Dilbert
So I’m on several lists as I head into the weekend. Slow sales day, but I’ve made a lot of progress with the daily blitzes. Some things that I’ve noticed this time around:
- I’m not sure how major a factor pricing is. At least with fantasy, it seems to be a confusion. I’m keeping Prodigy of Rainbow Tower at .99 cents for August as a debut price. Makes sense to me. I’m on the Bestseller Lists, but I look like an oddity. I’m surrounded by $2.99 and up last time I checked. So, my price might not be as big a factor as I once thought. Obviously something can be done to get any book up that high even if you’re an indie author.
- The tweets and Facebook group promos are helping. They are the only thing I’m doing with a morning, noon, and night post on both mediums. I know I’m up on all of the sites and I’m waiting for a few others to come up in mid and late month, but these are the big efforts on my part. Add in all of the blog posts and the help of a precious friend to get all of this rolling. I’m very thankful to everyone that has supported me. Hugs all around.
- The big impact is needed to get on the list. Like last time, I hit all of the advertising sites and went nuts on social media. It got attention and people started heading toward the books. Do I know what helped and what didn’t? Not really, but I think everything had an effect. I really do think you need to come out of the gate with a megaphone strapped to your face. At least with fantasy.
- People are loving the cover, so I’m very thankful to Jason Pedersen for helping me. I doubt I’d get this far without him.
- When working with a series, the second book does boost the first. I don’t see a major boost, but there is definitely an increased rate of sales. Enough to put Beginning of a Hero into the 7,000 range. It actually got 1,500 ranks away from the Top 100 Lists.
- Touching more on a part of #2, I think this song sums it up:
Legends of Windemere 
I see you have quit watching the numbers so much. Hope you are taking it easy. How is your back? Was that related to the other issues?
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My back was never the problem. It was all stomach and stress. I’m set to see a gastroenterologist near the end of the month.
I do check my numbers, but it’s less stressful with my iPhone.
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Oh, I thought you had back problems before the stomach problems.
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The pain was bad enough that I felt it in my back too. So, we guessed incorrectly. I got a back brace and stretched a lot. Then it happened on a day that I did nothing strenuous and wasn’t in a chair all day. Process of elimination.
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From the looks of it, the neverending dance in the numbers department. Life of a self-published author can be complicated and annoying at times.
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Very much so. Bad enough to cause ulcers if I’m not careful.
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😦 I wish I had something comforting to say that you haven’t already heard. You’re just so damned good! The cartoon was hilarious and the music is fantastic! I wonder how long it took the Beatles to hit it big? Now that’s a thought!
Ellespeth
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It took them a while. I’m still doing good with the sales for an indie author during the summer. Although, I just learned that I’m back under a December ‘deadline’ to prove that I’m successful as an author. That’s translating to millionaire by December according to some people.
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Who has put this deadline upon you? No wonder you are not feeling well.
Ellespeth
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My dad. My wife, son, and I live with my parents because of lost jobs and a few other issues. I couldn’t find a job that actually paid bills, so I moved on to the dream job of authorship. I tried to balance writing with a day job, but it wasn’t working. Much of my success has been doing full day marketing on my books and continue writing the series.
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Pfffttttt. What I couldn’t say 😦 And your wife is working and you are caring for your son during the day and writing, too. Perhaps your father isn’t aware that roles are allowed to change in 2013. If that is the case, I’ll be glad to let him know. Now my Cajun side is all fired up.
Ellespeth
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It’s more that he doesn’t understand what I’m doing. He’s very profit-oriented and sees all of my blogging as a waste of time too. I talk about my book, relax with friends, and network here.
I get frustrated because I’ve shown him my numbers, my rankings, my reviews, and I know he checks these things. I just want him to understand that I’m succeeding on so many levels and the money will come. This is a game of patience and hard work.
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SMH! Hasn’t he even a clue about being a writer?
I just wrote sumfin for you. I’m looking for a picture – you know me, lol! It’s sorta about you and stuff.
Ellespeth
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He doesn’t. I’m the lone artist of the family, so I don’t have much understanding around here. I appreciate the write. Looking forward to it.
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You will never be able to stop watching those numbers entirely, will you? lol
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Not for a few more days. Won’t be able to do much over weekend.
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Ah…so I see a difficult situation indeed…you’ve mentioned papa before…sometimes it’s hard I guess for father’s to see that each must follow their own inclinations…maybe one day he will understand. However for now…become detached dear friend!
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Hard to detach when the problem is in my face all day. I just need to keep going and fight come December.
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Yes, I know…been there done that…living with parents can be tough…with me it was my ex’s dad…but didn’t make it easier…here’s to a quick arrival of December.
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Nope. Want to push December back as much as I can. Need my third book out by then too.
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OGG!
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The cover is gorgeous. I’ve had some conversations elsewhere online about how critical cover art is. In a bookstore, I’m more likely to stop and peruse a book by an unknown author if the cover appeals to me. I imagine the same would be with ebooks; even if the book is recommended through blogs, tweets, etc., the cover art may make the difference between the reader buying the book or just moving on.
Regarding the source of your stress: so it’s not your numbers that might ultimately give you an ulcer, it’s your father. You could ride the waves of rankings much better if you didn’t have the pressure of an unreasonable deadline. Has he defined what exactly is the success you need to achieve by December in order to continue writing full-time? I’m serious. If this is to be a contractual arrangement, then the terms should be clear and both parties should be in agreement. Meaning that if you do meet an agreed upon definition of success, then he would have to back off and let you proceed. If I have one wish for you (and I actually have many), it would be that you become successful enough that you can move out.
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He kind of has. Need to make enough money to afford taxes on the house and all bills. That’s well into 6 digits. If not that then a contract with a publisher. It’s frustrating because he’ll support me until he’s in a bad mood. Then I make an easy target. I just don’t get it. I’m nearing 350 eBook sales on the new book and that’s just US sales. I would think progress and pricing I’m not a one time fluke would mean something.
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Children are always easy targets for their parents’ frustration. It’s not fair, but fairness never seems to be applied in family dynamics, at least not with my family or those of my friends. You’re in Long Island, right? House taxes are pretty steep there from what I’ve heard. It sounds like he’s setting you up to fail. I hope you can renegotiate. The terms should be reasonable, not unimaginable. You’re not a fluke. Actually, I think you’re doing quite well given the market and all those other authors you have to compete with for attention. You are a professional, Charles. You just need more time. And more reasonable expectations from the parent.
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It’s not even a real contract. He did this in June and I said I succeeded since I had sold over 3,000 books since February and was still selling. It was only enough to get me a reprieve. 500 sales us considered a moderate success for an indie author supposedly.
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You’ve sold over 3,000 books??????????????????? If I was your dad, I’d set up a DBA and become your publisher. And with that you’d have one option of the “contract” honored.
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I wouldn’t work with him. Not much business sense. Overly cautious and hates social media. I think it’s over 3,500 by now.
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Can’t win for losing. Oh, well. I still think your sales are impressive.
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They’re doing good. Even the refunds are rising today . . . wait . . . dang it.
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