Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 5 | Page 34
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HOW TO COMPETE WITH AMAZON (CONT’D)
readers can connect with authors, get signed ebooks, and ask live questions. I
see a community that is as much fun for readers as reading is. Which leads to:
4. The active ebook. In a nutshell, the book becomes the killer app. Each ebook
is its own forum, chatroom, review archive, and fan fic collection. It's
constantly updating. Ebook 2.0 isn't video, or better font. It's a community.
5. Free. Amazon hasn't figured out how to monetize free. KU seems to be a
success, but that's a paid service. In order to offer free books on Amazon an
author has to go exclusive with Select and they're only allowed 5 free days
every three months. Or they have to jump through hoops to get a book
permafree. There is money to be made on free (via ads).
BUY
6. Erotica. Amazon treats it like a red-headed stepchild. Selena Kitt's Excitica is
picking up the slack there. Readers want th