My two cents on ebook pricing

Okay this is just my opinion, but I really don’t understand how all you writers can give your books away or sell them for 99 cents. I know you will say that you are unknown authors, etc. and offer up all sorts of excuses like that, but don’t you think your time and talent is worth anything? Personally when I see books priced like this I figure they must not be worth reading. I think most of us are willing to pay more than that for good book.



As indie authors, it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to get a novel out there. Not only do we have to write it, have it edited and formatted along with a nice cover designed for it, but once it’s uploaded then we have all the responsibility and time it takes to market it to potential readers.


Now I’m not saying to overprice your books, but I think as long as it’s under $10 it is not unreasonable. If you think $10 is only for the big names then price it at $4 or $5, but in my opinion selling a book for 99 cents or giving it away to attract readers is crazy! Of course everyone is allowed to price their books as they see fit so I’m sure this practice will continue. And believe me I can see running a promotion for a short time, but I really think that most of you have gone to a lot of time and effort to write something worth reading, so my question is why give it away? Writers have to earn a living along with everyone else, so can anyone answer that with something reasonable?

Moving On

Well the first cut of the ABNA contest was yesterday and for the first time since the contest started I’m not moving on. So it is on with other projects. I’m not really too upset by this since the book is already published, but it is a bit disappointing. Writing is a very subjective thing though and it all depends on who is reading your material each time. The funny thing is that I submitted this same manuscript to the very first contest and it did move forward. This was the pitch round, so perhaps I should have rewritten my pitch instead of using the same one from the 2008 contest. The book itself never was looked at.

I am wishing all the best to the contestants moving on. It would be nice to win and get the publishing contract, but self-publishing is really the way books are going and I really wonder how long actual big publishers will stay in business. We have all the tools to do it all ourselves today. A writer can earn more in royalties by self-publishing while controlling all of their books. The only way big publishers may help is with marketing, but I even question how much of that you actually get if you win the contest. Marketing is a big job when most of us would rather be writing.

I will be posting some material on self publishing, so if anyone is interested in that please check back.

Blessings all,

Sunni

Possible New Blog Coming Soon

I've been thinking about starting a new blog for awhile because I have other things I'd like to share that are totally unrelated to books. I've run across several products that deserve a mention in case anyone out there may be interested in any of them to try for themselves. It doesn't really seem appropriate to post things like that on this blog which is devoted to books, writing and reviews, etc.

If anyone of you who stop by would like to make suggestions or comments about this feel free to do so. I won't be doing anything for a couple of weeks. I really would like your input if you have the time.

Thanks,
Sunni

Waiting on Contest Update

The first round is coming to a close in a week for this years ABNA contest. I'm hoping to advance but you never know how these things will go from year to year. If I'm eliminated I'll be cheering for the authors moving on.

I haven't written on my stuff at all in awhile - only a few paragraphs here and there when the mood strikes me. Instead I've been doing a lot of ghostwriting, but it helps to pay the bills. Of course all projects take me longer than expected because I have crazy cats that step on my keyboard and walk in front of the monitor and this is ongoing from day to day. It can be quite annoying but I love them dearly so they get away with all kinds of mischief usually.

I'm looking so forward to summer. I'll be one happy camper to see 80 degrees again! I feel like an eskimo bundled up in all this stuff to stay warm and it isn't as bad here as some places. I just need to live on a tropical isle. Maybe someday.

I'll be back to post a contest update after the 23rd. Thanks to those of you who read any of this stuff. Feel free to become a follower or leave a note.

Blessings,
Sunni