Kindle and royalties

goatpiper · Apr 29, 2008

I'm unpublished, but am getting my first novel ready to shop around for an agent, and am therefore curious about this whole Kindle situation.

I'm really excited about this as a reader - I want a Kindle, I just don't have 400 bucks to throw at it. It's obviously taking off, since Amazon is having trouble meeting demand.

How is this affecting authors? How does this affect existing contracts? Are royalties paid separately from Kindle book sales? Is anyone on this board having their book sold through Kindle?

I searched around the various forums trying to find answers to these questions, but couldn't really find anything, so here's my own post. Let the thoughts fly!

Gillhoughly · Apr 29, 2008

This should help.

Shop your book to agents who rep authors who write similar books. Once you get an agent you can ask her about how Kindle might influence your sales. Probably not a lot.

Just wait a bit. They'll refine the reader and the price will come down.

The books will still be there for you, after all.

I wouldn't mind having a Kindle reader, but you can bet the prices are going to drop if you wait a bit.

I recall when digital watches were 500.00 a pop and video recorders were over a grand and had to be bought at specialty stores.

Kindle will improve and get cheaper with time.

Those books will still be there for you, after all.

maestrowork · Apr 29, 2008

I suspect the Kindles affect the electronic or digital rights. As far as what kind of royalty the author will be getting through the e-books/electronic distribution, it's between the publisher and the author. I suspect it would be comparable to print.

mscelina · Apr 29, 2008

My first book is available on kindle and all of the sequels will be. Its rights are included in electronic rights--it every way it's just like an ebook.

Jackfishwoman · Apr 29, 2008

Good question(s) Goatpiper....
I wonder, does the author initiate Kindle? Or the publisher? Sales force? How does that work?

allenparker · Apr 30, 2008

Jackfishwoman said:
Good question(s) Goatpiper....
I wonder, does the author initiate Kindle? Or the publisher? Sales force? How does that work?

Publisher. It is part of the electronic rights you sell to a publisher. My book is available on Kindle. The electronic rights publisher arranged it. I didn't know about it until someone pointed it out to me.

Kindle and royalties

goatpiper

Distraction Junkie

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Jackfishwoman

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy