First, thank you for reading HOWEVER you’re reading. You might be buying paperback books, buying ebooks, or buying audiobooks. You might be reading in KU. Or reading and/or listening through your library. All of that is a tremendous support to authors!
While there are still many who prefer paperbacks (and we treasure you people) I’ve personally watched the sales of the digital versions of my books grow enormously. Back when my first Christian romance, My Stubborn Heart, released in 2012, just 7% of the units that sold in the first royalty period were digital copies.
Five years later, when True to You released in 2017, 26% of the units sold in the first royalty period were digital copies.
Five years later, when Turn to Me released in 2022, that number had risen to 50%.
With my most recent Sons of Scandal series (which I published independently) audiobooks, ebooks, and Kindle Unlimited accounted for approximately 90% of the unit sales and also 90% of my income as an author in 2024.
We’ve experienced a tremendous shift in how readers consume books. Authors navigating the seas of publishing over the last fifteen years have been on a wild ride! It’s also been wonderful because 1) people are still reading! And 2) it’s more possible than ever before for authors to publish and distribute their work themselves–and for readers to access their books in all the ways and formats they enjoy.
So, in this current publishing landscape, what’s one powerful way–in addition to reading books yourself–that you can help authors?
Request that your library carry your favorite books.
Here’s another statistic from my files… 25% of my income in 2024 came from Memory Lane and Rocky Road’s audiobooks. And the lion’s share of that came from libraries who purchased those audiobooks for their patrons. Why did so many libraries purchase those books? Because readers asked them to.
I’m thankful!
Here’s my encouragement to you . . . . Even if you yourself are a paperback-only reader, if you request Memory Lane, Rocky Road, and Uneasy Street (or other books by Inspired by Life authors or Christian fiction authors) in paperback as well as audiobook and ebook format via your library, and your library goes on to purchase those books, you’ve just made those novels available to a wide range of fellow readers. And you’ve helped authors, too!
I’d love to hear! Has the way that you consume books changed in the past 15 years? If so, how?
Becky Wade
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15 years ago I consumed strictly paperback books. Now I usually have a digital book and a paperback book that I am reading, although the digital book is usually read slower since I still prefer paperback over digital.
Like you, I read in more than one way now. I always have an audiobook going and I always have a book on my bedside table (usually in ebook form but sometimes in paperback). 🙂
I’ve been a Kindle reader for quite some time. Before Covid, the price of e-books was lower than print so I was able to purchase more books by going that route, along with other reasons for preferring that format. However, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the price of traditionally published e-books over the last year or so (pre-Covid it was typically $10 and now it’s not unusual to see a price of $19) which has had me switching to buying more paper books. Unfortunately, I am just plain out of space for paper books (every reader can probably relate HA!). And so now I’m left with a dilemma… do I buy fewer books to allow for the higher prices on Kindle? Do I switch to purchasing audiobooks, which oddly enough can be cheaper than the e-book in a lot of cases? Requesting from the library is quickly going to become an important option. As a reader who buys books largely to support authors (the amount I buy vs the amount I wind up reading is vastly different), it’s a bit disconcerting.
It’s perplexing to me when the ebook is priced higher than the paperback! While I certainly understand how much work goes into the writing and publishing of a novel and believe that authors should be compensated, I have a hard time understanding why a digital product would be priced higher than a physical product since a paperback carries with it more costs (for printing and distribution). Hmm. These publishers must have determined that high ebook prices maximize profit. However, some readers won’t pay those prices. Which means fewer unit sales.
Yes! 100% agree that authors should be compensated. But it is definitely baffling that an e-book is now higher priced than something that requires so much more to produce and ship. And I’m afraid authors’ compensation is going to be impacted given your statistics. And this is in an environment where authors are already struggling with sales.
Hear, hear! Check your local public library website to see if there’s an online purchase recommendation form. Hopefully the adult collections librarians/selectors can get it even if you don’t see it available in print or on Libby right away.
YES!! [[Clapping in support of this!]]
I love holding a book, but over the past 15 years, I have transitioned almost entirely to digital books for several reasons. The biggest reason is that I always have my phone with me. I have the Kindle. Libby, and Bookfunnel apps on my phone. I can read anywhere, and I don’t have to remember to bring a book with me. My husband receives digital credits on Amazon for some of our purchases, which means more digital book purchases for me. 🙂 He lets me have them all, and I use them to support my author friends. Also, as my eyes get *cough* “more mature,” it is easier to read a lit screen than a printed page.
I make sure to request all my favorite authors’ books at my library when they are coming out and purchase my favorites for my Kindle library, as well as for friends and family I want to introduce to my favorite authors. Yours are some of my favorites, Becky! Your writing inspires me!
Gena, you’re the best! You’re supporting books and authors in multiple ways. Thank you!
I read way more books via Kindle than paperback now. I just don’t have the space to keep buying paperbacks, plus reading on a kindle is way more convenient. I’m also loving listening to audiobooks through Hoopla! I wish they had more authors’ books available, but I was excited to listen to all three of your Sons of Scandal books through Hoopla. They were fantastic!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my Sons of Scandal audiobooks, Deena! Thank you!
I prefer paperback, but have read more digital in the past two years. It’s easier for me to check back about something with a paperback.
Like you, I think many of us read in more than one format these days. 🙂
I will always love my paperbacks, but in just the past two or three years I have been ‘reading’ many more via audiobook. The majority of them through the Libby app from my library. What a wonderful discovery!
I ADORE audiobooks! They’re such wonderful company as I’m driving or working around the house or walking, etc. They’ve enabled me to increase the number of books I read in a year. 🙂
Loved reading this progression! I still remember you talking about your debut back in Georgetown. Such a lovely introduction.
I used to be a one book at a time type reader. Now I almost always have an audiobook, Kindle and physical book going at the same time. My Kindle and physical books are 99.9% of the time one contemporary and one historical. Both fiction. I consume my non-fiction via audiobook almost exclusively.
Love hearing the positive impact of libraries for your sales!
Awesome, Staci! So for you: audiobooks–non fiction. Paperback and ebook–historical and contemporary fiction. Love it! I always have an audiobook and a separate ebook going at the same time. But you’re at another level, with 3 books going simultaneously! 🙂
I mainly read digitally now on my Kindle. While I do buy Kindle books if my book budgets allowsI have began relying more on Libby and Kindle Unlimited as everything has gotten more expensive. I buy or ask for Kindle Unlimited gift subscriptions (which can bought in the US by googling the phrase Kindle Unlimited gift subscription landing page and that search will take you to the correct page to buy them online (by have any problems with your purchase call Amazon customer service with your order #). You can also buy Audible gift subscriptions in the US by googling the phrase Audible Gift center). If you live in a poorer library system you can sometimes get paid or free library cards by doing some online research. One place to start is an older post How to get a nonresident library card on http://www.everydayreader.com I also always leave reviews for every book I finish on Amazon and Bookbub.
I’ve become more conscious of the effect of blue light (technology) exposure on sleep, so I much prefer reading a regular, old-school book to relax at the end of the day. I use tech often enough during my waking hours! And because Kindle books don’t tend to “pile up” like real ones, too often I forget I have them! I’m also hearing impaired, so audio books aren’t my thing. I could use the Bluetooth on my phone and pipe them into my ears, but that means sitting and actively listening, and unfortunately, I don’t have the time. If you can listen to an audio book and multi-task, more power to you. So please, keep publishing actual books.