[MarcyB]

Hello. I have noticed this question on other threads but most info. is at least a year old. I am wondering if middle grade sales are picking up on Kindle or not? My middle grade novel just came out, and I am curious to know what to expect. Thanks so much!

 

[Joe_Nobody]

I'm not sure what you mean by middle grade?

Do you mean mid-list?

 

[Carol (was Dara)]

Joe, she means books for kids.

Marcy, the last I heard middle-grade ebooks were a pretty tough sale but I've no idea whether that's changed recently. I do believe it will change at some point in the future.

 

[Lisa Grace]

Joe, she means books for kids.

Marcy, the last I heard middle-grade ebooks were a pretty tough sale but I've no idea whether that's changed recently. I do believe it will change at some point in the future.

My books, are young, young adult (age 12-15). It's tough. They have to use Mom and Dad's Amazon account, (which usually includes begging, I know because I get the emails from the parents saying how much their kid begged them to buy the rest of the series). Right now your average Kindle owner makes over 60k a year. That means only richer kids really have access. The good news is...that's where all trends start...with the kids with the dough.

 

[TexasGirl]

I sell way better on Nook than Kindle.

 

[David Alastair Hayden]

I'm doing alright with a lower range YA. According to big publishing, the children's ebook market is the fastest segment of ebook growth, though it's still behind other categories in total electronic sales.

 

[Joe_Nobody]

Duh.

It was late.

 

[MarcyB]

That's what I assumed, but I hoped that the market had picked up. @Texas Girl, any idea why Barnes and Noble sells better than Amazon?  Curious...

 

[Lisa Grace]

That's what I assumed, but I hoped that the market had picked up. @Texas Girl, any idea why Barnes and Noble sells better than Amazon? Curious...

Mine sell way better on Amazon.

 

[Mark Feggeler]

I released my first middle grade (age 9-12) book about a month ago and the sales have been slow, but steady on Amazon. Nook only went live last week and so far no sales there. Kobo should go live in the next day or so (just uploaded the book last night), so we'll see how well that does.

Keep in mind, this is my first work of fiction and my fan base consists of my kids, two imaginary friends and a pet rock.

Thanks to CreateSpace, I am able to provide my local non-chain bookstore a paperback edition. I am just now ironing out that relationship and hope to have books on the shelf there soon so my parents can buy a copy without having to figure out how to work their computer.

 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

I haven't had much luck with sales in the 8 - 12 yr range, but my teen novel is doing better.

 

[TexasGirl]

That's what I assumed, but I hoped that the market had picked up. @Texas Girl, any idea why Barnes and Noble sells better than Amazon? Curious...

No idea. First one wound up a Hot New Release, so that carried it for quite a while. No idea who it BECAME an HNR.

I think I've sold 10 on Amazon ever. Really, really low. I don't do Select or any of that, though.

 

[cblewgolf]

I didn't think about the whole parents Amazon account thing....hmm.  Even teens most likely don't have their own account since you need a credit card.  How are teens buying books on Kindle?  My newest is for the 12-16 age range is sales are pretty slow to say the least.  Gotta get the paperback out there.  

 

[Maggie Dana]

My upper mid-grade/tween books sell to a niche market (horse-crazy girls) and have been doing OK. I have five books in the series now (the first one came out November, 2011; the fifth one in January 2013) and right now I'm selling between 40 to 50 books a day, with the latest one leading the pack. They're on Amazon, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, and print copies via CreateSpace.

I think the 'alsobots' helped tremendously with visibility. Kids who read horse books, especially series, find my book in the alsobots of other horse series published by Simon & Schuster, Random House, etc. HNR is great, too. My fifth book (CHASING DREAMS) is at the top of the current HNR in horse books for children, and is at #3 in that category (paid). The other books are usually somewhere in the top 20 of this category; also in sports/activities/equestrian. I have never done a freebie or joined Select.

Having a niche market is hugely helpful. Mine is narrow and probably won't generate really robust sales, but I'm quite happy with what I'm currently getting. I'm sure things will slow down a bit during spring and summer, then heat up again for next Christmas. Also, I think that producing a new book for these kids every 4 months really keeps things moving alone.

 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

sharpens pencil to begin story about horses 

 

[teashopgirl]

My travel guides for middle grade readers do okay on Amazon, but usually only in the wake of Select free promos. I'd recommend doing a series and keeping one or two titles in Select at all times (or one title free via price-match). Another option is to make sure your book(s) are available in paperback via Createspace.

 

[Maggie Dana]

sharpens pencil to begin story about horses

Don't forget to put on your helmet and body protector!

 

[Maggie Dana]

My travel guides for middle grade readers do okay on Amazon, but usually only in the wake of Select free promos. I'd recommend doing a series and keeping one or two titles in Select at all times (or one title free via price-match). Another option is to make sure your book(s) are available in paperback via Createspace.

Laura ... talk about coincidences!

I'm currently (and happily) snowed in at my daughter's house due to Storm Nemo, and the kids are off school. My 12-year-old granddaughter was making iced tea (in THIS weather). We got to discussing tea (I'm a Brit and have strong views on the subject) and she told me she was reading this really cool book called The Teashop Girls! I told her that I'd seen you hanging out on this forum, so I logged in and searched for your name, found it, and showed her one of your older posts ... and a few minutes later, you pop into this thread about mid-grade books.

I asked Sophie where she found your book. It was recommended by a classmate ... the wonderful word-of-mouth among kids.

 

[Lisa Scott]

I don't have a middle grade book out, but I think lots of tweens got ereaders for Christmas because the also bought list for my freebie The Hot Girl's Friend (which is a fun, illustrated cover) has so many middle grade books on it, and I never noticed that before.  I'm also getting funny tween reviews--"too much bedroom stuff.'  'Not enough bedroom stuff."  And there's no "bedroom stuff" in that one!  Hopefully middle grade will take off soon.

 

[teashopgirl]

Laura ... talk about coincidences!

I'm currently (and happily) snowed in at my daughter's house due to Storm Nemo, and the kids are off school. My 12-year-old granddaughter was making iced tea (in THIS weather). We got to discussing tea (I'm a Brit and have strong views on the subject) and she told me she was reading this really cool book called The Teashop Girls! I told her that I'd seen you hanging out on this forum, so I logged in and searched for your name, found it, and showed her one of your older posts ... and a few minutes later, you pop into this thread about mid-grade books.

I asked Sophie where she found your book. It was recommended by a classmate ... the wonderful word-of-mouth among kids.

YAY! What a nice little perk to my day. If Sophie has any questions about The Teashop Girls, feel free to message me here and I'll do my best to respond. I should be online for another hour or two.