Amazon’s first (but far from last) foray onto publisher turf was Amazon Shorts. Established in 2005, it acquired original stories and nonfiction, excerpts of forthcoming books and miscellaneous offerings by well known authors and sold them cheaply. Many authors and agents participated, showcasing or previewing their work there, but in time the doors were closed to new submissions as the company focused on Kindle.

Though processing the occasional royalty check for forty cents was always an adventure for our bookkeeper, it was fun while it lasted. But in Digitworld nothing fun lasts forever: today content providers received an email from Amazon announcing it was closing Shorts and reverting rights to authors. However, authors in the program interested in keeping their works in the program can transfer them to Kindle.

Social historians who wish to drill down to life in Internet BK (Before Kindle) might enjoy a blog written at the time Shorts was introduced.

Here’s the pertinent part of Amazon’s announcement followed by a video instructional on uploading your Shorts (or anything else you want to self-publish) into Kindle:
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Dear Amazon Shorts Author:

We appreciate your client’s participation in Amazon Shorts. As you know, Amazon Shorts launched prior to the release of the Amazon Kindle and our Digital Text Platform (DTP). Due to these technology changes, we are discontinuing the Shorts program effective June 1, 2010. At that time, all Amazon Shorts will be removed from sale and distribution rights will revert back to the authors. We very much want to continue to offer your client’s Shorts to Amazon Kindle customers. Below you will find the steps for transitioning your client’s Shorts to our Kindle platform so that customers can continue to buy and read this work.