tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post4462499412457349449..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Bob MayerJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17516443361409928822011-06-21T00:46:41.956-05:002011-06-21T00:46:41.956-05:00Thanks for the great article.
I published my &qu...Thanks for the great article. <br /><br />I published my "sweet" historical Western Romances 7 and a half weeks ago. Today, I sold my 2000th one. For ten years I've been told that "sweet" doesn't sell. Sexy does. Yet, I've done very little marketing. A couple of blog posts. Some Tweets. Some Facebook posts. The readers are finding me.<br /><br />I always believed there were readers who liked traditional romances, and my sales are proving me right.<br /><br />For ten years, I've had two agents try to sell the books, and I've felt a lot of disappointment at the rejections. Now I'm SO grateful that they never sold. Self-publishing is so fun and exciting. Although I'm checking my numbers too much!Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62627806844408370122011-04-24T13:28:10.291-05:002011-04-24T13:28:10.291-05:00The continued application of computer technology t...The continued application of computer technology to publishing will continue to blur the lines between self-publishing and "published." I am "published" and am considering self-publishing. The increasing popularity of e-books at the expense of brick and mortar bookstores is a factor in my decision to branch out. Even so, I suspect that the author's own editing that comes with the iterative process of a publisher renders self-publishing a more risky choice from the standpoint of quality of writing. For more, please read my essay at ... http://bit.ly/i1tEI9The Worden Reporthttp://www.thewordenreport.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-647243162015987572011-04-18T14:57:26.621-05:002011-04-18T14:57:26.621-05:00Joe Konrath said:
They own the plain, vanilla tex...Joe Konrath said:<br /><br /><i>They own the plain, vanilla text. That's all.</i><br /><br />-----------------------<br /><br />But isn't this a little misleading/unclear? Isn't it true that they don't even own the text, just the <b><i>license</i></b> (i.e., rights, permission, etc.) to use what the copyholder (author) owns (i.e., the text) in some limited way as defined in the contract?<br /><br />A license usually <i>denies</i> ownership, it doesn't affirm it.Gramix Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16853556393726644590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12389677769634385352011-04-16T03:08:51.673-05:002011-04-16T03:08:51.673-05:00Anonymous said...
By the way, Robin Sullivan's...<i>Anonymous said...<br />By the way, Robin Sullivan's picture is a great example of a professional-looking author's photo. </i><br /><br />Aw....Thanks Anoymous - I'm actually incredibly un-photogenic but that picture was taken on a "good day".<br /><br />Robin | <a href="www.write2publish.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Write2Publish</a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13881931008702090782011-04-15T19:27:24.140-05:002011-04-15T19:27:24.140-05:00Bob - great guest post! A very interesting read. Y...Bob - great guest post! A very interesting read. You are helping a lot of us by sharing your considerable experience and varied path. I just bought a copy of 'Atlantis' - I look very forward to reading it!<br /><br />Wishing you continued success...<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br /><b><i>Rai Aren, co-author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EEORPW?ie=UTF8&tag=sosangel-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004EEORPW" rel="nofollow">Secret of the Sands</a></i></b>Rai Arenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06736756087881065103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45504464006264345102011-04-15T18:40:31.433-05:002011-04-15T18:40:31.433-05:00As for Tina Fey, I used her as an example, not bec...<i>As for Tina Fey, I used her as an example, not because she's a star, but because she's a "real person" too-- she even has a huge scar on her face, and the author's photo still manages to look great. <br /><br />Anyway, just offering suggestions. Your sales rank is good, and I hope that it continues to increase.</i><br /><br />Thank you, anonymous.<br /><br />Anna MurrayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45253143427173435672011-04-15T15:47:53.982-05:002011-04-15T15:47:53.982-05:00Thanks. It has the lowest price AND lowest sales.
