Kindle Scout - Win a Book
I'm happy to report that Indiscretion was chosen as a Kindle Scout winner. Look for publication sometime in August. Thanks to everyone who nominated the book. You will receive your free copy before the book is available on Amazon. Cheers! ~ Polly
May 26, 2015.
This is the fifteenth day my new book, Indiscretion, has been on Amazon’s Kindle Scout program. It’s been off and on the “Hot and Trending” list. This is measured by how many people read the sample and nominate my book during a thirty-day period. I’ve done some promotion, but there’s a fine line between promo and overkill. I try to be cognizant of where that line is.
Self-promotion has never been an easy fit for me. I’ve never sent out a Facebook blast that asks people to Like my page or for people to buy my books. I do post, but hopefully within acceptable limits. Now I find myself asking people to read the pages of my book and nominate it for publication if they want to read more. One perk is those who do so will get a free copy if Indiscretion is published by Kindle Press.
So what is Kindle Scout, you ask? This is from the Kindle Scout website:
“Kindle Scout is reader-powered publishing for new, never-before-published books. It’s a place where readers help decide if a book gets published. Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive 5-year renewable terms, a $1,500 advance, 50% eBook royalty rate, easy rights reversions and featured Amazon marketing.”
Bloggers have debated the pros and cons of the program. From my point of view, the answer depends on where you are in the publishing world. I’ve self-published seven books with Amazon. The difference with Kindle Scout, besides the nice advance, unheard of for an indie writer, is the strength of Amazon’s marketing that I wouldn’t get otherwise.
No longer can writers just write. Due to the increased number of indie and hybrid writers and the plethora of free book promotions, we must now be creative to keep our books from falling into obscurity, in contrast to those days when I first started, way back in 2011. We now pay companies to advertise our free or specially priced promotions to their huge reader mailing lists, many times at high costs. The outlay is usually refunded by greater sales.
We are social media experts, promotional gurus, Pinterest pinners, LinkedIn joiners, and Twitter tweeters. We join groups to support each other and share writing tips and posts about the things we learn on our writing journeys.
In order to submit to the program, Amazon Scout insists on a professional cover, editing, and formatting. If my book is chosen by reader nominations and the Amazon Scout Powers-That-Be, it will receive a complete edit.
I created the cover for Indiscretion, but after 25 years as an illustrator, and eight book covers under my belt (one for my alter ego) I have no problem immodestly calling my covers professionally designed. Everything would be the same if I decided to self-publish, so I’m used to the parameters established by Kindle Scout. From what I’ve tracked, most of the books chosen in the first few groups are doing well.
I tried something new with Indiscretion. Though there have been books that set a story around a real event, I incorporated an actual unsolved crime, Boston’s 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, and made it the focal point of a fictional story.
SO, unwilling to miss an opportunity, here’s my pitch for Indiscretion in 500 characters or less (Scout’s limit):
“Separated from her controlling husband, romance author Zoe Swan meets a charismatic art history professor on the beach and begins a torrid affair. But who is he really? By the time Zoe finds out, she’s on the run with her husband, his jewel thief brother, and a priceless painting stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With the FBI and the murderer in pursuit, the trio heads to Boston. The only way to prove their innocence is to make a deal with the very people who want them dead.”
There are a few sample chapters on the site. If you like what you read and would like to read more (if my book is picked, everyone who nominated it receives an electronic copy), consider clicking “Nominate me.” Sorry for the blatant self-promotion. Here’s the link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3GQQ...
Thank you kindly if you do.
May 26, 2015.
This is the fifteenth day my new book, Indiscretion, has been on Amazon’s Kindle Scout program. It’s been off and on the “Hot and Trending” list. This is measured by how many people read the sample and nominate my book during a thirty-day period. I’ve done some promotion, but there’s a fine line between promo and overkill. I try to be cognizant of where that line is.
Self-promotion has never been an easy fit for me. I’ve never sent out a Facebook blast that asks people to Like my page or for people to buy my books. I do post, but hopefully within acceptable limits. Now I find myself asking people to read the pages of my book and nominate it for publication if they want to read more. One perk is those who do so will get a free copy if Indiscretion is published by Kindle Press.
So what is Kindle Scout, you ask? This is from the Kindle Scout website:
“Kindle Scout is reader-powered publishing for new, never-before-published books. It’s a place where readers help decide if a book gets published. Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive 5-year renewable terms, a $1,500 advance, 50% eBook royalty rate, easy rights reversions and featured Amazon marketing.”
Bloggers have debated the pros and cons of the program. From my point of view, the answer depends on where you are in the publishing world. I’ve self-published seven books with Amazon. The difference with Kindle Scout, besides the nice advance, unheard of for an indie writer, is the strength of Amazon’s marketing that I wouldn’t get otherwise.
No longer can writers just write. Due to the increased number of indie and hybrid writers and the plethora of free book promotions, we must now be creative to keep our books from falling into obscurity, in contrast to those days when I first started, way back in 2011. We now pay companies to advertise our free or specially priced promotions to their huge reader mailing lists, many times at high costs. The outlay is usually refunded by greater sales.
