Wednesday, April 3, 2013

I need your advice, please


As regular readers will know, I'm getting ready to publish my first military SF novels within a couple of months.  The first book will hopefully be out by the end of the second quarter, with a sequel to follow it within a month or two after that.  A third book in the series is planned to be ready for the Christmas shopping season, if all goes well and I don't get too distracted!  The first will be priced (in e-book format) at $2.99, and probably the second as well, in order to 'break in' to the market.  Pricing for the third is uncertain - it depends on how well I do with the first and second volumes.

My problem is this.  I'm not sure which platform(s) to concentrate on for distributing it.  If I go exclusively with Amazon, using their Kindle Direct Publishing Select package, it offers a number of advantages, including simplicity, greater financial flexibility, etc.  Kindle reader software and/or apps is/are available (free of charge) for almost any computer platform and for smartphones, so it's not as if readers have to actually buy a Kindle device in order to read Kindle books - they can use their existing devices.  On the other hand, I know Amazon hasn't penetrated overseas markets as much as it has in North America.  Many readers in Europe and elsewhere use the Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, or other devices and software to read e-books.  If I go with KDP Select, I won't be able to offer those formats for sale.

I'd also like to know what the demand might be for a print version of the books.  It's relatively straightforward, and has minimal setup costs, to publish an e-book.  It's more costly and time-consuming to format and prepare a dead-tree edition, but if the demand is there, I'm willing to do it.  I just need to know how many folks would like that.

So, readers, will you please help me?  I need to hear from those of you who are definitely interested in reading my books.  (If you hate the very thought and intend to avoid them like the plague, of course this doesn't apply to you!)  I need to know whether you'll be adequately served by Amazon alone, and an e-book alone, or whether you'd prefer me to make the book available on other services as well, and in print format.

If enough of you want the latter options, of course I'll go with what you want.  It'll involve losing some of the advantages offered by KDP Select, and entail a lot more work in formatting the novel for other platforms and for print, but I can live with those things if I have to.  However, right now I don't know if it's necessary - which is where you come in.  Please respond in a comment to this post;  or, if you have problems with Captcha word verification, please send me an e-mail (my address is in my blog profile).

Many thanks.

Peter

45 comments:

Formynder said...

Kindle would be my choice. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Grog said...

I didn't know you were writing a book, which means nothing(snark), but I'll most likely get the kindle, even though I still like printed books for reading.

Home on the Range said...

As you know, when I was trying to do some feedback on the book for you and couldn't get any program on my ancient laptop that would let me read it. .

I'd LOVE a paper copy. But many people won't I may be a hold out, but I don't like reading books on an electronic device. I spend all day with technology, at night I want the feel of a spine under my hands.

Tam said...

"...at night I want the feel of a spine under my hands."

Me, too!


Oh...

You meant a book spine...

Did I say this out loud? :o

Peter said...

Clearly, books en-Kindle more than just lust for reading in Tam . . .

;-)

Unknown said...

As long as you ensure that the books are DRM free they can be converted from one format to another (legally).
I own a Nook and do a fair amount of purchasing on Amazon. Rather than reading them on my computer I convert them to the .epub format readable by the Nook, so using Amazon to publish isn't going to completely close out the market of those who use other e-readers.

Anonymous said...

Kindle works for me. I rarely buy dead trees anymore.

Nashville Beat said...

I prefer Kindle, and as Fisher points out, it can be published DRM-free by request so it can be converted to all those funny formats.

I hope you get it out soon. We're getting restless!

The Great and Powerful Oz said...

I don't do Kindle, I feel that Amazon has too much control in that part of the publishing market.

I am quite interested in reading your books and I do have a Smashwords account already.

Grace Bridges said...

I just recently got a Kindle so that's fine for me...
On the other side, you may be interested that after publishing 30-odd titles on all platforms, it's barely worth doing ebooks on anything but Kindle. Our sales mostly stabilise at 80/20 Kindle/print. That said, I use the exact same doc file for loading to Kindle and Smashwords. So it's no extra work. Occasionally I'll pull a title from Smashwords to do a Kindle promo, but mostly they stay universally available.

