Shawn L. Bird

How do I know that I am Canadian?  Every time I go to write the name of young e-book millionaire Amanda Hocking, I start by writing “Hockey.”  Yeah.

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Amanda Hocking is a success story.  She wasn’t being picked up by traditional publishers.  She believed she had a good product in her urban fantasy novels about trolls, and so she uploaded her first books onto smashword.com, an e-book store.  They started selling.  Obviously she had found a niche that appreciated her story telling ability and the fictional worlds she created.  She treats writing as a full time job.  She crafts her stories and writes with focus.  She writes fast as well, completing a book a month.   It’s prolific to have 10 books out in a year!  Since she uploaded her first urban fantasy novel spring of 2010, Amanda has received a million dollars in royalties on e-books that sell for 99c and $2.99.  The fact is, she gets to keep so much higher percentage, she has made more than she could using a traditional publisher.

So why use one?

Amanda is an example of how the publishing industry is changing.  Once upon time, traditional publishers were the only way to access the market, but now authors can upload their books to Amazon or other ebook purveyors, and they are instantly available to readers around the world.

Once upon a time, traditional publishers were the key way to promote and market your book, but now authors maintain their own websites, Twitter accounts and communicate directly with their readers.

In my contract with my traditional publisher, I was required to keep a website and arrange speaking dates.  When all was said and done, I was likely to see about $1 per book in royalties.  I will do all the same things dealing directly with my readers through my inde pub house, and I’ll be earning double that.  Hmm.  I think we’re onto something here.

♫ The times ♪ they are ♫ a-changing. ♪