Goodreads also sells e-books

merrihiatt · Mar 10, 2012

I didn't realize it was possible to sell e-books through Goodreads, but now know it is. They seem to offer a competitive royalty rate. E-books need to be uploaded in epub format (they can also be uploaded in pdf format).

A preview feature is offered and it is possible to set the percentage to whatever you want (20%, 40%, 60%, all the way up to 100%). They also provide the opportunity to offer the book free. The price may be changed at any time.

When a book is listed at Goodreads, there are green tabs that you can click on. One reads Barnes and Noble, the second reads Online Stores, the third reads WorldCat, and a fourth one will appear with Download Ebook. When you click on Download Ebook, you click on read and the previewer pops up. A buy button is located on the upper right hand corner of the screen and a contents button is located on the upper left hand screen. Once you click to purchase, a list of all the e-readers shows up on the right hand side of the screen in a box.

Here's a link to their Terms of Use for Writers.

Elena Andrews · Mar 11, 2012

Very interesting. I didn't even realize that. Though I've had a hard time navigating that site. I like it but it's a lot more indepth than coming on boards like this and just posting whatever. I feel like if I'm not putting in a lot of reviews it comes off like spamming.

Dani · Mar 11, 2012

I'd suggest holding off.

1. They won't pay out until you've sold $50 or more worth of books.

2. You can't upload new editions. At all. Once anyone has downloaded your book, you have to leave that copy up forever so that they can read it. The excuse they gave me when I asked (paraphrasing): "Just like a printed copy that you send out to printers, you can't change an ebook that someone downloads. What if they want to read it/download it again, but it's gone?"

Apparently the whole point of an ebook being easy to download the NEW EDITION is lost on them. >>>8(

Kriven · Mar 11, 2012

It sounds more like they want to encourage the archiving of literature, which isn't a terrible goal at all.

merrihiatt · Mar 11, 2012

Dani said:
I'd suggest holding off.
2. You can't upload new editions. At all. Once anyone has downloaded your book, you have to leave that copy up forever so that they can read it. The excuse they gave me when I asked (paraphrasing): "Just like a printed copy that you send out to printers, you can't change an ebook that someone downloads. What if they want to read it/download it again, but it's gone?"

Apparently the whole point of an ebook being easy to download the NEW EDITION is lost on them. >>>8(

I wouldn't say it's lost on them. A book is intended to be "done" when you publish it. Yes, with e-publishing changes can be made, but that also begs the question about whether a book should be changed once it is published. A new edition is a new edition, i.e., a new book or one that notes it has been revised in some way, but is it okay to keep changing the book from its original presentation? I've fixed typos, but not actual book content.

I think the bigger question with Goodreads is do people know they can purchase e-books on the site? I didn't know until I began looking around and uploading my latest book information. Do people mind side-loading their e-readers (Kindle, Nook, etc.)? Especially when they can load them directly through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, etc.

Dani · Mar 11, 2012

merrihiatt said:
I wouldn't say it's lost on them. A book is intended to be "done" when you publish it. Yes, with e-publishing changes can be made, but that also begs the question about whether a book should be changed once it is published. A new edition is a new edition, i.e., a new book or one that notes it has been revised in some way, but is it okay to keep changing the book from its original presentation? I've fixed typos, but not actual book content.

I think the bigger question with Goodreads is do people know they can purchase e-books on the site? I didn't know until I began looking around and uploading my latest book information. Do people mind side-loading their e-readers (Kindle, Nook, etc.)? Especially when they can load them directly through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, etc.

The GR regulars know about the purchase ability and they usually tell others. Especially about the sample download ability.

As for fixing typos, isn't that something that someone who purchased the book should also be able to download? And yes, typos are what I fixed as well. I'd still like the new shiny version of my book to be available to readers who bought it. They can get those updated, fixed, versions on ARe, on Amazon, on Smashwords, but not on GR? The whole point of the digital revolution is for exactly the ease of things like that.

People usually keep a book on their Kindle and they like to reread. Having a new, shiny version is a perk of buying digitally.

In my experience, most e-readers who are buying regularly, find out how to side-load. And sites like Dear Author tend to have blog posts about it.

PS: How are you doing with this month? I keep hoping to read that you're finally in a sales zone where you can call writing your full-time job without worry. =)

merrihiatt · Mar 11, 2012

PS: How are you doing with this month? I keep hoping to read that you're finally in a sales zone where you can call writing your full-time job without worry. =)

Thanks for asking. I'm doing well, though not as well as February. It's still early, but I would have needed to sell around 300 books by now to be on target and I'm at around 190. The second book in my romance trilogy was just released and is selling well, but did not have the 500-sale boost the first book in the trilogy had after coming off a free day of downloads. I'm working on the third book now.

