preferences differ. That said I have a sibling that loves KU as it fits. But not for me.
i do take advantage of discount coupons etc when I can but majority of time I end up paying full price at Barnes and Noble. This is now closest bookstore to me and is over 30 minutes away. Some books I have found on Amazon but cost wise and time wise same.
NC has a digital library which is very helpful for me to weed out the books I am only going to read partially. Sometimes I follow a series by an author like Ryder Creed series by Alex Kava but not her other series. On the other hand I read all of Patricia Briggs. Just like I read all of Ilona Andrews. Everybody is different as to their reading tastes.
I do have to disagree on one of your examples…i have never abandoned one of Ilona Andrews’ books partway…i will admit to abandoning others. š
I have heard that there are rackets in third world countries where people are paid to sit at an ereader and turn the pages for some KU books. They don’t even need to read the language.
KU is exclusive to the US. I live in a āthird world countryā and not only do we not have access to KU but often the books are more expensive for us than a US reader
Not really. UK Amazon has a KU as well. And although I live neither in UK nor US I have an Amazon account and use KU so …
Amazon.de has KU as well. Which also services Austria. And while Eastern Europe is not āthird world,ā they do run many scams of this nature.
Also, I live in Austria, but my Kindle service comes from the US. There is nothing stopping actual 3rd world countries for doing the same thing.
However: the people turning pages would have to be provided with some form of accessing KU (if not an actual Kindle, then a phone, tablet, or computer with the Kindle app), as well as paying for the subscription. Thatās a very large investment for incredibly small return. So while itās possible, I doubt itās happening.
Thank you for this insight into publishing. I love libraries and they are great for reference, research and find a new must buy author. Once I fall for an authors writing though, I always buy their books to show my appreciation and support them in writing another book for me to read. Had recently debated a KU offer Amazon sent me – I will stick to my Nook, tree books and library.
Iām very grateful for the first draft, and I look forward to getting my hands on the published version. You do great work and deserve to be paid for it! I, also, have never abandoned one of your books. I was doubtful of Iron & Magic because you did such a wonderful job make Hugh easy to despise, but I will get your next one ASAP!
Even if libraries are many miles away, if they loan out ebooks it doesn’t matter since you have access online. Worth a shot to sign up! (Assuming they don’t have residency requirements–they should take care of rural folks though.)
I do love an excuse to wander the internet ā thank you for the trigger, Tapati!
For N.:
Zanesville, Ohio residents can access the Ohio digital library archive through the Muskingam County public library system (http://muskingumlibrary.org/find-it/digital-downloads/). The Ohio archive contains all of the Ilona Andrews books, including all three Innkeeper tales, Hughās story and Diamond Fire. The Cincinnati branch at the other end of the state has all of them, so thatās where I first read many of the early books before realizing I could only be happy acquiring them for myself. š
N, if your library does not list the books, put a request in to the librarian ā thatās how they know what to invest in. And that way youāll get value for your taxes, while the authorlords continue to be able to make their mortgage payments.
I agree with the reader who said ask your library to stock the books you like to read. I mentioned to our small town librarian one time I was really waiting for a particular book to come out and within a week of it’s publishing, that book was on the shelf. Most libraries also engage in book sharing. I can order a book from our small town library, they borrow it from a larger library in the same system, and I get it to read. Works really well. I read so fast, a 300 page book only takes a few hours, that it is hard to justify buying a book unless I know the author and I know I will like the story. Ilona is an auto-buy, I know I will like them and re-read them.
Thanks for this explanation. I had no idea how KU authors were paid and I was hoping that using KU was not depriving an author of income. My 16 yr old uses it because he averages reading a book every two days. We use KU, the library, and purchases to keep him supplied. Once he finds a favorite author, or series, he buys all the books. (It really helps get many chores done with no arguments.) I usually purchase books from my favorite authors and I have found a few new favorites from using KU. I will purchase their books after finding them. I had an idea that authors didnāt profit much per book but, I couldnāt imagine that it would be so little. So, thank you for this information and for providing the InnKeeper series weekly as a gift. You are a favorite author for our family so, we do own all of your books.
