Apparently, My Book's A Luxury Item

When I reached out, Amazon said, “Talk to IngramSpark.” Ingram Spark said, “We’ll refresh the data.” I said, “Can you refresh my bank account while you’re at it?”

Meanwhile, I can’t even buy copies to sign. If I order from Amazon AU, I’ll be paying four times the price just to sell my own book. That’s not author hustle—that’s a tragic plot twist.

But wait, there’s more…

Just when I thought the saga of my book’s pricing had reached its dramatic peak, a new chapter unfolds. Only 7 days in, Amazon Mexico entered the chat—offering my humble creation for a jaw-dropping US$435.03. That’s right. Four hundred and thirty-five dollars. And three cents. For a paperback. No, it’s not bound in unicorn hide. It’s just… my book. The same one I poured my heart into, priced lovingly at a fraction of that elsewhere.

So, The Vestige Agent is officially in print! Distributed wide! Available globally! And on Amazon Australia… it was selling for $102.84.

Yes. Almost one hundred and three dollars. For a YA paperback. No, it’s not gold-foiled. No, it doesn’t come with a time-traveling sidekick. And no, I didn’t set that price—unless I did so while sleepwalking through a luxury pricing seminar.

Other retailers? Totally normal. Amazon US? Lovely. But Amazon AU? A pricing glitch of epic proportions.

And the eBook? US$73.58. Maybe the electrons had to fly first class.

I tried lowering the price. Turns out $16 is the lowest IngramSpark will accept. At that rate, I earn a whopping 3 cents per book. Good thing I’m not in this for the money. I’m in it for the love, the readers, and the sheer joy of seeing my protagonist time-travel through emotional chaos while I do the same through publishing logistics.

For a while, the price sat frozen in the hundreds. I called KDP, who sent me to Amazon Customer Service, who emailed me a phone number to call... which, naturally, wasn't in service. Eventually, the price dropped—at least in Australia. But Amazon still tacked on an extra $20 for themselves.

My book in Oz will return to its intended price in a week, on IngramSpark. Fingers crossed that doesn't trigger another $100 markup on Amazon. But if it does...

If you're in Australia and stumble upon my book priced for a small appliance, just know: it’s a glitch. I wasn’t aiming for ‘collector’s item’ status… but here we are.

And if you're in Mexico and feeling particularly flush—or you just want to own the most expensive copy of my book in the known universe—well, the option is there. But maybe… just maybe… hold off until I can work something else out.

Truth is, The Vestige Agent is worth more to me than any price tag. It’s the result of a decade of love, grit, and quiet persistence—so yes, in that sense, it’s priceless. But I didn’t write it to sit on a velvet cushion. I wrote it to be read, shared, and loved. So I’m doing everything I can to make it affordable… preferably without requiring a small loan.

And I’m working on it—with humor, hope, and lots... lots of patience.