This week’s reader question comes from M.L. in Saugerties, NY.

What’s the best way to buy your books? I know websites take a cut.

Thanks for the question, M.L.! The best way to buy High Trestle Press books will always be whatever way is most convenient for the reader. That you bought our books is infinitely more meaningful than a couple extra dollars here and there. 

When you say that websites “take a cut” that’s actually only partially true. All retailers take a cut of the retail price. That’s how they stay in business, and it’s a good thing. HTP provides all print books to retailers at the industry-standard 55% discount. That discount becomes the profit margin for the retailer, which they deserve for shelving our books and helping us reach new readers.

When traditionally published authors point out that they make more money through their websites or on one particular edition (usually the first edition hardcover) that’s a function of their royalty arrangement with their publisher. HTP is a first-party, independent publisher, so I don’t actually earn royalties. I earn revenue, which is more-or-less the same no matter where you buy or read the book. HTP’s calculation on print books is pretty simple. We earn the retail price, minus the 55% discount, minus printing & distribution costs. That’s it.

Our Ebooks are all exclusive to Amazon. In exchange for this exclusivity, we earn a 70% cut of the retail price as well as a fee-per-pages-read on Kindle Unlimited, which is basically like streaming for books. Buying either print or Ebooks through Amazon also means you can leave a certified review, which is one of the best ways to show your support.

I deeply appreciate the intention behind the question. It’s a struggle for any commercial artist to make ends meet. But don’t bother doing the math. Buy in whatever manner you’re accustomed to. We set our prices low because we believe the content speaks for itself. We don’t want cost to be a barrier preventing potential readers from entering our worlds.

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