I’ve taken the plunge.
SHOTGUN GRAVY is now on KDP Select.
Meaning, for Prime members, you can take the book out as a “loan.”
Also meaning, right now, the novella is free.
Now, I don’t know how I feel about KDP Select. On the one hand, I do appreciate that it expands options for authors and readers alike in terms of getting new fiction into their greedy little eye-holes. On the other hand, I don’t like that this only further foments the decrease of competition in the marketplace by increasing Amazon’s advantage and market share, which as a result does little good for readers with other platforms (or a desire to support bookselling entities beyond Amazon).
So, why now?
First, I’d like Atlanta Burns to meet some new readers. If this does that, win. I’m keen on finishing and releasing the sequel, BAIT DOG (now likely a novel, not a novella), but I’d like to get this book in more hands before I do so. If this does that? Then hey, score. Because honestly? Atlanta Burns needs some help, I think. This might provide just the sales boost she needs — she’s got 28 great reviews going for her. I get emails now and again telling me how much people really love her as a protagonist and love how the book tackles bullies. But, then again, it may not provide any boost at all. I’m not in the habit of expecting.
Second, this novella’s been out now for, what, four months? And during that time it’s been available at B&N and here as PDF — so, readers outside Amazon have hopefully had the opportunity to get on board.
Third, it seems like at least trying KDP Select will give me a better understanding of its relative merits and concerns. None of my other books at present are going that way.
So —
If you’re looking for a chance to nab the story of a troubled girl going up against some local bullies with her .410 shotgun in order to help a couple friends, here’s your shot to do so for a price that’s Cheap As Free.
If you dig it, then let others know.
Further, if you have thoughts on the KDP Select thing, feel free to talk about it in the comments.
Finally, worth a read: “How KDP Select Saved My Book,” by David Kazzie.
Natalie says:
I own a Kobo. I wish you sold your stuff in Kobo format. Sniff.
January 30, 2012 — 1:55 AM
terribleminds says:
@Natalie:
Kobo reads PDF — I sell all my books (outside SG at this exact moment) in PDF.
PDF can also be converted to ePub with Caliber (free software).
— c.
January 30, 2012 — 6:01 AM
Komaváry says:
What’s even better: it looks like that amazon’s version is DRM free. Which means that you can convert it with Calibre painlessly (compared to a pdf-epub conversion, where you get an epub version, but…)
Chuck, thank you very much!
January 30, 2012 — 8:45 AM
Nicole says:
So for people lingering in the stone age with no e reader, is there any way to get the file and read it on, say– a laptop? Enjoying your blog lately in another corner of Pennsyltucky… The writing is funny & memorable and the design is snappy, too.
January 30, 2012 — 8:50 AM
terribleminds says:
@Nicole —
Absolutely. Amazon has a PC Kindle reader —
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
Thankye, fellow Pennsyltuckian.
🙂
— c.
January 30, 2012 — 8:51 AM
terribleminds says:
I should note that, SHOTGUN GRAVY is up for “Best Novella” at Spinetingler —
http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2012/01/16/2012-spinetigler-award-best-novella/
— c.
January 30, 2012 — 9:30 AM
Darlene Underdahl says:
I’ve already met Atlanta Burns and like her very much; kickass heroines appeal to everyone but insecure males (smile).
I’m glad you’re opening up a discussion about the pros/cons of KDP Select. I may look into that in the future.
I got a kick out of your weekend joke (obviously) about drinking whiskey with your child. When the oldest grandson was a baby, his father, my stepson, left him with my husband and me over dinner; when my stepson returned, he asked how things had gone.
“Great,” my husband replied with a big smile, “we gave him steak tartare and Black Russians, and he’s been sooo happy.” Just then, the baby gave his father a sly smile and a little growl.
My stepson almost fell on the floor. “You didn’t really do that?! You didn’t really do that?!”
The poor kid never trusted us…
January 30, 2012 — 9:31 AM
Dan O'Shea says:
Why do I always end up reading shit like this during weeks like this? Better than 70 hours at the day job last week, plus some of my own writing time, now I’m supposed to go learn what this KDP Select is, versus Kobo or Smashwords or whateverthehell? I suspect that a new career may be in the offing – or perhaps a second career for agent types – that being e-book merchandiser. Clearly, for writers, effective strategic thought into whether and in what channels, you publish as an e-book, and how you then go about promoting that offering, is going to be an increasingly important decision. But some of us don’t have the time (or, to be honest, the desire) to wade into all of this. Frankly, it makes me want to stick my head under a pillow and make with the boo-hoos. Is this a role e-publishers are going to fill? Or will someone else figure out how to make some coin helping authors navigate the brave new world?
