Kindle Unlimited authors disillusioned – BBC

The Amazon service for self-published authors melts revenue.

Six months after the launch of the offer to Kindle Unlimited US independent authors frown. The reading service will e-books from Amazon was for them the promise of a better exhibition of their work. But Taking, many have found that if the audience had grown, their incomes were in free fall.

“My income this month decreased by $ 5,000. It’s horrible, “wrote one of those self-published authors on a specialized forum, KboArd. “Mine fell by 40% compared to what I was earning before Kindle Unlimited” retorted another. “In a fortnight I had sold 300 copies of my book. Since I was on this program, I sell between zero and one per day, “lamented a third.

Even successful freelance writers are affected by this phenomenon. Holly Ward, 37, has sold 4 million copies of her romance novels on digital platforms. Two months after putting some of his books in the Kindle Unlimited program, it noted with dismay that his monthly income had melted by 75%. “I immediately removed my works. My sales are lifts, but I always wins half before Kindle Unlimited, “she wrote on KboArd.

The service is essentially Kindle Unlimited fed self-published works of these authors. These are paid when a customer Kindle Unlimited reads at least 10% of the book he borrowed. But the amount of this compensation is subject to change by Amazon every month. In July, the commission was 1.80 dollar loan, before falling to $ 1.39 in December. The authors also address the ranting exclusivity conditions imposed by Amazon. For independent, and all work included in the offer Kindle Unlimited can not be marketed on another platform selling e-books. What increase the financial risk to those who would attempt the adventure.

Some self-published authors nevertheless manage to maintain their remuneration, including cutting their new books into smaller volumes. The New York Times cites the example of his side Kathryn The bishop, 50, author of 44 e-books since 2012. Before the arrival of Kindle Unlimited, the California sold 6,000 pounds per month 4 dollars each. Kathryn The bishop decided to put some of his books in the Amazon program to attract new readers. To encourage them to buy his other books, it decreased their selling prices up 0.99 dollar. This strategy is paying off, as sales volume has tripled, and annual revenues were up 50%. But Kathryn The bishop anguish of having to “sell off even more books to remain competitive.”

This scenario thrilled the Société des gens de lettres (LDMS), which says “resolutely opposed” to Kindle Unlimited available in France for a month. The Ministry of Culture has launched a legal audit on this service, and hopes that it “respects the principle of fair remuneration for authors”