I saw the title of this post and thought, “There’s going to be more KUs in the next Innkeeper? Wing is going to bring his clan or family and help in the search for Sebastian North?” LOL!
+1!!!!!
That would be hilarious if the authorlords decided to do that! lol Great idea…
Haha i thought the same for a second….
Since we’re talking about Amazon… I’ve been having fits this week because my Kindle battery hasn’t been holding a charge. I did a hard reboot, charged it on different cords and adapters—all the self help stuff. And, yes, the battery is bad and I need a new one. So I go looking and guess what? One of the few things in the known universe that you cannot buy on Amazon is:
A battery for a Kindle. Does that make any sense at all?
Yes, many companies do this – they make it impossible for you to service your own units. For example, I bought a Toshiba Thrive tablet several years ago specifically because it allowed you to open it up for servicing, change the battery etc. However, by the time the battery went bad a few years later the parts were no longer being sold. Companies (hello Apple) make you take it to an authorized repair company or send it in for repair. If not under warranty it is often more expensive to repair than replace.
That said you can buy some repair kits for Kindle that include the necessary tools and a new battery if you are out of warranty. Just do a search on Kindle Replace Battery. Example below.
https://www.newpower99.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Amazon%20Kindle%20Paperwhite&gdffi=856b397eff924909b092c3d43253137f&gdfms=64EEEFBC2F004BABA330F7131918B2F2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9cOYwNHl3wIVy8DICh0DgAWlEAQYASABEgIZP_D_BwE
I had this exact problem with my iPhone around Christmas. Cost to open the iPhone 6, blow on battery, and put it back in firmly (i.e. minimum repair): 150ā¬. Cost under my provider plan for an iPhone 8: 126ā¬. Which we also didnāt have, since my Christmas present was replacing the Kindle that I lost somewhere with the new, lower quality version (I no longer have access to 3G because a) they have moved to 4G and b) it was an extra 100ā¬, but you buy what they will sell you), but I can at least acknowledge that was my own damned fault. The phone was an unexpected hit, especially since the iPhone 8 may have better camera, video quality & speakers, those are cosmetic things. It doesnāt do anything else different from the iPhone 6.
{end rant}
I don’t subscribe to Kindle Unlimited for this very reason. Then again, I avoid Kindle books with prices that I consider excessive. Thus, conflict.
I get a lot of KU books, but it’s like you said; the books come out pretty fast. Most of the time, quality suffers a bit. I have been happy with many of the KU books I borrowed, but I have to admit that for me, KU is a lot like going to WalMart instead of Nordstrom’s.
The KU books that I like are pleasurable and sequels come out quickly – which is rewarding – but in general the quality is lower. Storytelling isn’t as tight or as original and editing is a bit lax. It is not unusual to see incorrect usage of homonyms: hoard and horde; to and too; your and you’re; there, their, and they’re; rein and reign are all commonly misused. In some cases, there are much more egregious errors.
The Innkeeper series may appear online for free at first, but I ALWAYS buy the end result in at least one form, because you should pay artists for their work if you want them to keep creating – plus, it’s inconvenient to only have it on the computer. š
Ilona Andrews has never failed to deliver great storytelling, good editing, and edge-of-the-seat interest. For this reason, I have purchased all books full-price in one form or another, and most have been purchased in a second form as well. (Audible charges less if you already have it in e-book form.)
Sometimes, you just gotta go with Nordstrom’s quality. š
+1!!
This is exactly why I cancelled my KU. In years past, I would go through a book a day. I have found in the last couple of years, it has become much more difficult to find quality books. I would gladly wait the 6-8 months and pay for Ilona Andrews quality than continue wading through junk. Occasionally I find something good at Wal-Mart. But there is a reason for that old saying “you get what you pay for”.
To add to your homonym list: discrete/discreet confusion often appears in KU books for some reason…
YES! for some reason discrete/discreet misuse really annoys me, I dont get so cross about other homonyms . Maybe because I have seen it in regular publisher issued, therefore edited, books also, which I don’t expect.
And conscious instead of conscience grr… (rant over)
KU is fun, but most of the authors on my “buy” list don’t participate in it. Or, if they do, the books/series of theirs that I buy/read aren’t in it. Okay, once in a while there is some overlap, but…
To me KU is kinda like what I imagine reading a publisher’s slush pile would be like — a lot of “no, not bad, but no,” a few “NOPE, NOPE, NOPE,” some “good/okay/not bad/almost kinda pretty good,” and a few gems (sometimes polished, sometimes unpolished). So, like I said, fun. Keep in mind that I read mostly romances, and mostly paranormal romances at that (aliens, lots of aliens lately).
I will say, I’m kind of astounded that it’s the non-book buying crowd who have KU memberships. I wouldn’t have guessed that.
I prefer the dead tree route. Used book stores, new book stores, garages sales. I read Maude’ s tale on my phone. Thank you so much. And Inn Keeper’ s also. But I don’t have a lot of faith in electronics, so buy the books when affordable. Can’t wait for Maude’ s tale for sale in book form. I love waking up to a book plastered to my face while falling asleep reading.
How do you DO that??? I can’t fall asleep while reading a physical book! Maybe that’s because my deadtree books are all by my favorite authors???. I am really paranoid about damaging my books because too often, by the time I have a falling-apart book, it is out of print. Especially old science fiction paperbacks. So, I end up red-eyed from reading all night.?
For second hand books, Joy W, try https://www.abebooks.com/books/used-books.shtml or check to see what Amazonās suppliers have to offer for specific volumes youāve worn out.
Powell’s used books in Portland Oregon MASSIVE PLACE
Thank you, trailing wife. I usually turn to BetterWorldBooks for old books, I am thrilled to find another source! I live in a cluster of small towns and the only bookstore within 60miles is Book-a-Million. Ugh! But we do have two awesome public libraries!?
My pleasure, Joy. Iāve learnt so much here that Iām happy to share a few crumbs from my small horde of knowledge. Iāve been pleased with the second hand books Iāve got from both Amazon and Abe Books, so Iām happy to share the joy. š
My falling asleep reading format is definitely audiobooks… and I usually catch it on a first fraction of a sleep cycle, stop it, and take of my earpiece (and then end up going back about twenty minutes when I wake up. Though rarely an hour.)
Now that I’m looking at another move, I’m hugely glad that I’ve trimmed down my hardcopy books so much, and will probably be making be taking bunches more of them down to the LFL as space permits. (And this is after several thinnings.) I’ve kept my furniture fairly minimal, so books will be the most of it!
I love this type of post. The analytics of all the things that interest me is fascinating, so thanks.
Also as far as KU: I checked into it on launch and saw most of my fav authors werenāt there and decided it wasnāt for me. Iām 80% kindle 20% hardcover for my favorites. (Thereās audio too, but thatās exclusively books I own already).
Nuts! I saw “KU availability” and thought, “oh yeah! looks like tiny feathered dinos with spider pets are back to work as messengers.” Good info, but not what I was expecting. Meh going to go read Magic Strikes again, because I am THAT spoiled for adventure. Cheers!
I’d have to agree with you I’ve tried KU and have noticed that there were plenty of books I had to abandon for some reason or another with the number one reason being editing (spellcheck you or have someone else read it before sending it out!!! Nothing messes up the enjoyment faster then having to reread to determine how the lines are suppose to be read or who is saying what). Another problem with KU is that since authors are paid per page lots of KU authors put in filler stories. So you’ll grab the book because you liked the synopsis or excerpt seeing that it’s 321 pages only to discover the story you want is 99 pages and there are 3 other stories in the book. That’s the point where I return it.
About KU reader not buying books, you’re right (from my view). I had to absolutely love the book to want to buy it after reading it. Otherwise for my KU is a v=ry well stocked library.
I’m all for you not being on KU you’ve made it clear how much effort you put into your tales, don’t limit your readership.
I read a great deal and I tried the KU 3 month freebie signup thingie. I ended up paying for an additional month because I forgot to kill the trial subscription. I just couldn’t find enough quality items to read. Lots and lots of subpar titles. Obviously its a great way to try out your writing skills but generally speaking it just aint worth it. I did find a couple of interesting authors, Michelle Diener was one and some good dystopian fiction. But by and large there was just too much poorly written material to justify the monthly cost.
