Writer’s Corner: The Value of Going Wide & Books2Read Links
Posted: November 6, 2023 Filed under: Book Sales, Commentary, Indie Publishing, Publishing, Self-Publishing, Writer's Corner | Tags: Books2Read, Publishing Wide, Writer's Corner, Writing to be Read 14 Comments
Why Publish Wide?
We’ve all heard of Amazon. They are the single largest book distributors out there, but they aren’t just a book distributor, but they require exclusivity and they make authors jump through hoops for them to give us a second glance. Now, I admit, I have a problem with going exclusive with Amazon KU, although I know there are may authors out there who do quite well. But Amazon also has a habit of cancelling author accounts for percieved infractions to their Terms of Service. So, just stop and think for a moment what would happen if Amazon were to decide that something you do violates their TOS and cancels your account. You can appeal the decision, and you might even win, but in the meantime, your books are not available anywhere and you’re loosing money, or at least the potential for money.
Most of us have heard of Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Apple Books, and Rakutan Kobo. These are the larger book distributors, and books are what they do, so authors can get a little loving care when dealing with these guys, but with the exception of Smashwords, you may have to be an author with a bigger name to get noticed. But here’s the thing. Publishing on each of these platforms is possible, (with the exception of KU, which requires exclusivity, but Amazon will let you publish without being in KU), but it would be very time-consuming. Any time that I spend publishing, is time that I’m not writing, so for me, publishing once to D2D and letting them take care of the rest is appealing.
Some distributors are only available in certain countries outside the U.S. Others are subscription services, or like Overdrive, sell only to libraries. My books are available on all of them and I only have to hit publish twice: once for the digital format and once for the print book. To me extending my reach in this way just makes good sense.
Why Use Books2Read Links?
I work with a lot of authors doing WordCrafter anthologies, and I ask them all to use Books2Read links in their promotions. I’ve had several people feeling the need for an Amazon link, because that is what they’ve become accustomed to. I had to explain that the Amazon link shows up under the Books2Read link, along with links for Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Rakutan Kobo, Scribd, Smashwords, Baker & Taylor, Overdrive, Tolino, Bibliotheca, Odilo, Borrow Box, Palace Marketplace, Gardners, Vivlio, and others. Google Play is the only one I know of that D2D does not work with. If you haven’t heard of some of the above distributors, don’t be surprised. I hadn’t either until I started publishing through Draft2Digital.
Every book I publish through D2D gets a Books2Read link, so with one click readers can find links for all the distributors carrying my book and select their favorite distributor in order to make their purchase. This makes my books available on all devices, not just Kindle. Above is a screenshot of my Books2Read landing page for The Rock Star & The Outlaw. You can see the distributors where my books are available. There may be others where print is available, but print links must be added manually, so I’ve only added the two largest ones. I’ll add others down the road when I find time. There are enough distributor choices here to reach readers on any device in many different countries.
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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You make some really good, valid points in your article.
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Thank you, Kymber. I hope you found some value in it. It is certainly easy and convenient with Books2Read. Going wide would definitely be more work without them, and also more confusing, I think. 🙂
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Valuable info. Thanks!!
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Happy to share, Darlene. 😉
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If I didn’t need to leap through so many obstacle courses when dealing with them and their continued lack of accessibility, I’m glad to have my assistants so they can do the heavy lifting for me.
Thus far, I’ve not found any of the navigating comfortable so don’t wish to put my readers who are looking for accessible books to read through the difficult search process.
One day I’m sure i’ll join these ranks, for now, only the anthologies I’m in are there where I’m concerned.
I’m grateful to Kaye and her support and I will give D2D credit for finding a workaround for one financial issue I had.
This was resolved and to my delight quickly once someone understood my need.
It was especially vexing to me because it hindered everyone.
The anthologies are great so I’ll learn with them.
Happy writing, reading, Etc.
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I know you have had issues, Patty. But I also know that D2D is constantly trying to improve, and your advocacy can only make things better. You have shown them the issues. I’m sure things will improve as we go. 🙂
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We shall âSeeâ
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
See her published work and more here.
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Great article!
I also love Draft2Digital and use them to publish everywhere except Amazon and Google Play. Just thought I would mention though that Google Play Books Partner Center is much easier to use now than before, and they’re also offering free audio book conversions right now! Draft2Digital isn’t working with them, but it’s easy to publish directly with Google Play, and then you can add the new Google links to Books2Read. It’s a few extra steps, but I have high hopes for the future of Google Play!
Thanks again for the article! Love to see anyone support going wide
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Hi Xavier. Thanks for the info on Google Play. I tried to use them when the AI audio first came out without much success. Maybe it’s better now. I may give it another go. 😊
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Iâve never had issue with having to go exclusive on Amazon. I will be putting my new book on Smashwords later this month and it will also be available everywhere else books are sold. Three of my books are also available in Kindle Unlimited and unfortunately I donât yet have much luck with the books to read stuff. So inaccessible and frustrating I just cannot deal with it which means other blind people cannot either which means theyâre not buying books there. For a blind person most times reading is 75 to 80 percent of their entertainment so I want to go where everyone can buy books. Make sure you donât leave out the blind readers of the world.
THE BLENDED LIVES CHRONICLES: SIDES OF THE ORDER
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her for book information and more here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patty-L.-Fletcher/author/B00Q9I7RWG https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patty-L.-Fletcher/author/B00Q9I7RWG?
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Excellent advice, Patty. I know you are frustrated with both D2D and Books2Read. All I can say is they seem to be improving things all the time, so hopefully we’ll see some improvements in accessibility soon. Especially with you out there advocating for it.
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So far, on that front they keep blowing me off. But as you know Iâm persistent.
I just do not think anyone should ever put their books only in one place. And while Books to Read is a great place to get books, my advice is put them everywhere if you really want them to sell.
THE BLENDED LIVES CHRONICLES: SIDES OF THE ORDER
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her for book information and more here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patty-L.-Fletcher/author/B00Q9I7RWG https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patty-L.-Fletcher/author/B00Q9I7RWG?
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Books2Read is just supposed to make it more convenient to find books where they are available. You can still find them at all the distributors individually, so it’s a win-win that way. Now if we can just get them to be accessible.
Thanks for your thoughts, Patty. 😊
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Well, it’s not convenient for everybody. And they are still breaking the law. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. And I won’t back down from them either.
Patty Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works as an author and social media marketing assistant.
Learn more at: http://www.pattysworlds.com
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