Self-Published Authors Take Two of Top Five Spots as Prices Edge up for Ebook Best-Sellers

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wait for meThe top three books on our ebook best-seller list stayed the same this week — one from Hachette, one from Random House and one from a self-published author, in that order. In past weeks, book No. 4 has typically been from a big-six publishing house. This week it’s a self-published title, making two of the top for best-selling ebooks from last week self-published titles.

Wait for Me by Elisabeth Naughton went on sale in Dec. of 2011 but surged into the top 100 Kindle best-sellers a few weeks ago, likely due at least in part to a price drop to $0.99 from $3.99. The ebook is only available on Kindle. CORRECTION: Wait for me is available at multiple ebook retailers. 

Despite the prominent rise of such a low-priced title, the average price of a book on our list ticked up for the first time since Oct. to $8.30 from an all-time low of $7.66 last week. The increase takes the average price of an ebook best-seller to its highest point in calendar 2013.

Several lower-priced books, like Paula Brackston Witch’s Daughter (Macmillan, $2.99) and   Liz Murray’s Breaking Night (Hyperion, $1.99) have dropped off the list and have been replaced by titles like Dan Brown’s Inferno (Random House, $14.99) and James Patterson’s Private Berlin (Hachette, $10.90).

See the rest of the the best-seller lists for the week ending Jan. 26:

– Digital Book World Best-Selling Ebooks Priced $10.00 and Above
– Digital Book World Best-Selling Ebooks Priced $8.00 – $9.99
– Digital Book World Best-Selling Ebooks Priced $3.00 – $7.99
– Digital Book World Best-Selling Ebooks Priced $0.00 – $2.99

Read and comment on our methodology.

Top 25 Ebook Best-Sellers
Week Ending 1/26/13
Rank*TitleAuthorPublisher Price**Change
1 (1)Safe HavenNicholas SparksHachette $    6.64
2 (2)Gone Girl: A NovelGillian FlynnRandom House $   12.99
3 (3)Someone to LoveAddison MooreSelf-published $    0.99
4 (n/a)Wait For MeElisabeth NaughtonSelf-published $    0.99New
5 (4)The ForgottenDavid BaldacciHachette $    9.20-1
6 (n/a)Private BerlinJames Patterson; Mark SullivanHachette $   10.90New
7 (12)Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures Series #1)Kami Garcia; Margaret StohlHachette $    6.99+5
8 (6)Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three Of The Fifty Shades TrilogyE. L. JamesRandom House $    9.99-2
9 (7)Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two Of The Fifty Shades TrilogyE. L. JamesRandom House $    9.99-2
10 (5)Fifty Shades Of Grey: Book One Of The Fifty Shades TrilogyE. L. JamesRandom House $    9.99-5
11 (8)Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 2)Suzanne CollinsScholastic $    5.99-3
12 (9)Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 3)Suzanne CollinsScholastic $    5.99-3
13 (11)The RacketeerJohn GrishamRandom House $   12.99-2
14 (13)The Black Box (A Harry Bosch Novel)Michael ConnellyHachette $    7.50-1
15 (n/a)Crazy Little ThingTracy BroganAmazon $    3.99New
16 (19)The Fifth AssassinBrad MeltzerHachette $   12.74+3
17 (17)Witch’s DaughterPaula BrackstonMacmillan $    2.99
18 (14)Private LondonJames Patterson; Mark PearsonHachette $    8.28-4
19 (n/a)Beautiful Darkness (Beautiful Creatures)Kami Garcia; Margaret StohlHachette $    6.99New
20 (21)Reflected in You: A Crossfire NovelSylvia DayPenguin $    9.99+1
21 (10)The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 1)Suzanne CollinsScholastic $    5.00-11
22 (22)Bared to You: A Crossfire NovelSylvia DayPenguin $    9.99
23 (24)Notorious Nineteen: A Stephanie Plum NovelJanet EvanovichRandom House $   12.99+1
24 (23)Life of PiYann MartelHoughton Mifflin Harcourt $    8.63-1
25 (n/a)Inferno: A NovelDan BrownRandom House $   14.99New

* Previous week’s list rank in parentheses.
** Price reflects minimum price across all retailers throughout the week. Price may vary between retailers and may change throughout the week. Contact Iobyte Solutions for more information on e-book pricing.
Methodology available here.

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