Skip said...

Kindle, 'cause I'm a dumb old fart with bad eyes. Nice to enbiggin the font.

Carteach said...

I'm good with any of the formats you mention, having a Nook, a Kindle App, and will always have shelf space book for any book you care to print.

That said, I'm doing most of my reading right now with a Kindle app on my phone. It's one of the reasons I went with a larger unit this time.

Kentucky Packrat said...

First, and foremost, if you put out a print version, typeset it. Vanity books formatted in Word (double-spaced in Ariel, usually) make me so mad that I want to burn them all. I lost a publishing deal with a person because I refused to let them typeset it in Word and I wouldn't charge them less than $300 to do it myself. (I also wouldn't give them a cash rate, but that's because I was 100% on the books at the time, and there's no way I could hide $1000 or more. (Not that I am off the books now, Mr. IRS agent, I'm still 100% legal....)) If you need someone to typeset, I still freelance... ;)

Last I looked, Lulu was still a good option for small-run book printing & selling, but there may be other options available these days.

Anonymous said...

I sell through regular Amazon KDP and Kobo. Most US sales are through Amazon, and international sales through Kobo. I did hire someone to format my documents for MOBI and e-pub, since I'm not a computer person.

LittleRed1

Wayne Conrad said...

Here's a second vote for Smashwords. The reader gets to download whatever format desired--no conversion needed.

Ajdshootist said...

Have a look at Marko on "the munchin
wrangler" he has just published a book on Kindle and others and writes about his experiences.

Anonymous said...

kindle, if you please.

Anonymous said...

ePub, please. I won't use the Kindle or Nook apps as I don't trust the apps to not report usage data back to Amazon & B&N. I currently use Moon Reader on both my Android tablet and phone, and it handles lots of different formats nicely.

Take a look at how Marko Kloos just did his. Lots of options--I bought directly from him via PayPal and he emailed me the ePub shortly thereafter. Perfect.

Roy said...

I prefer Kindle, but other formats are okay too.

Anonymous said...

Kindle and 2.99 is about tops for an e-book.

Sport Pilot said...

I prefer Kindle as I can use my Kindle 3G or IPad. The 3G sometimes gets the nudge as its set up to do audio which is a plus. If you've used a computer for several hours reading and doing papers like me then listening to a new book is a treat.

Retired Mustang said...

I, too, will be publishing my first book in (hopefully) a few months. I plan to publish via KDP and Amazon Create Space for a very simple reason. Right now, amazon.com is the world's largest search engine for people who are planning to buy. Since I'll be publishing non-fiction that's related to my business, that's particularly important. I don't know if that's a factor for you or not.

As a person who grew up in and around newspapers and printing plants, starting back in the last days of hot type, I'd encourage you to do some typeface research and pick one that is widely used in print publishing. Some are simply more readable than others and some might be better suited to a particular genre. As a pet peeve, I'll note that traditionally, typeface refers to the design or style of the characters (Times New Roman, for instance), point refers to size (12 point, for example), and font requires both. Thus, "10 point Arial" is a font while "Arial" is a typeface.

If you choose to typeset in Word, I'd recommend some research regarding standard typesetting practices. It might take a while, but it can greatly improve the look of the finished product.

Hmm...this sounds much more pedantic than I intended...not good.

I look forward to your book and yes, I plan to purchase a copy.

Roger Ritter said...

I plan to buy it, and I'll be reading it on the Kindle app on my phone so Kindle is fine by me. That said, signing with KDP may limit your options in the future. Kristine Kathryn Rusch has been running a column for several years now talking about the changes that epublishing is forcing on the traditional publishing business. If you haven't already found her column, it would be worth the time to go through it before making any final decisions.

One sample concerning KDP is at:
the-business-rusch-content-is-king/

Good luck, and I look forward to your book becoming available!

Stephen said...

The smell of paper is wonderful, yet I own a Kindle.

Chris said...

Another vote for Kindle, although I still love real books in paper. (No jokes about "both ways", please.) I hope yours is as good as Marko's, since I definitely intend to buy it as soon as it's available.

Dirk said...

