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I know, I know...bad blogger.
In my own defense, writing and promoting books is EXHAUSTING. In this last month so much has happened and I'm still not sure how it all came to be. So let's start with the basics:
Wait for Me. I decided to not go with the Kindle Select program this time around and just published it on NOOK and Kindle and guess what? My sales SKYROCKETED on NOOK! I could not believe it. It had been the complete opposite when I did it with The Christmas Cottage and that's why I shied away from B&N because it wasn't making any money for me. Clearly I was wrong to jump the gun because it has been in the top 100 for weeks and peaked at Number Four!!! I was a spot better than James Patterson! Go figure!
Trust in Me. This is the next book I'm releasing and is book two in the Montgomery Brothers trilogy. So I've been writing, writing, writing and editing and helping design a book cover...and basically wishing that there were more hours in the day.
Ever After. I released Ever After in paperback finally and that was a process that nearly brought me to my knees. Formatting a book for publication is not something that can be rushed. As I found out by the THIRD print proof that came to my house. It's now available on Amazon for $7.49. It's kind of fun having an entire bookshelf in my house that is being filled with books that I wrote!
I'm in the process of working with a group of indie authors like myself to put together a box set. We have picked a theme and we will each contribute a title and do all of the marketing and promoting (oh, joy!) and see how it goes. A lot of these sets have been making it on to the big bestseller lists like USA Today! I would LOVE to have that happen. So we'll see how it all comes together and I've got my fingers crossed that it will be something that builds my audience a little.
I did a marketing promotion that promised 2,500 likes on my Facebook page. It was a $15 fee and I figured, why not? Well, I ended up getting over 5,000 likes from it and was near giddy. What they don't tell you? Most of those likes don't last. So even though I gained 5,000 likes from them, by the time most people un-like it (and why? No one knows) I'll end up with the 2,500 that they promised.
I hope.
I survived Mother's Day. Barely. I stayed in my pajamas through Memorial Day. I'm still loving my new car and still feel pretty darn sassy driving it. Yeah, me! Frank's work schedule is crazy, Michael is finishing up the seventh grade and Nick is plugging onward with college and trying to find a job. All in all, it's a busy time for us.
Some things that I'm considering to help me clear the way a little for more writing is closing down the blog. I know, I know, I've been doing this for years but it's hard to maintain a blog, a Facebook page, an author website, a Twitter account and a Tumblr all while trying to write and promote a book so something's got to give. I had someone leave me a rather nasty message not too long ago (which I chose not to publish) where they complained that my blog was spam.
Seriously? It's my blog and I'm writing about ME! I've been sharing the link to my posts on Digg, Reddit, Twitter and the like and this guy saw my stuff on Reddit and told me that my stuff was Spam. I thought that Reddit was a way for people to promote their blog contents, articles and whatnot but clearly I offended this guy. Not my intention, dude, seriously. I'm just trying to get a little creative writing/venting done and sell some books. I know you can't please everyone but sometime I just wish that people didn't feel the need to throw the hate around.
I'm still dealing with some issues with some people in my life who are convinced that I'm making a boatload of money from all of the books. Seriously people, .35 cents a book. That's it. Do the math. On average, I sell about 2,000 books a month. Divide that by the .35 cents and you'll see, I'm not getting rich on this. I'm not able to quit my day job. I'm not hiding anything from anyone so quit complaining that I'm not sharing my money with you. There is no money to share. AND...while your bitching, how about maybe taking some of that energy and putting it into actually helping me SELL some books. If you're that interested in me spending my money on you, how about helping me make some?
So that's it. Not sure if I'll be doing this much longer. It's a nice creative release and I've made a lot of really great friends here. It's a lot to consider...
As we are approaching the final countdown to Christmas, hopefully most of us are done with our shopping and preparations. Maybe you are getting ready to travel or maybe you're the one hosting the festivities this year. Either way, it is important to take some time for yourself and sit and relax.
What I have loved most about my Kindle is that I can go through the lists of Free books on Amazon and really load up my reading list essentially for nothing. I also look at books that are under $3 because really, you can't buy a paperback for less than that these days. So I get a variety of books to read and spend less than I would on possibly one or two books.
There are so many titles to choose from and not all of the ones that I've chosen (particularly from the free list) were memorable, however, I'm never disappointed when I take time to sit down and read. Plus, and this is definitely true if you are traveling, it's nice to have the convenience of all of those titles in one compact place rather than lugging around four or five paperback in your carry-ons or luggage.
We spend so much time prepping for the holidays and running around that we don't take time to actually slow down and ENJOY the holidays. I don't know about where you are right now but here in North Carolina it is very cold and the wind is fierce! Once I am done blogging, I am curling up in my big comfy chair and reading. If we were traveling, I would be curled up in my hotel room right now - with the Kindle - and reading.
