Fringe Fiction Unlimited discussion

I know I'm not the only one that has noticed how ridiculous the prices are for traditionalpy published E-Books. Too many times I have come across a book by a popular or even up and coming author that cost 10-15$ which i think should be the price of a hard copy.

But what about Indie authors? How do you guy's price your novels when self-publishing digitally?

Do you go according to the length of the book?

Does anyone know of a guideline when it comes to not "selling yourself short" but also not overshooting when it comes to your expectations of prospective readers when it comes to buying indie books?

Ive been wondering about this for a while now. Particularly because i know part of getting yourself out there means giving away a lot of free books in hopes for good reviews.

Is it safe to say your second book (after a successful debut) is the one you'll actually have decent sales?

Coming from someone who is traditionally published via small press, I know my publisher comes under significant pressure from bookstores not to price her ebooks too cheaply, especially if they're new releases. There is a suggestion that her hardcopies will not be stocked if she is too cheap.

Lynne wrote: "Coming from someone who is traditionally published via small press, I know my publisher comes under significant pressure from bookstores not to price her ebooks too cheaply, especially if they're n..."

I have heard something like that before and if it's hardcopies i get that. But I'm talking about Ebooks costing the amount i would expect to pay for a hardcopy.

I'm mostly wondering about digital publishing. I'm trying to scope out what's too low or too high for a lengthy (450 pages/85,000 words & up) novel in terms of pricing. Especially since you're likely to have sales or giveaways often when you're starting out

Yes, but the bookstores don't want the ebooks to cost too much less than the hardcopies or people won't be tempted to buy the hardcopies, which is what they sell.

I've always done it half price of print edition. my doorstopper paperbacks can't get any cheaper so i figure ebooks would sell. only on kindle it's in the 2.99-3.99 range... i move a bit depending on holiday...

I've experimented with prices and settled at $2.99 for the first book in the series, $3.99 for the later books. That gives me room for going to $2.99 for all books when having sales. I may bring book one back to $3.99 for a while. It only costs the e-book retailer 7 to 9 cents to deliver the file, while it costs a few dollars (quite a few for those who write doorstoppers) to make a book from paper. I think lower prices compared to trad pub gives indies a foot in the door with readers who might not try us otherwise.

@Lynne - interesting about the bookstores. I know traditional publishers try to mark to the physical copies to keep those prices shored up. I didn't know small publishers were pressured on the e-book side. I know someone who self-publishes YA and has managed to place in a few bookstores without raising the e-book price. But that may be that YA is given as gifts more than self-purchased.

@Amber - I'm getting ready to release my second in a series and I've come to roughly the same conclusion you have, except I top out at $4.99.

@KP - I keep my paperbacks as cheap as possible, too. Although I don't sell many. Mostly I use them for give aways and other promotions.

Gem wrote: "@Lynne - interesting about the bookstores. I know traditional publishers try to mark to the physical copies to keep those prices shored up. I didn't know small publishers were pressured on the e-..."

When you say you top out at $4.99 (which is a price i think fair) do you mean you charge around 2.99 for the first in a series and then 4.99 for the others? Or is that just the price you always list your titles?

Lanae wrote: "Gem wrote: "@Lynne - interesting about the bookstores. I know traditional publishers try to mark to the physical copies to keep those prices shored up. I didn't know small publishers were pressur..."

When I released the first one, I listed a retail price of $4.99 but offered it 1/2 price for the first 10-days. When I release the second one (hopefully next month), I'll drop the first one to $2.99 and do the same half price thing for the new release before setting it to $4.99. If I ever get up to 4 or 5 volumes I'll probably make the first one free, the second 2.99 and the others $4.99. A tactic a lot of moderately successful authors use. (I define moderately successful as able to write full-time, not necessarily making the best seller lists)

*I write romances heavy on erotica, so $4.99 is not uncommon.*

Yes, Gem, I only know this from what my publisher has told me. I do additional work for her, including putting ebooks up on various sites, and these were the reasons she gave me for not pricing ebooks lower. Now, once a book is no longer a new release, it's a different matter, but initially, there's definitely pressure to price them higher.

Lynne wrote: "Yes, Gem, I only know this from what my publisher has told me. I do additional work for her, including putting ebooks up on various sites, and these were the reasons she gave me for not pricing ebo..."

