Do any authors on here have experience with the Libri app?

[Teddy-Stonehill]

I had an editor from the Libri app contact me about my novel, The Saintess and The Villainess, wanting to feature it on their app. Does anyone have any experience with Libri? Does anyone know if they're good for authors or not? I did a cursory google search but I wasn't able to find any reviews of the app from an author's perspective.

I tend to be skeptical about these kinds of offers just as a matter of course, but if it's actually a good opportunity I don't want to miss out. So if anyone knows anything I'd appreciate hearing about it!

[Kaydreamer]

Here's a link to the Google Play Store page for it: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsinnova.android.novel&hl=en_AU&gl=US&showAllReviews=true

It doesn't look good. All the 5-star reviews look bot-ish, and the one star reviews mention terrible writing, false advertising, and the app randomly installing other apps without user consent. Their star rating is high, but it's really easy to buy bots to do that. It's not even on the iPhone yet, only android devices, which limits your audience. And their website has a number after 'libri' in the domain name, which looks deeply unprofessional.

I wouldn't touch it.

[Teddy-Stonehill]

All good points, thanks! Yeah, I'll probably listen to my instincts here and stay away.

[Kaydreamer]

No worries! Much as I'm loathe to suggest it (because I abhore Amazon, but I also completely understand that as creators, we have to go where the audience is), if you're looking to put your work on any pay-to-read serialised app, your best bet would be to look into Kindle Vella.

@cherrystark and @therosesword can probably help you there.

[Teddy-Stonehill]

Good to know, I'll have to look into it!

[cherrystark]

@Teddy-Stonehill I haven't heard of the Libri app and after reading the first couple of reviews, I'd stay away from it too. It also looks like another pop-romance book site. If that's not your genre, it's probably not worth it. I generally operate on the idea that if a platform is reputitable, they'll contact you asking for your reps and/OR there will be plenty of information about them. I'm not a fan of Radish but I know a lot of writers who've made decent income from it. Radish has a very clear application process for its new readers.

In regard to Amazon and Kindle Vella - wait and see. I'm still excited for the platform but if you want to explore serialized fiction and your work isn't pop-romance, I'd wait until there is more data to play around with. There is still a lot up in the air there.

[NinaWrites]

That, and Vella is currently only open to U.S. writers. It hasn't gone global... yet?

[cherrystark]

That is very true. It goes live in the US within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm already committed to launching on Vella but I wish I knew more about the analytics. That will all comem in time though.