I'm a book nerd. I admit it. I was astounded to learn that I am friends with several people who do NOT like to read! It was shocking! I love spending my free time reading. If I'm not reading, then I want to be writing. Why? So that I have something that I enjoy to read...to read! I'm a freak, sorry.
So when you're searching for something to read to fill the void on that holiday trip or to help you kick back and relax after a day of cleaning, shopping and prepping, consider this: be done with the Fifty Shades books. Seriously, that series is killing me. It's a bit sick and repulsive and it is EVERYWHERE on every book list. Enough already! Look at what Amazon recommends under the genre that you are looking for and don't forget to give some new authors a chance.
In the last year I discovered several new authors whose books I have thoroughly enjoyed - they are all contemporary romance/women's fiction writers but their books are very enjoyable: Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Shannon Stacey, Robyn Carr... LOVE these ladies and their writing and it was exciting to find myself on the best seller lists with them!
Don't knock the indie authors or those who aren't so well known. You never know what you may be missing! You would be surprised how many great books there are out there that don't cost a fortune. If you bought an ebook reader for someone or you get one yourself this year, you will have thousands of fabulous books to choose from that are under $3.00 - and really, NO ebook, no matter who the author is, should cost more than that!
We are heading in to the end of the first month of sales of "The Christmas Cottage" and my goal is to hit the top ten in women's fiction and the top 100 in Kindle sales. My current standing has me at #13 in women's fiction and #138 in Kindle sales. If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer for the romance reader in your life, "The Christmas Cottage" would make a great gift! Only $6.99 in paperback. We're looking to hit 100 "Likes" on the Amazon page and...as a special gift for anyone who's read this far...
I will give a Kindle version of "The Christmas Cottage" to the first TWO people to comment on the blog that they shared the link on their Facebook page! So leave a comment here with the link to your Facebook page and show that you've shared the love and you'll get a FREE ebook copy of the book.
Ho-ho-ho...
Love them? Hate them? Know how to use them?
Last year for Christmas, Frank bought me a Kindle Touch. I was not gracious about the gift at first. I opened it, smiled and was like "Oh! Look at this!" when the reality was I was fuming inside because I had told him a week earlier how much I did NOT want an ebook reader! I prefer the feel of a "real" book, I enjoy turning the pages, I love scanning through them and re-reading some of my favorite parts...
What an idiot I was!
It took a little time but then I learned to embrace the Kindle and after a while, I kind of stopped buying paperbacks. Not completely, mind you. There are a couple of books that I have bought in paperback mainly because they weren't available in ebook format and I just had to have them right away. Crazy, I know, but there it is.
I didn't feel the need to step up to the Kindle Fire or covet any other more high-tech reader, I enjoy my simple Kindle Touch. Then I discovered the Kindle App for my iPhone.
I'm lucky I still have a job.
I have found great joy in reading on my iPhone no matter where I am. Hell, that's what got me through the long lines on Black Friday! I read three novella's in a 24 hour period all from the convenience of my phone! Who knew!
My soon-to-be 13 year old (yikes!) was browsing the campus bookstore when we went to tour Nick's college and he discovered the Nook from Barnes and Noble. He was mesmerized by the whole thing and then started a campaign to get one for himself. I was curious as to why it had to be the Nook; I don't have anything against the Nook but I wanted to know what it was about the Nook that drew him in. The answer?
He could watch Netflix on it.
Seriously.
So I did a little research and basically the more high-tech "tablets" or ereaders have all kinds of apps to not only read but watch movies on and he told me that he is allowed to have an ebook reader at school with him. I then had to remind him that he would have to actually READ on it if he had it at school and not be watching Dr. Who on Netflix. I got the eye roll and the "Mom, please" but I could tell that he hadn't considered the possibility of getting caught watching TV at school.
Ah, youth.
The thing that really got me was the price of the Nook, the Fire, and the like. He's 13. I don't think that any child (and yes, he is still a child) needs to have the most expensive gadgets on the market because really, they don't know how to take care of them. So we compromised and he agreed to not NEEDING the Nook and would be happy with an Android tablet. Thank God for Amazon and Black Friday. We got a sweet deal and when I see that he can really take care of his electronics (he's lost his iPod about a dozen times), we'll think about upgrading.
So what's your favorite tablet or ereader? Have you found one that is far more superior than the rest? I would love to know!
And you know what is the best part of the ereader? MY BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON THEM!!! "The Christmas Cottage" is currently #398 in Kindle downloads and 83,174 on Nook and only .99 cents per download! Such a deal!!
Daily Amazon Stats:
#32 in Contemporary Women's Fiction
#52 in Contemporary Fiction
#80 in Contemporary Romance
#11 in Hot New Releases in Contemporary Women's Fiction
#14 in Hot New Releases in Contemporary Fiction
#22 in Hot New Releases in Contemporary Romance
Would Oprah please give me a call!!!