I get it. I've seen folks in B&N looking at books and then their phones. They are totally comparing physical to e-book prices.

Absolutely. Many will then just buy the ebook anyway. At events, I've had people come up to me and ask, 'Is your book in ebook? I don't buy paperbacks anymore.'

Lynne wrote: "Absolutely. Many will then just buy the ebook anyway. At events, I've had people come up to me and ask, 'Is your book in ebook? I don't buy paperbacks anymore.'"

I give out postcards on how to buy the e-book version at events, but my publisher doesn't mind and no bookstores are harmed. *I don't do events that take commission*

I give out bookmarks detailing where they can get them online too. I was mentioning it to show how frequently my audience seems to prefer ebooks to paperbacks. It's something the bookstores are also clearly aware of, hence their request to keep ebook prices up, at least, in this neck of the woods.

Gem wrote: "Lanae wrote: "Gem wrote: "@Lynne - interesting about the bookstores. I know traditional publishers try to mark to the physical copies to keep those prices shored up. I didn't know small publisher..."


Sounds like a smart way to do business lol. So once you build up a lengthy saga you intend to keep the first book free indefinitely or do you intend to go the bookbub route and host a sale or even a giveaway on goodreads whenever you first release a new volume in the series?

I read somewhere that only something like 5% of free downloads ever get read. So once there is a series, the first one free is a way to get an interested reader started. Give an easy answer to the thinking Book 3 looks interesting but do I really want to invest in 1&2?

It worked for Abigail Barnette's The Boss Series and Pippa DaCosta's Veil Series. The first volumes were free and I've bought and read all of Abigail's and I'm working my way through Pippa's now.

Gem wrote: "I read somewhere that only something like 5% of free downloads ever get read. So once there is a series, the first one free is a way to get an interested reader started. Give an easy answer to the..."

I'm GUILTY of the click and forget. I get an email from bookbub everyday and if the synopsis is interesting and i see free i click buy without blinking. But their arw SO MANY Ihavent even attempted to read yet. I read the ebooks i PAID for first.

That's what makes me wonder if offering the first book free long term or even indefinitely helps more than it hurts where attracting new readers is concerned.

I haven't seen the value in free promos. I agree with Lanae that people prioritize what they pay for, even if it's only 99cents. I do understand how a niche author with a large inventory can benefit from a single free volume.

I'm thinking of Cherise Sinclair's "Masters of the Shadowlands." She produces and promotes new volumes regularly which can drive readers to the freebie. She has lots of books and lots of good reviews/ratings, so she's credible. The two together may keep the freebie at the top of the to read pile.

Maybe we need to start a Twitter campaign to get people to read those free books they downloaded. Call it
#readthefreebies
and come up with reasons why we should read what we downloaded. :) Such as, maybe there's a special offer in the back. Or, the author gave you this; be grateful and read it. Just brainstorming.
Free is a good price if it gets read and gets more readers to buy.

Amber wrote: "Maybe we need to start a Twitter campaign to get people to read those free books they downloaded. Call it
#readthefreebies
and come up with reasons why we should read what we downloaded. :) Such as..."

That is a very ambitious idea! If or when you build on it let me know! Of course, I'll have to practice what I preach lol. And that would mean I have SO many free books to get through. They're all E-Books of course because physical copies don't usually pile up. You read it and if you enjoy it you add it to your shelf. If it wasn't your cup of tea you donate it to a library or see if a friend likes it.

I based the price of Opium Warfare off the amount of royalties I received in a way. It was set based off the page numbers but because it was a longer book than my others I found that in order for me to receive the same amount of royalties like my other books that I set my book at 10.99 which is reasonable in my opinion.

I'm sure we'd all love to price are books at $25 bucks a pop but it's just not realistic.

Justin wrote: "I based the price of Opium Warfare off the amount of royalties I received in a way. It was set based off the page numbers but because it was a longer book than my others I found that in order for m..."

As an indie author (aspiring WIP one anyway) it's hard to believe someone would pay 10.99$ for a self published authors work unless they're already a household name with one of the big five and the author is simply trying to branch out on there own a bit more.

I say that with no offense towards you of course. Im just surprised and genuinely curious. How are your sales if you don't mind me asking?

The book was just published yesterday so can't really say at the moment.

Justin wrote: "The book was just published yesterday so can't really say at the moment."

Oh okay. Well in that case GOOD LUCK! :-) I hope it works out. If anything it shows confidence in your novel.

Thanks Katrice, I'm taking a chance with it and if it doesn't pan out I can always drop the price.

Justin wrote: "Thanks Katrice, I'm taking a chance with it and if it doesn't pan out I can always drop the price."

Good strategy. It's always easier to discount than raise the price.

Katrice wrote: "I know I'm not the only one that has noticed how ridiculous the prices are for traditionalpy published E-Books. Too many times I have come across a book by a popular or even up and coming author th..."

That 'really' depends if you're with a self publishing company or you're publishing it yourself. What determines pricing you have to look at the royalties and fictional pricing of the book. This is why you and many others are seeing ebooks and soft backs being sold for 10 bucks +.

Imowen wrote: "Katrice wrote: "I know I'm not the only one that has noticed how ridiculous the prices are for traditionalpy published E-Books. Too many times I have come across a book by a popular or even up and ..."

I deleted multiple comments of the same message, I assume it gave you trouble when it didn't go through the first time.

Katrice wrote: "Do you go according to the length of the book?"

Length. particularly because I publish the short stuff, too.

Also in collections. Make sure that the collection is cheaper than buying each story individually.

I priced my book at $2.99 and will do the same for my second book and probably lower the price to 99c for my first one when the second is published.

Yolanda wrote: "I priced my book at $2.99 and will do the same for my second book and probably lower the price to 99c for my first one when the second is published."

How long is your book, word count wise (on average)?

The first book is -+ 97k and the second is 110+. Generally, I've found that readers arent willing to invest more than $3.99 on a new indie author.

Jumping in late here. I keep my first book in my series at $3.99 but periodically run 99 cent promotions. Just raised the second book to $5.99 from $3.99, so will see how that does. It's been out over a year and I've gotten a good response from readers who loved Book 1 and hurried to buy 2, so I figured it's worth trying a higher price. I, too, will probably make the first book free, or perhaps at 99 cents permanently, when the whole four-book series is out.

One thing to consider is offering Book 1 free to people who sign up for your email list. Then you get their emails and can send them info about follow up books. I'm considering that when I get the whole series out. Right now I only offer a short story free, which I don't think is a huge draw, but I like to provide something of value.

Lisa wrote: "Jumping in late here. I keep my first book in my series at $3.99 but periodically run 99 cent promotions. Just raised the second book to $5.99 from $3.99, so will see how that does. It's been out o..."

Thanks for weighing in! Never too late, I say lol

And that sounds like a great idea. Do you have it where people subscribe directly from your author website? Or do you use something of the mail chimp variety?

I use mailchimp with a sign up page on my website and a form on my blog. I should have done this from Day 1 with links in the back of each book. For Halloween, I offered a collection of 3 short horror stories free with a link in the back to get a 4th story for signing up to the list. A handful of new people signed up. I also put out sign up sheets if I'm at a book fair or have a book release party, usually with some sort of prize drawing.

Lisa wrote: "I use mailchimp with a sign up page on my website and a form on my blog. I should have done this from Day 1 with links in the back of each book. For Halloween, I offered a collection of 3 short hor..."
I'm a little confused so bear with me, please lol.

I haven't created a site or mailing list (yet) so I'm just fishing for Intel. Are you saying mail chimp has some sort of Wordpress plugin or widget you can put on your website ? Or do you have them signing up/subscribing two different ways?

I should probably start a new topic for this, so if you're interested, look for it. The question that emerges from the way this has evolved is:
Do mailing lists/newsletters improve your sales?

Amber wrote: "I should probably start a new topic for this, so if you're interested, look for it. The question that emerges from the way this has evolved is:
Do mailing lists/newsletters improve your sales?"


I actually disagree with that assessmment. At least where I'm concerned i was merely asking to understand HOW someone sets up their newsletters in general. Im actually thinking of doing a serial for my blog thats free for people to read. Just wanted to know how it works

Nevertheless, i did see your new topic lol

Lanae wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I use mailchimp with a sign up page on my website and a form on my blog. I should have done this from Day 1 with links in the back of each book. For Halloween, I offered a collection o..."

Mailchimp has a widget that you can paste into your blog and/or your website that will create a sign up form there.