Why More Indie Authors Are Using AI to Translate Their Books

(And Why Continental Europe Is the Smart Place to Start)

A global market, hiding in plain sight

As an indie author, you know how competitive the English-language ebook market has become. But what if there was an easier way to grow your readership, and your income, without spending a fortune on marketing or chasing dwindling attention on crowded platforms?

That’s exactly why more and more indie authors are turning to AI-powered book translation. And many are finding some of the best opportunities in continental Europe, where strong ebook markets, and lower competition, offer a chance to stand out.

The European opportunity

Here’s what many indie authors don’t realise:

• Germany is the world’s second largest ebook market, after the US.

• France, Spain, and Italy all have growing ebook sectors with millions of readers but far fewer self-published English-language books available in translation.

• Across Europe, local-language ebook markets are often underserved and hungry for high-quality commercial fiction.

And because readers in these markets expect to read in their own language, simple English export is not enough. Translation unlocks the opportunity.

Why indie authors are turning to AI

In the past, book translation was expensive and slow:

• Thousands of pounds per book

• Months to complete

• Complex rights and workflow issues

As a result, few indie authors translated their books unless they had major hits.

Today, that’s changed:

• AI translation dramatically reduces cost and time.

• Systems like GlobeScribe combine AI with publishing expertise — helping preserve tone, style and voice.

• The process is now simple and scalable — you can translate a single title or an entire backlist.

This means that even midlist authors and genre writers can now profitably reach European markets — where there is still room to grow.

Why European ebook markets are attractive

1. Less saturated

The German Kindle store is still one of the easiest to crack for translated fiction — far fewer titles, especially in many popular genres. France and Spain offer similar opportunities. Italian is growing fast, with lower price competition than the US or UK.

2. High ebook adoption

Germany leads, but many European countries now have strong and growing ebook readership — especially on Kindle and Apple Books.

3. Lower marketing costs Ads in Germany, France and Spain are typically far cheaper than in the US or UK — making it easier to run profitable campaigns.

4. Readers love translated genre fiction

In many European markets, translated fiction is normal — and widely read. If your book works in the UK or US, it often works just as well (or better) in Europe — with less competition.

The time is now

If you’ve thought about translating your books but were put off by the cost, complexity or risk — this is your moment.

AI book translation makes it possible to test new markets quickly and affordably.

Continental Europe is one of the smartest places to start.

At GlobeScribe, we’re already helping indie authors translate into: • German • French • Spanish • Italian • Portuguese

And we’re adding more.

Whether you want to try one title or bring your whole backlist to new readers — we can help.