I had an e-mail from a reader unaware my books could be borrowed instead of bought. I don’t use Unlimited myself, because I don’t have enough time to read that much instead of writing. I’m not familiar with the Amazon pages and lay-out for Unlimited, but I well know Amazon’s pages aren’t always super easy and intuitive to navigate for other things. If you thought they weren’t available to borrow please look closer. I do get paid well for your reading them in the borrowing programs so don’t worry about that. Indeed, if you borrow them and then decide to buy after I double dip.
Dear Mac
I had purchased a number of your books when the change to having them on kindle unlimited happened and I have to admit at first I was miffed. However since then I decided I want to own your books and I have your collection on my kindle. My bottom line is i like owning my favorites so no complaints here. Don
Glad you like ’em that well.
Plus you get paid when I every time I re-read the series (x3 times)…speaking of which eta on book 10 april. Re-read for book 9 so I’m not planning to redo the hole series but might do redo book 9. Plus love to here any update on family law witch is my favourite.
Not sure I get paid more than once. Family law is way out there. #5 might be seen early next year.
I’ve read somewhere that authors get a penny a page read. I just assumed if I return the book and borrow it again at some later point you get paid again. However the third time around I do speed read and skip to the parts I like. I love kindle unlimited, been one of the first to sing up. I read a book a day the last year and half because of medical problems. Will not get to read as much now that I’m back on the job hunt. Without KU I would never found you and many new independent authors I love. Im willing to take chances, I was skipping you books because of cover on your old april cover look more for kids…then I took a chance on Family Law…Now you’re in my top three authors list. My mind was blown when I read book 3 and april showed up. Looked up April found the same authors, I sure did kick myself. Like they say Never judge a book by its cover. Now I check this wed site weekly hoping word?. So I hope they keep paying you, if I’m right you already get more money from me if I buy. I even use KU on april #1 and FL#1 even though you offered (yes I bought) them free during the holidays.
About a half cent a page, but I’m happy with that. I had thirteen and a half million page views last year. I believe I only get paid once but I do get paid for a sale after a borrow. Thanks for all the kind things you are saying.
How about april #10
Paid first read only, paid per word read and you only double dip if it’s bought the month after it’s borrowed, bit unfair I think 🙁
I didn’t know that about a month.
Mac
I’ read multiple a lot. There are many “B grade” or “dark” books out there, some are entertaining once. I have unlimited, so I read it then if good I buy it. I have purchased every book you have written (all I know of on kindle that is ). I hope to buy many more. I always looked on unlimited as something that may go away especially when I read authors stopping doing ebooks on Amazon do to issues with them.I also want to be sure we’ll written books get a bit better reward than toss togethers.
Like DougMac I’ve seen some authors leave KU. Also read some authors say Amazon shorts them on page count on books that are put out on KU vs just for sale. On a 250 page book that’s $1.25 is that about what your share if I buy your books. I figure Amazon and any publisher get most of any book sold…realised this might seem personal so ignore my question if it so, but I always wondered why some are $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99. Like I said above your now top of my list. I notice I’ve past on some books of my old top authors before KU that are asking $9.99 for new are even old books from my past. I can’t bring myself to buy for $9.99 Dune that over 30 year old, and that I’ve read half dozen time. So Thanks for the KU and low prices.
Pricing I think is pretty subjective when it’s the author setting it. I’m 71 years old so that probably affects my judgement too. I worked all my life at blue collar jobs and personally don’t mind paying a fair price for something, but I worked too hard for every buck to just dismiss it from mind if I feel cheated buying something. I do have what my wife and I call nickel Coke syndrome. Inflation has made everything look expensive to us. In 1970 I bought a brand new Boss 302 Mustang with everything I wanted on it for $3600.00. Think about that.
I look at the price of paperback books and how most people spend their entertainment dollar. Middle class people pay $5 for a Starbucks crappo coffee or a fast food sandwich. I figure for most people $5 is a point at which they can spend it without agonizing over if they are going to run short somewhere else for the week. Is the book fun? Is it big enough to fill most of your day even if you aren’t a real slow reader? Is it good enough to buy the next one in the series? I hope all those add up to being worth $5.
Now I realize some people can’t pay $5. If they are in real financial trouble then they probably can’t pay $3 – which was my first price when I started. My friends and other authors kept telling me that was TOO low – that it announced to people that this was an inferior product. When I raised my price it did not reduce my sales at all – so I think they were right. It’s not fair to me to set it as low as I can because a minority can’t buy much of anything.
Now I realize there are handicapped people and sick people of limited means. People because of circumstances beyond their control who don’t have five bucks to throw away for fun. I’ve always told my readers if they honestly can’t afford to buy one I’ll send them a free book. After all – if you are really intent on stealing a book or music or a movie there are sites on the internet to do so. The vast majority of people and my fans and readers chose not to be petty thieves. I have had people e-mail me and say – Hey, I’m in a nursing home from a car wreck and only have $40 a month for all my personal items. Could you send me your book? I have no problem with that.
The other thing about $9.99 + e-books is the traditional publishers are damn near mental about the competition they represent to their paper books and refuse to price them rationally. Frankly I know I am a minor amusement in most people’s lives and these publishing giants need to get over themselves. Cursing Mr. Ford because you don’t want your buggy business threatened doesn’t do any good. That’s the route to become the next Montgomery Wards or Sears. Sears could have been Walmart and Amazon all rolled into one if they hadn’t been run by old men with no imagination who thought the world couldn’t do without them. The publishers also think they are God’s little helpers to use Lit*er*a*ture to teach us peasants social issues. Thanks, but my mother raised me and you don’t have to continue the job. I buy books for fun, not to have my social consciousness adjusted to your standards.
Bet you didn’t expect such a huge rant did you?
i started the early books on unlimited but because I re-read so many i really like i bought out right. Both husband and I have read at least 3 times.
I’m glad you like them well enough to want to re-read them. I’m no academic so I realize my grammar and spelling don’t meet some people’s standards. If we were face to face some people would be probably cringing at my spoken words, and mentally correcting them. But I do enjoy telling a story. I’ve tried to keep improving with each book.
Hi Mac,
I just wanted to come with some positive feedback. Having read SF&F since the age of 10 and now being 56, I am very impressed with your writing and ingenuity.
The “Sense of Wonder” is very much there in the handling of the protagonists and their society-changing inventions. That’s Science Fiction to me.
Being an Electronics and Computer Engineer makes me also enjoy your descriptions of the technology being introduced.
I found your books through KU recommendations and since I am a high speed reader it makes excellent sense for me borrowing books instead of buying. Since it doesn’t cost anything to try a new author, I am much more likely to do so than before.
Best Regards, and keep up the good work!
Mac, your books are great! I try to read via KU first and then buy. A couple of times I was so excited I just bought the book before borrowing. I discovered you through Paper or Plastic? Such a great book, everyone that likes your other books need to read it! Have you ever thought about going back to that universe? Not totally necessary, I thought you wrapped it up well at the end, I just really liked the characters.
I read so many books that KU is a must for me. Not to mention nothing put out on KU is connected to a publishing house which is just a added bonus to me. Most of them think a good book needs a cliffhanger and thus I avoid them like a plague, or wait till the entire series is written before I even consider reading them.
Keep up the great work and thank you for avoiding the Pub. ideas of what makes a good series.