So, I made a Facebook post about my writing and mentioned that Prodigy of Rainbow Tower would be debuting at $2.99. This isn’t what caused a small uproar, mostly through email and text. I said that it would probably not be showing up on Smashwords. So, some friends with Nook noted that they would not be able to get it.
Here’s the issue. I set up on Smashwords the same time as Kindle. In that time, I have ‘sold’ 25 copies of Beginning of a Hero. 7 of those were the 10% free sample, 16 of those were the free downloads for ‘Read an eBook week’, and the last 2 were sales. One sale was because somebody forgot to put in the free code. I’ve pushed my book as much as I can and even free it didn’t get much attention. So, why would I continue with it? I’ve heard that people have been successful with Smashwords, but I don’t think I’m destined to be one of them.
The question now, what do I do about my handful of Nook-using friends? Has anybody had to deal with publishing a book and learning that some of their friends can’t get it?
Legends of Windemere 
If you intend to just sell books to close friends and family, then great. I go where the biggest sales potential is. Compare the numbers of amazon book buyers vs the number of smash words users. Data is useful.
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That’s what I was thinking. I could possibly do a week of Smashwords to give my friends a shot, but that seems rather pointless. There’s always the paperback or Kindle reader for their PC. Sounds mean, but to set things up of Smashwords for less than 10 people seems like a ton of work for no pay-off. Especially since most of them waited for the free download the first time around.
BTW– I have everything set up for the free download weekend. No sooner did I schedule the actual even ton Amazon, my sales start building up speed and I run back onto the lists like a hyperactive cheetah. It was pretty funny.
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Such is life! But it is good you will gain placement on the lists during the free period and be ferocious when it goes back to regular price
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That’s the plan. I think. Do my paid sales count toward my ranking on the free eBook lists? I’m really just flying by the seat of my comfy pajama pants. 🙂 I need a cupcake.
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Nope, but the free sales will move you up the charts and when you go back to paid the ranking will reflect it.
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Cool. I didn’t think they did that due to Amazon having the free eBook lists. Let’s hope KDP Select can help keep me moving through May.
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I’m a Nook girl. But I use the Kindle app on my iPad. You can’t make everybody happy. Do what works for you
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Thanks. That’s probably going to be the plan. If I get a big enough demand then I’d set up on Nook for a little bit of time. Sad thing is that after all of my time there, I can’t even claim my $1.12 royalties. You need at least $10 to get a direct deposit.
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If I had known it was on Nook that’s where I would have gotten it, instead of Kindle. I find the Kindle app clunky. Actually, so is the Nook app. But I read on my Nook in the summer so I can read outside in the sun. I actually prefer iBooks on my iPad. But I have lots of options so it is all good.
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Sorry about that. I tend to forget it’s on there due to the silence of the site.
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Hi, I’m a Nook user and I use both the Kindle iPhone app as well as the PC reader. Works for me. I suggest that you focus on when you anticipate the most exposure and potential sales.
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Think of JKRowling. It took her a while to get published. Now she’s a billionaire.
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Very true. I figure I’ll get there by my 60’s.
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What about PDF files directly through your e-mail? You could send them copies once you received payment through PayPal or something.
Would that even work?
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Not sure if they could put it on the reader, but that was my suggestion. The vocal ones are friends that I know outside the internet.
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Uh, would these vocal ones be the people that don’t spread the word? Because if so….
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Some spread the word and some have yet to read the book. I’ve basically told them that it isn’t worth it and I’ll publish on Smashwords if there is enough of a request.
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I had to buy through Smashwords- I inherited my mom’s old Kobo, which seems to be kind of the lame horse in these discussions. Buy hey, it works! So I’m not complaining.
Anyway, in spite of that, I say do what works best for you. Maybe some day I’ll get an iPad and Kindle app so I can read later publications from you.
I know that at least some e-readers support PDF files, so that might be a good option for direct sales.
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That’s what I was thinking. I tried doing the free PDF for reviews with the current book, but most people ran off with the book, never to return. I could always go onto Smashwords later or start on there for the first month. They have it that I can simply take my book down from the site and put it back up when need be. Maybe they put that into effect to handle the KDP Select exclusivity contract.
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They can always buy the paperback, yes it may be more but as a friend of yours I would think they would want to help your career. If it were an offline friend or family member of mine I would probably buy the paperback and ask to have it autographed to have to show it off. I guess that is the sentimental part of me showing through.
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A few people have done that. Most have either ignored the entire situation or they bought the book and haven’t read it yet. There’s another group of friends that bought it and refuse to review it. I think they don’t like it. Either way, it’s their choice in the end. I have to do what’s right for me.
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Could you just place your book on the Barnes and Noble site, like you did with Amazon? B & N is Nook, right? And Apple has the I-things. I would eliminate Smashwords completely. Especially since people are using it just to get your stuff free.
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I had trouble with that the first time around. B & N had some strange requirements for the cover art. It kept slashing it apart no matter the size or format. It was over an hour of frustration that took me into the morning. Smashwords hits all of the non-Kindle readers including Nook. They even put me on the B & N website, but I still didn’t get anything. The free buyers were all Nook-users too.
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