Kaethe > Status Update
Kaethe
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3/4 He mentioned that a sequel for it was so long coming in part because sales for this one weren't as big or as early as for others. I blame myself. It is my favorite of his novels so far, but my original read was a library copy. Hoist with my own petard, there.
— May 19, 2023 05:01AM
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For the last....20 years or so I've been online, authors have complained about the lack of books bought and how many people borrow/library them. It use to be a lot more regular, but it's been rare of late. Maybe they're getting better returns with Libby and Hoopla and other services. Where before it was publishing houses or nothing.
Years ago I read an article that said the average person reads 8 books a year. 8... that includes all of us that read a book a day, and all those people who read nothing at all. 8, is the best sellers. The Roberts, the Robb, the Baldacci, the Patterson's etc. Doesn't leave much room for anyone else. Books are not a necessity and with social media and peoples addiction to it.. even less of one. Yet, the price has hit unaffordable for print and a lot of time even for ebooks. Hence libraries... a place that if I can't buy it, at least the author has sold one book and probably an ebook and audio. There's Hoopla as well. I don't purchase Ilona Andrews' books nor their audio because I can read/listen through Hoopla. Do they get less, probably, but it becomes the "law of averages"... do you sell 1, or have 1000 subscibers who then post online somewhere and you get more subscribers and maybe an extra book or 2??? I won't buy unending $5-10 ebooks that aren't fav's, I will buy a KU membership. I think a lot of the indy authors really should rethink Hoopla (have found a number of my indy authors ebooks/audio books there), KU and then Kobo's version. I have bought print, audio and ebooks from authors that use those services, I have never bought them without vetting that I want them first.
The author, if they don't have a contract with a publishing house, can self publish. If that author has enough of a following, they will make money. There are places to publish like Hoopla, KU and Kobo self publishing platforms. Blaming their readers and the rest of us just turns readers like myself off.