Amazon just changed the game for authors. Here’s why it’s a big deal.


School for Writers

with Lauren Marie Fleming

📚 Big changes for self-publishing

A quiet shift in the publishing world means more freedom for self-published authors. This might change everything for your book.

Hey Reader,

The publishing world just saw a quiet but powerful shift that will change the game for authors.

Amazon KDP publishing is now allowing authors to make their books available in public libraries, even when they're exclusive to Amazon.

This is a game-changer for two key reasons:

  1. Increased Accessibility: This opens up a world of information and entertainment to millions of people who rely on their public library for access.
  2. Author Empowerment: It removes a major roadblock for authors who value library distribution but also want the financial and creative freedom of a self-publishing platform.

I’m well aware of the complexities of the publishing world and the pros and cons of publishing through Amazon. I love my independent bookstores and appreciate the reach you can get from traditional publishing. Yet, you can't deny the financial freedom self-publishing can give you.

I’ve personally made more money from my self-published books than from my traditionally published novel Because Fat Girl, even though it is in every airport and bookstore in the nation right now. I have to sell 10x as many traditionally published copies of my book than I do self-published to break even.

This shows how powerful self-publishing can be. But the lack of library access was a major drawback for myself and many of my clients—until now.

I was on a call with a client just today who said she was never going to use Kindle Direct because she wanted her book in her local library. When I told her about the new policy, her whole strategy changed in an instant.

You hear me say this all the time: there is no single right way to tell your story.

Whether you're writing a memoir, a self-help book, or a screenplay, you have to find the path that works for you and your vision. In an industry where authors' hands are so often tied, any policy that provides more freedom, financial prosperity, and audience reach is a win, in my book.

What's Your Publishing Path?

This policy change has created a whole new set of opportunities. If you're a writer with a story to tell but are feeling stuck on your publishing path, my one-on-one coaching is designed to help you navigate this complex world.

Together, we can create a clear plan to get your book into the hands of readers, no matter which publishing route you choose.

Because the world needs your story now more than ever.™

Lauren

P.S. Now that KDP authors can get into libraries, are you more likely to self-publish? Reply and let me know!


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Escape Into Fiction

Because Fat Girl: A queer contemporary romcom

The bestselling novel that's "warm, open-hearted and utterly inclusive." For everyone who’s ever felt too big, too weird, too queer—or just too much—comes a happily ever after for the rest of us.

Plot Twist: A Collaborative Novel

A Choose Your Own Adventure-style interactive project where you get to decide what the characters say and do next. As the story unfolds, you'll get to vote on key decisions, shaping the shocking twists, exciting turns, and hilarious mishaps along the way.

Learn from Non-Fiction

The Writer’s Career Guide: How to Build a Sustainable Creative Life on Your Terms

Want to make a living as a writer without waiting for a bestseller or sacrificing your creativity?

Forget the myth of the starving artist. In The Writer's Career Guide, I show you how to create a thriving writing career on your own terms and reveal exactly how to build a sustainable career that honors both your creativity and your bank account.

Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body

Longing to love your body as it is right now, right here, no exceptions?

Part self-help workbook and part coloring book, Bawdy Love offers practical steps to help you release shame, break free from negative self-talk, and find peace in your own skin.

This empowering book takes you through actionable exercises and thought-provoking prompts, with fun coloring pages of animals and inspiring quotes, illustrated by acclaimed artist Liza Mana Burns.

Looking for other book recs? Check out our faves here.

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