tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post9195994943428633239..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Ann Voss Peterson's Big RegretJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15428691493141221882013-03-23T04:23:34.841-05:002013-03-23T04:23:34.841-05:00Hi I am going into the selfpublishing business. Ca...Hi I am going into the selfpublishing business. Came here on Merrick's introduction, he says there's plenty of tips. Is it really true that if u give away free copies on Kindle pple will buy more? Why would that be? <br />I have couple of short stories and i decided to make public, one on my website. there's some risk like some pple i know, they'd rather download for free only eg for some salvatore's ebooks than buy them<br /><br />Is it adviaable to set a low price? Hope someone experienced can answer me? thank you!boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13024809004099181837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83681674883674709102013-03-13T17:03:17.204-05:002013-03-13T17:03:17.204-05:00Nice job, Joe. BookBooster is charging $45 now ins...Nice job, Joe. BookBooster is charging $45 now instead of $25. You made them popular and they got smart and raised their prices. Now I'm not so sure it's worth the cost.Rob Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04388119793952454397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11673626776757787562013-02-26T16:37:19.761-06:002013-02-26T16:37:19.761-06:00Honestly I'm impressed with the success you ha...Honestly I'm impressed with the success you have had thus far! Dont give up!Ginnyhttp://pinterest.com/ginsimon89/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18251388130661029992013-02-25T15:29:13.660-06:002013-02-25T15:29:13.660-06:00To SashaGirl: I would definitely go through the st...To SashaGirl: I would definitely go through the steps with Createspace, IF you can format your own book, and you can get a cheap back cover. (I assume you already have the cover.) Unlike all-in-one self-pub houses, Createspace won't charge you a dime. I spent about $6 to get a finished copy of the book so I could see EXACTLY how it looked. Other than that, you are under no obligation. And then the book is listed in paperback on Amazon and in the Createspace store. M. R. Corneliushttp://www.mrcornelius.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40515834712077497292013-02-25T12:49:03.135-06:002013-02-25T12:49:03.135-06:00Ann and Joe,
informative posts. Thank you both!
I&...Ann and Joe,<br />informative posts. Thank you both!<br />I've recently (after 41 years of writing and being published with many traditional legacy publishers since 198) I just started self-publishing eBooks and am astonished at the money I'm getting! Thank you Joe!!!<br />A big question for you both: WOULD IT BE WORTH IT FOR ME TO DO THE PRINT VERSIONS OF MY EBOOKS AT CREATESPACE??? You both would know. Should I or shouldn't I? Warmly, a fan, author Kathryn Meyer Griffith rdgriff@htc.net Kathryn Meyer Griffithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05034564063539239120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12947139264200222922013-02-25T07:22:03.453-06:002013-02-25T07:22:03.453-06:00Hey Joe, just wondering about the switch from Joe ...Hey Joe, just wondering about the switch from Joe Kimball to JA Konrath on the new Timecaster covers. Any plans for Kimball in the future? I hope those books find a bigger audience soon...they deserve it.<br /><br />And what are your future plans for Kilborn?William J. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03363006166880987871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34785850453709284112013-02-24T23:41:31.289-06:002013-02-24T23:41:31.289-06:00Seems to me most of the success stories on Amazon ...Seems to me most of the success stories on Amazon Kindle these days are people writing very graphically violent thrillers or porn. Lots and lots of porn. Another thing that strikes me is that writers with a background in publishing seem to do considerably better than newbies. Just two observations. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25564019012643124632013-02-24T15:26:01.930-06:002013-02-24T15:26:01.930-06:0075,000 copies! Wow! Is that unprecedented or what?...75,000 copies! Wow! Is that unprecedented or what? Nice job Ann!Nicole https://www.blogger.com/profile/02447479916034764638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82276227672871234982013-02-24T10:54:29.453-06:002013-02-24T10:54:29.453-06:00@Anon 7:08 : it's definitely a gray area, as a...@Anon 7:08 : it's definitely a gray area, as an author with deep pockets can use Resultsource as well as a publishing company.<br /><br />That's why it seems important to me to develop a consciousness, because there are some cases in life where it's only about you and your consciousness.<br /><br />I've blogged about it (and some other practices of big publishing). Sorry, in french. Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45076435566733631532013-02-24T07:08:41.419-06:002013-02-24T07:08:41.419-06:00@Alan Spade - Great link on the scam that is '...@Alan Spade - Great link on the scam that is 'bestseller campaigns'. Seems to be more prevalent in non-fiction, but don't think for a second that it doesn't happen in the fiction world. <br /><br />I hate to get political, but in reading Ann Voss Peterson's account of how Harlequin created a new company to screw her out of foreign rights - and generally colluded with the Big 6 to keep authors earnings so low....does this strike anyone else as extremely hypocritical?<br /><br />I mean, the publishing world is what 90% liberal, railing against capitalism and touting the 'fair share' narrative, yet behind closed doors in their business lives they practice what can only be described as ultra-capitalism: using their money and influence to f*** over the content creators/'little guys'.<br /><br />I can just imagine the Facebook-like tax returns of these publishing houses - publicly signing on to tax the hell out of top earners while paying little to no corporate taxes themselves. I hope every one of them goes bankrupt in the most public manner possible. <br /><br />Just a pre-coffee Sunday morning rant, feel free to delete Joe. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25012671731488346942013-02-24T02:27:04.557-06:002013-02-24T02:27:04.557-06:00It's too bad that Amazon is jacking the price ...It's too bad that Amazon is jacking the price up for many of these ebooks in Europe. Instead of 99 cents I'm seeing $3.62. Instead of $2.99 I see $6.04. There are more examples. It's across the board and it's annoying as hell.Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25383362811080956462013-02-23T17:53:41.091-06:002013-02-23T17:53:41.091-06:00I should mention, at the same time as this giveawa...I should mention, at the same time as this giveaway is going on for Switch, my newest thriller Port of Sorrow is seeing its best sales numbers of all my previous books, so readers are beginning to take notice :)<br />Grant McKenziehttp://grantmckenzie.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42046243584994625572013-02-23T17:52:09.026-06:002013-02-23T17:52:09.026-06:00It's the last day on my giveaway for the book ...It's the last day on my giveaway for the book that Lee Child calls "A terrific thriller" and Ken Bruen calls "Harlan Coben on Speed" So far, SWITCH has been downloaded over 1,300 times, so I'm hoping this will lead to new readers for my other four titles: No Cry For Help, K.A.R.M.A., Port of Sorrow and Angel With A Bullet. SWITCH if free today at: http://www.amazon.com/Switch-ebook/dp/B008BUYQ9M<br />Cheers,<br />GrantGrant McKenziehttp://grantmckenzie.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1634345885138378912013-02-23T16:42:31.365-06:002013-02-23T16:42:31.365-06:00@Adrijus G : yes, this is an important news.
Ano...@Adrijus G : yes, this is an important news. <br /><br />Another thing that may be the subject of the next entry on Joe's blog : the "bestseller campaigns". <br /><br />http://www.leapfrogging.com/2013/02/18/debunking-the-bestseller-book-sales-spike/<br /><br />A very gray area of life and business indeed. Strangely reminds me the argument about paid reviews.Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60845215030062607932013-02-23T09:50:29.631-06:002013-02-23T09:50:29.631-06:00Amazon just announced changes to affiliate program...Amazon just announced changes to affiliate program which can impact the KDP Select users. It states that people who promote only freebies or mostly freebies won't be getting paid for it, which means book bloggers will be moving away from freebies and do discounted books instead. Here is the Amazon message:<br /><br />March 1, 2013 version<br />The following is added at the end of the sub-section:<br /><br />“In addition, notwithstanding the advertising fee rates described on this page or anything to the contrary contained in this Operating Agreement, if we determine you are primarily promoting free Kindle eBooks (i.e., eBooks for which the customer purchase price is $0.00), YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO EARN ANY ADVERTISING FEES DURING ANY MONTH IN WHICH YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:<br />(a) 20,000 or more free Kindle eBooks are ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links; and<br />(b) At least 80% of all Kindle eBooks ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links are free Kindle eBooks.” "<br /><br />So decision to price book at 99 cents seems to be brilliant tactic going forward! If bloggers promote less Free books, KDP Select loses even more value.Adrijus G.http://www.rockingbookcovers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57280202739477880712013-02-23T08:45:08.662-06:002013-02-23T08:45:08.662-06:00
Good post, folks.
