Gone are the days when getting your book published was a tedious and time-consuming process. With the advent of Amazon and self-publishing, authors have the freedom to publish their work without any restrictions or middlemen. In this blog post, I’ll share why Amazon and self-publishing is a great opportunity for authors who want to take control of their work and reach a wide range of readers.

No more rejections

The traditional route of publishing involves sending out countless queries to publishers and literary agents, which often results in piles of rejections. However, thanks to Amazon and self-publishing, authors now have the power to publish their own work and reach their ideal audience. This process cuts out the need for traditional publishing avenues and eliminates the heartache of rejection.

Dark Awakening was rejected by nine publishers before Black Velvet Seductions said “yes!” While I’ve known many authors who’ve waded through many more rejections, the emotional toll that each rejection takes can be debilitating and heart wrenching. Being able to self publish means no more waiting and hoping. The publishing process is now made more possible for many more authors.

Total control over your work

One of the biggest benefits of self-publishing is the freedom to have complete control over your book — including your ability to view and track your royalties. This is a big one as with many publishing houses your royalty payments are usually one quarter in arrears, making any type of marketing optimization almost worthless by the time you see any meaningful results.

Moreover, as a self published author, you get to choose your own title, cover design, and even your own price point. Additionally, you can make changes or updates to your digital book at any time. This allows authors to have a greater sense of ownership over their work and the ability to customize it to meet their vision, or optimize back cover descriptions and ad copy to drive greater sales.

When I first inked Dark Awakening, the manuscript included a prologue. In working with the publisher, I agreed to remove the prologue upon acceptance of the manuscript. While I was disappointed, I quickly learned that once you sell the rights to the book, the publisher has complete control — including what goes in the book, what comes out and ultimately, what the cover design looks like.

With self-publishing, the control is back in your corner!

Higher royalties and better transparency

One of the biggest advantages of self-publishing is that you get to keep a higher percentage of your royalties. Instead of receiving a small percentage of each book sale, you can earn up to 70% of the royalties through self-publishing on Amazon. Kindle Unlimited, audio and digital versions also means you can extend how much you earn. This allows authors to earn more money and maintain control over their revenue streams.

Indeed, many of my fans are often disappointed to learn that the print version of the book yields the least amount of profit for an author. Kindle Unlimited and digital sales produce the greatest royalties. So when you’re thinking about how best to support your favorite author, consider a digital book and leaving a review — two of the greatest ways to show your appreciation.

Rapid publishing cycle

With Amazon and self-publishing, authors can publish their work on their own schedule, rather than waiting to fit into the hectic schedules of publishers and agents. The publishing process can take just a few days, giving authors more control over the timeline of their book’s release. This speed and agility can help authors capture the attention of readers who might be looking for a new book to read. And, with pre-marketing options available, authors can gauge reader interest and run promotions long before their book ever hits the market.

Moreover, with digital books, it’s possible to make updates to the back cover, sub title and cover art, giving an author even more control and flexibility to improve sales performance. Win-win, for sure!

Greater exposure

Amazon is the largest online marketplace in the world, which means that self-published authors have immediate access to a vast audience of readers. Additionally, Amazon uses algorithms to recommend books to readers based on their browsing and purchasing habits, meaning your book will have a better chance of being discovered by new readers.

Add to that, the ability to run advertising campaigns at a fraction of the cost of what other platforms charge and you have a win-win for authors!

Parting thoughts

Amazon and self-publishing provide an unprecedented opportunity for authors who want to take control of their work, experience greater transparency with royalties and reach more readers. The benefits of self-publishing, from the ability to maintain total control over your work to the potential for higher royalties, are quickly making this option the preferred avenue for many authors. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, self-publishing on Amazon can help you reach your goals and share your stories with a wider audience. So, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge and join the self-publishing wave!

And if you’re already a seasoned self-publishing pro, drop me a line in the comments below and let me know your thoughts.