Amazon’s KDP Select program enables an author to make their Ebook free for select days in a 90 day period. This garners immense free publicity for the author. I often read about books that have thousands of downloads on the free days. While my book is on Amazon, both in print and Ebook, it’s never there free. No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique IS free as an Ebook everywhere else. Why not on Amazon? Because if I join KDP Select – the book must be pulled from every other retailer.
The book is intended for students and struggling writers, I want No Red Pen to be easy to access. I don’t want cost, even a couple bucks or 99 cents as a barrier. I’m cautious about a “company” store where products are only sold there and nowhere else. I think it is dangerous for writers to allow their access to the public to be controlled by one entity. I’m standing on principle.
And it’s costing me unknown amount of readers.
In 2012, there were 167 downloads over the 11 months the book was available. There were several instances via Barnes&Noble the book saw dozens of downloads in a day. Instructor use? A free book promotion B&N did? Don’t know. Moving to KDP Select would remove the access in the dozen other markets. How ironic, I may have to reduce markets to one if I want downloads and readership to multiply. Principle may need tossing to the wayside if I want No Red Pen to reach a wider audience.
Not before June, 2013. After that, I may experiment with KDP Select and up the price of the Ebook to $2.99 with as many free days as the program allows.
Principle does not always pan out.
Vicki Hudson 