I’ve been thinking a lot about where books live, not just where they’re listed. For years, authors were trained to believe the answer was obvious: Amazon. Put the book there, feed the beast, hope the algorithm notices, that the right readers stumble across it, the rankings move, the reviews land, the platform doesn’t change the rules,…
Amazon is a parasite that offers convenience as long as you play by its rules. And it’s time for authors and readers to throw it a middle finger. Most writers won’t say this out loud, but here it is: Amazon takes 30 to 65 percent of every sale an author makes. That means when you…
Most authors rely on Amazon as their primary source of discoverability and income. And, newsflash, capitalism isn’t to blame here. They choose to stay trapped. A lot of authors claim they want creative liberty, financial freedom, and artistic integrity. But when they get a chance to claim it, most choose comfort. They trade liberty for…
Amazon and Google Play are great places for discoverability, but seceding from all major online outlets should be the goal for any author. I’ve called out the hypocrisy of writers who rail against Amazon and Big Tech yet keep feeding it. But what good is bitching if I don’t outline an exit plan? It’s one…
Want to take back some control of your life? You can quit Amazon and regain some semblance. And trust me, your wallet will thank you. We’ve all heard even the brightest minds make remarks like, “I went on Amazon to buy a book and left with five things I didn’t plan on.” That sudden, unplanned…