A HEARTFELT INDIE AUTHOR PLEA
I struggled with the decision to write a blog post that very nearly resembles “getting on my knees and begging”. I’ve edited this one hundred times and still, it feels a bit like a beg. Really, it’s a plea. A plea to all my author friends and myself to trust the process, and a plea to readers to trust indie authors—especially those wanting to put our books directly into your hands.
For authors, we must continually remind ourselves that trusting the process means that my readers are out there but just haven’t found me yet. It’s a struggle. There are a ton of new authors every day. Something like a million books a week or month or second or something are published. Most of it is niche, like mine. My content is dark, my characters strange, my world’s stranger still. My debut MC is suicidal (and not flippantly). I’m weird and vocal and well, look at me. It’s hard to keep putting yourself out there, but all artists do it in the hopes that somewhere a large population of people feel what we are putting out there so viscerally that they elevate us to the stratosphere. My day will come…I hope. So, trust the process. Who knows, maybe after I’m gone I’ll be a cult classic.
For readers, we ask for you to trust us both in giving us your mindshare and time, as well as trusting our purchasing mechanisms. We get it. Amazon is easy. You trust them (if you aren’t currently boycotting them) with your personal information, your credit card, your address even. If buying my books on Amazon is best for you, by all means continue to do so. Believe me, most of us indie authors want that “AMAZON BEST SELLER” badge. Honestly, we want you to purchase our products on Amazon if that’s your preferred method. Just know, we make more money and have to sell fewer books if you buy from us direct—like from our websites. If you’re boycotting the big A, then please don’t boycott us in the process. Come buy direct. If, however, your target author only publishes on AMZN, then, for all the love of their work, purchase from the conglomerate for the sake of your favorite author. We don’t have many options for getting our books in your hands and that weird penis looking smiley arrow place has the highest portion of the marketplace for indie author audiences.
For one reason or another, getting you to buy from our websites is a harder sell than in person sales or Amazon sales (though both are difficult). Visits to author websites are great. But just looking at my own analytics, abandoned carts abound or worse, visits with no product in a cart. Even with free shipping, it seems many readers are afraid that our websites are somehow untrustworthy.
At the risk of sounding smarmy, trust us. We protect your information, value your business, and encourage you to leave comments, write reviews, and submit those orders. You can trust us the same way you trust the Zon or B&N online or even your favorite local bookstore. Plus, most of us add a little swag or a personal note or even sign the books we sell direct. If that influences your decision…wink wink.
So, if you would be so kind, visit your favorite indie author’s website. Go direct. We are small businesses, just like any other. And we value your patronage, your support, and your readership. And as always, thank you for reading.
To help you, dear reader, on your journey of discovery, here is a list of authors whose websites you should visit and whose books you should read. I’ve read and love these authors and think you’ll enjoy them too.