My Thoughts After One Whole Week of Self-Publishing

AllieB · 02-23-2013, 04:43 PM

Hi gang,

Thought I might share my experiences in this arena, though they're non-traditional. I'm published in the romance genre through 2 different small presses (I write contemporary/sensual, which isn't one of the big-selling romance subgenres, but anyway...). My next novel comes out in May, and late last year I started thinking about getting the rights back to my earliest novel which has never sold well (variety of reasons) and re-release it myself as part of KDP on Amazon.

My primary reason for doing this was early 2013 promotion and to try and drive sales for my May release. I got my rights back in January, commissioned a new cover, had it formatted for the Kindle, and released it on Feb.12 of this year. Cost to me for that was approximately $200 ($100 for a new cover and $90 for the formatting - I had a .mobi file and a PDF done as well). I should note that I added 3 scenes to the story (it's approx. 60K words) and a minor character who's going to be the hero in my May release (again, trying to drum up interest in that book). Otherwise, everything remained the same. This means that the editing had already been done (I know this is a concern and a cost for self-pubbers).

I've priced it at $.99 through February to draw sales and then will bump it up (probably to $2.99) in March. I have 2 different blog tours planned for March and April and have booked cover ads on romance reader websites. I plan on using the Amazon 5 free day promotion at the beginning of May, the week before my new release comes out.

I blogged more here about sales so far and the promo efforts that seem to be connected to them. Overall, for me it hasn't been a painful process, but I think that's because I was already familiar with publishing. I admire everyone who's doing it with their first baby (or subsequent babies

but I would caution, from reading a lot of these threads, that there's a lot to take into consideration, some of which I talked about in my blog.

I'm happy to chat more about my experiences as the weeks go on, and once my May book comes out. Any questions, fire away

Tienci · 02-23-2013, 10:04 PM

Fascinating! Looks like a solid plan and I wish you many successes!

I'll follow along and watch how things are working out for you.

Ann Joyce · 02-23-2013, 10:49 PM

I too, will be following your SP journey and wish you all the best!

merrihiatt · 02-24-2013, 12:51 AM

Looking forward to following your journey, AllieB!

WriterBN · 02-24-2013, 12:56 AM

Congrats! Self-publishing itself is easy, if you take some time to research the process. Marketing and selling books--now, that's another beast altogether

NottiThistledore · 02-24-2013, 01:00 AM

Best of luck with it, Allie. You sound like you have a solid game plan.

Norman D Gutter · 02-24-2013, 01:34 AM

Good luck, AllieB. I hope you have many sales.

NDG

AllieB · 02-24-2013, 04:51 AM

Thanks, all

Yes, WriterBN, marketing is a challenge all its own!

Celeste Carrara · 02-24-2013, 05:08 AM

I'll be following your journey! I also took a look at your blog and enjoyed reading it. I wish you the best of luck!

SelmaW · 02-24-2013, 05:46 AM

I also enjoyed checking out your blog, Allie! Best luck with the journey

OliverCrown · 02-24-2013, 07:56 AM

Good luck AllieB! We're all pulling for you!

Robert Gonko · 03-29-2013, 01:51 AM

I've just self-published my first book and let me tell you, it's been an eye opening experience. Writing is easy for me compared to marketing. Good luck to you!

LongWave · 04-11-2013, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllieB

Hi gang,

Thought I might share my experiences in this arena, though they're non-traditional. I'm published in the romance genre through 2 different small presses (I write contemporary/sensual, which isn't one of the big-selling romance subgenres, but anyway...). My next novel comes out in May, and late last year I started thinking about getting the rights back to my earliest novel which has never sold well (variety of reasons) and re-release it myself as part of KDP on Amazon.