DRM-free Kindle, please. I can either read it on my computer with the Kindle app, or I can convert it to ePub format and read it on my Nook. As others have mentioned, check out what Marko has done with his recently-published book.

I look forward to seeing the entire book, having read the sample chapters you've previously posted.

Jennifer said...

I'll buy it on Kindle, and would likely spring for a paper copy down the line.
Like Brigid and Tam, I like the feel of a spine and the smell of...
Yeah, books.
Did it just get warm in here?

Anonymous said...

I use Kindle on my phone almost exclusively these days. I rarely buy paper books anymore.

perlhaqr said...

I'm an Amazon nut. It's pretty much the first place I look for anything, books or no. It's the only online e-book dealer I have any traffic with.

JD(not the one with the picture) said...

Another vote for Amazon Kindle. One touch ordering of $2.99 books has vastly increased my book buying. Looking forward to buying and reading yours.

Peter B said...

I'd vote for Kindle and DRM free.

Inside a dog, and all that. BTW, I think it was in a book by Avram Davidson, I once came across a reference to the pile of books on the unoccupied space in a bed as a "scholar's wife." Don't know if he coined it, but it was memorable

Kentucky Packrat said...

If you choose to typeset in Word, I'd recommend some research regarding standard typesetting practices. It might take a while, but it can greatly improve the look of the finished product.

How to typeset in Word, in three easy steps:
1. Uninstall Word
2. Install MiKTex
3. Buy and read Leslie's LaTeX book.

Don't typeset in Word. Please don't. Life just is too short to subject people to ugly books.

There's just too many good products available out there that will really work.

TwoDogs said...

Kindle works for me.

Anonymous said...

I got Marko's story directly from him as a PDF.
Also liked that all the money (aside from Paypal's cut) went to the author.
So, I'd prefer a PDF file.

Brighid said...

Kindle Please!

Mogrith said...

I'm a kindle user, both android app and kindle device.

I read a lot of SF (>100 titles a year) and Mil SF is my favorite flavor.

Looking forward to your books.

Prefer kindle format, but can convert Epub, html, etc.

graylady said...

Please use Kindle, as a senior citizen I find regular books are too heavy for my wrists to hold up long enough to read. My Kindle gave me the ability to read books again.

Joe Texan said...

Ditto what Mogrith said!

Old NFO said...

If I had a vote, I'd say epub also. Or hard copy...

Anonymous said...

Ed Campbell said:
I "test read" books on Kindle and if I really like them buy the dead tree version. While I like the convenience of the Kindle, there is just something very satisfying about grabbing a physical book and sitting down and reading it.

Bryn said...

PDF preferred here, or a DRM free format that I can convert as I choose.
I purchased "Terms of Enlistment" as a PDF. As someone else has mentioned, it keeps the purchase price in your account rather than being leeched by Amazon.

Scott said...

Make mine a vote for dead tree. both my parents own Kindle/Nooks (don't remember which), but I don't.

AngusS-F said...

Peter,

Enjoy your blog.

I won't buy Kindle books due to the copy protection. I will buy standard .epub books which I can read on any of my many ereaders (Palm, Android, Windows, Mac).

YMMV as an author, of course.

trailbee said...

I prefer paper. I just went through gyrations to buy Secrets of the Conqueror because I don't use Kindle. Call me stuck in the past. Sorry.

Wilson said...

My experience with my first book has shown me that Amazon and their KDP select program is the way to go, if sales are the main priority. I have experimented with other e-book options (Nook and Smashwords mostly) and the sales from them couldn't even compare to what I made with the KDP Select program. I feel the advantages of KDP Select are worth the exclusivity agreement. Most authors I’ve talked to have had similar experiences and feel the same. I believe you will find your experiences to be similar too.

As for paperbacks, I have found them to be a very small portion of my sales, in my case less than 2% of overall sales. The overwhelming majority of the books I sell are on Kindle but I felt the cost of formatting for paper was worth it. There are some readers that will always want “real” books and it is the only way to reach them. And let’s face it, holding your book, an honest, real paper book, in your hands feels great! Good luck and I wish you best success!