Well, it has happened.
Young Adult author, Amanda Hocking, who has exclusively self-published since March last year sold 450,000 copies of 9 out of her 12 titles last month. By March, that means Amanda could possibly have sold 1 million books in a year.
You're eyes are not deceiving you. Amanda has sold more books in one month that some authors will sell in one year or in their lifetime.
Today the USA Today posted an article today called Authors catch fire with self-published e-books, where they are showcasing successful self-published authors such as H.P. Mallory and J.A. Konrath.
"Hocking is selling so well that on Thursday, the three titles in her Trylle Trilogy (Switched, Torn and Ascend, the latest) will make their debuts in the top 50 of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list."
This is so very exciting because first of all USA Today, unlike the NY Times, will put epublished and self-epublished authors on their list.
And get this: "For every $2.99 book Hocking sells, she keeps 70%, with the rest going to the online bookseller. For every 99-cent book she sells, she keeps 30%."
Here is where I ask, why would an author or aspiring writer not try and give self-publishing a go? And if an author has become such a success at it without a benefit or an agent, publisher or any middle man, why would they not embrace self publishing for all it's worth and continue to do so?
What's the point with trying to get published traditionally if so many are making not just thousands, but tens of thousands in a month or hundreds of thousands a year from self-publishing?
Traditional publishers should definitely take note of this, as well as those agents who rejected those authors who are making a killing a self-publishing.
I know there's always exception to the rule, but I'm willing to take a chance with self-publishing and see where it leads me. How about you?
15 comments:
Just pretend here for a second. Imagine that all 450,000 books were sold at the $.99 price. She would have made $135,000!!! And if even 1/2 of those are are sold at the $2.99 price, that is $538,425!!!
VERY impressive.
I've been debating whether or not to self publish or try my hand with the traditional route for a long time now.
Originally the plan was to query an agent and go the traditional route, and if that didn't work, I'd self publish. However, after hearing all of these success stories, I've been considering self publishing more so than querying. I still don't know what I want to do lol.
Why not try both?
I wouldn't base my entire career upon Amanda Hocking, J.A. Konrath, or H.P. Mallory. I think that it's awesome they are doing so well. The chances of anyone else doing the same?
...well, take a look at the number of self-pubbed books on Amazon. The chances of having the same success are NOT awesome.
Just as the chances of becoming a bestseller with a NY or epub aren't awesome, either. Once published, the chances of *earning* more money are slightly better (most writers who are pubbed through traditional or epubs at least earn a little, whereas if you shell out your own cash for a self-pubbed work, it takes longer to go from being in the red to actually making a profit). It's the getting published part that's hard -- and staying published. But if it works, that makes for an awesome career, too.
So, you know, there's no reason not to try either route. I would be very, VERY leery of approaching either route, however, with the expectation of big bucks ... and 70% of 100 books sold is not going to rock anyone's world (or feed them for long), just as a $1000 advance isn't going to do it, either.
If it comes, awesome. But to say that one is better than the other because of one mega-bestseller and her example? To base a career upon the success of a few people?
In that case, it doesn't make any sense to look at Hocking. Might as well check out J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, James Patterson.
Or better yet -- research the markets and try out both routes.
Natasha: Very impressive indeed.
Tori: I would go the traditional route and see where it leads you and then when you exhausted all those roads, try epublshing and/or self-publishing.
Meljean: Oh there's no doubt in my mine that some won't have as much success like the 3 authors listed above, just as some will never be a Rowling or Meyer or even King.
My own frustration lies with me querying 100 agents for a certain manuscript of mine that has been rejected. I could epublish it, but I want to take a chance and self-publish it and see where it goes.
I do think self-publishing can be beneficial to those writers who feel that could never get published because they have received rejection left and right from agents and editors at various publishing houses.
Not a chance I want to try that. I admire the people who have made a success of it so much, but I couldn't do it.
Once upon a time I was a statistician, and you learn to balance reward against risk, and look at factors like ROI and environmental factors.
The chances of success of that nature with self-publishing are about the same as winning the UK National lottery. I'm not a lucky person. Unless, of course, you have a platform already, or you have unlimited screeds of cash to throw at the book. A few TV ads should help, for instance.
