When Life Disrupts: Health Challenges, Amazon Print Price Hikes, & My Website Journey
Hi Everyone 😊
I’ve missed you all so very much. Despite all my best laid plans life decided to take me down a completely different path. Today’s post tells you about my health nosedive, Amazon print price hikes for EVERY book–large or small, and my Website/Platform building progress–or lack of!
Recent Health Challenges
On top of the fibromyalgia and longterm disability, in early January I got sick. Real sick. Everyone, including the GP, thought I’d caught a stomach bug from my Grandson. I may have done, but whatever those initial three days of absolute ickiness and dehydration were, I am now waiting for a CT scan of just about everywhere and at the least a gallbladder removal surgery. Perhaps stomach surgery too if the lump they found with a camera is as big as they think–there seems to be a bit of confusion around that. At least the CT scan will make everything clearer. Even as an urgent case, it will likely be a 4 to 6 month wait for surgery, and that’s after the scan, which I don’t know when will happen. In the meantime, I’ve lost kilos and kilos. [For those not on the metric system, a kilo is equal to 2.205 pounds.] Food and drink are not my friends anymore. All of this has had me in constant Fibro flare up, which is incredibly tough to deal with all at once.
The Silver Lining
I look great! 🤓 hahaha 🤣
Building My Author Website Hub: Progress Update
Most of my not-so-grand plans have not progressed. Many have simply fallen by the wayside. Alongside my health going downhill, a platform I joined for a year, at great cost, which initially inspired and gave me a new lease of life and lots of opportunities isn’t working out so far. Too many glitches and products that don’t do what the platform says they should. At first I thought having every app in one place for one price was great … buuuttt … it’s also dangerous. Over the years, I’ve seen–too many times–how easy and quick it is for a good thing to go bad. Do I REALLY want to put all my different, lovely offerings in one single place? Nope!
So, I’m taking this forced downtime to do some serious thinking. Do I cut my losses and go a different route to get where I want to be? I think I’ll have to, especially as the platform doesn’t deliver all it promises, and I’m going to have to spend more money anyway. Sigh.
Because of this, it seems to me I’m better off taking the domain name I bought recently for my personal bookstore, using this platform’s servers, and making it my own instead. The bookstore STILL hasn’t delivered on giving us ePubs instead of just PDFs and Audiobooks. That is such a shame as the store looks great! You can find it here: https://harmonykenthub.com. And it was so easy to set up, using one of many done-for-you templates. But it just don’t do it’s job. Anyhooo, ‘nough said on that!
Amazon Print Price Hikes: What Authors Should Know
This one has upset me greatly. When I got the email telling me I had to go in and raise my prices on print books, I didn’t feel too concerned. They’d–surely–discern between long and short books, right? Nope!
Even my once-cheap journals and birthday date books, etc., … i.e: the low content stuff … has to be a minimum of 9.99 for the UK, US, and Europe. For Canadian Amazon sales I’ve had to up the baseline to a whopping 13.99 UAD. My poetry books … the same price. My novellas … the same price. My big novels … the same price. This is not fair.
The print costs differ on book page counts. This smacks of a certain company wanting more profit. All of us authors are going to suffer due to this policy. I’d love to hear from any of you who have had the same notification and what country you’re in. What are your minimum print prices to keep your royalty rate as is?
To summarise: EVERY book, large or small, now costs the same at the baseline rate in print. This is bad.
Print Costs versus Minimum Allowed Print Price
I checked the raises and the print costs. Right now the print costs are the same (a lot lower than the required base prices–always have been). I plan to check after June 1oth, when the changes take effect, to see what the rates go up to then. What I did see was who’s making the biggest–and I mean biggest–profits … yep, the big A. Certainly not the authors. And our readers will see some big price rises on print books, which is another big hit for indie authors.
Some books I had to raise by cents or pennies. Most, sad to say, had to go up by 3 or 4 pounds/dollars. Especially for Amazon Canada. That hurts me greatly and reinforces my urge to get my own store up and running as soon as I physically can (even though I thought I had that one sorted, ugh).
