Richard Phillips Rho Agenda Blog

Amazon’s Exciting New Opportunity for Indie Authors August 17, 2013

I originally posted the following in reply to a fan’s questions (thanks Brian), but since it is of general interest, I repost the contents here:

I’m hoping to get a publication date soon for Once Dead and will post it here as soon as I know it. In the meantime, I highly encourage you to keep writing and self-publishing for the Kindle. It’s the only thing that worked for me until I had sold more than 100,000 copies. After that getting an agent and publisher came easy, although I recommend that you not be in a hurry to leave self-publishing on the Kindle. Royalties of 70 percent are nothing to shrug off too quickly. Keep writing and publishing and the sales will eventually follow … plus you will continuously get better.

I think Amazon is getting very creative in supporting Indie writers with the launch of their new Fan Fiction publication platform http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/licensing/article/57350-amazon-debuts-licensed-publishing-program-for-fan-fiction.html . It’s a great place to build upon licensed works and extend those worlds in exotic new ways.

As for my experience with an agent and publisher, I’m now represented by Paul Lucas of Janklow & Nesbit who continues to do a fabulous job. I’ve also been very happy with 47North, although, as one of the new Amazon Publishing Houses, the war with Barnes and Noble and some other big box retailers has limited physical shelf space. Still, it is great being promoted by the world’s largest online retailer.

Keep writing and publishing. Everything else will follow. Hope this helps.