Amazon Publishing doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. Anyone know how they work?
Amazon Publishing doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. Anyone know how they work?
How does any other publisher that doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts work?
The author gets a literary agent and the agent sells the novel to the publisher.
But I didn't think Amazon worked like a traditional publisher.
Well Amazon does have their self publishing tools, but the main page for Amazon Publishing at Amazon.com does describe itself as:
We are the full-service publishing arm of Amazon.
Since they don't take unsolicited manuscripts, it makes sense that they would function more like a traditional publisher.
The words full-service publishing sounds like it's a mob who you pay to do thing for you, things like editing and cover art etc.
some quotes from the site are:
About Us
Our mission is to invent new and better ways to connect authors and readers. We publish in print, e-book, audio, and deluxe formats, as well as Kindle Serials and Kindle Singles.
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Our Editors
Our team works closely with authors at every stage of the creative process to bring their books to life and help them find their widest potential readership.
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Work With Us
We encourage you to reach out about rights, permissions, and sales inquiries, and to learn more about Amazon Publishing careers, self-publishing at Amazon, and our Author Central platform.
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Other Resources
Interested in a career with Amazon Publishing? Learn more about our open positions.
Interested in self-publishing? Learn more about Amazon's self-publishing platform Kindle Direct Publishing.
Authors can update their information and access important resources in Author Central.
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From what's in those quotes I suspect this is the formal registered company that does the legal side of the Amazon self-publishing business and to deal with them you go through their other operations.
As far as I understand, the 'publishing arm' of Amazon works by 'invite only'. In essence, they select large selling authors for an exclusive Amazon publishing contract (though I have no clue as to the terms, and whether it's better or worse than traditional publishing contracts). The key, of course, is that Amazon heavily pushes consumers to their own published works, rather than the traditionally published works.
'invite only'. In essence, they select large selling authors for an exclusive Amazon publishing contract
That answers my question. It's not like a traditional publisher where someone approaches them. Amazon Publishing initiates it.