Wasn’t Han Solo handcuffed when he went in?
So, I’ve had something on my mind for a while. Since December actually and recent events finally made me want to make a post. The question in the title is rather valid. Why? Because Legends of Windemere books are still selling or at least getting looked at on Kindle Unlimited. I’m always impressed when I see them and it helps drive me forward with the newer books. So, what about Crossing Bedlam?
John Cleese/Monty Python
It has basically died even though I hyped it up beforehand and did my usual marketing stuff. Not even a peep and I have no idea why it happened. People have made suggestions and I’ve found that nearly every one has been countered by praise from another party. This issue really came home when someone sent me a message asking if I was planning a sequel. I do hope to write one later this year, but I don’t know about publishing. The adventures of Lloyd and Cassidy are a lot of fun to write, but I can’t tell if I’m alone in that camp. Yes, there’s going for the art and that’s another topic.
So, where am I going with my tale of frustrating woe? Well, at some point I’m going to finish writing and publishing Legends of Windemere. Probably December of next year if things run smoothly. Then I’m left in the lurch. Not that I don’t have ideas since there are the Dawn Fangs, Sin, a one-shot of a survivor, Elysium, Darwin, and I could keep going on. The problem is that I’m starting to wonder if I’m even allowed to step outside of the adventures of Luke Callindor. Is the brand Charles E. Yallowitz or Legends of Windemere or both? If it’s the second choice then everything I write next may suffer the same fate as Crossing Bedlam. Will anybody want to know about the vampire civil war and meet Clyde since Nyx won’t be involved? Will people cheer for Sin when he isn’t teamed up with Fizzle? These may sound like odd questions, but they are a source of worry. Maybe I’ll be safe if I remain in fantasy, but one never knows.
Another source of this comes from what I saw in December. I was gearing up for another book release called The Mercenary Prince and checked out the Amazon fantasy lists. Nearly 50% of them were new editions in various languages of this:
Harry Potter Books . . . Duh.
Yup. I found myself staring down the barrel of this epic series. Nothing against it, but it got me thinking about J.K. Rowling. She’s considered one of the greatest authors of modern times. Yet, she can’t seem to get away from this series. Yes, she had ‘Casual Vacancy’, but I remember reading that those books were doing mediocre until it was released that she was the author. Her brand is her name, which is something we all dream of. Still, she doesn’t seem to be getting away from Harry Potter. Now this could be entirely by choice because why mess with a good thing. Can’t argue with that and it is smart. You don’t see many new authors of fantasy stories move outside of the world or genre. Maybe it is more common than I realized and I merely grew up on authors who forged multiple worlds with no connections. In other words, I’m only going by my own experiences.
As I write Book 13 and mark down notes for Book 15’s grand finale, I have to wonder about the future. What do I do when I have to kick off a new series? Jason and I will be parting ways too, so new style of cover art will come about too. Everything is going to change once The Forgotten Baron (how’s the title?) is published and I have to set my sights on a new project. I can do whatever I want as I know some people will say in the comments. I will pick the series I feel should come next, which will probably be the Dawn Fangs. None of that changes my fear that whatever I do after Legends will become a sacrificial lamb and burn. Seeing Crossing Bedlam get hyped and supported then get crotch kicked a yard from the starting line has given me pause. As well it should. Not that I can take the safest path and push Legends of Windemere forever. My stories are designed to have endings even if it takes a while to get there. Though nothing will be as long as this series. I think I’m at the rambling part of my mind.
So, this is where my mind is at. Just wondering if it’s me or the series that is the brand and if I’m allowed to move to another one when I write ‘THE END’ on Luke’s adventures. FUN!
Legends of Windemere 
I’ve known you a long time. When I first met you, I thought of you as “The Legends of Windemere Guy”. It really wasn’t until we started working the Community Story Board that I thought of you as Charles, the writer, the author friend. I’m sending you an email with some thoughts garnered through working with a new publicist whose services we won in an auction at Sleuth Fest.