If you don’t meet the minimum print cost, Amazon will take yet another 10% off you in royalty payments. You’ll get 50% instead of 60%. So this really puts authors in a squeeze.
What Authors Can Do
Authors have a choice: either raise the print price for every book to the minimum for each country or take the 10% hit on a low-priced book.
Where I’m at
Somehow, I need the energy, time, and brain power to get a new website up and running which will be my hub, owned and run by me, and will have all my different offerings under one umbrella controlled by me. All using a host I love and trust (Hostinger: for those interested). Their customer service is second to none and prices good. They also have minimal downtime (I hope I ain’t just jinxed that, Ma!😆)
I’ll do my best to keep you updated:
That’s it from me for now. I’m still alive if not kicking, exactly. I still have plans, but need to find a new and affordable way forward. When I find what works 🤞🤞🤞, I’ll let you in on the process.
Soon, I’ll have my last (for a while) NetGalley video book review on YouTube, and I’ll focus on catching up on YOUR books. All those fab releases I’ve missed. So, please do list any new release–keep it to one for my sanity lols!😝–and I’ll do my utmost to read and review, including video review, for you. However, that must come with the caveat of let’s see how my health goes. As we’ve seen how my plans took a side-swipe already! I tell you, head in hands, all that work so far and everything has come to a standstill. It’s taken so much simply to write this post.
As things stand, and I’ll let you know as they change, you can find me anywhere I am on the web via this one handy link: harmonykent.carrd.co
I’m using a free version of Carrd right now, but I’m searching for a more permanent one-link for all-links alternative 🤞😊
Finally, as you will have guessed, I’m unlikely to be online much. I sincerely hope the universe decides to prove me wrong on that count, lols, as I miss our interactions greatly.
Take care, all, and thanks so much for keeping in touch! Hugs all around 💖
I’m sorry about your health challenges. I’ll echo Teri in her comment about sending positive thoughts your way 🌞
Thanks so much, Dave. I’ll take all the positivity I can get! Much appreciated.
Apologies for the delay in replying–I spent the last two days in bed and not with it. Doing a bit better today if doing a snail impression, lols. 💖
Sorry you’ve been underweather. Hopefully you won’t have to wait that long for your surgery. I did go through and raise prices where I had to. I left some under, too short to justify that price. I’ll take less. Good to hear from you. Take care xo
Thanks, Denise.
I did think about leaving some of the prices, but by the time the higher print costs kick in, and the lower royalty rate, I realised I have too many books to take that kind of hit on them all. It truly does put us in a difficult situation.
I plan to check after June 10th and see what I can and can’t make work then. Right now, as are we all, I’m working in the dark as Amazon hasn’t announced/doesn’t show what the new print costs will be.
And they take their cut from what’s left AFTER the print costs. It’s always the creator who gets the least payment. This is a big reason I want my own store, and then I can drop the prices right down for eBooks. The print books, I still need to look into, ugh.
Apologies for the delay in replying–I spent the last two days in bed and not with it. Doing a bit better today if doing a snail impression, lols.
You take care too! Hugs 🤗💖
Nice to see you pop in Harmony. I’m sorry to hear about your craziness and wish you healing thoughts. You do have a lot going on. And thanks for the heads up on Amazon. I better have a look there. I’ve yet to receive any emails from them. Be well. Hugs xx
Thanks so much, Debby, I so appreciate your kind words and healing thoughts. You’re more than welcome about the heads up regarding Amazon 😊
Apologies for the delay in replying–I spent the last two days in bed and not with it. Doing a bit better today if doing a snail impression, lols. Hugs 🤗💖
Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way, Harmony. Sure hope you get some answers with the CT.
Thanks so much, Teri, I so appreciate your kind words.
