Here’s the latest Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing news (KDP) about the Global Fund for those enrolled in KDP select. Below that I’ve posted a few things from the KDP newsletter.
The rest of the newsletter is about other KDP authors who write fiction, one of whom I’ve read before, who has had some success. But I don’t feel the urge to promote any of them. I also know one of them self-published in several places, including Amazon, through a literary agent’s e-publishing service and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you can get a deal like that I say take advantage of it and run with it. And more power to you. But since I did self-publish alone, without anyone’s help, and I figured it all out on my own and not with a literary agent who has connections and knows her way around publishing, I don’t feel the need to promote someone who does have that advantage…and doesn’t talk about it openly in public, eh-ver. I’m on the fence about whether or not that actually is self-publishing, because these e-publishing “services” aren’t much different from small e-presses. I could start one myself if I wanted to, and I just might do it in the future.
Don’t get me wrong. Anyone who reads this blog knows I’m the first to promote authors I don’t even know, who don’t need the promotion and will probably never promote me (John Irving for one). But I do draw the line sometimes, and sneaky self-promoting authors who need to get over themselves is just about where that happens (smile). Sorry, you know I never mention names when it comes to things like this. The fact is that some authors will stop at nothing to make a buck. Why give someone who doesn’t deserve it more free promotion? I will say it’s no one who writes gay fiction, gay romance, or anything male/male romance.
From my inbox:
Since you are currently enrolled in KDP Select, we wanted you to know the total bonus amount is increasing for the global fund. A $2.2 million bonus, over December 2012-February 2013, will be added to the regular monthly fund amount. For January, the global fund is now $1.7 million in total, up from $1.4 million. The remainder of the $2.2 million bonus amount will be paid on top of the regular fund in February.
Remember, you will earn your share of the fund amount every time your book is borrowed from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr.
As side note, I didn’t actually know too much about the Global Fund, and I really took advantage of KDP Select because I believe in book sharing and I like to think e-books can be shared at least a litte like print books are still being shared.
And here are some of the more important things for the most recent KDP newsletter, via my inbox:
- Kindle Format 8 launched, Amazon’s next generation file format offering enhanced features.
- KDP released impressive author stats and milestones for KDP Select-enrolled titles being borrowed from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
- KDP launched in India, making books published through KDP available in the Kindle Store for India.
- Kindle Owners’ Lending Library launched in the UK, Germany, and France offering authors enrolled in KDP Select expanded reach in Europe.
- KDP launched in Brazil, Canada and Japan, helping authors publish their books in their native country and language. Check out the new KDP sites: kdp.amazon.com.br, kdp.amazon.ca, kdp.amazon.co.jp.
- KDP Select adds $1.5 Million Holiday Bonus to the global fund for authors.
Here’s a link to a few promotional tips that too long to post here. Some look interesting, though mostly boiler plate. I haven’t tried any so don’t quote me. But what doesn’t work for one might work for another.
And here’s some advice from a KDP author that’s not bad.
