Thursday Thoughts

Happy Beltane, everyone! We’ve made another trip around the Maypole, for better or worse. Despite the overwhelming way things seem contrary, I think it’s better for me. How am I celebrating? I just raised the prices on all my ebooks.

Why would I do that, one might ask. Well, here’s a very honest answer to that question. No one is buying them anyway. Why not? Now, don’t take this as a pessimistic answer. It’s simply a change in mind set. Past me was quite beaten down by seeing post after comment after another person complaining about indie ebook pricing. It’s less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks and yet somehow too much to ask for a few bucks for a WHOLE BOOK that took months to write, money to edit, and a load of digital tears to promote. Indies are too proud, etc. We SHOULD BE proud.

After edging myself into two in-person events last month, that was the lesson I took away. I should be proud. I should NOT demean myself by offering a digital copy of my hard-earned words for a damn dollar just because some folks don’t think indie ebooks qualify as actual whole books. I’ve had complete strangers stand at my table and offer me their twenty-dollar bill to take away a physical copy of my stories without any provocation other than the cover and the back content. So to the haters and the complainers about indie ebook pricing, just go to Starbucks.

Online marketing and the social media grind has begun to feel like a great scam to me. People are making money off of teaching other people how to make money online. Yeah, okay, and what do I get out of all that? A community of people who … are trying to do the same exact thing. Okay. Cool? I think I’ll just devote that same energy into making some real connections with live people. Does that cost money? Sure. Does it also sell books? Yes.

In other words, I have given myself a sense of validation by raising my ebook prices. What difference will it make in the long run? Who knows, but do I feel better? Hell yes, I do. Meanwhile, I’m on the lookout for my next vending opportunity. Chin up, indies and aspiring authors. It may take a while, but eventually you’ll get to a point where you’re not begging people to read, you’re giving them that chance. Much love, my friends.