The Sudden Stop for an Indie Author

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz
Duck Hunt from Nintendo Meme

Duck Hunt from Nintendo Meme

I might have discussed this before to some extent, but I think I’ll mention it again.  I have been in several conversations about finding the ‘tricks’ to self-publishing.  What’s the sweet spot price?  How do you stay on the lists?  How do you keep sales consistent and going?

Well, I played the analyze results and look for pattern games.  In the end, I have no clue what the trick is.

Here is what has happened recently with both Legends of Windemere books:

  1. Prodigy of Rainbow Tower debuted on July 30th.  Both books hit the Top 100 lists.
  2. Prodigy left Hot New Release list on August 30th and rank began to sink.  Sales started to slow.  Now, here is where you think the list is the key.
  3. Both books fall off list.  Guess sales will slow.  Continue with basic promotional plans until save up enough money for bigger things.
  4. October hits and I wake up to Prodigy of Rainbow Tower being in the 50’s of the Top 100 Fantasy Ebook lists.  Seems a lot of books plummeted and I had enough sales that I could get back on.  Beginning of a Hero soon followed.  NOTE: None of this was caused by my own hand.
  5. Selling along a good click.  Stay the course.
  6. Columbus Day weekend hits and both books abruptly fall to a trickle.  Do the promotional work that seemed to be working, but nothing is happening.  Prodigy of Rainbow Tower has dropped from 10-11 sales a day to 2.  Beginning of a Hero has done the same.

Let’s focus on #6 here.  I have no idea what happened, so there was no way to prevent this.  Was it the 2-star and 3-star reviews I got on Beginning of a Hero?  Doubtful since Prodigy of Rainbow Tower got nailed worse.  Was it the marketing push becoming stale?  Again, it was an overnight freeze, so I can’t tell.

My point of all this is that there are so many factors that you should focus more on what works for you in your genre.  There’s no magic price or promotional plan beyond do what you feel is right and push on.  I’m not happy that my sales just stopped with no source to be found.  Yes, I am happy that I had a good run, but it does hold a level of frustration when the ride stops so suddenly.  Yet, what can I do?  I can sit here wondering why Beginning of a Hero had a longer run of high sales, but I’ll never figure it out.

So, any time I say what works and what doesn’t, remember that I’m talking about what worked for me.

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Publish is as Publish Does

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

Take a look at John W Howell’s published short story at The Paperback Collective! Swing by to congratulate him too.

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

Paperbook Collective

 

I am very pleased that the Paperbook Collective has published one of my short stories in the third edition. You can go to the site: http://issuu.com/jaydeashe/docs/the_paperbook_collective_issue_thre/1?e=0 and read the story and look at the rest of the fine collection. My story begins on page nine, but you might want to look at the others.

The Collective is interested in other submissions as well. You can go here: The Paperbook Collective for more information.

 

 

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What Do You Look For in Fictional Sibilings?

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz
Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural

Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural

I’m sure I’ll get mocked for liking this show, but it has two things I really like.  Supernatural lore from various cultures (they had a fucking Wendigo and a Rugaru) and great characters.  I got into the series by accident when a friend bought the first few boxsets and lent them to me because I was looking for something to watch.  I returned them soon after because I ordered my own.  One of the big reasons is because of the dynamic of Sam and Dean.

The story is basic.  Sam and Dean Winchester are brothers who grew up with a monster hunting father.  He took them into this lifestyle after their mother was killed by a demon and he learned what was really out there.  Season 1 is them looking for their missing father after Sam tried to leave that life behind by going to college.  Blah blah blah, read wikipedia or just buy the first season and thank me.  The big point is how these brothers get along in terms of writing and personality.  Sam is more empathic and kind (usually) while Dean is more hard-edged and sarcastic.  The banter between them is great.

