As a self-published author, I have joined the ranks of other writers going the E-Book route as well as the traditional method of publishing. The latest statistics I have seen on the electronic publishing are so interesting! According to the Association of American Publishers, e-books sales are exploding, increasing from $287 million in 2009 to $878 million in 2010.
For me, it’s a no brainer. Amazon pays 35% royalties for books that cost up to $2.99 and 70% for books that cost $2.99 to $9.99. Barnes and Noble pays 65% royalty fees.
I’m currently researching SmashWords, a platform launched in 2008 for independent authors and publishers. Whether it’s Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Apple\’s iPad or hosts of others like Kobo and Sony, digital reading continues to entice reading enthusiasts to wade into its waters.
But I admit, even though I have a Kindle, I for one continue to like to hold a book in my hands and feel the paper and texture. And, apparently, so do a lot of others! Even with the crazy statistics above, e-books still only represent about one tenth of the overall book market in the United States.