My experiment with large print paperback began when Amazon announced the availability of hardback publication via KDP. I thought “What a waste”. After all, I was already having to charge a premium price for Print on Demand (POD) paperbacks. Given a minimum paperback price, set by Amazon, of $5.99, I was having to charge $7.99 or even $9.99 per paperback to make a profit. Who’s going to pay that much for an indie paperback (apparently no one, based on sales data)? Now I can offer even more expensive hardbacks for no one to buy. Big whoop!
Then I began thinking…
I’ve recently begun experimenting with reading large print books. It’s that or wear reading glasses at my age. And that’s what got me thinking.
A Case for Large Print Hardbacks
What would happen if I began offering books in large print hardback? I can think of three things right off the bat.
- My Kindle eBook looks even more important for being listed along with a hardback on my book product pages.
- People might be desperate enough for large print that they’ll pay $19.99 for a copy of my book.
- It’s easy to do, being virtually the same publication produces as paperback.
All I had to do was change the Normal and Heading 1 Style font sizes from 12 pt. to 16 pt., publish my hardback, checking the Large Print checkbox, (most information is duplicated from my paperback publication) and upload my new manuscript and book cover.
Who Will Buy Large Print Hardbacks?
So, who’s going to pay $19.99 for a hardback? People who want to read in large print! That’s why you should self-publish POD large print paperbacks in addition to Kindle eBooks and POD paperbacks.
I am now taking the extra time required to publish all my books in large print hardback format.
I hope this helps get you thinking.
I’ll see you in the classroom,
—Brian
P.S. Should I convert my POD paperbacks to large print? They aren’t selling, anyway.
