UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!

When Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City Maryland, first launched, I decided to keep it “wide,” meaning readers could buy the ebook on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms. But this September, I’ll be trying something new: putting the ebook into Kindle Unlimited (KU) through Amazon’s KDP Select program.

Update: Unfortunately, I was misled by ChatGPT into thinking that I could easily switch off my ebook distribution in IngramSpark in real-time, but it actually required an email request that may take awhile to go into effect. So that means the exact date for Kindle Unlimited is unknown. ChatGPT is super helpful with publishing questions, but you just have to make sure you crosscheck with other reliable sources!

What is KDP Select?

• Exclusivity: To enroll, Amazon requires the ebook to be exclusive to their store for 90 days. Paperbacks and audiobooks can still be sold everywhere.
  
• Kindle Unlimited Access: KU subscribers can borrow the book “for free,” and authors get paid per page read.
  
• Promotional Tools: Select authors can run Kindle Countdown Deals (temporary discounts) or Free Book Promotions to boost visibility.
  

Why I Decided to Try Kindle Unlimited

For indie authors, Kindle Unlimited can be a game-changer. Most ebook sales already happen on Amazon, and KU readers are voracious, they’ll borrow books they might not otherwise purchase outright.

As a first-time author without a big advertising budget or a large following, this matters a lot. KU gives Seagull Street a chance to get in front of readers who never would’ve seen it otherwise. Every new borrow increases the chance of gaining reviews, and every review helps boost visibility, which in turn can drive more sales and page reads. It’s a cycle that’s tough to spark as an unknown author, but KU provides a built-in way to reach readers. Amazon doesn’t publicize the number of people using KU, but estimates are around 3-5 million subscribers.

My Goals with Kindle Unlimited

• Reach More Readers: KU lowers the barrier for new readers to give the book a chance, especially important when you don’t already have name recognition.
  
• Build Reviews: More ebook borrows can lead to more reviews, which are essential for Amazon visibility. Reviews don’t just validate the book, they’re also a key factor in helping readers decide to click “buy” or “borrow.”
  
• Experiment with Promotions: I’ll finally be able to run a Kindle Countdown Deal – think flash sales where the ebook is temporarily discounted.
  
• Holiday Timing: By entering in September, I’ll have three months to build momentum before the holiday Kindle rush in December.
  

Things I Had to Consider

• Giving Up Other Platforms: The ebook won’t be available on Apple Books, Google Books, or Kobo while it’s in KU. That was a tough call, but since most of my ebook sales have been through Amazon anyway, it made sense.
  
• Pricing Strategy: I’m weighing whether to keep the ebook at $9.99 or drop the price to encourage more sales outside KU.
  
• Marketing Rhythm: With KU, I can plan around promos and ads differently than I did when the ebook was wide.

What This Means for Readers

• If You’re a Kindle Unlimited (KU) Subscriber: You’ll be able to download Welcome to Seagull Street at no additional cost, coming in September!
  
• If You’re Not in KU: You can still buy the ebook outright, or grab the paperback or audiobook. Nothing changes there!

The indie publishing world is all about testing and learning. KU might be an amazing fit, or it might not — but either way, I’ll share what I discover. If you’re curious about the process, or if you’ve tried KU as an author or reader, I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.