Samhain Publishing is winding down and will close

[Cinisajoy]

Maria,
I have noticed 2 things on the bargain advertisers, one is they are putting way more paid books rather than free books. Two is on the indie side, it is typically the same book every few months. I have pretty much given up on finding indies that way.

Now to play devil's advocate: could it be Amazon is no longer courting indies (although that one could be argued with due to Kindle Worlds and Kindle Unlimited) outright due to the fact that so many people are publishing and at least 50% (being very generous) is utter crap.

Though I will agree it is getting harder to find books.

I hate to say this but if I wanted the latest J D Robb, I would just sign up for her email and get it before I looked at someone else's blog.
Now if I wanted the latest Maria book, (I always want to misspell your last name) I would go to your blog.

[BearMountainBooks]

I'd agree that Amazon is no longer courting indie writers. They offer advertising for us, but not the most lucrative ads.

Ad places are taking "for pay" books because indies have gotten tired of PAYING to advertise free books. They get lots of downloads but few reads. I've talked to a number of authors who used to advertise free books and their take is "It doesn't work anymore." And it's expensive. If you can buy the same ad for 100 dollars for a book that isn't free, it just makes more sense.

OTOH, I've had advertisers tell me they will NOT advertise my books unless they are free or 99 cents. Even those who used to do ads on 2.99 books, will no longer take those ads. They can't move the books so many of them won't do ads of 2.99 unless it's a boxed set.

There are, of course, places that will do an ad for just about anything you want if you pay their fees, but even that is slowing down because they lose their "customer" in the form of writers reporting no sales and then not coming back.

I will frequent an author site if they sell the books on their site. Otherwise, I rely on notifications from other sources (GR or Amazon.) I don't read a lot of author sites other than to check in occasionally on what is going on with favorite authors (Frank Tuttle, Briggs, Ilona Andrews...just a quick glance to see what is being worked on or talked about). I buy a number of books from Kobo these days and I would buy direct from authors, but it can be expensive to set up a cart system and most readers want to buy from a known, big store. It's always been that way. Even if I offer a discount on my blog, people will click on the Amazon link after looking at the options.

[ZodWallop]

Hey guys, if this has been answered, I apologize. I tried combing through all ten pages, but I may have missed something.

If I buy books directly from Samhain are they DRM-free? I don't mind buying books from a soon to be defunct publisher if I know I have DRM-free copies.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I'd agree that Amazon is no longer courting indie writers. They offer advertising for us, but not the most lucrative ads.

Ad places are taking "for pay" books because indies have gotten tired of PAYING to advertise free books. They get lots of downloads but few reads. I've talked to a number of authors who used to advertise free books and their take is "It doesn't work anymore." And it's expensive. If you can buy the same ad for 100 dollars for a book that isn't free, it just makes more sense.

OTOH, I've had advertisers tell me they will NOT advertise my books unless they are free or 99 cents. Even those who used to do ads on 2.99 books, will no longer take those ads. They can't move the books so many of them won't do ads of 2.99 unless it's a boxed set.

There are, of course, places that will do an ad for just about anything you want if you pay their fees, but even that is slowing down because they lose their "customer" in the form of writers reporting no sales and then not coming back.

I will frequent an author site if they sell the books on their site. Otherwise, I rely on notifications from other sources (GR or Amazon.) I don't read a lot of author sites other than to check in occasionally on what is going on with favorite authors (Frank Tuttle, Briggs, Ilona Andrews...just a quick glance to see what is being worked on or talked about). I buy a number of books from Kobo these days and I would buy direct from authors, but it can be expensive to set up a cart system and most readers want to buy from a known, big store. It's always been that way. Even if I offer a discount on my blog, people will click on the Amazon link after looking at the options.

I thought maybe part of the $1.99 (most big published back list) and the $2.99 came partially from the new affiliate rules. Which did immensely help the authors not wanting to advertise free books. But even with that, it is still hard to find new books. I completely understand not putting your entire catalog on sale, but to me an ad every six or nine months would make more sense than the same book at the same price at the same site every three months without fail.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Hey guys, if this has been answered, I apologize. I tried combing through all ten pages, but I may have missed something.

If I buy books directly from Samhain are they DRM-free? I don't mind buying books from a soon to be defunct publisher if I know I have DRM-free copies.

They are DRM-free.

http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2...ruary-28-2017/

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Yup.
As many have pointed out the gold rush phase is over. The adoption curve is finally hitting phase 3.
The markets are starting to take their long term shape and the marginal players will be shaking out.

I absolutely agree with this. As someone who bought plenty of their books I can tell you why I stopped, their prices did not compete with the big publisher markdowns.

They would have a 20% discount the first week of release but it was only on their site after that the prices went up. As I and many have had limited amount to spend which am I going to buy? I'm going to go with the better prices knowing there is a very good chance I've purchased a quality read because it's been professionally published.

The days of trying indie authors are over unless it comes to me highly recommend. I have wasted hundreds of dollars buying bad quality writing, bad editing, formatting...etc by taking a chance on a no name publisher or author. I stick to mainstream authors unless someone I trust recommends something to me.

Samhain had one line called Retro Romance but they failed to promote it. It was a backlist titles of previously published mainstream authors. I bought alot of them but the prices just couldn't compete with mainstream publishers so I stopped.

Sent from my XT1528

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Hey guys, if this has been answered, I apologize. I tried combing through all ten pages, but I may have missed something.

If I buy books directly from Samhain are they DRM-free? I don't mind buying books from a soon to be defunct publisher if I know I have DRM-free copies.

