In a recent LinkedIn post, Leslie Venetz discusses the challenges faced by authors due to Amazon’s significant influence in the publishing industry, coinciding with her audiobook recording. Venetz uses her platform to voice concerns about Amazon’s market control and its impact on authors and independent bookstores, while also making a direct appeal to her network for support.
Venetz expresses strong reservations about Amazon’s publishing practices, particularly its exclusive rights policies. She highlights the financial implications for authors, stating:
“For audio books, they bully authors into giving them exclusive rights as well. If you refuse to give exclusive rights they actively bury your book. Exclusivity means I couldn’t even list my book on the Libby app which is the FREE public library app.”
This statement underscores Venetz’s frustration with a system that she believes limits an author’s reach and potential revenue streams. She points out that authors are often pressured to cede exclusive digital rights to Amazon to gain access to a wider range of marketplace features, a compromise that can be detrimental to their overall distribution strategy.
Financial Realities of Publishing with Amazon
A significant portion of Venetz’s post is dedicated to the financial discrepancies she experiences as an author selling through Amazon. She details the substantial cut Amazon takes from book sales, leaving authors with a considerably smaller portion of the profit. According to Venetz:
“OR possibly about how they take 60% of the proceeds, meaning when you buy my $27.99 cent book on Amazon once they take out the printing fees and their cut I get $7.60 per book.”
This stark financial reality, as described by Venetz, illustrates the uphill battle many authors face in achieving profitability, especially when relying heavily on a single dominant platform like Amazon. She contrasts this with the potential for greater returns or broader accessibility if alternative publishing models were more robust.
A Call to Action for Support
Amidst her critique of Amazon’s publishing model, Venetz makes a clear and direct request for assistance from her LinkedIn connections. With her audiobook nearing release, she is focused on increasing the number of reviews for her book, “Profit Generating Pipeline,” on Amazon. Venetz explains the necessity of this action within the current publishing landscape:
“SO obviously, I’m not doing that and the best way to “fight” it is to get more reviews on amazon. I’m currently at 42 which is amazing but I need 75-100 to play the game.”
Venetz frames this request not just as a personal appeal but as a strategic move to navigate the Amazon algorithm and increase visibility for her work. She provides a direct link for her followers to leave a review, emphasizing the importance of this support as she prepares for her audiobook launch. The post also includes a P.S. and P.P.S. offering a discount on the Kindle version and extending an offer to gift copies to those who genuinely wish to read and review but face financial constraints.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Leslie Venetz on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 27, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →