In an announcement that means as much to consumers as it does content creators, Amazon is now allowing more writers to publish their work to the online Kindle bookstore via its Kindle Direct Publishing program and enjoy the same 70 percent royalty system offered in other countries. Considering the projected success of its upcoming Kindle Fire tablet, the move marks the company's latest attempt at globalizing its online marketplace.
Amazon's move focuses on French writers confirmed Greg Greeley, vice president of the company's European retail branch. The executive touted the success stories of other authors as proof of KDP's own accomplishments within the online publishing arena.
"Authors and publishers can now reach more readers by using Kindle Direct Publishing to make their books available to French customers in the new Amazon.fr Kindle Store, as well as customers all over the world," said Greeley. "Authors in many countries have already seen tremendous success with KDP, like American author John Locke who has sold more than 1 million Kindle books using KDP, and we're happy to bring the program to French authors and publishers."
A new Kindle store for readers in French-speaking countries including Monaco, Luxembourg and Belgium also opened this weekend. Readers can browse through over 35,000 selections, said Amazon - a number that will no doubt grow should regional writers get aboard. The company's first French-language Kindle also hits shops this Friday for €99.
Amazon will discover soon enough if French customers say mais oui or non merci to its latest plans.
