Recently, as the publisher behind Superior Shores Press, I’ve listed all my e-books “wide”—the term used for listing beyond Amazon’s KDP Select (exclusive) program. There are benefits to choosing KDP Select, which offers a 90-day locked in-term, renewable in 90-day increments. Authors are paid a slightly higher royalty rate, can run one “countdown” deal per term, and are also paid approximately .005 cents per page read on Kindle Unlimited.

Now, the .005 might not seem like a lot, but every little bit helps. What I’ve discovered, however, is that after six months, page reads drop down significantly. At that point, I go “wide,” with multiple retailers, including Kobo, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.

While going Amazon exclusive has benefits, so too do other retailers. Kobo, for example, has ongoing, though limited, promotions. These are accessed by online application for qualifying books, and while not all of my applications have been accepted, I’ve had titles selected a handful of times. Apple offers a limited number of free download codes for every title listed for use in promotions. And Barnes & Noble offers coupon codes, created by the publisher. These can be anything from BOGO deal to a set percentage off, and the length of the promotion is also set by the publisher.

And now, I’m finally getting to my “Barnes & Noble NOOK Marketing Experiment” as the title of this post promises. Until April 31, all of my titles currently available on NOOK can be purchased for 75% off the suggested retail price. That means NOOK books for .25, $1.25 or $1.50.

Here’s how it works:
1) Add the book or books to your cart (Here’s a link to my NOOK books on B&N)
2) Enter promo code BNPJPS75 at checkout (the code is case-sensitive)
3) Start reading!
4) Leave an honest review on Barnes & Noble and/or Goodreads
If you don’t own a NOOK, you can download the free NOOK app to read on your phone or tablet.

Do I expect this promotion to be a money maker? Unless I start selling in “Stephen King” numbers, at a royalty rate of 40% (.10, .50 or .60 per sale) it’s highly unlikely. But these are difficult times requiring self-isolation, self-quarantine, social distancing, and in many cases, unemployment. It’s my hope that by making these books affordable, it adds some happiness to someone’s day. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll add a new “fan” or follower.