Hard or soft, what's your preference?

I haven't posted in a million years, my bad, but as October marks six months since I published my first book, I thought it was the perfect time to get back on the grind.

Yeah, I'm not talking about ice cream but book covers. Hardcover or softcover, what's your preference? On one hand, you get the security of the cover lasting for a while (and some come with a really cool sleave!) and on the other, you get the almost homely feeling from the cover that can turn as well as the pages within. There are obviously pros and cons of each, and in an ideal world, I'd have both for each of my favorite books (different bookshelves ofc).

But to cut the rambling short, A Dance of Life is now available in hardcover on Amazon! A few months ago, KDP contacted me to ask if I'd like to be part of their hardcover beta program and I obviously said, "Yes, please! Sign me right up." And after a few edits to the manuscript and cover layout, it was ready to go live!

Here's the thing, hardcopy is a lot more expensive than softcopy, which is another reason most people stick to the latter; it's basically a luxury. Why is it so expensive? Because of the work that goes into it: the stronger binding, the different cardboard for the cover, etc. If you get this added bonus for your book on KDP, the cost breakdown would explain it easily to you. However, the price you have to set to make a menial amount of money might even scare you, the author, away.

So why bother? Well, it all comes down to preference. Some people would die on the hill of a hardcover book, others e-copy, so you have to give the people what they want. Put all the formats out there and hope someone takes a bite, that's the best we can do!

(The length of the book would also affect the price, especially for indie authors using self-publishing sites)

So, what's your fave format? Let me know in the comment section. I personally don't have a preference.

Have you read A Dance of Life? Please leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads!

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