Via Zhao !

Amazon (AMZN) continues to up the ante on the booming self-publishing trend with their Kindle self-published eBooks by adding the paperback. You may think Amazon already lets authors publish books using the CreateSpace service. True. CreateSpace is a separate company, owned by Amazon. So, why then is Amazon now also letting authors publish a hard copy book under the Kindle program?

As an author, I have published many books over the years. There are quite a few companies to publish and distribute my books, like Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple (AAPL) iBook, Google (GOOG) and Kobo. Today, Amazon Kindle is the marketplace leader and B&N Nook comes in second.

Authors often want to reach as many different readers as possible. If that’s their goal, they may publish on a variety of sites, since users generally choose one to use. Other authors stick with one and try to maximize their success there. If they choose one, it’s usually Amazon Kindle.

If you publish only on Amazon, and if you select their KDP program which is supposed to give you more exposure, then they say you will sell more books. Amazon tends to mostly promote KDP books. Authors say they earn less per book, but sell more books. The decision is up to the author.Now, Amazon has introduced their hardcover Kindle book. That means users no longer have to use their CreateSpace program. The difference seems simple enough. If you intend to publish on a variety of services like Amazon and Barnes & Noble (BKS), use CreateSpace to create your hard copy book. If, however, you only intend to publish on Amazon, then their new Kindle hardcover is quick and easy and may make perfect sense.

USA Today Bestselling Author Heather C. Leigh Weighs In

I asked Heather C. Leigh, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Broken Doll Series what she thought. She said, “I’ve been publishing on Amazon Kindle for years and appreciate the opportunities they offer independent authors. I will likely continue to use CreateSpace because they let me distribute my work both on Kindle and other places as well, but for authors who want to distribute on Kindle only, this may be perfect.”

As an author, I tried this new Kindle paperback program. I just published two of my new books using it, and it was pretty easy to understand and to use. I just received my two new paperback books this week in the mail and they look and feel great. Just like CreateSpace books. The only difference is where the books are distributed. So, the choice is yours. There are different reasons and benefits to choose one or the other.

Amazon Has Both Helped and Hurt the Author Community

Via mobilyazilar

In recent years, Amazon has both helped and hurt the author community. They have created the exciting world of Kindle, opening the door for many more authors. That’s good. The problem is authors say they are not being promoted and readers can’t find their work. That means they don’t earn enough to write full time. Correct me if I am wrong, aren’t fewer authors bad news for Amazon long-term, or am I missing something?

That’s why publishing hardcover books on Kindle is good news to authors who just publish on Amazon. You don’t earn any more money, but it’s easier. So, if you want to publish on Amazon only, this is an easy way to go for both eBooks and hard cover. However, if you want to publish on other services as well, like B&N Nook, you’ll have to stick with CreateSpace. With that said, coffee break is over… back to writing!

Jeff Kagan is an Equities.com columnist. Kagan is a Wireless Analyst, Telecom Analyst, Industry Analyst, speaker and consultant. He follows wireless, wire line, telecom, Internet, cable TV, IPTV, Cloud, Mobile Pay, FinTech and communications technology. Email him at [email protected]. His web site is www.jeffKAGAN.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffkagan