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It’s August, and our intrepid duo are struggling to get back into their routines after a summer of traveling and conferences. TB’s week has involved insect bites (bad), terrible cookie dough ice cream (unspeakably bad), and getting her next book, Reservations of the Heart, ready for launch (good!). Meanwhile, Clare’s week involved a trip to the Cotswolds (good), writing her new book (good), and sending the wrong file to her audio narrator for You’re My Kind (very bad). She still hasn’t won Hamilton tickets (fml), and neither remembered to take any photos. It’s like they don’t own smartphones. They need to be more millennial.
On to the main topic, both Clare and TB reveal how Kindle Unlimited has changed the face of indie publishing, and what their experience with it is. TB is all-in bar one book, going exclusively with Kindle Unlimited for selling and streaming. Clare has launched her last four books in KU but only leaves them in there for a certain time period before taking them wide to the other platforms. There are pros and cons for KU, but none of it makes a difference unless you’ve got a good book to sell, with strong editing, an appealing cover, and intriguing blurb. Are you bored of us saying that yet?
Stop back next week for another lively conversation about the podcasts we love. If you’d like to leave a comment on the episode, head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com. They’d love to hear from you. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.
Happy listening!
Clare and TB
I got that very same email T.B. and did the exact same thing, then saw the price (sorry Clare 🙁 )
Very interesting how KU works as I don’t use it for it reading, but it does sound good. Might sign up, especially as it might be useful when writing.
Not a massive fan of these electronic platforms though that offer a service for my media because you don’t get to keep it, and what happens one day when it isn’t there anymore. Will never beat having a paperback to be fair.
For a split second I thought I had solved the Hamilton problem. Then quickly closed the window when I saw the price. Wowzers!
I have to admit to being surprised you aren’t a KU reader given how much you read. As a reader I enjoy it.
After moving so many times, I’ve started to rethink my massive paperback collection. I still love them, but…
Thanks so much for listening!
TB
KU is a lifesaver as a poor reader. The number of excellent stories I’ve read there, especially in lesfic, makes it completely worth it. And now, as a writer, I’d say more than half of my earnings has come from KU easily. Sometimes as much as 75% is from KU. For unknown authors I can’t imagine a better way to get readers and make money with your books.
The only big drawback is there aren’t Amazon stores everywhere in the world. I have a pinned post on twitter explaining that I’ll send a copy of my books to anyone who doesn’t have a Kindle store. I’ve done this a few times. One of those requests has turned into an amusing friendship. That person ended up giving me the perfect idea for a tattoo in my latest book.
Long story short, I appreciate everyone putting their books in KU, and I love that people read via KU. Many people buy books after reading in KU as well, which is even better. 😉
Thanks for enlightening us on KU. I am a KU reader and love it. There’s no way I would be able to read the books, especially in lesfic, that I do without KU. I’m not necessarily cheap, but it would get expensive and I might not take a chance and buy a book by a new author or one I’m not familiar with if I had to buy it. Occasionally I will buy a book by an author I’ve read in KU but, most of my reading is KU.
Hi Melissa!
KU is a great way to take a chance on a new author. As a reader, I love it. And, I like it as an author as well.
Thanks so much for listening and commenting!
TB