As someone who has ghost writte...<br />Good post, folks.<br />As someone who has ghost written several books, I always wonder about the name recognition factor when reading about authors who switch to indie publishing.<br />When I read Ann’s post, my first reaction was, “That‘s great. But she had a following when she went indie. It wouldn‘t apply to me.”<br />Then Melinda Duchamp pretty much shot that out of the water, since -- as I understand it -- that was a new pseudonym for her. <br />I know you’ve addressed the name-recognition issue a few times. But, like John McClane, old excuses and rationalizations die hard.Tim Tresslarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54748172540966557392013-02-23T08:16:39.490-06:002013-02-23T08:16:39.490-06:00Thanks for this update. I snagged a copy of all th...Thanks for this update. I snagged a copy of all the free book offerings. I liked your suggestion to continue and not give up. I only have one 99 cent short story collection right now, but it makes enough per month to cover my cell phone bill. :)<br />Have a debut novel coming out in April and will try all these techniques. Hope to become another Chicago success story.Kim Canohttp://www.kimcano.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33308443870284643172013-02-23T06:59:58.061-06:002013-02-23T06:59:58.061-06:00Joe, thanks for the free downloads. Looking forwa...Joe, thanks for the free downloads. Looking forward to reading them. My novel Trip Wire is free for three days starting today.<br /><br />J RandallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34920006464954992342013-02-23T00:22:10.117-06:002013-02-23T00:22:10.117-06:00Back here to comment on my free experiment on KDP....Back here to comment on my free experiment on KDP. My time travel romance "Treasure So Rare", Book 3 in the time travel trilogy was published for the first time on KDP last week. It stayed in the top 2-5 free in its category for 4 days. I had about 4000 downloads for the 5 days and it's spilled over to my other 8 romances. It ended last night. It really bumped up the ranks for almost all my books but especially the books in the series, Once Upon a Remembrance Book 1 and Soulmates Through Time Book 2 in the trilogy have sold nicely compared to very slow sales before. I've been putting ebooks out since May 2012 and it's been steady but very slow.<br /><br />So my next idea is I'm putting my contemporary romance series, Book 2 and then a week or so later Book 3on KDP free 5 days each and see if it bumps up the other two books in the series. Grace Branniganhttp://www.gracebrannigan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54968947205619895212013-02-22T20:47:11.461-06:002013-02-22T20:47:11.461-06:00Check this out. Just got it in the e-mail from Ama...Check this out. Just got it in the e-mail from Amazon<br /><br />March 1, 2013 version <br />The following is added at the end of the sub-section: <br /><br />“In addition, notwithstanding the advertising fee rates described on this page or anything to the contrary contained in this Operating Agreement, if we determine you are primarily promoting free Kindle eBooks (i.e., eBooks for which the customer purchase price is $0.00), YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO EARN ANY ADVERTISING FEES DURING ANY MONTH IN WHICH YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: <br />(a) 20,000 or more free Kindle eBooks are ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links; and <br />(b) At least 80% of all Kindle eBooks ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links are free Kindle eBooks.”<br /><br />Amazon might have popped our big green balloon.Ripley Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10057163192303993783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1686641198124683382013-02-22T20:09:58.877-06:002013-02-22T20:09:58.877-06:00@ Patrick R.
