Written by Ok, yes, Amazon is a powerhouse. It dominates online retail, controls a huge share of the book market, and has become the default publishing route for millions of authors. But bigger isn’t always better — and for many writers, Amazon feels more like a necessary evil than a trusted partner.
As a platform built for convenience and profit, Amazon often overlooks the very people who make its bookstore possible: authors.
Here’s why I — and many other writers — are fed up with Amazon.com.
🔹 1. Low Royalties and Hidden Fees
Sure, Amazon says you get up to 70% royalties, but that’s under very specific conditions — and only for books priced within a narrow range. Outside of that? You might earn as little as 35%.
Add in delivery fees (which Amazon subtracts from your payout), exclusivity requirements, and advertising costs, and it’s easy to feel like you’re working for them — not the other way around.
🔹 2. You’re Just a Number
Amazon doesn’t care about your story, your passion, or your purpose. You’re part of an algorithm — ranked, sorted, and buried based on clicks, reviews, and spend.
There’s no human connection, no personalized support, and certainly no community. Just dashboards and data.
🔹 3. They Own the Relationship with Your Readers
When someone buys your book on Amazon, they’re Amazon’s customer — not yours. You don’t get their email address. You can’t thank them. You can’t invite them to your next book signing or newsletter.
Amazon controls the communication — and you lose valuable opportunities to build long-term reader loyalty.
🔹 4. Pay to Play
Want to be visible on Amazon? You’ll have to pay — a lot. Their internal ad system prioritizes big publishers and deep pockets. That means indie authors often have to spend more on ads than they make in sales just to be seen.
It’s not a meritocracy. It’s a money game — and most authors lose.
🔹 5. Overwhelmed by Noise and Competition
Amazon’s bookstore is flooded with millions of titles, and it’s only growing. Your book might be excellent — but if it doesn’t game the algorithm, it may never be found.
It’s like whispering in a stadium full of screaming vendors. Visibility is a lottery.
🔹 6. They Built a System That Exploits Passion
Writers pour their hearts into their work. Amazon built a system that profits from that passion — without honoring it. When you’re forced to give up control, data, and margins just to participate, it feels more like exploitation than partnership.
💡 So, What’s the Alternative?
That’s exactly why I created The Author Space — a platform designed for authors, by authors.
- 🔸 Keep more of your royalties
- 🔸 Sell directly to your readers
- 🔸 Connect with a supportive community
- 🔸 Use AI-powered tools to reach your ideal audience
- 🔸 Build your brand — not just a listing
Amazon may be convenient for readers, but it’s not built to help authors thrive. The Author Space is.
Conclusion: We Deserve Better
We’ve spent too long playing by Amazon’s rules — rules that favor profit over people, and algorithms over art.
It’s time to reclaim our stories, our readers, and our revenue.
The Author Space is here to change the game — and it starts with you.