No DRM if bought from their site and many formats to choose from.

Sent from my XT1528

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I thought maybe part of the $1.99 (most big published back list) and the $2.99 came partially from the new affiliate rules. Which did immensely help the authors not wanting to advertise free books. But even with that, it is still hard to find new books. I completely understand not putting your entire catalog on sale, but to me an ad every six or nine months would make more sense than the same book at the same price at the same site every three months without fail.

Some sites will only take first in series for an ad or they strongly suggest 99 cents for first in series and whatever other book you want to put on sale for the series. I have had ad sites say, "I'll do this book. That's the only one we want." So they are definitely pickier.

I can't answer why anyone would do the same book over and over. I have found that while ad places will take a book every 90 days, that is too often.

Finding good books has always been difficult and with less review sites out there, it's not getting any easier. I try to review books on my blog, but I can only read so fast. I have guest review posts every so often, but no takers for a regular reviewer. Traffic can be very up and down, which makes taking advertising much more difficult as well.

It's very competitive right now, but again, there are signs of hope. I'm seeing a rise in interest in indie titles (or anything that looks interesting) so long as it is under 5 dollars. I'm also seeing a broader range of genres sell from my blog. In the past 3 years, urban fantasy and fantasy might not sell at all. For the last two or three months, those are selling better than thrillers. Cozies are still quite strong (as long as they are under 5). Historical mysteries are VERY strong and non-fiction has also picked up (this is pretty new too, although memoirs always sold a copy here and there.) I used to be able to sell one or two of the big names even at 9 and 10, but that has completely dried up in the last 4 months (at least. I'd have to go back and look at what I've posted and track the sales more closely to see when it started/stopped).

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They are DRM-free.

Originally Posted by Blossom

No DRM if bought from their site and many formats to choose from.

Right on. Thanks guys! I'll be going through their catalog tonight.

[ZodWallop]

Five books, ten bucks. Not bad.

Are the authors getting screwed over by this last minute sale?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Some sites will only take first in series for an ad or they strongly suggest 99 cents for first in series and whatever other book you want to put on sale for the series. I have had ad sites say, "I'll do this book. That's the only one we want." So they are definitely pickier.

The problem with pricing the first book in a series at $0.99 is that when people see the other books at a significantly higher price, they won't buy. They'll just skip this series and you've then sold none. eBooks have to be priced reasonably and if a series, close to the same or the same price. People also get pissed when they buy books in a series and a new book is released and it's stupidly priced. For example, A series has it's books at $5.99 and the new book is $12.99. That's stupid pricing and that pisses people off. People who buy eBooks do not usually buy hardcovers and do not want hardcover prices.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem with pricing the first book in a series at $0.99 is that when people see the other books at a significantly higher price, they won't buy. They'll just skip this series and you've then sold none. eBooks have to be priced reasonably and if a series, close to the same or the same price. People also get pissed when they buy books in a series and a new book is released and it's stupidly priced. For example, A series has it's books at $5.99 and the new book is $12.99. That's stupid pricing and that pisses people off. People who buy eBooks do not usually buy hardcovers and do not want hardcover prices.

Well, yes. But most indies keep their prices under 5 dollars. That will still be too high for some readers, but the writers who are willing to sell everything at 99 cents or give their work away is a very, very small percentage. For those readers who don't want to pay for books or who can't, the library is the very best deal going!!!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem with pricing the first book in a series at $0.99 is that when people see the other books at a significantly higher price, they won't buy. They'll just skip this series and you've then sold none. eBooks have to be priced reasonably and if a series, close to the same or the same price. People also get pissed when they buy books in a series and a new book is released and it's stupidly priced. For example, A series has it's books at $5.99 and the new book is $12.99. That's stupid pricing and that pisses people off. People who buy eBooks do not usually buy hardcovers and do not want hardcover prices.

Jon, I think people get the concept of a loss leader, where you get to try a series for 99¢. What constitutes a reasonable price for later books in a series is, of course, the issue. As for high-priced new releases, that also make sense; it's classic price discrimination (a discrimination which isn't immoral). Some people will wasn't to read it NOW, price be hanged. The rest will wait on the price to drift down to the $5.99 level established for earlier books. But I think readers are mostly rational and are not pissed off either by loss leaders or by high-priced new releases.

[Blossom]

I'm more incline to buy if I get the first book free read it then the second is at 2.99 or below by then I'm invested in the series and willing to pay up to $5 a book.

I will never pay more than that for a digital copy. A real book I'm willing to pay more for but ebook.. nope.

Sent from my XT1528

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by issybird

Jon, I think people get the concept of a loss leader, where you get to try a series for 99¢. What constitutes a reasonable price for later books in a series is, of course, the issue. As for high-priced new releases, that also make sense; it's classic price discrimination (a discrimination which isn't immoral). Some people will wasn't to read it NOW, price be hanged. The rest will wait on the price to drift down to the $5.99 level established for earlier books. But I think readers are mostly rational and are not pissed off either by loss leaders or by high-priced new releases.

A common Indie practice on long series is stair-step pricing.
First one at $0.99, second $1.99, third at $2.99, then $3.49, $3.99, etc. Usually peaking at $3.99-$4.99 depending on genre.

For all the talk of free or $0.99 ebooks, the average selling price of all indie ebooks is close to $4. Romances average around $3, SF&F around $4, and Mysteries and thrillers closer to $5.

By now most successful Indies know their market and price appropriately.
And most readers have their own thresholds for "must-have-nows" or for "let's see".