My primary reason for doing this was early 2013 promotion and to try and drive sales for my May release. I got my rights back in January, commissioned a new cover, had it formatted for the Kindle, and released it on Feb.12 of this year. Cost to me for that was approximately $200 ($100 for a new cover and $90 for the formatting - I had a .mobi file and a PDF done as well). I should note that I added 3 scenes to the story (it's approx. 60K words) and a minor character who's going to be the hero in my May release (again, trying to drum up interest in that book). Otherwise, everything remained the same. This means that the editing had already been done (I know this is a concern and a cost for self-pubbers).

I've priced it at $.99 through February to draw sales and then will bump it up (probably to $2.99) in March. I have 2 different blog tours planned for March and April and have booked cover ads on romance reader websites. I plan on using the Amazon 5 free day promotion at the beginning of May, the week before my new release comes out.

I blogged more here about sales so far and the promo efforts that seem to be connected to them. Overall, for me it hasn't been a painful process, but I think that's because I was already familiar with publishing. I admire everyone who's doing it with their first baby (or subsequent babies

but I would caution, from reading a lot of these threads, that there's a lot to take into consideration, some of which I talked about in my blog.

I'm happy to chat more about my experiences as the weeks go on, and once my May book comes out. Any questions, fire away

How did your sales look after the price change?

triceretops · 04-12-2013, 07:46 AM

Good luck, Allie, and nice blog btw. I've indied a back-list title just to see what would happen, and it has been an experience, I can tell you. Not bad, not great, but good reception.

tri

Tigerlilly79 · 04-12-2013, 09:00 AM

Good luck. I'll be self-pubbing my first once my covers done. Keep us posted.

02-23-2013, 04:43 PM	#1
AllieB practical experience, FTW Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Suburban NYC Posts: 423	My Thoughts After One Whole Week of Self-Publishing Hi gang, Thought I might share my experiences in this arena, though they're non-traditional. I'm published in the romance genre through 2 different small presses (I write contemporary/sensual, which isn't one of the big-selling romance subgenres, but anyway...). My next novel comes out in May, and late last year I started thinking about getting the rights back to my earliest novel which has never sold well (variety of reasons) and re-release it myself as part of KDP on Amazon. My primary reason for doing this was early 2013 promotion and to try and drive sales for my May release. I got my rights back in January, commissioned a new cover, had it formatted for the Kindle, and released it on Feb.12 of this year. Cost to me for that was approximately $200 ($100 for a new cover and $90 for the formatting - I had a .mobi file and a PDF done as well). I should note that I added 3 scenes to the story (it's approx. 60K words) and a minor character who's going to be the hero in my May release (again, trying to drum up interest in that book). Otherwise, everything remained the same. This means that the editing had already been done (I know this is a concern and a cost for self-pubbers). I've priced it at $.99 through February to draw sales and then will bump it up (probably to $2.99) in March. I have 2 different blog tours planned for March and April and have booked cover ads on romance reader websites. I plan on using the Amazon 5 free day promotion at the beginning of May, the week before my new release comes out. I blogged more here about sales so far and the promo efforts that seem to be connected to them. Overall, for me it hasn't been a painful process, but I think that's because I was already familiar with publishing. I admire everyone who's doing it with their first baby (or subsequent babies but I would caution, from reading a lot of these threads, that there's a lot to take into consideration, some of which I talked about in my blog. I'm happy to chat more about my experiences as the weeks go on, and once my May book comes out. Any questions, fire away __________________ Allie Boniface Author of ONE NIGHT IN BOSTON, ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS, LOST IN PARADISE www.allieboniface.com www.allieboniface.blogspot.com

02-23-2013, 10:04 PM	#2
Tienci Lost in the Land of Giants Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Everywhere and nowhere Posts: 804	Fascinating! Looks like a solid plan and I wish you many successes! I'll follow along and watch how things are working out for you. __________________ "Will you won't you will you won't you, will you join the dance?"

