Why Buying Direct from Authors Matters (and Why Readers are Starting to Prefer It)

If you're like me, you've bought books everywhere. Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble...I've shopped from all of them over the years. It's fast, convenient, and familiar. But as much as I love my nice, convenient book buying rut, I'm sick of supporting billionaire overlords who treat the authors I love like crap. Which is why I started buying my books directly from authors and here's why you should consider it, too:   

Just a quick note

Before I get into this topic, I want to make it clear that I'm NOT saying everyone should stop buying books from the big retailers. You do you. If you don't have access to buy elsewhere, buy wherever you can. I also understand that not every author has a direct sales website, and if your favorite author is only on Amazon, BY ALL MEANS keep supporting them there. I'm only saying that IF you have a way to do so AND IF an author you want to support has a website, here's why it's better to buy direct than from the billionaire overlords. Now that THAT'S out of the way...  

More of your money supports the author rather than lining some billionaire's pockets

When you buy from a large retailer, a significant portion of the purchase doesn't go to the author. Depending on the platform, authors may receive anywhere from 35% to 70% of the sale price--sometimes less after delivery fees and other costs. When you buy direct, that changes. Every penny goes to the author. and that means you're directly supporting their ability to keep writing books. You're also supporting an author's small business and helping them avoid becoming dependent on the big retailers.   

You get more (often for less)

Authors who sell direct aren't bound by the same pricing restrictions as big retailers. That means they can offer better deals and more flexible options. Readers often get: 
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• Exclusive bundles or discounted series sets
• Bonus scenes, extended epilogues, or extra content
• Early access to new releases
• Special editions you won't find anywhere else
• Exclusive sales pricing 

And in this economy, who doesn't want more for less?

A great reading experience

Buying direct isn't as risky or complicated as you think it is. Most authors use professional delivery services (like Bookfunnel), which makes it easy to send books straight to your preferred reading app or device. That means:
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• Simple, guided downloads
  
• Support if you get stuck (Bookfunnel has especially good customer support)
  
• Compatibility with Kindle, tablets, phones, and more

Long-story-short, the reader experience is designed to be just as smooth (if not smoother) than major retailers, without the middleman. 

You build a better connection with the author

When you buy direct, you're not just another sale in a giant system. You're part of the author's community. That means you can get: emails about new releases before anyone else, access to reader groups, and opportunities to shape future books through feedback and engagement. And for many readers (myself included), this personal connection is deeply satisfying in a way that simply buying from Amazon could never be.     

You help keep the book ecosystem diverse

Large retailers dominate the marketplace (one in particular. Ahem), and their algorithms often determine which gets get seen and which don't. When you buy direct: 

• Authors have more control over their careers
  
• Unique, niche, and experimental stories have a better chance to thrive
  
• The market becomes less dependent on a single platform

In other words, your purchase helps keep the book world creative, varied, and full of new voices. 

To sum up

Should you stop buying from big retailers? No. Should you check to see if an author you want to try out has a direct sales website before you buy from a big retailer? If you can, you absolutely should. 

Authors with GREAT direct sales websites

• For dark, spicy paranormal romance, LE Wilson has a beautiful site with TONS of deals. 

• For hilarious rom coms, monster romance, superhero romance, and lighter paranormal romance, check out Isabel Jordan's site. She also has a crap ton of book bundles and even some deals on "vintage" paperbacks.    

 

• Love hot mountain men and cowboys? Kaci Rose is your girl. 

 

• Kelsie Rae has a gorgeous site and a wide variety of romance categories available, including sports romance, no-spice contemporary romance, dark mafia romance, and spicy new adult.

 

• MM Romance direct has a super-handy index of direct sales sites that is VERY comprehensive

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• Bear Mountain Books also has an indexable list of romance authors who sell direct

But these are just good places to start. Just consult good old Google to see if your favorites have direct sales websites. 

And as always, whatever you do, don't pirate books. Book pirates suck and there is never a valid reason to steal from authors. 

Know any other great authors who sell direct? Drop a comment and share with the class!