Apologies for the delay in replying–I spent the last two days in bed and not with it. Doing a bit better today if doing a snail impression, lols. Hugs 🤗💖
Oh, Harmony, I am so sorry to hear of more health problems for you. Truly, I am. It seems you can’t catch a break. And the money drain only adds to the despair. I pray you can keep your head up and keep keeping on even though it’s hard. I have new books published last year – The Bargainer Series. I’m about to publish the third one and it will end that series. Of course, I’d be honored if you read any of them, but only do what you feel you can. Take care of you first and everything else second. I hope the 4 to 5 month wait gets shortened. Sending healing vibes your way!
Oh, Jan, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS 🥳! A whole new series done. Awesome. I’ll be sure to add those to my list, along with Craig’s and all the others 🫣🤭🤣 … I foresee lots of good reading in my future!
I’ve had some dark times for sure. I’m lucky in that, so far, I do manage to bounce back. This time it’s been hard and is taking longer, but I’m in a much better space than I was.
You totally get it, which is fantastic. The platform and big money drain knocked me flat on top of the worsened health issues, and it’s taken about 3 weeks to get into the right headspace to even think about trying to find possible solutions and alternative ways forward. I put too much of myself into the new platform, albeit with the best of intentions, and that made the hit when it went south and failed to fulfill its promises all the harder. When I’m out of it, with as much of my stuff and info as I can retrieve, I’ll post about it to alert people.
Your healing vibes are always welcome! Thanks deeply. Sending hugs and gratitude 🤗💗
So sorry to hear of your health problems, Harmony. I missed you.
I hope the scan reveals the problem and that you can get it resolved quickly.
Sending positive and healing thoughts to you.
Thanks so very much, Vivienne. Your support and positive, healing thoughts mean a lot.
I’ve so missed you all too! Whenever I can get online I will, but sadly it will be hit and miss for a long time yet. It’s been 3 weeks and I still don’t have a date even for the scan.
Sending gratitude and hugs 🤗💗
So good to get an update. It is so upsetting that the health news is still in the challenge category. You remain in my daily prayers, and I hope that scan gives answers. Sorry about your platform problems, too. It just seems a step forward requires a couple of steps back. Unfair, but a reality. Your spirit sounds good, and that is what is important. I had to laugh at your upside comment. As I continually say, I can’t order God around, but will humbly ask for some light and comfort for you.
Oh, John, your comments have made me laugh too. Yep, no ordering around, lols. I deeply appreciate your humble asks and prayers.
When I took a step back at the end of 2023, I could never have envisioned it would go as far or be as prolonged an absence as this! eek! (I don’t know why, but I hate to see eek written with a capital e at the start; it just looks plain weird to me, lols🤪).
Honestly, I cannot get my brain around the fact my ‘temporary break’ has almost reached the 2 and a half year mark, 😵💫
I miss you all terribly, and it helps hugely to know you’re here for me no matter how long it takes me to climb back into the ‘web’ and get visual/vocal again. Sending hugs and love to you and yours, my friend, and hope you’re doing well 🤗💖
Glad to see you’re updating. I wish you could catch a break somewhere. Take care of yourself and anything else can wait.
Thanks so much, Craig, for your support. Yep, you’re absolutely correct–things can wait 😊
I just saw a post for a new book from you on Jan’s blog, so I’m going to head there in a mo and share. I’ll see if I can get a quick post together to help push it for you. It’s so lovely to see you here, and I appreciate your kind and practical words. Hugs and wishing you lots of sales! 🤗💖
Ah, the notification was a blip … goodness knows I do a lot of those lately! I’ll look you up on Amazon now 😊🎉
Sorry, Harmony. That blip for Craig was my fault. His blog post will be on Wednesday. But I just finished reading Run For The Roses and it is entertaining, as always!
No need for apologies, Jan! I do stuff like that all the time … more and more these days. It’s like, check everything six-thousand times 🤣
I’m delighted you enjoyed Run for the Roses! 😊
Apologies for taking so long to reply. I spent the last couple of days in bed and not with it at all. I’m a bit better today if going at a snail’s pace, lols. Hugs 🤗💖
You got this, girlfriend! I envision you happier and healthier than you have ever been AND thriving beyond your wildest dreams!