For me, itās a bit different:
Itās a minimum of $9.99 for a new, edited and/or through a publishing house book. Itās $10/month for a KU subscription. If I find 2 books/month ON AVERAGE, I come out ahead.
Take for example Cassandra Gannon*, who Ilona recommended here. I could not afford to buy all her books at once. I read them all through KU, and now buy them at a rate of 1-2/month (I’ll be caught up soon), because people support art as they can afford to. Same with Elizabeth Hunter, who I absolutely would not have read without KU, despite BDH recommendations, if only because vampire PNR is deaddeaddead (except hers were hilarious, and I am absolutely in love with the couple-to-be in her latest storyline in that world).
So KU allows me to enjoy the books now at a cost-effective price, while I choose to support the gems elsewhere (I find that 99% would be a hard NOPE, but Iām very picky).
________
*I tried to contact Cassandra Gannon. I found a dead-ish FB page that was supposed to be both her & Elizabeth Gannon, and sent a message I didnāt expect to get anywhere. I offered to proofread ā ONLY proofread, not beta-read ā her books for free before they went out, because her books are great, but the sheer number of typos kills me. I’ve got 20+ years of fixing bossās documents, and an unemployed atm and unlikely to be soon (USian in Austria, professional assistant, terrible German). I even offered professional references if she was interested, and I could turn around a book in 12-36 hours, depending on time differences and length of book or segment. Never heard back, but had no idea if it was because she never got my offer or wasnāt interested.
The Gannon sisters are Start Turtle Publishing. I enjoyed their books as well š
https://starturtlepublishing.wordpress.com/contact/
Thank you!!!
Like many others, I always buy Innkeeper when it comes out. Even if I donāt re-read it again right away, your books are the best re-reads on the planet, so I know I will eventually. I had KU but cancelled, because I didnāt really like most of those books. Besides, Iām trying to limit my reading āhabitā to only my favorite authors. ?
I use KU alot because of limited budget and I live in a foreign country so getting books in English from a library is not really an option. I actually have found some gems on it so it is worth it for me as it is a free way to take a punt on an author I don’t know. Plus this way I can save up to buy the authors that I am willing to part with hard earned cash for, Ilona and Gordon being one of that group, whilst filling in the time between auto buy authors delivering their next book.
As someone living in a country where Amazon was introduced only little over a year ago and has basically gained no traction since, I’m very, very happy with the “no, we don’t want to give them exclusivity” part of your explanation. But that’s just selfish thinking š
Our e-book market developed without Amazon and their kindle format so each and every player on our market carries the epub format which means you can read your purchases from different sources on the same reader. That’s what I never liked about Amazon’s kindle (the same thing I don’t like about Apple stuff): it tries to force customers loyalty by punishing you, as you cannot use their products unless you use _only_ their products…
+1 on the “my system or no system” policy
I am very disappointed because initially I thought the post was about Ku Plushes. And now I want a Ku Plushy.
Or the spider-kitten pet. That would be adorable.
Now I have an idea for my next sewing project. Must go back and re-examine the descriptions of Wing.
+1
I use KU to read unfamiliar authors that I’d hesitate to take a chance on if it cost Ā£4 -Ā£6 to read the first in a series. Recently, I got the books in a series on KU and ended up buying the complete set in digital form.
Thank you for explaining how this work. Thank you for all your books & I am so grateful for your wondrous storytelling.
Even before I knew all this stuff I never liked KU. I want to pay authors for their work. If I get something I don’t like I don’t go back. Many authors offer the first book in a series for free or super discounted anyway. I value the work that goes into writing a book or a novel and I Iike the author to get paid.
You havenāt experienced some of the TRULY awful KU stuff. We should pay some of those authors to STOP writing.
I wonāt sign up for KU and I average 10-12 books a week. I have over 700 books on my Nook app and at least that many on my Kindle app. I get daily emails for reduced price books from āBook Bubā but I also have a $250/mo budget set aside for my books. When I donāt find anything new, I will re-read a series. Today I am on book three of Kate. ?
