Re-Releasing Heartless ~ KDP Select

I promised I'd explain my reasons for choosing to enroll Heartless in the KDP Select program, thus making it unavailable at any other eBook retailer for at least a 90-day period, and here they are....

KDP Select....

Amazon has a program called KDP Select in which Amazon receives exclusivity of an eBook for 90 days. For those 90 days the eBook is given more attention on Amazon than it would if it wasn't enrolled in Select. I'd also have the option to do free days, days in which Heartless would be free for up to five days. I can even space these days out throughout the 90-day period. Meanwhile, the title could be borrowed (for "free"*) by anyone who has Amazon Prime. 

Now, anyone who knows me knows I despise the exclusivity part of the KDP Select contract. DESPISE IT. I believe exclusivity should only be granted to a publisher, one who has the goal of getting the book listed in as many eBook retail sites as possible. The Select agreement even states that I can't give copies away on my own site. That particularly irks me.

That said, I want to get Heartless into as many readers' hands as possible and I do think the Select program can help me get a jumpstart on that. So Heartless will first be released in the Kindle Store for 90 days, kind of like a pre-publication test run. When the 90 days are up, it will then be removed from the Select program and uploaded to all the other eBook retailers through Smashwords. 

I apologize for the additional wait for Nook, Kobo, Apple, and Sony readers. It will reach those outlets, I promise. I refuse to allow Amazon exclusivity longer than 90 days. I also refuse to deny my non-Kindle readers the ability to download the format they prefer. However, if you just can't wait, Amazon has many free reading apps for the purpose of reading Kindle books without a Kindle.

All that said, Heartless will appear in the Kindle Store very, very soon.

*I say "free" because Amazon Prime costs an annual fee, thus it's not really free. However, some have received a free Prime subscription to get them "hooked" or because they are a student.

Re-Releasing Heartless ~ Step 2: Review Copies

My final read-through is complete and Heartless has been sent off to get formatted for Kindle, so now it's time to get busy with the pre-publication promotion. I owe e-copies to a few people from over a year ago, lovely people who volunteered to beta read. One of those lovely readers will get a paperback edition—I have yet to select the winner. That's neither here nor there, however.

Review Copies....

For one part of my pre-publication promotion plans, I am willing to send e-copies of Heartless to anyone willing to post an honest review (negative is fine as long as it's honest). I do require that you indicate in your review that you received a free copy from me, the author, for the purpose of providing an honest review (this is also a requirement of the FTC). I have no preference in regard to where the review appears, whether it's a blog, Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, or any of the other sites out there that cater to the book-loving world. I also have no requirements as to the number of blog readers your review blog has. Everyone is eligible. However, I reserve the right to refuse anyone's request for any reason whatsoever. I find it highly unlikely that I will refuse anyone's request, but just so we're clear.  

If you're interested in a copy to review, please comment on this blog post with your email and preferred eBook format. (I need your email so I can send you your copy. I will not sell your email address, share it, add it to my mailing list, or otherwise misuse it. If you are uncomfortable typing it below, you can email me your request at jaimeygrant {at} yahoo [dot] com.)

Your eBook choices are:

• PDF (Adobe, but works with many eReaders) 
• EPUB (Nook, Kobo) 
• PRC (Kindle) 

If there's another format you prefer, indicate it in your comment and I'll see what I can do. Review copies will be sent out right before Heartless is enrolled in KDP Select.* The exact date will be announced here when I know it. After it's enrolled, I won't be allowed to give copies away.

So get those requests in! If you use an EPUB format eReader, I strongly urge you to take advantage of this review copy offer. That way, you'll get a 3-month jump on the availability of this title. I will update this post when this offer is no longer available.

For those who purchased a copy of Heartless in the past, paperback or eBook, I have good news for you. Stay tuned for my follow-up blog post to find out how you can get an e-copy for FREE.

*I will explain the details of my decision to enroll Heartless in KDP Select in a future post....

Edited 11/2/2012 to add: I am no longer accepting requests for review copies of Heartless. Thank you so much for your support! ♥