Financially, I'm good through May, so no plans yet to start looking for a day job again. =)

merrihiatt · Mar 11, 2012

As for fixing typos, isn't that something that someone who purchased the book should also be able to download? And yes, typos are what I fixed as well. I'd still like the new shiny version of my book to be available to readers who bought it. They can get those updated, fixed, versions on ARe, on Amazon, on Smashwords, but not on GR? The whole point of the digital revolution is for exactly the ease of things like that.

I see your point. Maybe my thinking is still a bit old school. It is my goal, though, to upload one file and not feel the need to upload another one because I found a typo later that is driving me crazy.

There are some books that I can absolutely see a need for revision (ones that give links to information or cite statistics), but I don't see too many of those in fiction.

PulpDogg · Mar 12, 2012

Dani said:
They can get those updated, fixed, versions on ARe, on Amazon, on Smashwords, but not on GR?

How? Do they have to buy it again, or can they just download the updated version? Because I haven't yet found a way to do that ...

bearilou · Mar 12, 2012

PulpDogg said:
How? Do they have to buy it again, or can they just download the updated version? Because I haven't yet found a way to do that ...

That was my question as well. Last I remember about this type of discussion the big complain was all the revisions done to a book and the reader having to purchase a newer copy to get it.

DCDaugherty · Mar 12, 2012

This talk of fixing stuff after release reminds me of Ender's Game.

It was released in 1985, and it contained a line about the space shuttle program having a perfect service record. They removed that paragraph in the next printing (Challenger exploded in 1986). Card also changed a few other lines--things having to do with the Warsaw nations--but I can't remember the specific details.

Anyway, I always thought that was interesting.

PulpDogg · Mar 12, 2012

I would only use that to fix typos or formatting errors or to update a cover image - but not to rewrite chapters or even just lines of it ...

Dani · Mar 12, 2012

To get the new file from Amazon, you must go into your kindle account. There's instructions there. (you can read more about it here:http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171029) One of the reasons it does not automatically update is because highlights, bookmarks and other notes are removed with the new version.

I believe ARe allows you to just download from your library. The new file is automatically the one that you download (I think).

Smashwords has a list of all versions you can download.

As for not wanting to go back and change a file, I'm very proud that I go back and fix typos, not just for future buyers, but for those who wish to re-read my story, but when I make changes it is because I did somethign ridiculous like (yes, these are real) I put US Marshall service and marquis for marquee - neither my editor, nor I, nor my 5 beta readers caught those errors lol, but I'd certainly like them out of my book. The benefits of e-publishing is being able to do that. And customers can choose whether to download the new copy or keep the one they have. So no one is forcing anything on them.

Hope I've helped with the discussion =).

Yukinara · Mar 13, 2012

wow, thanks for sharing, I know that I can upload ebook to goodreads but never know that I can sell using that channel

Sweetwheat · Mar 21, 2012

Yukinara said:
wow, thanks for sharing, I know that I can upload ebook to goodreads but never know that I can sell using that channel

Same!

Ah the beauty of sharing information through AW

Silver-Midnight · Mar 21, 2012

Would you buy the books from GoodReads or from some place like Amazon, ARe, or something like that?

merrihiatt · Mar 21, 2012

Silver-Midnight said:
Would you buy the books from GoodReads or from some place like Amazon, ARe, or something like that?

I'm not sure I understand your question. You can buy the e-book from any sales channel you choose. If you want to purchase from Goodreads, you would go to the Goodreads site. If you wanted to purchase from Amazon, you'd go to the Amazon site. Same with ARe.

Silver-Midnight · Mar 21, 2012

merrihiatt said:
I'm not sure I understand your question. You can buy the e-book from any sales channel you choose. If you want to purchase from Goodreads, you would go to the Goodreads site. If you wanted to purchase from Amazon, you'd go to the Amazon site. Same with ARe.

I was confused where on GoodReads you bought from. I thought that they might have been selling their books through one of the places I listed.

merrihiatt · Mar 21, 2012

I was confused where on GoodReads you bought from. I thought that they might have been selling their books through one of the places I listed.

PubIt! e-books are purchased through Barnes and Noble.
Kindle books are purchased through Amazon.
Smashwords e-books are purchased through Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, Apple (iBookstore), and are also available for viewing online or in pdf format.
Goodreads e-books are purchased through Goodreads.

Goodreads also sells e-books

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

Elena Andrews

figuring it all out

Dani

Cuddly sweet teddy bear!

Kriven

merrihiatt

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Dani

Cuddly sweet teddy bear!

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

merrihiatt

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PulpDogg

I should be writing

bearilou

DenturePunk writer

DCDaugherty

PulpDogg

I should be writing

Dani

Cuddly sweet teddy bear!

Yukinara

The Exile

Sweetwheat

Silver-Midnight

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

Silver-Midnight

merrihiatt

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