tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post1099741302291060636..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Kay BrattJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1791295536479336842013-10-20T11:58:52.451-05:002013-10-20T11:58:52.451-05:00Great article, Kay. Congratulations! Thanks for sh...Great article, Kay. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your journey (so far) with us.Lisa Gracehttp://www.lisaracebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91062875714020817402013-09-06T18:03:45.638-05:002013-09-06T18:03:45.638-05:00Thanks for sharing your story Kay! It's great ...Thanks for sharing your story Kay! It's great to hear a success story from an established author who's jumped through all the hoops. You provide amazing inspiration for new ebook writers like me!<br /><br />-RS McCoyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042798648454483021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58821741712632757552013-09-04T14:59:20.054-05:002013-09-04T14:59:20.054-05:00I just wanted to give a big thanks to Joe Konrath,...I just wanted to give a big thanks to Joe Konrath, and now his many guest bloggers for sharing their knowledge and experience. I always learn a lot when I check in here.<br /><br />BTW Brandon Sanderson just mentioned Joe Konrath in a recent lecture (you can watch them on Youtube) as "someone in the know" when it comes to self publishing. Harry K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77780304894549474252013-09-04T11:45:02.371-05:002013-09-04T11:45:02.371-05:00@Alan Tucker,
You are so right, unless you catch ...@Alan Tucker,<br /><br />You are so right, unless you catch a spark, memoirs are a tough sell. Mine gets some great reviews, then others despise it and the message I tried to tell. But I'd do it again if given the chance because the world needs to know.<br /><br />(and you may be on to something about book sales from being featured here, my book A Thread Unbroken hit #2 in all Kindle titles the day I was featured, but it was also a Kindle Daily Deal...)Kay Bratthttp://kaybratt.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49984173881731867662013-09-04T11:42:10.926-05:002013-09-04T11:42:10.926-05:00Thanks, @Andy Straka. I looked at your website and...Thanks, @Andy Straka. I looked at your website and not only is the cover for your new book, Dragonflies beautiful, but the book trailer is seriously awesome. Good luck! And you've already been blessed, getting to be the dad to those sweet girls. The rest should be icing on the cake!Kay Bratthttp://kaybratt.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36014183177621350172013-09-04T04:15:12.491-05:002013-09-04T04:15:12.491-05:00Circumstances pressured all of us to prevent at th...Circumstances pressured all of us to prevent at the end of The year 2003, however were today able to relaunch our writing occupations, distribute our own attempts because information products, create our criminal offense fictional testimonies, as well as re-issue our own 5 novel rear record in the next year or so.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vipmmobank.com/Final-Fantasy-XIV.Gold" rel="nofollow">FF14 Gil</a><br /><a href="http://www.vipmmobank.com/RS-3.Gold" rel="nofollow">RS 3 Gold</a><br />buy rs goldhttp://www.joyrs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53502883326464668542013-09-03T21:37:12.376-05:002013-09-03T21:37:12.376-05:00Congratulations, Kay. As a father of four children...Congratulations, Kay. As a father of four children adopted from China, I look forward to reading your books. Looks like you've already written the kind of novels my wife has been urging me to write for years. Note to self: listen more to wife. :)<br /><br />May you enjoy continued success.<br /><br />Andy Straka<br />www.andystraka.comAndy Strakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15767066202998150247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78937760452585010932013-09-03T12:53:47.698-05:002013-09-03T12:53:47.698-05:00Yay, Kay.
I just like the way that looks on the ...Yay, Kay. <br /><br />I just like the way that looks on the page.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64306525619668669292013-09-03T11:33:07.278-05:002013-09-03T11:33:07.278-05:00Thanks so much, RJ! I don't do huge things any...Thanks so much, RJ! I don't do huge things any longer but these days I try to continue to do small things that can possibly make a big difference. Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16421286453020846392013-09-03T08:30:25.314-05:002013-09-03T08:30:25.314-05:00Kay, kids need more adults like you in their lives...Kay, kids need more adults like you in their lives. Thanks for being the person you are. RJ Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859927878400261464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91069784486947469912013-09-02T22:14:29.715-05:002013-09-02T22:14:29.715-05:00Adding to the congratulations, Kay! Terrific story...Adding to the congratulations, Kay! Terrific story and memoirs are tough sells, traditionally. Well done!<br /><br />I'd also like to refute Joe's assertion that his blog is not a good marketing/sales tool for books. When I did my guest post last month, I put my scifi book up as free for two days, as announced at the end of the post. I did not mention the freebie anywhere else, nor was it picked up by any of the larger sites that I've seen. Yet, it was downloaded nearly 2200 times! Not ENT or BookBub numbers, but impressive nonetheless in my eyes. Thanks again for the opportunity, Joe!Alan Tuckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003811594552160836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37374756272450845052013-09-02T21:00:34.673-05:002013-09-02T21:00:34.673-05:00A huge thank you to Joe for graciously allowing me...A huge thank you to Joe for graciously allowing me and others access to his huge following via the guest posts. He make look like a gruff old bear, but me thinks he's actually a teddy bear.<br /><br />FYI...I followed Joe way back when I first started this publishing venture. He inspired me that I could make a go with it. As he has countless others.Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54531337635229049642013-09-02T20:54:26.337-05:002013-09-02T20:54:26.337-05:00@Jeff Ezell,
Thanks so much! The book is currentl...@Jeff Ezell,<br /><br />Thanks so much! The book is currently #6 in the entire Kindle store, thanks to an Amazon Daily Deal day. Yet one more reason to love my publisher. <br /><br />I appreciate you buying it!Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26389236572933381512013-09-02T19:33:51.693-05:002013-09-02T19:33:51.693-05:00As to Joe's sales, if he had huge sales weeks ...<i>As to Joe's sales, if he had huge sales weeks but was in Select, USA Today won't count it.</i><br /><br />I've sold 12k of a self-pubbed title in a week. And yes, it was in Select only. <br /><br />JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37285014652296577572013-09-02T19:32:18.072-05:002013-09-02T19:32:18.072-05:00I could be wrong, but I haven't seen Joe's...<i>I could be wrong, but I haven't seen Joe's name pop up as one of the top selling Thomas & Mercer authors.</i><br /><br />I've had 5 books with Thomas & Mercer, so far none have sold 100k. But two should be getting close.<br /><br />As for my own self-pubbed titles, I've had one, The List, break 100k sold. My next highest is about 90k, and I have about ten titles that have sold between 30k and 90k.<br /><br />I never had a legacy-pubbed title sell more than 95k. <br /><br />Amazon Publishing has catapulted several of my peers to over 100k in sales, but I also know folks who have hit 100k without Amazon.<br /><br />My self-pubbed sales are over a million. Legacy pubbed, print in all editions plus ebooks, is less than 500k. Amazon Publishing I can't discuss in detail, but I'm not complaining about my overall sales.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74379328046098879452013-09-02T18:47:41.121-05:002013-09-02T18:47:41.121-05:00Who said I was only on Amazon? The USA Today Bests...Who said I was only on Amazon? The USA Today Bestseller list requires you have 2 separate sales streams. Amazon and any other is good enough. Barnes/Noble of course, or any participating bookseller chains qualify. <br /><br />And I have reached the USA Today Top 150 before with 11,000 sales in a 7 day reporting period. It was as easy as pushing a button - that button was my submission to Bookbub and their 600,000 strong mystery subscriber list. 2 other authors I know of, indies, have done the same recently via that 'button'. <br /><br />You need nowhere near 100,000 sales for a single title to hit #130-150, especially in the summertime. As to Joe's sales, if he had huge sales weeks but was in Select, USA Today won't count it. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2655524085106048632013-09-02T15:44:53.807-05:002013-09-02T15:44:53.807-05:00Thanks for all the good info, Kay.
Saw Amazon&#...Thanks for all the good info, Kay. <br /> <br />Saw Amazon's Deal of the Day featured on Pixel of Ink. Bought it for $1.99. Why? It's "not my kind of book"? Saw it here, saw it there, read your comments here, and saw your website. Think I can learn how to build stronger relationships with my characters by reading this. <br /><br />A Thread Unbroken by Kay Bratt $1.99<br /><br />With 4 WIP to publish by YE (and Patty McPhatty starts Joe's 8 Hr Panic again with a blog) When will I read?<br />Anybody tried audio under the pillow lately?<br /><br />Jeff EzellAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650618703761755628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58687612061626387182013-09-02T13:12:13.001-05:002013-09-02T13:12:13.001-05:00"AMZ can push one (theoretical) button and em..."AMZ can push one (theoretical) button and email millions of readers a targeted message such as: 'if you love Stephen King, Author X will be right up your alley'. You can land on the USA Today Bestseller list within a week."<br /><br />Ah, if only this were true.<br /><br />They do have incredible marketing power, but if it were as easy to sell books as just targeting customers with emails, Amazon Publishing would have a lot more best sellers than they have. From what I can tell, they give awards for his sales, and so far only a small handful of authors have crossed over 100,000 sales for a single title. Even our gracious host isn't on that list. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen Joe's name pop up as one of the top selling Thomas & Mercer authors. And if Joe's not on that list, that should tell you that maybe it's not as easy as just pushing a button. <br /><br />Michael B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35358208002266226172013-09-02T08:07:39.024-05:002013-09-02T08:07:39.024-05:00Actually, Anonymous, you are right and wrong.