I read KU occasionally especially if I am trying out a new genre or whatever. That being said, I love the Innkeeper series. I don’t read the first draft (mostly because I can’t stand the suspense waiting between chapters) and wait and buy the book. It’s very inexpensive for the quality. I really love them. Keep doing what you’re doing! I will buy!
I tried out KU for a while, but realized that it just didn’t have ENOUGH of the types of books I wanted to read so I was buying books anyway – so I stopped that subscription. And when I discovered a an author through it – I still went and bought books of things I was likely to re-read or was the start of a series (and the other books weren’t on KU) because luckily I HAVE the income that allows me to support the authors that way….
I utilize KU in addition to buying lots of books. That being said many of the KU’s I try tend up being dnfs. There are clever authors out there who put their older books on KU, and I have discovered previously unknown authors (to me)I really like and then buy their new books (examples K F Breene, T A White, Hailey Edwards and many more) I tend to head to KU towards the end of the month when money has dwindled. I hate the rapid raise of trends, don’t even get me started on reverse harem, just NO!
I buy my books through KOBO. Their software allows me to add books I have purchased directly from publishers, free downloads as well as those I buy through them. I also have the Kindle app for books I share with my children (on the family tablet). Sometimes for my favorite authors I end up buying the book twice, once in each format (one for me and one for the family).
KU isn’t something I would want my kids to have access to and with access to Over Drive at the library I have access to new authors in a way that still pays the authors.
Amazon does make it relatively easy to put a child-lock on the Kindle & Kindle app. It wonāt allow your kids to buy or borrow any books.
I think this is right based on menu options I have seen on my Kindle. I donāt have kids, so I’ve never tried it.
I do use KU as I am an avid reader and can’t afford to buy enough books to keep me in my habit and my local library doesn’t really have a good selection of this genre. However, I also buy books (and I understand that you were discussing statistics and trends (large N)). I do thank you for your post because while I use KU, I also find it hard to find good books (ones with at least reasonable writing) and interesting story lines. It has gotten to the point where there is a certain type of cover art that lets me know I can just skip it. Now I know why.
LOL – I saw the title “KU Availability” and I thought it was a message about the little critter that bought Dina the message about Maud on Karhari!! My first thought was, “Oh, maybe she has stuffed KU’s available for sale!!” š
?
So many people … not following the big picture.
I could be incorrect here .. but didn’t Sean (in inkeeper) have a conversation regarding this…
Fast/Quality/Cheap pick 2
Amazon (and I would assume KU) pretty much sums up this whole situation (to a degree) … Amazon pays creators and its workers next to nothing and pads all that gain into Jeff Besos’s already over full wallet.
Don’t get me wrong I like the Idea of Amazon but in actuality using them .. for anything is just reducing your choices/options in the future.
They don’t do anything special, or extremely well … other than providing the most convenient option for the sheeple to flock to. (and imo they do it ALL badly but that’s neither here or there)
Ohio here also. Download the kindle ap onto your smart phone. Go to amazon website and purchase kindle version which will appear on the library of your smart phone. Viola. Enjoy
I read at least one book a day and don’t do KU. I know that there are good books in there, but I did a trial back in the day and couldn’t find anything I really wanted to read. I actually didn’t finish a couple of books, which is extremely rare for me. I appreciate everything that you guys do to engage your readers and am so grateful for the innkeeper serial. That actually was the thing that took Ilona Andrews to my favorite author spot instead of just one of my top 10 that I will consistently read anything new. I’ve recommended all of the series to friends and a part of that is because you guys are just such cool people!
I am both a KU reader and a Kindle book buyer. Over the years, I’ve discovered some great authors who got started on KU, and I’ve continued to read their books, wherever I find them, be it the library, or purchase. There are also authors whose books I will always buy, y’all being at the top of the list, because I read your books over and over. They are that good…, y’all are that good, and I’m grateful you share your gift with us. I’m also aware you need to make a living and gladly pay for each of your treaaures. In my humble opinion, KU features mostly what i call fast food books, while writers like you create a gormet meal, to be savored and enjoyed many times and worth every penny. Thank you.
