Publishing independently means I carry every responsibility—from writing, editing, and cover design to formatting, printing, and distribution.  I believe readers deserve to know what goes into bringing each book to life, both creatively and financially.

Core Expenses

• Cover Design & Formatting — Professional servieces to ensure the book looks polished inside and out.  This can cost a minimum of $600 per book, and that's on the low end of the expected cost, but has less protection than the higher end.
• Printing Costs — Author copies for events, signings, and direct sales.  This cost is also subtracted from 3rd-party distributors before their fees and my royalties are calculated.
• Distribution Fees — Platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark take a percentage of every sale after print costs.  And bookstores set terms from IngramSpark; they take a percentage as well.
• Marketing and Promotion — Ads, review copies, giveaways, and social campaigns to make sure my books actually reach readers.
• Merchandise Production — Bookmarks, pins, stickers, and other items offered through my shop or bundled with direct sales.
• Business Essentials — Copyrights ($65 per title) and trademarkes ($350 per item being trademarked, per classification of trademark), plus the time and legal legwork to protect my work.  Website hosting, domain renewals, and packaging supplies also fall into this category.

Royalties vs. Direct Sales

When people buy through major retailers, the reality is stark.  A paperback priced at $19.99 through Amazon earns me roughtly $3.75.  That same book, when sold directly through my website, earns me around $14.74.  The difference is significant, but selling direct has its own challenges—I can't offer international shipping, nor can I store more than a small number of copies on hand.  That's why I still point readers to Amazon or Barnes & Noble for convenience, even if the return for me is much smaller.  To balance things out, I always include extras when a book is purchased directly, so readers get more value when I retain more of the earnings.

A Note on eBooks

eBooks bring their own challenges.  Enrolling in programs like Kindle Unlimited means I earn royalties based on pages read rather than outright sales.  While this can help with visibility, it also locks my eBooks into one platform—Amazon—and limits access for readers who prefer other retailers or formats.  For that reason, I weigh every decision carefully: broad distribution means reaching more readers, but exclusivity can sometimes bring more steady income.

Why Support Matters

Every purchase, whether through a major retailer or directly from me, helps sustain the cost of producing and protecting these stories.  Copyrights and trademarks ensure my work remains legaly mine.  Printing and distribution fees keep the books accessible worldwide.  Marketing ensures new readers discover them at all.

Buying direct gives me the strongest support, but sharing posts, leaving reviews, or even just spreading the word is just as powerful.  Independent publishing only works because readers choose to stand behind the authors they believe in.