tl;dr: You can buy it directly from the printer (Ingram), but I honestly make more when you tell a dozen people about my book (or give it to them…and your local library…and your kids’ school library…)
I get asked this question a lot, and far more frequently when I have a new book out. Since I happen to have a new book out (YAY!) I decided to make a little post I can put on my website as an answer I can refer back to later.
1. It doesn’t matter; just buy the book and tell ten people about it!
This was the answer I used to give everyone when I was first published back in 2006, and it’s basically still true. Word of mouth continues to be THE BEST WAY to help any author and their career. You don’t have to be an influencer, you just have to be a person who loves books. Like I know you are!
My traditionally published and small press books make me somewhere around $1 or less per book, no matter what price you buy them at (as long as you buy them new). If you find them on sale, snap them up! I will make the same amount, no matter what.
My independently published books (the ones through the Alethea Kontis imprint) make me closer to $2-3 on average across the board. That $50 hardcover book with the color interior, too? Yup. Printing full-color books is really expensive. I’ve just always wanted to have a book with color interior. There once was a version of The Neverending Story that had different colored text every time Bastian was in Fantastica. I never owned a copy like that, but I dreamed about it. And now—whenever I can afford to buy them for myself—I can finally have a novel like that of my own!
I use two printers for my books: Amazon and Ingram. Amazon pays out in 2 months. Ingram’s payout is closer to 6 months. The goal is to achieve a balance between the two so I am able to maintain a steady income. (That’s the dream, anyway.)
Now, if you use the special links I give everyone to buy directly from Ingram, I make closer to $10 a book…but you have to pay for shipping. And Ingram’s user interface is terrible—you can order 100 of the same book in one go, but you can’t put multiple books on one order. But if you’re just picking up the new book, or buying a gift for a friend, this would be the link I’d give you.
2. PREORDER!
Preorders are helpful for both independently and traditionally published books because all the orders (read: $$) drop on the day of the book’s release. This kind of thing counts toward the New York Times (and other) bestseller lists, because those places look at the demand of the top selling books every Monday. Both Ingram and Amazon report to the New York Times (this was one of my jobs when I worked at Ingram).
On the independent publishing front, I can tell you that preorders really, really help with an author’s mental health. Imagine spending 2.5 years finishing the novel that’s supposed to save your life, and the day of release you see all of $250 in sales.
Yup. That’s it. I’m here to tell you: your ego definitely takes a blow. Books do take time to sell. We all know that. But if and when possible, for the sake of every author you love and want to keep writing, PLEASE preorder that book you’ve been waiting on.
3. Just Buy What You Love
Everyone loves something different. That’s why I made several varieties of formats. Buy what will look good on your bookshelf (eventually they will all have new covers that match). Buy what makes you happy. Just buy it. And tell a dozen friends.
Personally, my reach right now isn’t a tenth of what it was when I was traditionally published. Current social media and those suppressive algorithms of theirs don’t help. I KNOW there are people out there who think I stopped writing in 2015. I do what I can…but y’all can do so much more. This is one of those circumstances where you truly can make a difference. And I am grateful for each and every one of you.
My life is better with you in it!
xox
Princess Alethea
PS: If you still feel like you haven’t done enough because you bought my books at a thrift store or library book sale or whatever (you’ve totally done enough) you’re always welcome to support me on Patreon. Or throw money at me in these ways. 💜