...<i>Thanks. It has the lowest price AND lowest sales.</i><br /><br />Point taken. I guess you win. Sales trumps opinion. <br /><br />As for Tina Fey, I used her as an example, not because she's a star, but because she's a "real person" too-- she even has a huge scar on her face, and the author's photo still manages to look great. <br /><br />Anyway, just offering suggestions. Your sales rank is good, and I hope that it continues to increase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37432495075667345522011-04-15T15:33:35.604-05:002011-04-15T15:33:35.604-05:00I got a Kindle for christmas and I haven't bou...I got a Kindle for christmas and I haven't bought any books at 9.99 or higher. As a customer, I think that is way too high for an ebook. I'm reading more reasonably priced ebooks in the .99 to 6.00 range. If the book I want is only available at the 9.99 price I get it from the library. I can't be the only person doing that.Lisa Toppinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16401059696365760851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55167761086910792812011-04-15T13:50:37.503-05:002011-04-15T13:50:37.503-05:00@ Anonymous
Yes, an it shows. The "Unbroken...@ Anonymous <br /><br /><i>Yes, an it shows. The "Unbroken Hearts" series of covers looks slapped together-- the whole series LOOKS like it was done on the cheap.</i><br /><br />Yet it sells VERY well -- as good and better than most mainstream competitors I've tracked in the same genre. Go figure.I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love the covers. Simple elegance -- beautiful photos from a professional, acclaimed photographer. If that is "slapped together", then so be it.<br /><br /><i>We can see that. Even the author's photo on the Amazon profile is an obvious amateur shot-- stuff in the background, no make-up, weird expression, etc.</i><br /><br />Well yeah, I thought about using one of those cheesy glam photos, but I'm a real person, and I don't wear makeup. I don't choose a book based on the author photo, and I don't expect most others do either. Look at Joe's photo. I mean, I'll admit he's a hero to me, but he won't win a Mr. America contest. It doesn't matter -- he looks real. He's not wearing makeup or a speedo, and that's just fine, even though I fantasize about seeing Joe in a speedo.<br /><br /><i> Take a look at Tina Fey's picture and you'll see what a good authors' photo should look like. </i><br /><br />I'm not Tina Fey. I'm not selling on a celebrity platform, but, with some breast enhancement I could probably do a Snooki look-alike photo.<br /><br /><i>There's also some reviews on the books that point to grammar issues. </i><br /><br />Those have been corrected, via the miracle of instant edit uploads. Subsequent books have been put through the editing wringer. Live and learn. <br />I get excellent feedback on that book -- readers love the story and characters.<br /><br /><i>Doing it "on the cheap" can become expensive.</i><br /><br />Yes, but the sales numbers show that readers aren't having the same problem you are with the book. Your opinion is valid . . . I'm just saying it's one of a hundred opinions I've received; others liked the covers, and the book. You're the first to comment on my author photo. The photo has great significance (time, place) in my life and speaks to what I've done with the books, but that's another story.<br /><br /><i>The cover for Takedown is very good.</i><br /><br />Thanks. It has the lowest price AND lowest sales. I paid for a professional cover because I keep reading these blogs where the wise sages say cover matters. It's an experiment; so far sales of TAKEDOWN with the "very good cover" and low price (99 cents) aren't overtaking my other books.<br /><br />I agree - the cover is important, but this aspect is overrated; over the long haul I'm discovering the story is what matters. You can put a great cover on a bad book, and you might fool a few people for a while. If that's your goal, I say go for it. OTOH, a plain cover on a great book is just fine for long tail sales. My copy of <i>Jane Eyre</i> has a terrible cover, but I don't mind. What's on the inside is what counts in the final analysis.<br /><br />Good luck with your own book sales, anonymous.<br /><br />Anna MurrayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82409170564995667032011-04-15T12:25:14.026-05:002011-04-15T12:25:14.026-05:00Anonymous, thank you for the compliment on the cov...Anonymous, thank you for the compliment on the cover. See what you can get on a shoe string? It's important to get the best for your money and I have an excellent artist working on my covers. It's my one major expenditure, since I do all the rest, other than marketing. See? It can be done on the cheap without looking cheap. <br /><br />If you think the cover is good, you should consider reading the book. It's better.Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3573231781753540852011-04-15T12:23:34.428-05:002011-04-15T12:23:34.428-05:00Anonymous, I've tried to get away with no phot...Anonymous, I've tried to get away with no photo, but everyone requires one. I hate having my picture taken and that is indeed an old high school picture. I'd rather a blank or an avatar.Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23962930106645304392011-04-15T12:02:23.899-05:002011-04-15T12:02:23.899-05:00By the way, Robin Sullivan's picture is a grea...By the way, Robin Sullivan's picture is a great example of a professional-looking author's photo. Even Selena Kitt's avatar is a better choice. At least with Selena, we understand that it's part of her overall marketing platform.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2048981529055899952011-04-15T11:58:11.708-05:002011-04-15T11:58:11.708-05:00JM, I looked at your covers and the cover for Amon...JM, I looked at your covers and the cover for Among Women is fantastic. <br /><br />But the old-timey, "Little House on the Prarie" black-and-white author's photo is extremely odd. It doesn't just look dated-- it's beyond that. Is it a high school photo? The clothing, the hair-- it's obvious that it's decades old. Or meant to look like it's decades old. I don't get it. As a marketing decision, it's a poor one. It would be better if the author's profile had no photo at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36125428075907796852011-04-15T11:26:27.822-05:002011-04-15T11:26:27.822-05:00Anonymous, why should a good or bad author picture...Anonymous, why should a good or bad author picture make a difference? It's the words that matter and not the picture taken of the author. If you want to see a cover done on the cheap, look at mine: <i>Among Women</i> by J. M. Cornwell. It's not cheap looking, but it was inexpensive. That artwork cost me more than everything else, because I didn't do it.Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36024210653286476172011-04-15T11:23:28.290-05:002011-04-15T11:23:28.290-05:00They'll find a way to get it done on any budge...<i>They'll find a way to get it done on any budget, within scary and tight restraints -- just like their characters.</i><br /><br />Yes, an it shows. The "Unbroken Hearts" series of covers looks slapped together-- the whole series LOOKS like it was done on the cheap. We can see that. Even the author's photo on the Amazon profile is an obvious amateur shot-- stuff in the background, no make-up, weird expression, etc. Take a look at Tina Fey's picture and you'll see what a good authors' photo should look like. <br /><br />There's also some reviews on the books that point to grammar issues. <br /><br />Doing it "on the cheap" can become expensive.<br /><br />The cover for Takedown is very good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80065172425855698972011-04-15T10:25:15.420-05:002011-04-15T10:25:15.420-05:00To Joe: I've been reading your blog with great...To Joe: I've been reading your blog with great interest for a year now, and I have one question: <i>Why are you trying so hard to save the Big 6?</i> You are giving them tons of advice on how to improve their business model and ample warnings as to their ultimate fate if they continue to ignore recent trends. But the self-publishing of ebooks and multimedia/enhanced/repurposed backlist titles IS the future. What's to be gained by anyone--other than some of their employees--if the Big 6 survive?Ed McKeoghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10588727147801844225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31724267524716111662011-04-15T03:33:38.183-05:002011-04-15T03:33:38.183-05:00Can't negotiate with terrorists or publishers....Can't negotiate with terrorists or publishers. According David Farland, after looking at a royalty statement he and other writers discovered their publishers were under reporting eroyalties. Up to 90%! Even if publishers agreed to work with writers and try a new model, writers are still better off publishing their own work.Christopher John Chaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05142647178585900592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65766449865020948302011-04-14T23:51:33.640-05:002011-04-14T23:51:33.640-05:00Oh, I should note, I am loving the Duty, Honor, Co...Oh, I should note, I am loving the Duty, Honor, Country novel... :) <br /><br />Between blogging and work I'm only 34% of the way through the ebook...<br /><br />I highly recommend buying Bob Mayer's latest work. :)<br /><br />Neilwannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27634386481274112032011-04-14T23:50:15.638-05:002011-04-14T23:50:15.638-05:00@Robin:" the AAP numbers are out and ebooks b...@Robin:<i>" the AAP numbers are out and ebooks beat ALL categories of print and now are 29.5% of the total ebook/print market!!"</i><br /><br /><a href="http://ebookcomments.blogspot.com/2011/04/february-2011-ebook-sales.html" rel="nofollow"> I graphed. </a> :)<br /><br />And even with a *very* conservative assumption for indie/small publisher sales, ebooks are past 1/3rd of the market. :)<br /><br />Got Popcorn?<br />Neilwannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55644589716937088412011-04-14T21:35:55.199-05:002011-04-14T21:35:55.199-05:00@Dee
Thank you for the great info, Anna.
You'...@Dee<br /><i>Thank you for the great info, Anna.</i><br /><br />You're welcome! <br /><br />AnnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-7637767250802876772011-04-14T21:22:55.883-05:002011-04-14T21:22:55.883-05:00@Tara Maya said...
I think it would be awesome if...<i>@Tara Maya said... <br />I think it would be awesome if Joe would run a poll to see how many books his blog readers are selling. I think people need to know how much they should realistically spend versus how much they can realistically make. Can you do polls on here?<br /><br />Robin Sullivan has useful information on her blog Write to Publish.</i><br /><br />Thanks for the plug Tara - the exact post in question can be found <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-me-money.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />Robin Sullivan | <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Write2Publish</a> | <a href="http://ridanpublishig.com/" rel="nofollow">Ridan Publishing</a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27710971472081470742011-04-14T21:19:49.227-05:002011-04-14T21:19:49.227-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51442386960094174472011-04-14T21:01:46.983-05:002011-04-14T21:01:46.983-05:00Thank you for the great info, Anna.Thank you for the great info, Anna.Deenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72879473704880329022011-04-14T20:19:42.420-05:002011-04-14T20:19:42.420-05:00I've not read through all the posts here yet s...I've not read through all the posts here yet so forgive me if this is a repeat but the AAP numbers are out and ebooks beat ALL categories of print and now are 29.5% of the total ebook/print market!!<br /><br />Robin Sullivan | <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Write2Publish</a> | <a href="http://ridanpublishig.com/" rel="nofollow">Ridan Publishing</a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9784798678752744702011-04-14T19:49:48.217-05:002011-04-14T19:49:48.217-05:00@Dee
I sell 800-1000 copies across the three titl...@Dee<br /><br />I sell 800-1000 copies across the three titles each month, and they are (all 3) in the top 100 western bestsellers on Kindle store. <i>Unbroken</i> was #1 on the western chart for 16 weeks running in 2010 (from Christmas 2009 through March 2010). <br /><br />If you check my bio you'll see I've been writing for many years; I ran an electronic publishing and web development company. I do all the technical aspects, and some graphic art work myself, but the covers were produced by my daughter. Two cover photos were taken by a professional photographer friend. I told him I wanted to pay him something for the second photo, and he broke down and charged me $50. The third cover photo was taken by my daughter (Missouri River) on a geological expedition. <br /><br />I did pay for cover art on my fourth book (most recent work), and it was less than $150.<br /><br />Friends and family with English PhDs make good editors, and they work for a few Sunday dinners and borrowing the truck to go to the compost heap.<br /><br />Authors are creatives. They'll find a way to get it done on any budget, within scary and tight restraints -- just like their characters.<br /><br />Anna MurrayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com