That just wanting to see what would...@ Patrick R. <br /><br />That just wanting to see what would happen thing is over for me, too. I love the idea of actively reaching readers, as opposed to getting chained to a wall in writer hell. <br /><br />Our results are typical for basically zero marketing to real readers. I personally couldn't figure out how to reach them.<br /><br />I did what I could with the writers out there, got ignored in my efforts to book a blog tour, or have them promote themselves with me even when asked as part of a trade, and the Kindle Boards tend to delete almost every attempt at self-promotion.<br /><br />I don't want to buy reviews. You can tell they were purchased.<br /><br />The pillow over my face was what every social network smothers us with, a glut of writers, screaming "buy my books." <br /><br />I don't have the time to spend on social networking, and damn near killed myself working on a platform that showed zero results after six months. And between you and me, platform, as such, is overrated.<br /><br />I just started, I'm working hard to pad my luck by producing quality reads, and I'll give as many books away as I can, as long as I'm actually reaching real readers. People who want to try a new voice. People who want to find new ideas in the form of fiction.Ripley Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10057163192303993783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23245069223522911492013-02-22T20:04:26.247-06:002013-02-22T20:04:26.247-06:00You people are sooo inspiring!
I went for a job i...You people are sooo inspiring! <br />I went for a job interview today....<br />I don't want it. I want to write. <br />Seeing numbers like this make me feel I can do it. I don't need a million dollars. I need just enough to stay home and write another book. <br />Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78745339789048007382013-02-22T17:31:47.644-06:002013-02-22T17:31:47.644-06:00@KDP Select free
@ Ripley King
For some months I ...@KDP Select free<br />@ Ripley King<br /><br />For some months I saw very little activity on sales but then again I was doing virtually nothing to market the fiction I have out at present - eight episodes and a full compilation of The Eyewitness Protocols, by PJ Reynolds.<br /><br />So it was interesting to run with KDP Select, having all eight available to release at once - unlike when first released, when written, last year. I did all five days, and the run ended earlier this week. Again, zero marketing: I wanted to see what would happen. Well...<br /><br />...almost all of them jumped well into 200+ copies taken in .com, almost a third as much in .co.uk, and activity reaching the teens in .ca and .de. Late in the free run I found the other territories waking up, but only a little. All together, a couple of thousand copies were taken, but only because of the episodic nature of the books (and they are a decent length - circa 20k words, or 90-ish pages each).<br /><br />The first episode also gained the first review of the story by anyone (and unknown to me):<br /><br />"I downloaded all eight of these books because they were free, but I actually wound up enjoying this first one quite thoroughly. It's well written, interesting, deep, and suspenseful. The plot leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to read the rest!"<br /><br />Unexpectedly, there were some sales of the entire book during the free period for the episodes.<br /><br />So, an interesting exercise in wearing the business-publisher hat. Thanks to Joe and everyone for the discussion on further ways to slice n' dice marketing possibilities - for when I go active.<br /><br />Most of all, however, new stories - new IPs! - are needed, as with anyone, and recommended by everyone. Good luck to all.<br /><br />Pat<br /><br />THE EYEWITNESS PROTOCOLS, by PJ Reynolds<br /><br />THE EYEWITNESS PROTOCOLS, Episode 1<br />etc<br />Patrick Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22240295859655817492013-02-22T12:37:03.364-06:002013-02-22T12:37:03.364-06:00It seems that free books can be a very effective w...It seems that free books can be a very effective way to help a limited number of authors, but overall most books don't "sell" that well even when free, and overall the free system seriously cuts into the paid sales. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35897104413733913472013-02-22T12:14:23.129-06:002013-02-22T12:14:23.129-06:00.
Do consider carefully price changes on titles do....<br />Do consider carefully price changes on titles doing well. The Amazon algorithm appears to match books by price. So changing the price puts it in another bucket of books that might not sell so well or even perform as well on its next free giveaway. Now if your book is actually creating the hopping baskets for the other books to fall into then YMMV.<br />.<br />.J Gordon Smithhttp://jgordonsmith.comnoreply@blogger.com