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Thanks. I’ll give the email a look tonight. Congrats on winning the new publicist. I’m guessing a lot of people look at me as the ‘Legends of Windemere Guy’, which is becoming a slight fear.
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You’ve worked hard to earn that title and will likely work just as hard to establish yourself in other ways. But it’s not impossible.
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Just a difficult battle, especially with the two genres being drastically different. I still hear people mentioning that Legends of Windemere is YA and Bedlam is certainly not. So the audience for one won’t always transfer to the other.
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Carl Hiaasen has his adult books and his YA books. He started with adult though, but many people of all ages read his YA. I’ve read both and much favor his adult, but go figure, I’m not a kid anymore. He’s still successfully crossed that bridge, but the common thread is that they are all eco-thrillers. I’m looking at common threads in my historic work and my contemporary work. One of your common threads, I think, is your humor, and it’s everywhere…even your wittiness in comments carry it. I haven’t read Crossing Bedlam, but I would think your present tense and humor are both common features. As far as subject matter. I would have to read them to know. Craig Boyack has really capitalized on his ability to write just about any genre and do it well. I think using Lisa as a spokes model was brilliant. We should all be so clever. I have no earthly idea whether following my publicist’s advice is going to work, but it beats doing nothing and stagnating. One thing I know is that it is going to take time, and I’m terribly impatient right now.
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Humor and action seem to be the common pieces of my books. That and the present tense writing. I definitely agree that Craig using Lisa as a spokes model is a genius idea. It’s given him a lot of venues that I never considered. Kind of like Mickey Mouse and Disney.
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Yeah, obligatory remark of you can do whatever you like. Now that’s out of the way, I understand where you’re coming from. I’m starting to see the benefit of multiple titles. A few chapters of a different book at the back of a story led to some sales. My sales have never been something to brag about, but staying power seems to have some benefit. I’m not pigeonholed by those titles though, because I’ve never written a series. Keep in mind that guys like Jim Butcher have multiple series that are popular. If I knew how they pulled it off, I’d write a how-to book about it.
I’m enjoying Bedlam right now. Maybe it’s going to be a slow burn like one of mine is. (Panama) If it doesn’t take off try something different. I’m open to the idea of writing sequels if the sales justify it. Until they do, I’m off to the next project. If you’re feeling a bit desperate about it all, try a pen name. That’s worked to draw a line between genres for some writers. I just set up a giveaway for Will O’ the Wisp through Amazon. Maybe that would help Bedlam. I’ll let you know how it goes in 15 days.
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I’ve been wondering how they pull it off too. Probably works differently for traditional authors since they have more PR people to work with. At least one would assume that. Putting an opening scene for my next series at the end of the final Legends book is something I’m toying with. Seems like it could help make a bridge.
Bedlam putting shelved is a possibility, but I wouldn’t be replacing it with another series. I’d just go back to Windemere since I don’t have anything else. Ichabod Brooks is the closest thing, but I think it’ll work better on the blog. At least until I make enough of the stories to create a compilation. The whole thing is frustrating because the sales don’t justify a sequel. Yet, I enjoyed writing it so much that scrapping Lloyd and Cassidy feels like a really big defeat.
Would it be possible to do Bedlam with a pen name since I already made it with my real one? Also, does a pen name mean having to maintain a separate blog, bio, author photo, and identity to avoid the connection? Never figured out how that’s done in such a technological age.
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I wouldn’t even try to avoid the connection if that’s what you do. I’d be right up front that it’s me and the name is so readers can make an easier selection. Rowling didn’t try very hard to hide behind her pen name. The idea is when you see Robert whatever his name is, you won’t be reading Harry Potter.
I don’t have any solid answers. I can see how this played out. I can understand your conclusion that it must be Windermere related. Maybe it’s something else entirely.