02-23-2013, 10:49 PM	#3
Ann Joyce It's all about grace Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 346	I too, will be following your SP journey and wish you all the best! __________________ *Chew the cherries & spit the pits!* WIP: Sand Dollar (novel) 63,500/63,500 In the hands of Betas. WIP: Last Dance *(novella)* 13,000/20,000 or so. Published: Heart Song (89,000 word novel)

02-24-2013, 12:51 AM	#4
merrihiatt Writing! Writing! Writing! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest, Washington Posts: 3,401	Looking forward to following your journey, AllieB! __________________ I'm a clickable link to Amazon Website B&N Smashwords iTunes AllRomance

02-24-2013, 12:56 AM	#5
WriterBN practical experience, FTW Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: In transition Posts: 155	Congrats! Self-publishing itself is easy, if you take some time to research the process. Marketing and selling books--now, that's another beast altogether __________________ Author of Bombay Bhel, collection of short fiction: Amazon \| B&N \| Kobo \| iBookstore

02-24-2013, 01:00 AM	#6
NottiThistledore figuring it all out Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 62	Best of luck with it, Allie. You sound like you have a solid game plan. __________________

02-24-2013, 01:34 AM	#7
Norman D Gutter Engineer Sonneteer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,809	Good luck, AllieB. I hope you have many sales. NDG __________________ I blog, therefore I am. My author page at Amazon's Kindle Store.

02-24-2013, 04:51 AM	#8
AllieB practical experience, FTW Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Suburban NYC Posts: 423	Thanks, all Yes, WriterBN, marketing is a challenge all its own! __________________ Allie Boniface Author of ONE NIGHT IN BOSTON, ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS, LOST IN PARADISE www.allieboniface.com www.allieboniface.blogspot.com

02-24-2013, 05:08 AM	#9
Celeste Carrara practical experience, FTW Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY Posts: 245	I'll be following your journey! I also took a look at your blog and enjoyed reading it. I wish you the best of luck! __________________ Website Amazon Barnes & Noble Twitter

02-24-2013, 05:46 AM	#10
SelmaW Follow your heart; take your brain Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 314	I also enjoyed checking out your blog, Allie! Best luck with the journey __________________ The blog. The book on Amazon. The short story. The book on Nook.

02-24-2013, 07:56 AM	#11
OliverCrown Puttin' daydreams to paper Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Delta City, where nothing's normal but the music Posts: 112	Good luck AllieB! We're all pulling for you! __________________ Dreamer. Author. Tweeter. Blogger! Bleeding of the Heart, available on Amazon and CreateSpace. Goddess of the Gun to be released in 2013. Barb of the Rose, work in progress.

03-29-2013, 01:51 AM	#12
Robert Gonko All ahead full! Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 243	I've just self-published my first book and let me tell you, it's been an eye opening experience. Writing is easy for me compared to marketing. Good luck to you! __________________ Robert Gonko Author of "The Inheritance" EBook Now available at Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and the Apple Store CreateSpace Print Edition available at https://www.createspace.com/4127666 WIP: "The Leviticus Enforcer," "The Justice Brigade" & "The Mayor" Check out my blog: http://robertgonko.wordpress.com

04-12-2013, 07:46 AM	#14
triceretops Super Browser Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In a van down by the river Posts: 10,370	Good luck, Allie, and nice blog btw. I've indied a back-list title just to see what would happen, and it has been an experience, I can tell you. Not bad, not great, but good reception. tri __________________ BLOG http://guerrillawarfareforwriters.blogspot.com/ WAR GATE http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Gate-e...9233675&sr=1-1 WOLFEN STRAIN http://www.amazon.com/The-Wolfen-Str...vglnk-c1189-20 Planet Janitor.

04-12-2013, 09:00 AM	#15
Tigerlilly79 Maybe I should see someone . . . Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: A Very Sunny Place Posts: 121	Good luck. I'll be self-pubbing my first once my covers done. Keep us posted. __________________ TWITTER FACEBOOK You are responsible for the talent you have been entrusted with. Go work with it.

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