Before the advent of digital reading, a writer’s work often had to be shortened to fit into a magazine article or drawn out to deliver the "heft" required for a print book. Amazon EU today announced the launch of the Kindle Singles Store at Amazon.co.uk, offering writers the opportunity to release their content with no artificial boundaries, and at the length they feel best expresses their ideas.
Described by The New York Times as “the best reason to buy an e-reader”, each Kindle Single is intended to allow a single compelling idea – well-researched, well-argued and well-illustrated – to be expressed at its natural length. Typically between 5,000 and 30,000 words, Kindle Singles are editorially curated and showcase writing from both new and established voices - from bestselling novelists and journalists to previously unpublished writers. Independent writers have the opportunity to earn 70% royalties on every Kindle Single they sell whilst retaining the rights to their work.
“Since we introduced Kindle Singles in the US last year the response from customers has been exceptional - over 4 million Kindle Singles have been sold to date. We think readers in the UK will enjoy the great range of content we have available so we’re excited to bring Kindle Singles to Amazon.co.uk customers,” said Jorrit Van der Meulen, Vice President, Kindle EU. “Writers have responded with great enthusiasm and we’ve already got some very popular British writers onboard, with more to come in 2013.”
Best-selling Kindle Singles from the Amazon.com Kindle Store will also be available including works by critically acclaimed writers Lee Child, Christopher Hitchens, Susan Orlean, Ann Patchett, Jodi Picoult and Jon Krakauer.