Now, that vision I can so get on board with! 😉
Thanks so very much, Annette, for your lovely words and energy. Hugs 🤗💖
You can’t seem to catch a break. :'( Sending healing energy your way! And I hope you get an appoint much early than four months. That’s crazy!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
You said it! lols. Yep, I can admit I’ve had some hard moments but am, again, managing to adjust to this new way of living. Sometimes I have to ask am I that bad of a person? Even though I know it’s pointless looking for a why, it’s us being human. The main thing is that I can, eventually, move on and adapt.
Our health service is as broken as it’s ever been, sad to say. I’m glad I’m no longer working in it and feel so much for those heroes dealing with the lack of staff, equipment, and funding on a daily basis.
I deeply appreciate your healing energy–seems I need all I can get!😉–and sending hugs and gratitude your way, Yvi 🤗💖
Please just concentrate on getting better soon Harmony. Your presence is much missed. Please don’t allow the greed of others upset you, it is ever thus.
Huge Hugs.
I have to agree with your comment on greed. When we cannot change it the only way is to accept and get on with it.
Thanks for your kind words and well wishes. I miss you all too. Huge hugs to you too! 🤗💖
Sorry to hear about your health issues, Harmony! I hope the CT scan at least gives you some ideas of what’s going on.
I got the same email and haven’t looked at it yet. I should.
Take care of yourself! 🙏😍
Yes, the print prices need addressing by the 10th of June unless you decide to take a 10% hit on your royalties. It’s yet more to deal with.
I don’t know about you, but I had to increase every single book, and it took me ages. And I still have to go back through and click on that pesky box on the ‘book contents’ page to confirm AI didn’t write/make them, which I forgot to do at the same time as I did the price changes. That’s double the books as well, since we have to do both eBook and print, ugh. Hopefully, they’ll give us all a while on that, especially the older titles 🤞
Thanks for your well wishes, Miriam. I will let everyone know as soon as I know. Hugs 🤗💖
That’s a lot of work to do in less than a month considering people like you have many books to deal with.
I hope the CT scan shows something manageable, Harmony! <3 🙂
For sure, Miriam. So many books …
Thanks so much for your well wishes. Apologies for taking so long to reply. I spent the last couple of days in bed and not with it at all. I’m a bit better today if going at a snail’s pace, lols. Hugs 🤗💖
Oh, dear, poor Harmony – I do hope they find some answers soon. I’ll be praying for you. Thank you so much for all the info about Amazon – I received an email, and that is down on my to do list for this week. So frustrating.
Sending love and hugs
Toni
xxx
So incredibly frustrating, Toni, and exactly what nobody needs in the current financial climate. Amazon, at the least, needs to go back to linking the base-rate prices to the book page counts. This new way is simply unfair and will result in far fewer print sales.
I appreciate your support greatly and promise to let you all know what’s what as soon as I know. Love and hugs 🤗💖
Hi Harmony, I’m sorry to hear about your health issues. I hope the CT scan brings insight and a solution. I got that same email 💕
Thanks so much, Robbie. I think of you and your family often and hope you’re all doing good.
I believe every indie author will have received the email by the looks of things–which indicates it’s not country specific. They really need to allow for book sizes as before. This arbitrary fee is appalling for both authors and readers.
It’s lovely to see you here. Hugs 🤗💖
It’s great to see you too, Harmony. I also think of you and hope you are okay. It is a problem with my children’s books – sigh!
Oh my goodness! Yes. I hope somebody realises soon. So sorry, Robbie 🤗💖🤞
🩷
Oh, dear Harmony, you’ve been in my thoughts. What a hard road you’ve traveled this year – and beyond. Your post radiates hope and love–despite everything. I wish we lived closer so I could help in some small way. But, from afar, you can trust that much love is coming your way. You bless us all, my friend. ❤️
Oh, Gwen, I’m so much better seeing you able to comment on my blog again!!!! 🎉🌟
Thank you so incredibly much for your kind words. I can feel your love from across the miles, and it brings smiles 😊
You, too, bless us all, my friend. Love and hugs 🤗💖