I’ve published over 150 books through Amazon KDP over the years. It was a game-changer when I started—easy upload, wide reach, and the ability to place my stories (especially children’s books celebrating Black boy joy, cookbooks, homeschooling books, and books to celebrate the beauty of every childhood) into the hands of families and classrooms worldwide.
Then one day, my account was terminated.
Like many indie authors and small publishers, I felt the shock and frustration. Amazon KDP had been my main sales channel for a long time. But after the initial disappointment wore off, I realized something important: the change might actually be one of the best things that could have happened for Tiggio Publishing.
Here’s why I’m not mad — and why I’m genuinely excited about the move to Books.by (plus Barnes & Noble Press) for direct sales.The Hidden Cost of “Free” Platforms Like Amazon KDPAmazon KDP is free to upload and publish, which sounds wonderful. But in reality, they take a large percentage of every sale:
- For many print books, authors keep roughly 40–60% after printing costs (sometimes less with expanded distribution).
- On a typical $19.99 paperback, that often translates to around $5–$8 in your pocket per sale—and you wait 60 days for payment.
- They control the storefront, the customer data, and the algorithm. One policy change or account issue, and your hard work can be disrupted.
After building a catalog of 150 titles, I saw firsthand how much of the profit went to the platform instead of the creator.Discovering Books.by: 100% Royalties After a Simple Annual PlanWhen I started exploring direct-sales options, Books.by stood out immediately.Instead of taking a percentage of every sale like most platforms, Books.by charges a flat annual fee (Core plan at $99/year or Pro at $299/year) and then gives you 100% of the proceeds after printing and shipping costs.That means:
- You set your own price.
- You keep every extra dollar above the actual print cost.
- On many titles, authors report keeping 40%+ net royalties — often significantly more than on Amazon.
- Payouts hit your account daily, not after a long hold.
- You get the customer’s name, email, and order history—so you can build real relationships and market directly to your readers.
For someone with a large backlist like mine, this arrangement changes the math completely. Instead of Amazon taking 30–60% off the top, I now keep far more of each sale I drive to my own storefront.
It’s similar to how successful creators use Shopify or other direct platforms: pay once for the tools, then own the relationship and the majority of the profit.Why This Feels Like the Right Move for Tiggio PublishingAt Tiggio Publishing, our mission has always been creating joyful, high-quality books that celebrate every shade of childhood. Moving to Books.by gives me the following:
- Full control over how my books are presented (beautiful custom storefronts with eye-catching thumbnails).
- The ability to bundle titles, offer signed editions, or create special packages.
- Freedom from worrying about sudden account issues or changing algorithms.
I’m also publishing through Barnes & Noble Press for additional reach, but the heart of my sales strategy now lives on my own site powered by Books.by.The Power of Driving Readers to Your Own WebsiteHere’s the best part: when readers discover my blog posts, interviews, or behind-the-scenes stories on TiggioPublishing.com, they can browse all my book thumbnails right there and purchase directly.
No middleman takes a huge cut. No waiting for months for royalties. Just a smooth experience where more of the money supports independent publishing and more books for kids.
If you’re an author facing similar challenges with Amazon—or simply want better control and higher earnings—I highly recommend checking out Books.by. The flat-fee model with true 100% royalties makes it one of the most author-friendly platforms available in 2026.Ready to Explore My Books?Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or fellow creator looking for uplifting stories, I invite you to visit my Books.by storefront (linked right here on the site). Browse the full collection of Tiggio titles, see the vibrant covers, and find the perfect book for the little ones in your life.Thank you for supporting independent authors and small publishers like Tiggio. Every direct purchase helps me keep creating more stories that matter.
Have you ever had an account issue with a big platform? Or are you already selling direct? Share your experiences in the comments—I read every one and would love to connect.Let’s keep building our own paths in publishing!
