Why buy direct? is a question I’m often asked, so I thought I’d take a moment to set out my reasons here.
First and foremost, when you buy from an author direct, it means you’re putting money straight back into their writing.
What about Amazon and Kobo etc, don’t they pay you?
Yes, Amazon does pay me when you buy a book there for instance – but I lose between 30% and 70% per sale, and I don’t get paid until 60 days have elapsed after that sale.
If I run a promotional price on Amazon that is below USD2.99, I only earn 30% per sale.
And I still don’t receive that for 60 days.
How would you like it if your employer held onto your pay for 60 days this month? Could you buy groceries, fill up the car, pay the rent?
Buying direct from an author means you’re immediately putting your money directly into my writing business.
What does it mean in real terms?
It means you pay me immediately after the sale, not 60 days later.
It means I can pay editors and cover designers, pay to attend events to meet you, pay to keep my home office running and pay those bills – everything that running a publishing business entails.
Including being able to afford to spend time writing more books!
How does that benefit you?
Well, the sooner I get paid, the sooner I can afford to write and publish another book. It’s as simple as that.
Are you going to stop selling books through other retailers?
Of course, I’m not going to stop selling my books through other retailers just because I’ve got my own store.
I’m all for making my books available to readers wherever they live in the world, at an affordable price that also enables me to make a living.
It’s why I publish everywhere, not just through Kindle Unlimited, and why I always make sure my books are available to borrow for free through libraries.
Is it safe?
Absolutely – I only use secure payment through PayPal or Stripe meaning you can use your credit card or PayPal account.
How can I read books I buy from your store on my eReader?
When you buy an ebook or audiobook through my store, you’ll receive an email from BookFunnel with easy-to-follow instructions about how to access that book in whatever format you use – and they can help you if you get stuck.
I hope this article helps explain the benefits of buying direct from an author.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for supporting my writing no matter how you buy my books.