What she said.
I like both. KU is good for quick fixes, love-to-hate books, and hidden gems. The quality can suffer though, I have abandoned many KU books. On the other hand I buy the books from authors I like, even if it is available to me on KU, though most of the time not. I certainly don’t think I would/could spend time and money on a book only to release it on one platform and lose money
*I meant most of the time the authors I like books are not available on KU*
You tell it sister…or brother, whichever one said it/told it. Ugh you know what I mean. I appreciate all the freebies wherever I can get them. I remember when Of Swine and Roses was first out, I was amazed that it was free! You both have always been very generous with your time and stories. As a voracious reader I am so grateful for the freebies that I have been blessed to read from many different platforms. It doesn’t take much time to surf around and search through favored author sites to see what may be available. I just hope you guys don’t go the facebook route, I don’t have an account. Thank you again.
I tried KU but quickly got rid of it, for several reasons, one often only the first book in a series in available what is the point of just reading the first in a series. Second, I read an article written by an author who I can’t remember who explained how little writers made in this format (your explanation is very similar). Third, I think that Amazon having a monopoly on books sold is a terrible idea, the CEO gets rich and everyone else is left financially worse off.
āWhat is the point in only reading the first book in a series?ā
Presumably, if you enjoyed it, you would purchase the second book and so on. I actually really appreciate those where the rest arenāt on KU. Like I said elsewhere, the vast majority of KU authors are awful, and when āAmazon recommendsā pushes me to a KU unlimited series, itās a check against buying or reading that book. If only the first book is on KU, then people are paying for the others, that means they arenāt the absolute dreck most KU books are.
I am a KU person and you are right about not buying a lot of the KU books. I do however go back and reborrow books I enjoy and if some one offers only the first book in a series on KU but not the sequels I will buy the sequel if the first book was great. I also agree that it does work best for authors who do write quickly. For me, it is also a way to find new authors and or try out new genres. That being said, I try not to buy that many books, since I am likely to spend my entire paycheck if I do, so before KU came out I was someone who would type in a genre in the search engine and look through the book listed as free. That being said, if I find an author or series I absolutely love, like Ilona Andrews, I spend my money. KU is definitely not for everyone and I respect those who choose not thyo participate.
I use KU and for the most part I like it, but one of my biggest pet peeves is that about 70% of the books I have read really need editing from anywhere between misspelled word to wrong words that sound similar to run on sentences.
To “N” (and anyone else interested), your local library may not have many ebook options if it’s a small town, but small town libraries often form consortiums with other libraries in the area to provide more options to their readers. If a book isn’t available you can request that they purchase it (usually an option when the search comes up empty), and they often will, as the librarians I’ve talked to are always looking to expand their fantasy/romance sections. I’m not sure how it is in your area, but I belong to three library systems: my town library, the library in the town of my high school, and the Boston public library. I don’t live in Boston, but any resident of Massachusetts can get a library card there. It might be worth it to see if there are similar library systems in the big cities near you. Between the three, I can read all of Ilona Andrews’ books š
Audible has a program called the Romance Package. It’s similar to KU for audio books. I see that Steel’s Edge is in the program. I wondered if that program was more profitable for an author or if a audio book is put in to generate interest in the rest of the series. I have a couple of your series in the audio format. Didn’t know if you were thinking of adding other titles. FYI – Audible controls how you listen and it can only be listened using one of their aps and cannot be downloaded like a purchased book.
I am a subscriber to the Audible Romance Package and I love it. Iāve wondered how profitable it is to the authors who allow their books to be accessed through it. I hope it pays a decent amount as itās my favorite deal. Audiobooks are the only way to go (99% of the time) in my opinion!! ARP allows me to try authors Iāve never read before. But Iāve purchased most everything available of yours in audio. Always worth the price.
I am happy to pay full price for what you write and am fortunate enough to be able to do that. How else would you be able to continue writing your wonderful, wonderful stuff ? May you have a long and prosperous career !