Plus, from an industry point of view, I want people around me who will help me make my book better. I need that tough edit, to improve my book. I need authors around me who will encourage me and help me to make a success of my book.
And I want to be a writer. That's my specialism. I don't want to be a marketer, a promoter, a salesperson all on my own. I just don't. I do some promotion, but so do my publishers, even in this day and age, and being able to put certain "brands" to my book makes the chances of a reader looking at it, better.
But there are different ways of doing things and the market is changing all the time. A few years ago, epublished authors were derided and not taken seriously, and epublishing was seen as a stepping stone to the big six (now the big five). Not any more. Editors are moving from the trad publishing model to epublishing, authors who get a New York contract are staying in epublishing, and there are some authors who are making a decent living without making the move to New York. I'm guessing that self publishing will take a similar route.
But you have to take a long, hard look at what you want and what you are capable of. I know I couldn't go it alone.
So no, not for me.
I totally understand your frustration, and in the case of your manuscript -- I say go for it. There are many, many books being rejected for whatever reasons (market, voice, something just not clicking with an agent) that would do perfectly well self-published.
I'm just saying that THAT is the reason to self-publish: because you've got something you think readers would enjoy. It's what YOU have, not what someone else is doing.
Basing your marketing strategy on Hocking's, studying how Konrath's platform enhanced his sales, all of that is definitely worth looking doing. Self-publishing *because* of their earnings? Eh, not so much.
Self-publishing because you have something to sell that you think readers would buy? Yes, please.
Sorry for typos. Gah.
Meljean <-- should not self-publish comments on a blog.
Lynne: The one thing holding me back was the risk. Self publishing is not for some and takes a lot of knowledge and research to do it right.
I love epublishing and am to a point that trying to get traditionally published is something that probably will never happen for me.
As for self-publishing, I think I'm ready to take a chance and see where it goes.
Meljean: I think I do have something readers would enjoy *fingers crossed*. I'm not going to lie, but the earnings is a nice incentive, if it does work out. I feel I have a 50/50 chance.
And if I do fail, I can chalk it up as experience. :)
Absolutely amazing. That's a boatload of books and money--Good for her! I've heard great things about her YA series, too (haven't read it yet but it IS on my TBR).
I say, if you're willing to do the work that goes with self-publishing (all the PR, production, editing, etc.), go for it. It certainly is tempting...
Some great observations in these comments, too!
Before I got an ereader for Christmas I had never heard of Hocking but every single time I searched any of my usual interests on Amazon her books were popping up.
My MIL also got an ereader for Christmas but she NEVER uses the 'net, doesn't read reviews or any of that. A week ago she asked me if I'd read any Amanda Hocking books and I said no I hadn't because I'd only seen them on Amazon and knew nada about them. My MIL said she really liked them (she was working on the My Blood Approves ones) and has bought most of them. So it's no wonder.
I think the price point helped dramatically but also the rise of the ereader and the rise of the blogger as reliable opinion.
My only issue with self published authors is the covers. It's petty of me but I can't help it. I see ugly covers and just cringe. lol Otherwise I'm quite happy to read and help promote their work.
And H.P. Mallory's work is amazing. I just wish I had time to sit down and finish the one I started.
Huh, never even heard about Hocking
Interesting. This is the first time I've heard of Hocking. Very well done to her!
I'm happy having gone the traditional publishing route. If I ever self-publish anything, it will probably be something that I wouldn't have gone to a publisher for to begin with (such as a family history or notes about writing my series). It's great that she's found such success, but I prefer getting the help of my agent to work out contracts and sub-rights, my publisher for the edits and promotion, sales of translation rights, etc.
<3,
-J
My question:
All of these authors self published after having begun or established a mainstream audience through the regular methods.
Take that into account and you have a rather different set of variables.
That's not to say self-publishing is bad. It very definitely is not. But I do believe these authors are the exceptions to the rule, and that their statistics are rather skewed. It's like suggesting all authors are making the same sales and royalties Nora Roberts is.
Self Publishing is becoming more mainstream tho, esp when you see people like Shiloh Walker etc choosing to mix it in with their more traditional publishing venues.
errr, that first sentence was supposed to be the question...
"All of these authors self published after having begun or established a mainstream audience through the regular methods, didn't they?"
I had to reverse to change something and wiped out my edit. DOH!
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