Has Amazon Been Good or Bad for Authors?

Interesting question!

I have published 5 books on Amazon: 1 book through Traditional Publication, 2 books via the self-published method, and 2 books as an Indie-author. Thus, I would like to address this query.

Before I Answer, a Pertinent Question

Before diving into the Amazon question, let me present a parallel one: Is a Knife Good or Bad?

Do you think the knife is terrible if a few people use it to stab someone? No, right? It depends on how the person uses it, doesn't it? Similarly, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) has opened the doors for authors to reach the entire world. The key is whether the author capitalizes on this opportunity.

The Publishing Landscape

There are primarily two modes to publish a book:

Traditional Publication: These are big, well-known publishers who accept books from established celebrities. They pay a relatively low royalty rate (10-12%) and their sales figures are not always transparent or verifiable. Self-Publication: Authors can partner with small publishers who provide various services such as editing, proofreading, ebook conversion, cover-page creation, etc. These publishers share a higher royalty rate (70-90%) with authors but require a fee for their services, which the author must invest. Indie-Author Mode: Authors can upload their books directly to Amazon KDP at no cost. The only concern is that the author must manage editing and cover-page creation themselves. However, tools like Grammarly and Canva are widely available to assist with these tasks.

The Convenience and Accessibility of Amazon KDP

With Amazon KDP, an author can publish their book in just 10-15 minutes with zero investment. They can sell their books across the world and begin earning passive income almost immediately. This feature cannot be considered bad for authors.

Let's take a look at the books I have published on Amazon:

Books through Traditional Publication 2 Books via Self-Published Method 2 Books as Indie-Author

All these books fetch some passive income every month. I leave it to the readers to decide whether Amazon is good or bad for authors based on these examples.