Why 99 Cents Is a Perfectly Good Price for a Book

I love (and by love, I mean, get alternately amused or annoyed by) the accusation that a low price devalues me, and every other writer with me.

Do I think 99 cents is all my book is worth? Hell, no. I put a lot of hours and tears and edits into that book. I have complete faith in its ability to whisk readers away for hours at least (it’s a fast read). I think it might even make their lives better–I’ve already had two readers tell me it’s become their comfort book, reread when they need a break and a laugh and some hope. (For the record, I am incredibly awed and humbled by that. It makes me sniffle to hear it. That’s what I always wanted my books to do.)

So what’s that worth? It’ll occupy you longer than a $15 movie. Heck, it might well keep you entertained longer than a weekend trip to Disneyland. So that’s what, at least $1,000 all told? (I have no idea–never been. Just guessing.)

Here’s the thing, though: I can’t price it what I think it’s worth. I have to price it at what people will pay. Otherwise it’s a failed sale, and no one gets any joy of it.

So why 99 cents? Because no one knows who I am yet. Because less than a buck is plenty to risk on an unknown. Because reading self-published is enough of a risk without spending a lot of hard-earned money to do it.

The truth is, Knight Errant is 99 cents because I have faith in it. It’s my hook, to haul new readers into my universe. Here, fishy, fishy, fishy…

Yes, dear readers. Taro is a gateway drug.