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I’ll look more into the pen name and see how that works. At least in terms of setting up an account and if it makes problems with taxes. Already have a headache with that stuff. As far as the issue being something else, it could just be that only me and a few others find the story entertaining. One reason I looked at Windemere is because a common response I got was that people liked Bedlam, but not as much as Windemere. So the two were being compared when that doesn’t really work. Then there’s the issue of Bedlam aiming for a particular audience while Windemere can be more widespread. No real way to tell right now.
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Yeah, I don’t have any answers. Hope you can figure it out.
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Guess the plus side is that I have a while before I have to decide. Releasing another Bedlam book so soon wouldn’t be wise. Especially with Windemere needing more attention. Beating my brain about it doesn’t seem to be doing anything.
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Maybe see what happens Thursday. Try something crazy. Hold up a paper copy and threaten to burn it if nobody buys it by midnight. Might make a fun blog post. I’m impressed that we both turned to Monty Python in our recent posts.
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Love the cheese sketch. I just made a paper copy available for ‘Crossing Bedlam’ too. I’m wondering if a 99 cent sale or Kindle Countdown would work too. Then again, that’s only if the price is a problem. This is like trying to find a specific needle in a haystack, which is itself made entirely of needles.
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One of mine never caught fire, but sells a few copies every month even two years later. It’s kind of a slow starter, but it’s consistent.
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That happens with Ichabod and Hopeteller too. No idea why.
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Somebody did suggest once that I keep publishing and put ‘Crossing Bedlam’ at 99 cents once I hit Book 3.
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Sounds like a standard plan. Maybe do something off-beat, like share profits with an artist and put it out as a graphic novel. Maybe put out an audio version. I’m going to try an audio book someday.
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I was thinking about the graphic novel concept. Tried it in the past with other ideas, but my luck with artists has not been good. They either lose their mojo, disappear, head off for another project, or try to do the whole thing themselves.
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Listen, I don’t mean to sound harsh or anything, and I mean no offense, but perhaps the reason Bedlam isn’t selling is because of its cover. It’s not that pleasing to the eyes, at least not to me personally. Perhaps try a different cover and see if it makes any difference.
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Thanks. It’s funny that I’ve had people love and hate the cover. Nothing really in the middle. I’ll have to figure out something there.
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Short answer: Yes, of course you are allowed to write outside of your well-established niche.
Longer answer: I’ve heard and read, through various sources (up to and including the esteemed Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s blog KrisWrites) that you have to put out _several_ novels in a new series, especially if it’s very different from the one you’ve been writing. (That is, if you’re moving from military SF to humorous fantasy, the readership is different. You may have some carryover from people who love your writing no matter what, but usually you’re trying to establish yourself with a new audience. It’s like breaking in all over again.)
It’s possible a different cover may appeal…but personally, I’d write the second and third books in your new series and keep going. (And I sympathize. Really. I’m having trouble moving the needle myself with my Elfy saga.)
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I’ve heard the same thing. Usually takes 3-5 books for a series to get moving. Makes me wonder how people pull it off without having a lot of books written before the first one is published.
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Yeah. I haven’t a clue about that.
All we can do is just keep trying. But I wish there was a better answer.
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Trying does seem to be the only sensible option.
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Yep. I just wish we could create a breakthrough.:sigh:
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Welcome to my world. Beyond your brand identity in Fantasy is the need to build a similar brand in the new genre. I don’t think it’s a matter of can you write outside your genre but a matter of building a brand in the new place.
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Great point. This connects to that issue of is my brand Windemere or Charles E. Yallowitz. The latter definitely makes the jump easier. Honestly, I think you’ve done a great job making your brand John W. Howell with all of the non-book stuff on your blog.
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Thanks. I had hoped that would be the result. I think you need a bit of patience outside the Fantasy Genre.
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Probably. Everything takes time.
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🙂
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I agree with all of those that say that you should keep trying. From what I’ve seen so far, the characters look like fun and the prose has an excellent sense of humor about it. And I’m one of those that knows what it’s like to have trouble with sales. So you’re definitely not alone there.
