Mid-Month Madness in May, or: Temperatures Soar…and So Do Prices!

Late Morning, Thursday, May 15, 2025, Miami, Florida

Hello, Dear Reader, 

We’ve reached the midway point of May, and though it’s still technically spring, summer seems eager to make an early entrance. As I write this, it’s already 85°F (30°C) under a bright sun. With humidity at 66% and a light southern breeze at 2 MPH (4 Km/H), the heat index is a blistering 99°F (37°C)—and it’s only going to get hotter. By afternoon, we’re looking at a high of 89°F (32°C), but with the “feels-like” temperature creeping into the low 100s (40s), it’ll be a scorcher. 

But rising temperatures aren’t the only thing heating up. Prices across the U.S. continue climbing, thanks to the Trump Administration’s feckless and reckless decision to launch trade wars with the rest of the world. The ripple effect has made everything—from groceries to cars—more expensive, including printed books. 

I bring this up because, this morning, I received an unwelcome email from Kindle Direct Publishing: 

Hello,

 For the first time since we began print operations nearly two decades ago, we are adjusting our royalty rate structure. Beginning June 10, 2025, the royalty rate for print books priced below certain list prices (e.g., less than $9.99 USD) will drop from 60% to 50%. This change is due to increasing operational costs and will allow us to continue offering these books without affecting other titles.     

Separately, as part of our annual printing cost review, we are reducing color printing costs for paperbacks in select marketplaces to help authors adopt color printing. Learn more about each change below. 

 We’re emailing you because you have one or more books affected by these changes. Please visit your KDP Bookshelf to download a list of impacted titles. 

As a self-published author, this decision directly affects me. I reluctantly updated the price of the paperback edition of Reunion: A Story from $8.50 to $9.99. It wasn’t a move I wanted to make, but as someone on a fixed income (less than $1,000 per month from Social Security, most of which goes toward rent), I simply can’t afford to lose that 10% in royalties. 

Thankfully, the Kindle edition of Reunion: A Story remains unaffected, as do the print editions of Reunion: Coda, the second book in the Reunion Duology. 

If you’re someone who enjoys reading, I hope you’ll consider supporting my work—especially if you’re willing to step outside your usual genres. So many friends don’t read, but for those who do—especially those who review books—your encouragement means the world to me on this journey.