What’s the fuss about self-publishing?
Amazon’s director, author and publishing relations, on the joys and pitfalls of self-publishing
What’s the fuss about self-publishing?
Internationally, we’re seeing a lot of bestsellers among self-published books. There’s Hugh Howey, Bella Andre, and the trend is picking up in India as well.
Are self-published books among top sellers on Amazon?
Of the top 100 bestsellers, close to 30 per cent are self-published. In India, about 20 e-books of the top 100 would be self-published.
What kind of people are self-publishing?
Lawyers, investment bankers, housewives, kids. People are writing books as business cards.
A lot more books out there, but what about quality control?
Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon’s self-publishing platform, has content review guidelines.
There has been the sense that if your book is self-published, you’re probably not good.
That snobbery is waning. Agents and publishers regard this as a means of discovering the next big author. Like 50 Shades of Grey’s E.L. James.
So it isn’t anymore the last resort to have your book out there?
Not necessarily. It is now being looked at as one of the options.
Is it true that authors make more money through this route?
You do get high royalty, about 70 per cent, but it really depends on how the book does.
The author becomes all-powerful. Is that a good thing?
It has brought on a democratisation. Self-publishing sensation Hugh Howey kept e-book rights while selling print rights. That’s a harbinger of the future of the author-centric model.
What’s in it for the reader?
Sampling and customer reviews help readers pick the good from bad.
The mantra to crack the indie publishing formula?
With great platforms comes great responsibility, so please make it good.