Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

The newly launched Kindle Scout service from Amazon.com Inc. gives readers the power to decide what books get published, while also giving new authors the exposure they need.

The service allows readers to view samples of unpublished books and vote for three of their favorites each month. At the end of the voting period, Amazon tabulates the votes and publishes the most popular books. Readers who voted for the winners will receive free copies of those books.

Kindle Scout drastically shortens the amount of time it takes for a book to be published, with the entire process from submission to acceptance taking less than 45 days.

On the submission page for authors, Amazon says they are looking for books of around 50,000 words in genres such as Romance, Mystery & Thriller and Science Fiction & Fantasy.

The entire submission process for authors takes only 15 minutes. In addition to a complete, previously unpublished manuscript, Amazon also requires authors to include a book title and cover image, a book one-liner, a book summary, an author bio and photo, and a thank you note for readers.

Authors whose works are chosen to be published will receive an advance of $1,500 and a 50 percent eBook royalty rate, as well as help from Amazon marketing and a 5-year renewable contract.

Amazon hopes that Kindle Scout will create a better, more active relationship between readers and authors. Readers get to take an active role in deciding what books will make it off the cutting room floor, and authors get the chance to interact directly with their fans without the intermediary of the publisher.

Kindle Scout is currently open to American writers only, and it requires a U.S. bank account and social security number for a work to be submitted.