[xg4bx]

generally no more than $3. however i'll go up to $5 if it looks at least semi-pro i.e. a real cover rather than something your kid drew with crayons, properly formatted, etc. i'll tolerate some spelling errors but i absolutely won't stand for improper formatting, it makes it uncomfortable to read and is very sloppy looking. if i love an indie author enough to pay over $5 i'd just go whole hog and buy a print copy of their book (if available). there are a few authors where i've done exactly that.

i love supporting indies and small presses but they need some perspective about their work. i'm sure you think your book is the cat's pajamas but on what planet do you think people will pay $9.99 for your first book when many pros and pubs don't even charge that much?

conversely i think 99 cents is too cheap. i've found some very good indie authors at that price point but part of me thinks authors are selling themselves short when they charge that little. i know its not totally realistic but its hard to get over that 'you get what you pay for' mentality. 99 cents is fine for novellas but it just doesn't sit right with me for novels (unless the author is having a sale).

it pains me to say this but there are many indies out there who should be questioning whether or not their book should even be published in the first place, let alone what to charge for it. i'm starting to find the 'indie trash' that everybody mentions and it honestly makes me embarrassed for the authors. just because you can post a book for sale doesn't mean you should.