Numerous authors compete for attention, sales, and success in the large and diverse world of writing and publishing. But which author earns the most money overall? According to Forbes’ annual rating, James Patterson made a staggering $80 million in 2020, making him the best paid author.
Thriller and mystery novelist Patterson has sold more than 300 million copies of his books globally. His most well-known character, Alex Cross, appears in many of his more than 200 books. In addition, Patterson has written other works in collaboration with other writers, including former President Bill Clinton.
How therefore might aspiring writers emulate Patterson’s success in the publishing industry? Making their manuscript into an eBook is one approach. This eliminates the requirement for a real publishing business and enables authors to simply share their work to a larger audience.
Authors can utilize a piece of software, such as Calibre or Adobe InDesign, to convert a PDF into an eBook. With the aid of these programs, authors can format their work for reading on a Kindle or Nook. The manuscript can be uploaded to online bookstores like Amazon or Barnes & Noble after it has been formatted. Speaking of Amazon, it’s not particularly difficult to publish an eBook there. Authors must upload their eBook and register for a Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account on Amazon. To assist authors, Amazon offers a step-by-step manual that covers everything from deciding on a pricing to selecting categories to designing a book cover.
It might be difficult to get a book noticed and sell more copies, but there are a number of tactics an author can employ. Engaging readers directly on social media and in book clubs is one strategy. Another is to give away a sample for free or offer a special deal for a brief period of time to encourage buzz and reviews.
The challenge of publishing a debut novel might be challenging, but there are a number of possibilities. Authors can locate an agency to act as their representative and guide them through the publishing industry. They can also self-publish their work using a print-on-demand service like IngramSpark or an eBook platform like Amazon KDP.
James Patterson may be the highest paid author, but ambitious writers may succeed in the publishing industry with the correct tools and approaches. Authors can realize their goals and spread their works around the world by converting their book into an eBook, signing up as an Amazon eBook author, interacting with readers, and investigating various publication opportunities.