Letters from Letty ~ The $0.99 Debacle

Dear Author (and Reader on this one!)

Please understand how the $0.99 book isn’t always the best decision, and how this hurts the market.

It’s a bit odd to say this, but it’s very true. Everyone loves a good deal, right? And you’re right. It’s great for a first book, a special pre-order price, and a special gift to readers (because truly, we wouldn’t be here if not for you guys!). But that doesn’t mean that readers should then turn around and feel that all books should be that price.

How about we look at the numbers, eh?

0.99 gets an author 35% royalty, that means 0.34.

Hey, if the book is less than 100 pages, then I’m all for that. More than that though? Now, you’re coming into darker territory.

2.99 or more gives the author 70% royalty, that means 2.24 a book.

See the difference now?

From 2.98 to 2.98 that is the difference of dollars for an author. So please, understanding that 0.99 can be great, wonderful, and amazing, but not all books shouldn’t be at this price. You shouldn’t expect books over 100 pages to be that rate, especially when many are willing to pay 6.99 for a Big Publisher author.

So, hey Indie Authors, stop hurting yourselves. Readers, support the Indie livelihood, and make sure that you are loving the authors you can’t stop reading.

Until next time stay Fab, Fierce, and Geeky.