Dan
January 30, 2012 — 9:36 AM
terribleminds says:
@Dan:
KDP is just Amazon — it’s basically, go exclusive with them for 90 days, you can have your book lended out to Kindle Prime members, and you also get the chance to put your book up for free as a promotion.
Which is, at the base level, fucked up — that you have to jump at the chance to charge zero for your book.
That said, if it has a cascading effect on purchasing, hey, great.
This is an experiment for me, see how KDP Select performs.
— c.
January 30, 2012 — 9:38 AM
Elizabeth Poole says:
@Nicole: I just got an ereader for Christmas, so before then I enjoyed Chuck’s profanity laden writing advice via PDF. All you need is Pay Pal. You order the PDF, Chuck emails you the file, and boom, there it is. If you don’t have software to read PDFs you can download Adobe for free.
Not to sound like one of “those” people, but I would rather pay money for the novella. I think testing out the lending program on Amazon sounds like a good idea (hopefully the exposure will outweigh the lack of money), but since I am in a position where I can pay for the ebook, I want to.
I think book lending is a great idea and will hopefully increase the readership. I wouldn’t have been able to read nearly as much when I was a young kid and even fresh out of high school if it wasn’t for my local library. So free is a great idea. But I’ve read enough of your stuff, Chuck, to know I am going to at least enjoy the novella, and I have the money to spare. I think it’s really important to support authors however you can.
I’m just going to wait until this special runs it’s course and pick up the novella, but let other people know about the special in the meantime.
January 30, 2012 — 11:49 AM
Daniel Swensen (@surlymuse) says:
I’ve never made any secret of my love for Atlanta Burns — I’m a big fan and I hope this series takes off. I prefer Atlanta to Coburn, truth be told, although a crossover tale would also be a thing I’d read… but then Atlanta would have to be in the apocalypse and she already has enough troubles. Forget I brought it up.
Anyway, I encourage people to pick up Shotgun Gravy, it rocks.
January 30, 2012 — 2:03 PM
Laura Friis says:
Well, I bought it the other day, but I’m glad I paid for it. Also bought 500 Ways To Be A Better Writer, Revenge of the Penmonkey and 250 Things You Should Know About Writing, and have spent the last few days reading them in between freaking out and trying to fix my novel which is GOING ALL WRONG. They’ve been keeping me sane and also, you crack me up. I shall be back for more 🙂
January 30, 2012 — 3:03 PM
T.J. Janneff says:
Hey, O Mighty Lord of Penmonkeys? I’m sixteen, I read Shotgun Gravy, and it fucking ROCKS. Seriously. Atlanta is EPIC. I love her character, and ever since reading the preview for the next book, I have been fidgeting and flinching on my chair, slowly reaching a squirrel-y state in which I fall into a puddle on the floor where my melted heart and previous glasses of soda have gone. Just lying there and twitching like an electrocuted rat.
Yeah.
…so you definitely have an audience for the next book. Honestly. MUST SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
January 30, 2012 — 4:21 PM
Ryan G. Sanders says:
I just put my little book into KDP a week ago. I rambled about it here:
http://www.ryangsanders.com/2012/01/entering-kdp-select/
It’s not much, and I have little to say (so far), but I did explain some of the numbers and more boring details of the program 😀
January 30, 2012 — 9:29 PM
Icess Fernandez says:
This sounds cool. I’ll check it out.
January 30, 2012 — 11:05 PM
Allen Edwards says:
I bought Shotgun Gravy for my Kindle (DX, plus Droid Kindle app, plus iPad app) on Amazon a few weeks ago, before it was free … and I couldn’t get enough of Atlanta Burns. What a really capable young woman.
Now that the sequel is (probably?) going to be a novel, instead of a novella? YAY!
January 30, 2012 — 11:16 PM
louise gibson says:
PLEASE PLEASE publish the second one SOON, I LOVE Atlanta. PLEASE, what do I need to do for you, what’s your favorite food, drink, I’ll send it to you!!!
January 30, 2012 — 11:23 PM
Martin Blasick says:
Halfway thru Shotgun Gravy. Thank you. It’s a fast ride. I’ve gotten so many free ebooks from author blogs in the last few weeks it’s really cutting into my blog reading time to get through them. Curious to hear the results of the giveaway. I paid actual money for 500 Tips.
January 31, 2012 — 12:36 AM
terribleminds says:
Thanks, all, for checking it out!
I think I’m going to end the free promo early — by the end of the day today (Tues), methinks.
January 31, 2012 — 7:58 AM