Rig...Actually, Anonymous, you are right and wrong.<br /><br />Right that strong negotiation skills can net authors different deals. Wrong that you can land on the USA Today list. From what I understand, being exclusive to Amazon knocks you out of the running, for you need to be available on all platforms to qualify for USA or NYT lists.Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91107569071239218222013-09-02T07:13:41.479-05:002013-09-02T07:13:41.479-05:00I have gotten two wildly different offers from Ama...I have gotten two wildly different offers from Amazon imprints. The first was several months ago and basically: we take down your book for a year and re-release. Print and ebook rights to AMZ, no special treatment, everything remains the same re: commissions. <br /><br />Offer 2 came last week and was: book only comes down a week this fall. Is re-released in print and ebook, AMZ leverages it's powerful database to drive sales (including Daily Deal), margins for me down to 35%.<br /><br />I rejected the first deal, but plan on taking the second one if the specifics work out as planned. I don't even care what the advance may be, but if AMZ will contractually state the marketing tools they plan to use; I'm all in baby. <br /><br />Offers came on 2 separate books of mine; each had hung around the Overall Top 1000 for several weeks before drawing the attention of two different Amazon editors.<br /><br />Remember, Amazon knows precisely how much you earn as an indie. Don't be afraid to hold out for a sweeter deal, if you are worth it. <br /><br />AMZ can push one (theoretical) button and email millions of readers a targeted message such as: 'if you love Stephen King, Author X will be right up your alley'. You can land on the USA Today Bestseller list within a week. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81492777720831149292013-09-02T07:10:22.354-05:002013-09-02T07:10:22.354-05:00@Venkyiyer58,
Amazon Publishing is being publishe...@Venkyiyer58,<br /><br />Amazon Publishing is being published under one of their imprints, just like a traditional deal. They approach you or your agent, offer a contract with possibly an advance and a marketing plan. They put your book through multiple editors including developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, then interior designers, and in most cases give it a professional cover. When the book launches, usually a great Amazon marketing program gives it a boost.<br /><br />The only major difference between Amazon Publishing and what you call traditional is that Amazon at this time has had some issues getting books into bookstores. (one of mine actually has been in bookstores, but that's a long story)However, with the power of Amazon's website, my sales have been great even without all my book being in bookstores. And who knows what can happen in the future?!<br /><br />CreateSpace is self publishing and is all yours, no help from anyone other than who you outsource to in order to get it ready.Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-7134104239035583392013-09-02T04:18:31.111-05:002013-09-02T04:18:31.111-05:00How does Amazon Publishing differ from (a) CreateS...How does Amazon Publishing differ from (a) CreateSpace and (b) traditional publishing?venkyiyer58https://www.blogger.com/profile/05474028596157479113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24496605323943274242013-09-01T19:12:37.126-05:002013-09-01T19:12:37.126-05:00@Cathie John,
I can sense the excitement as you a...@Cathie John,<br /><br />I can sense the excitement as you and your wife are about to embark on this new adventure and I wish you luck. Especially being someone with all your previous experience, I think you will do a fine job in trailblazing!Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61366364563836026832013-09-01T19:10:01.075-05:002013-09-01T19:10:01.075-05:00Thanks, all!
@Michael Peck, I think it is differe...Thanks, all!<br /><br />@Michael Peck, I think it is different for every author, whether signing with an imprint is better or worse for your career. With my memoir, I definitely made the right choice. Amazon has done a lot with it. My book, A Thread Unbroken, may have done as well with self-publishing. So far, the new trilogy is kicking butt. I haven't yet figured out why some titles do well and some don't, but that's something I'll study more as I go. <br /><br />But ultimately, I can say that Amazon Publishing has gotten my name out there and taken me to a level of success that I know I'd have never achieved on my own. So for me, the deal was worth it.Kay Bratthttp://www.kaybratt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66381370859683822382013-09-01T18:29:32.823-05:002013-09-01T18:29:32.823-05:00Congratulations, Kay. What a great story.Congratulations, Kay. What a great story.Lee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.com