We are social media experts, promotional gurus, Pinterest pinners, LinkedIn joiners, and Twitter tweeters. We join groups to support each other and share writing tips and posts about the things we learn on our writing journeys.
In order to submit to the program, Amazon Scout insists on a professional cover, editing, and formatting. If my book is chosen by reader nominations and the Amazon Scout Powers-That-Be, it will receive a complete edit.
I created the cover for Indiscretion, but after 25 years as an illustrator, and eight book covers under my belt (one for my alter ego) I have no problem immodestly calling my covers professionally designed. Everything would be the same if I decided to self-publish, so I’m used to the parameters established by Kindle Scout. From what I’ve tracked, most of the books chosen in the first few groups are doing well.
I tried something new with Indiscretion. Though there have been books that set a story around a real event, I incorporated an actual unsolved crime, Boston’s 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, and made it the focal point of a fictional story.
SO, unwilling to miss an opportunity, here’s my pitch for Indiscretion in 500 characters or less (Scout’s limit):
“Separated from her controlling husband, romance author Zoe Swan meets a charismatic art history professor on the beach and begins a torrid affair. But who is he really? By the time Zoe finds out, she’s on the run with her husband, his jewel thief brother, and a priceless painting stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With the FBI and the murderer in pursuit, the trio heads to Boston. The only way to prove their innocence is to make a deal with the very people who want them dead.”
There are a few sample chapters on the site. If you like what you read and would like to read more (if my book is picked, everyone who nominated it receives an electronic copy), consider clicking “Nominate me.” Sorry for the blatant self-promotion. Here’s the link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3GQQ...
Thank you kindly if you do.
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Thanks, Susan. I must say it's nerve-wracking. I feel it's similar to sending out queries to agents and being rejected. Staying hot is tough, so I hope you have lots of friends and are in lots of groups that will support you. Even then, some don't. Good luck.
I read the excerpt and nominated the book. Hope it makes the cut. I'd love to read the rest of the story.
I read it and thought it was really interesting. So I nominated it. Good blog about it too. Good luck, Ms. Iyer.
Sandra wrote: "I read the excerpt and nominated the book. Hope it makes the cut. I'd love to read the rest of the story."Thanks, Sandra. I appreciate the nomination. I hope it makes the cut too so you can read the rest of the story. :-)
Ellis wrote: "I read it and thought it was really interesting. So I nominated it. Good blog about it too. Good luck, Ms. Iyer."Thanks, Ellis. Thanks for both the nomination and the compliment on the blog. Much appreciated.
I do have issues with the Kindle Scout program, basically the same issues I have with Amazon reviews—there's no system in place to keep people from cheating. Granted, there is a certain degree of vetting with the editing and cover requirements, and there is no way a troll can take away from an honest nomination—also hopeful. But without controls, online "entrepreneurs" will soon be offering bulk nominations just as they offer faux book reviews. That's troubling with so much at stake.Cynicism aside, I enjoyed the excerpt, nominated the book, and wish you the best of luck, Polly. I'm looking forward to reading Indiscretion.
V.R. wrote: "I do have issues with the Kindle Scout program, basically the same issues I have with Amazon reviews—there's no system in place to keep people from cheating. Granted, there is a certain degree of v..."Thanks, VR. I really don't understand why Amazon doesn't open their imprints for submissions. That would seem a good way to increase their publications. But they are the Wizard of Oz, controlling much of indie publication. And yes, there are trolls. Always have been, always will be, but I'm not sure how they can screw up these nominations though. The author is in control of getting people to vote. It comes down to who is more connected. I feel the same way about some of the awards.
I appreciate your support. Thanks.
Great post, Polly--I voted earlier. If anyone deserves to win the contract, it's you. Good luck!
Thanks so much, DV. That's nice of you to say.
I'm glad you're once again leading the way for us. I share all of your concerns about Kindle Scout, but decided I'd also give it a whirl as the pros seemed to outweigh the cons. As you say, our books will be up on Amazon regardless of what happens.
Linda wrote: "I'm glad you're once again leading the way for us. I share all of your concerns about Kindle Scout, but decided I'd also give it a whirl as the pros seemed to outweigh the cons. As you say, our boo..."Wish I had your big family, Linda. It sure helps. I feel like this is like a novel. Dynamite beginning, saggy middle, and race to the finish line with all you've got. I'm in the saggy middle, and it might be my losing finish too.
Love your books Polly and I have definitely nominated Indiscretion!
Thanks so much. I hope you get to read it for free. It's really hard to stay hot and trending. Will give it my best shot toward the end. Again, MANY THANKS.
Update: Seven days left on Kindle Scout. If you haven't checked out the site and read the sample pages, now's a good time. Need to get hot and trending again. https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3GQQ...
Congrats on being selected for Kindle Scout!
And the novel and excerpt is intriguing. I nominated it. :)
Susan Kroupa
author of The Doodlebugged Mysteries
www.susankroupa.com