Even better is that you can actually believe that they’re brothers.  They fight, disagree, and act like siblings while never going too the point of ridiculousness.  There is a sense of caring between the characters even when they are at odds.  I find this rather refreshing because a lot of writers do one of two things with siblings:

  1. Bond is so close that they never fight and one will crumble without the other.  Sam and Dean split up many times, but eventually reunite when the other is in trouble.  They fight on.  I will admit here that there is a tradition of ‘back from the dead’ in this series, which gets mocked a few times.
  2. The siblings never get along and are fighting to the point where you know they’re going to turn into enemies.  This one is very popular because readers and writers love the warring sibling storyline.  I think even I have a story that has this in there because it is ripe with drama.  Now, Sam and Dean fight, but never to the point where they’re going to try to kill each other.  Unless one is possessed or something supernatural is about to happen.

I always wonder why siblings can’t be normal siblings in stories that have action, horror, or anything beyond sitcoms.  I think it’s a breath of fresh air when I see a movie or read a book where the siblings are close, but not sharing the same brainwave.  Siblings bicker and argue and get into fistfights.  Yet, it’s more common that they stay friendly and make up after such incidents.  It’s less common that they declare war or swear to never hear from them again when fighting over something simple.

So, what do you think of the use of siblings in stories and do you have a preference?  Do you prefer your siblings feuding or never fighting?

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Giveaway and Guest Post at As the Pages Turn!

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

An exciting giveaway!

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Here and There

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

I’m going to be here and there for at least the next few days.  I’m trying to take care of several blog posts that I want to comment on.  I’ll be taking a little time to continue doing some promo work for Legends of Windemere.

For anyone following my current events, you’ll probably have a good idea what happened this morning.  The plus side is no more suffering.

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Ramblings

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

I keep leaping from project to project after a few minutes.  Need to focus at some point, but the house has a lot of family.  I think I’m just waiting until 7:30 when I do my nightly round of Facebook promo posts.  Truthfully, I don’t have the urge to do much and I think it’s because I feel like I can’t hunker down until things settle.  Yet, there’s nothing else to do beside wait for the inevitable.

I don’t even know why I’m here saying this.  Attention?  Procrastination? Feeling like I finished something today?  I’m leaning toward doing the blurbs for the 4th book, which won’t be out until February if things go well.  Was hoping to do more than 3 books out a year, but that’s the pace for now.  Probably best that I’m at this pace since it means I can write ahead in the series by 1-2 books.  Maybe I’ll do the Amazon blurb while the story is fresh in my head.

Just rambling at this point.  WordPress has been oddly quiet the last few weeks.  At least over here.  Eh, I’ve been out of it anyway.

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Yesterday She Was

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

Written for the latest CSB Weekly Prompt.

Great Grandma with Great Grandson (2010)

Great Grandma with Great Grandson (2010)

Yesterday she was smiling
And laughing from her chair
As I tried a magic show

Yesterday she watched me
Guardian of the cookies
While my parents were away

Yesterday she was telling tales
Of strong tea in Ireland
And riveting during the second war

Yesterday she danced a waltz
With my grandfather by her side
Only they could hear the music

Yesterday she rang her bell
To get Passover moving on
Cutting off our rambling talks

Yesterday she scolded us
Grandpa piggybacking me
Up the stairs and through the wall

Yesterday is what I hold
For the stories and the smiles
To help her legacy live on

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Guest Blogger Sunday: Charles E Yallowitz

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

My guest blog on Deanz Doodlez. Overused/misused superpowers? Personal opinion, of course.

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Goals and Updates

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz
Capybara

Capybara

The goals of the week:

  1. Type in more hand edits for Legends of Windemere: Family of the Tri-Rune.
  2. Create a few more characters for The Slumber Wars.
  3. Begin the restructuring, elimination, and merging of series if possible.
  4. Continue promoting published books.  Stay the course I guess here.

This week will be simple because I’ll have a funeral to go to at some point.  Family will be here and things will be busy.  I’m not sure if I’ll be doing much blogging, but I scheduled the next 2 weeks worth of posts except for the weekends.  Not much I can do, yet I don’t think my mind is going to be in it.  It’s going to be trying to pull its escape into itself trick if I’m not doing anything writing based.  I sense I’m also going to be a little irritable for a bit, so forgive me if I get snappy.

A big thank you to Ionia for making a post yesterday when I was stumped and out of it.  Everyone should check out her blog.

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October 13th Prompt – Yesterday

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Yallowitz

The newest Community Storyboard prompt.

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