Eh. Iām a speed reader and go through books quickly. KU works for me because thereās a ton available in lots of different genres. But I will preorder books at full price, and I will end up finding other works by the authors. And yeah, thereās a lot of junk out there. Iām ok with that. I watch very little tv and binge read series instead. That gets expensive if you buy. Some of it is schlock, but I can either hang or go back and look for something else. And some of it is really great.
Thank you for the explanation about the trends though. One of my chief peeves is the suggested for you section: read one reverse harem or cozy witch mystery, get nothing else for weeks on end.
Having said all that, I understand perfectly why established authors donāt go that route. And I canāt wait to have Maud all in one place.
+100%
I’m happy to purchase favourite authors like Ilona, Patricia Briggs, Michelle Sagara whose books I know I’ll read again & again. But have found a few gems amidst the dross of KU and gone on to put those authors on my autobuy list too.
Although one more negative I’ve found is that, once I’ve read an author’s books via KU, I tend to be a lot more reluctant to pay for any of their other books. It seems to devalue their entire booklist for me, and they have to hit a higher standard if I’m going to overcome that & start paying for them.
The ALs are, of course, an exception since the first book I read was one of the Edge series (Fate’s Edge?) when it was on KU a few years back. Now I think I have everything you’ve published. So Ilona Andrews is one of the very few to generate purchases from me after KU.
I am not a fan of KU. I had it for a while and I guess I am just to picky about what I am reading. I have a collection of authors that I am sure that the book I by that they have wrote, will satisfy my escape needs. With that said, I would rather spend my book money on a sure thing.
The fact that Amazon controls the book and limits the author’s profit is not impressive to me. No matter what our profession is, the rate of compensation should reflect the rate of effort that goes into the career.
I recognize the effort that the two of you put into your work. I recognize the fact that each time I re-read your books (which have been a lot), I enjoy the story as much as the first time. So, I will always buy your books, and have them at my fingertips. It’s a small investment for hours and hours of entertainment.
I don’t like KU. I can only have 10 books at a time. That’s fine for a person who reads a book and never reads it again. I like rereading. I catch things I missed the first time around. I prefer to buy a book. If I really hate it then I can donate it to the children’s hospital. There isn’t enough stuff for hospital bound older teens, most donations are geared for the younger generation.
Besides most library’s now you can borrow online and you don’t even have to be in the geographical area to do so.
I have had KU membership for years and have discovered many new authors that way, authors not in the program now but whose books I still buy. I also buy a lot of books not in the program and pre-order books by my favorite authors.
Sometimes the KU program is useful in generating sales of older books, and getting new readers for established authors. Elizabeth Hunter put some of the Elemental series’ (there is more than one) books in the program and now I’m hooked.
As a reader, I’ve never been a fan of the KU. Matter of fact, I prefer shopping with Nook, even though it’s glitchy as all get out because it shops more like a bookstore. Kindle/Amazon shops like a giant warehouse. I’m dyslexic. Even in the virtual world, I have to have a trail that’s easy to follow. It sounds nearly tortuous for writers. Having to put all that out so quickly only to make pennies, I wouldn’t do it.
I do buy from Amazon and if I like the book will then buy the dead tree variety from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. (I like buying from brick and mortar to keep them viable).
As my school librarian said when I was a teen, if you donāt like a book at page 20, pick another one. So I download an extensive amount of samples on my kindle and if I like the book, I buy it. Plus I actually love going to the bookstore and buy a printed book, as long as its size is not too big (I mostly read while commuting to work). Besides, in France not every book is available to KU and itās not a profitable option for me as most of the books I read aside from fantasy are not available in KU, if they are published in electronic formats. As frustrating it may be for some, Iād rather have a book to buy for a price that allows the author to live from his work than a not so profitable option like KU.
I use my citiy’s digital library to try out new books. It has 45,000 titles. If I really like it, I buy the ebook. I like ebooks because I don’t have to find room for more bookcases. I also like being able to change font styles and size. It’s easier to read an ebook using a stand than it is to prop open a book if you like to read while you’re eating. I buy a lot of science fiction/fantasy through Beans ebooks monthly bundles which are 7 books for $18.00.