My 3 Reasons for Self-Pubbing & Sales Updates on Print & Ebooks

merrihiatt · Apr 18, 2013

Ann, every sale counts!!!

Ann Joyce · May 31, 2013

Okie dokie then... It's time for an update. I promised to do that whether sales were good, bad, or indifferent.

Heart Song (only title)

Print sales for May: 2
Ebook sales for May - Kindle: 4

Total sales after 7 months: 139 (mostly print)

My second novel is now in the hands of 5 Beta readers and I will be meeting with my printer next week to discuss particulars. Still planning for an end of June release, or mid-July at the latest. I'm hoping when I get another novel out there, it will help sales. I do have 5 chapters in the 2nd book in the 'All Heart' trilogy done, so now I plan to finish my novelette (could turn into a novella) and get it up as an ebook only, then get cracking on finishing Heart's Desire.

I've enjoyed reading about the progress each of you have made and rejoice with you for every success, big or small. Blessings!

Celeste Carrara · May 31, 2013

Ann, I think you have done fantastic! I have been doing this for about a year and don't have as many sales as you have! Keep at it, you're doing great!

I will tell you that it is so true, if you add another book for sale, it will help with your overall sales. The more you have to offer, the better. I know that's easier said than done. I myself can't seem to write fast enough!

I have also enjoyed reading your progress and really appreciate all the support you have given me! Know that I am cheering you on every step of the way!

RLMcKeown · May 31, 2013

I agree with Celeste--you're doing great!

From what I've heard another book/novella will help your sales. I hope it's true for you!

Norman D Gutter · May 31, 2013

You've got six times as many sales as me, Ann. Keep up the good work.

merrihiatt · May 31, 2013

Ann, the victor is the one who continues on the journey. Six more people enjoyed reading your book in May. That is reason to celebrate!

LBlankenship · Jun 1, 2013

Ann Joyce said:
Total sales after 7 months: 139 (mostly print)

(high fives) Little by little.

sarahdalton · Jun 1, 2013

Yes, awesome stuff! And your ebook sales will pick up with another release. Yay!

Ann Joyce · Jun 1, 2013

@Celeste - You're a doll. Thank you!

@RLMcKeown - Thanks so much!

@Norman - I really appreciate you and your perseverance. Thanks!

@Merri - Yes, onward and upward!

@LBlankenship - Thanks times five!

@Sarah - That's what I'm hoping for!

Thanks to all of you for hanging with me. I appreciate each one of you as well as all the others that stop by to have a peek. Blessings!

christwriter · Jun 1, 2013

Best thing for book sales is a new book written and published.

It's a long, hard climb but that is totally AWESOME.

Ann Joyce · Jun 4, 2013

Thanks, christwriter. That's what I've heard and that's what I'm hoping!

Tienci · Jun 4, 2013

Good luck with the next book Ann!
Yes, another voice saying a new book should help sales!

I look forward to your cover reveal etc.

Ann Joyce · Jun 4, 2013

Thanks, Tienci. I wish I understood #1 How to put them in my signature and #2 How to link it to the Amazon site after I've done that. I feel likle a total duncehead once again. I've read about it and studied it over and over and it still doesn't sink in. Sizing, etc. etc. Ugh!

sarahdalton · Jun 5, 2013

Try this from Kboards: http://www.kboards.com/authorsig/ you just add the links into the spaces on the form (from Amazon) and it creates the code for clickable book covers. Then you can copy and paste the code into your signature.

AgathaChristieFan · Jun 5, 2013

Congrats on your sales! Every sale counts

merrihiatt · Jun 5, 2013

Sarah, your link works, but you have to be a member of Kindleboards to gain access. Just FYI for anyone who tries. I believe there is a sticky here on AW on how to make clickable book cover links. Let me see if I can find it.

ETA: Here's the link to the AW info. on sigs: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269112

E(AGAIN!)TA: Okay, it's not as easy as I thought. I just spent half an hour trying to do it and failed miserably. Another day...

sarahdalton · Jun 5, 2013

merrihiatt said:
Sarah, your link works, but you have to be a member of Kindleboards to gain access. Just FYI for anyone who tries. I believe there is a sticky here on AW on how to make clickable book cover links. Let me see if I can find it.

ETA: Here's the link to the AW info. on sigs: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269112

E(AGAIN!)TA: Okay, it's not as easy as I thought. I just spent half an hour trying to do it and failed miserably. Another day...

Oops! Sorry, didn't realise you had to be a member.

Edit -- thought I could use the code from my sig as an example, but I don't think it's going to work.

Edit again. I'll try it anyway. Let me know if this works:

[url = http:// YOURBOOKLINKHERE ]http:// YOURIMAGELINKHERE [ / img][/url]

Remove the spaces I've put in.

In the Kboards form it pulls the cover from Amazon, but I'm not sure where you find the link for the cover -- which is what confused me. If you go to [url]http://photobucket.com/[/url] you can upload a cover and they provide a hosting link for it. So they you'd just copy and paste it into the bit above (you'd need to check it's the right size first though).

Tienci · Jun 5, 2013

Oops--I pm'd her the kboards link maker stuff too. Glad you put up an alternative!

merrihiatt · Jun 5, 2013

I was able to do it after all! The one thing that was different for me is that I never saw the URL in my signature. I kept thinking it wasn't there, but when I actually clicked on the image, it took me to my Amazon author page. So... it worked!

SeeM0 · Jun 6, 2013

Every sale counts, so yay on the sales Ann. Good luck on the next book, I can't wait to see the cover. Or is it already posted and I missed it?

Ann Joyce · Jun 6, 2013

Tienci, Sarah & Merri, God bless you, dear girls. My friends to the rescue again! *I hear the theme from the Lone Ranger* - I know you're all too young to know that song. Lol

I tried almost everything suggested to the best of my limited ability. I'm sorry I couldn't get anything to work. There is one other I can try when I recuperate a bit (hahahaha), but I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your much appreciated efforts. You are all very cool people.

Ann Joyce · Jun 6, 2013

Thanks, ACFan and SeeMo. I appeciate it! SeeMo, I'm still trying to decide between two photos for the cover, but it will definitely be a Maui sunset.

Ann Joyce · Jun 9, 2013

Ann Joyce said:
The 10 books my daughter sent last week arrived in a box that was very badly damaged - two of the corners were actually split open. I'm so thankful she took the initiative to insure them because I hadn't asked her to do that. Of the 10, only 2 were sellable, thankfully, because those 2 were spoken for.

I'm in the process of making out a claim with the Post Office, but they tell me I won't get reimbursed for the loss for about 90 days.

I know this is OT, but I wanted to update this post. After speaking in person with the Post Master in Maui, I walked away from that conversation quite discouraged, as she led me to believe she thought because the box lacked packing material, the fault for the damage may lie with my daughter. However, the 10 books fit perfectly in that middle-sized, any weight box for one price and had no room for packing. I must admit, I was quite angry too, because why would you insure something if there was a possibility it wouldn't be covered.

Anyhow, long story short, I got a check in the mail Friday for $162.25 for the 10 damaged books (after a closer inspection, I saw that not even 2 were savagable). They paid me the $14.99 each book sells for plus shipping costs. That was very gratifying.

The day before, I got a phone call from a new friend that had just finished reading the book. She wanted to tell me she loved it, she'd bawled like a baby while reading the last two chapters and asked when she could get my next one. She had other wonderful things to say as well, which I shall just continue to savor in my heart. This is what keeps me going and helps me to have faith in myself.

I've been blessed to have gotten quite a number of those kinds of phone calls as well as several lovely notes of the same ilk; for this I am truly grateful!

merrihiatt · Jun 9, 2013

Congratulations on the comments about your book!!!

So glad you were able to recoup expenses for the damaged books. I know you said there wasn't room for packing material, but maybe a larger box could have been used so there would have been enough room to allow several inches of cushion on all sides.

Ann Joyce · Jun 9, 2013

merrihiatt said:
Congratulations on the comments about your book!!!

Thanks, Merri! It does make it seem worthwhile.

So glad you were able to recoup expenses for the damaged books. I know you said there wasn't room for packing material, but maybe a larger box could have been used so there would have been enough room to allow several inches of cushion on all sides.

Actually, she packed it at her post office in front of her Post Master, and he told her there should be no problem with it. When he found out the post office in Maui was hassling me about it, he told her if they didn't reimburse me, I should fight it. He would have written a letter if needed.

She used one of those boxes that ships anything you put in it for one price regardless of weight. Since my readers pay shipping charges, I wouldn't want to go any larger than needed (more expensive). When I ship individual books, I put them in a padded envelope and mail them via media mail. I'm just happy it all worked out okay!

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