Kindle’s selection of over 100,000 exclusive books includes Kurt
Vonnegut’s “Basic Training,” Andy Borowitz’s “An Unexpected Twist” and
Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
Independent authors using Kindle Direct Publishing earned $2.18 each
time their books were borrowed in March
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 4, 2012--
(NASDAQ:AMZN) — Amazon.com, Inc. today announced that 16 of the top 100
best-selling paid Kindle books in March are exclusive to the Kindle
Store and available for Prime members with a Kindle to borrow for free
through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. These 16 books, which
include only paid units and do not take into consideration borrowed or
free units, include Kindle Singles “An Unexpected Twist” by Andy
Borowitz and “Bearded Lady” by Mara Altman, “Easily Amused” by Karen
McQuestion, books 1-3 in Michael Wallace’s Righteous Series, and
independently-published books from T.R. Ragan and A.K. Alexander. Other
popular Kindle-exclusive books include Kurt Vonnegut’s new Kindle Single
“Basic Training” and Stephen Covey’s groundbreaking business book “The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People.”
More than 100,000 books are now available in the Kindle Owners’ Lending
Library, including over 100 current and former New York Times Best
Sellers. The vast majority of these titles are exclusive to Kindle and
published using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) – a self-service,
easy-to-use platform for independent authors and publishers. When KDP
authors choose to participate in KDP Select, their books are
automatically included in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
In March, each time Kindle owners borrowed a KDP Select book from the
lending library, the author received $2.18, leading to significant
increases in income for independently-published authors. One example is
Martin Crosbie, the independent author of “My Temporary Life.” After
enrolling the book in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library in February, he
earned over $45,000 in one month from paid sales and loans combined – a
huge increase from the $100 he earned the prior two months when his book
was not enrolled in the program. “Because of Amazon, and KDP Select in
particular, I can now call myself an author – before my experience with
this program that was only a dream,” said Crosbie. “Through KDP Select,
I have been able to get my work to thousands and thousands of readers
quickly and effectively. My experience with KDP Select is truly
life-changing.”
“Stories like Martin’s are becoming increasingly common and a great
benefit of the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library,” said Russ Grandinetti,
Vice President of Kindle Content. “KDP authors get a new way to reach
more readers and customers discover great books. Every time a customer
borrowed an independently-published book in March, the author earned
$2.18. That’s more than many authors earn when their books are sold.”
Early sales data indicates that inclusion in the Kindle Owners’ Lending
Library not only generates additional revenue from loans for authors,
but actually increases customer purchases of authors’ work as well.
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In the case of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, 24% of customers
who borrowed “The Hunger Games” bought “Catching Fire” and 24% bought
“Mockingjay,” despite the entire series being available to borrow for
free in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
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Debora Geary was one of the top 10 KDP Select authors in February, and
51% of customers who borrowed one of her books from the Kindle Owners’
Lending Library went on to buy one of her titles.
-
L.J. Sellers, author of the Detective Jackson Mystery/Thriller series,
saw that 25% of customers who borrowed one of her books also bought
one of her books, all of which are also available in the lending
library.
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Since the launch of the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library in November
2011, the paid retail sales of backlist trade titles in the library
have seen 229% higher growth than corresponding titles that are not
enrolled.
Other independent authors who’ve experienced success with KDP Select
include:
Contemporary romance writer Kathy Dunnehoff earned nearly $9,000 from
the KDP Select fund in February, and her royalties from paid sales
increased more than 18 times month over month. “As an indie author, I
count on KDP Select to help put me on the radar of my readers,” said
Dunnehoff. “Through the free promotion days and exposure in the Kindle
Owners’ Lending Library, all three of my novels continue to find a wider
audience.”
In February, romantic thriller writer Nina Bruhns earned over seven
times more money from paid sales of her KDP Select books compared to
January. “KDP Select is another great example of the innovative and
game-changing opportunities that Amazon has provided to every single
person out there with a dream to be a published author,” said Bruhns. “I
am thrilled to be part of KDP with my indie titles, and have loved the
results of my venture into KDP Select.”
T.R. Ragan is the best-selling thriller author of the Lizzy Gardner
Series and was the number one KDP Select author in February. She earned
over $11,000 from the KDP Select fund, and her royalties from paid sales
of her books increased by more than four times from January to February.
“My goal from the start has been to reach as many readers as possible
and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library has made it easy for me to do
exactly that,” said Ragan. “Every time I enroll a new book in KDP
Select, my expectations are blown out of the water. I can’t wait to see
what Amazon will think of next!”
For more information about the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, please
visit http://www.amazon.com/kindleownerslendinglibrary.
Independent authors can enroll their books in KDP Select at http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/KDPSelect.
To learn about all of the additional benefits included with Amazon
Prime, or to start an Amazon Prime free trial, visit www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle,
opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s
Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most
customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything
they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the
lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of
unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books;
Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home
& Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health &
Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web
Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to
in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end
technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any
type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most
compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced
electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright
sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an
easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages,
search, shop, and take notes – still with all the benefits of the most
advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line
e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch,
with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the
Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and
web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud,
Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon’s new revolutionary cloud-accelerated
web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core
processor.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com,
www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de,
www.amazon.co.jp,
www.amazon.fr,
www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn,
www.amazon.it,
and www.amazon.es.
As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include
Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates
otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly
from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to
competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international
expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center
optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and
strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption,
inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More
information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s
financial results is included in Amazon.com’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Source: Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr
