First, Legends of Windemere: Family of the Tri-Rune crossed 1,000 sales. That’s always the big target I’m looking for. At least with the fantasy novels. The novella and poetry book are kind of on their own. How in the world does Bestiary of Blatherhorn Vale always manage to sell a few every few?
I started writing my 8th book this week, which probably seems strange to people since I only have the first 4 published. The next one won’t be out until July/August due to it needing more editing than the previous ones. Also, Jason has a big project for June and that takes precedence. Besides, I have a few other things I’ve been toying with over the last day or two
This weekend is Arcon, which is the convention at my old college. I went last year, but couldn’t make it this year. For the best since I wouldn’t have had a clue on what to do about my vender table. I have no idea how many of each book I should bring or the other merchandise I should create. To make sure I don’t make a mistake, I’m already making a few plans. All I have is the following after price checking:
- 5 of each paperback book. I’ll have 7 out by then.
- Buy button maker to make pins of each character face. By the time of the convention this will mean Luke Callindor, Nyx, Sari, Timoran Wrath, The Lich, Fizzle, and Kira Grasdon. Sell them separately and in sets.
- Thinking of making Fizzle Hats. Probably about 10-20 depending on how much they would cost.
- Thinking of making Lich Stress Balls. Same amount and pricing as the hats.
- No idea what to do in regards to eBook selling at the table or anything special for the champions. Kira would be too new to get anything in time.
That was the big Internet wandering of yesterday while I tried to relax and work a little more on the new book. Also doing laundry. For some reason I’m more exhausted than when I started this weekend. The week might go slowly at this rate.
- Continue writing book 8.
- Eat, sleep, bike, shower, and get birthday present for next weekend.
- Take care of important paperwork for toddler.
- Rue
By the way, I’m still trying to figure out what to pull for excerpts or any topic that I can stretch for a weekly theme. Any suggestions would be nice.
Legends of Windemere 
Congratulations on the 1,000 milestone, Charles. Hardly a trivial number.
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Thanks. 🙂
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Nice on the 1000. Congrats.
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Thanks.
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I can’t think of a topic for you. Too early maybe.
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Same issue here. I was really hoping to get some good excerpt suggestions too. Maybe spend a week picking out the debut scene of a few characters like Luke, the Hellfire Elf, Nyx, etc.
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ooooo. Now there is a good idea. How about trouble scenes as well. (Luke’s battles NYX spells etc)
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Maybe. I really want to show that Luke/demon scene in Prodigy, but I keep getting told it’s too special to put on the blog. That’s why I can’t just pick anything. The stuff I want to show off might be too much. Can’t even touch books 5-7.
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Congrats on 1000, Charles!
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Thanks!
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Now, what I am going to write is just suggestions based on two different perspectives:
1. You could probubly sell me ANYTHING with Fizz on it. Seriously. Anything
2.When I sell stuff, I realised people go mostly for what me and you as sellers would deem useless.
So yeah, my first observation would be that if I stumbled upon your stall and just saw your books and you introduce me to them etc, I would like to start from Book 1. So maybe have extra copies of that with you, because , me personaly, I would not buy the whole serial right away nor would I skip and buy anything that is not book one. I reckon thats how most would do, buy part 1, then buy more if they like it.
Add props. Like I wrote, people are crazy about those. I dont know how far you span with your crafting skill, but stuff like book binders, maybe a funny card or two featuring the characters, like a birthday card or a graduation card. Go for the witty stuff, nothing overly serious. Again, for me, slap Fizzle on it and Id buy it.
For the ebooks, most people carry their overpriced phones and tablets with them, so it is easy to point them to the shopping place for that. You can encourage them to bookmark the books pages or add the books to their wishlist while they are there.
Some other stuff which I would do, because I am a crazy idiot like that is entertaining the crowd that comes by involving them in conversations. I would make stuff from the book out of paper, like artefacts or simply world known class weaponry, like swords, staves, daggers. I would make a quiz or something so people get in the groove for magic and fantasy. When they finish the quiz (not a long one or overly complicated, a classic one, just following the books and lore) I would tell them “You are just like “insert character name”. They could take the paper with them, it would be openable with their quiz results inside, the character description along with how they can purchase the book.
And stuff like that. I do realise that if I myself would be planing an edavour like this,it would be nearly impossible to do all of this while taking care of the kitchen, the bathroom, the every other room and the kid, and I know you are in a pretty similar situation. If you dig any of these ideas and I can help somehow,do let me know 😀
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Thanks. Good idea on have more of the 1st book than the others. Probably 10 of that one and 5 of the others. I can do Goodreads Giveaways with the leftovers if I want.
I’ll have my son around to entertain people, but my crafting ability is nil. Given how the vendor room looks, I’d definitely be a small fish in the pond. I’ve been talking to people who are there this weekend to see what they suggest. Maybe I can get a quiz or a craft thing going at the table depending on the kids that are around.
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Wonderful news on the 1000 sales mark.Great ideas! I would definitely have more of first book…get the series started for folk! They can buy the others later if they like. Or a boxed set with the first one free if that becomes an option later. Printing off a word search puzzle should not be too hard or expensive. It would be a good way to introduce people to character names and names of places and things in the series. Just be sure to provide pencils.
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Thanks. I’ll look into the puzzles. Definitely glad people are mentioning having more of the 1st book.
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Those puzzles are fun for all ages.Oh yeah, and a couple of clipboards might be helpful. Ask Chris, he makes and sells them.
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I found mouse pads. The convention crew are big into trinkets and things to play with from what I remember. That and sweets, but I know the cupcake girl there and she’s not one to mess with.
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