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Thanks. Good to hear I’m not alone and that you liked the story. Maybe we sometimes forget the fun part of the equation.
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This is something I had not thought about either Charles, it poses a riddle indeed. All I can say is keep going, write about what you want. I can`t understand what is happening to Crossing Bedlam at the moment. When I`m done reading it, I will post a review on my blog and it would be great to get a short interview with you about the novel. I love it, I will promote it and wish that it does really well.
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It’s a head scratcher that a lot of people have given suggestions to. Thank you for the future review. I’d love to do an interview. 🙂
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Great when Ive finished the reading I`ll give you a heads up with some questions. I`ll need your e-mail so I can send you them.
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Sure. Though I thought I emailed you something once before. I’ll check and send you a hello if I find it.
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I’m not published or anything so I don’t know much, but I say keep going. You do have a following out there who love your writing and you.
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Thanks. Looking at my numbers, seems all of the books are doing mediocre while the Kindle page reads are doing well. I saw other authors claiming this was happening, so I wonder if Amazon promoted the Kindle program to the point where sales are going to take a hit.
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The Forgotten Baron is a great title.
As a multi-genre author myself, I completely understand what you mean. The irony in my case is that I consider my children’s books to be my best work – yet they are doing rather poorly compared to my SF/fantasy books. I always thought that was because this is due to the ebook format limitations when it comes to illustrated stories, but perhaps that’s only part of the answer, as you point out here.
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That’s weird because it looks like your children’s books are doing great. They keep getting awards and big reactions when they come out. Do you have them in print format or just ebook? I know my basic Kindle can’t do illustrations.
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I’ve got them in both formats, but only Fire seems to read them as it should. Which is a bit of a problem 🙂
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Wish more people knew that you could read them on a computer. Seems to be a piece of information that many people stumble onto.
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How true. I keep telling people, and it keeps surprising them 🙂
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Not really surprised now that I think about it. Amazon wants to sell Kindle units. Why would you need one if you can read the books on your laptop or desktop?
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Makes sense as a theory, but I don’t think they make any profit on Kindle. Word is they might even be making a loss. It’s the books that are the profit makers.
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I remember hearing that a while back. Didn’t know what to make of it. Amazon is a really strange beast to predict.
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Quite so. Just ask her shareholders 🙂
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I’ll get the summoning circle ready for that. 😀
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With all the secrecy surrounding Amazon’s profits, I’m pretty sure that’s been tried before.
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Those who tried have been fed to the piranhas. That or processed into something that they sell at 70% off.
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Sorry, my previous comment was cut short because a piranha got it.
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Those chompy interrupters.
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There are a couple of mainstream writers that have made the jump from adult to YA. Harlan Coben did it somewhat successfully with his Mickey Bolitar series, although Mickey doesn’t resemble any teenager I know. John Grisham has his Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer books which are amazing only in that his 13 year old kid lawyer who is an excellent student is popular in school and doesn’t get beat up like he would in real life.
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Interesting. I wonder if it’s easier to go from adult to YA than the other way around. Like it’s okay for an adult to read a YA novel, but it gets iffy when a teenager reads an ‘adult’ book. At least some people make a big deal out of it.
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True. J.K. Rowling struggled with this as people tried to accept her as an adult author.
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That was one of the things that got me thinking about this. If it can happen to her then it could easily happen to those of us on the indie path.
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Don’t know if this will help, but I think you have the right idea by starting new series and trying to engage readers before the big one winds down. Maybe study a few authors you admire and see what order they released their books and when? Like, maybe February isn’t the right time for post-apocalyptic craziness. Maybe you need to give it another push in early summer. Anyway, maybe you can get some insight by studying that data.
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I was looking at it, but couldn’t find any patterns. At least with post-apocalyptic tales because most books with that are falling into the YA dystopia genre. This is definitely not one of those books, so I can’t find a clear path to follow. The closest thing was Mad Max: Fury Road and that franchise isn’t going any further from what I’ve heard. Fantasy feels so much easier for some reason.
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