Sales Update and Kindle Boards

I try to blog once a week, but I’m running behind because I’ve been writing like crazy. I am ripping apart my second romantic comedy because it needs some work. I’m actually having fun doing it because I have some great new scene ideas to add. I try to keep my books moving along at a good pace. That’s important to me as a reader and therefore also as a writer. When reading, I tend to skip boring dialogue or any scene where characters talk about the weather and what they’re going to do today.

But enough about that! Let's talk about BOOK SALES and what YOU can do to increase your sales, too.

I hope to hit 20,000 books sold by July 10th (this weekend!)

I have been selling over 1,000 books a week (Amazon, B&N, Smashwords). I sold more books in May than in June, but with some super duper paid for advertising on Eye on Romance and The Romance Reviews, I hope to have better sales this month. I’m certainly not complaining. In fact, I’m trying to concentrate more on writing books and less on all this other stuff.

BLOGS

So many great blogs out there with amazing authors who are all helping one another. I love it! But I’m sure you can relate when I say I’m having a hard time keeping up with all of these great blogs.

Whenever I find a new and wonderful blog, I will post the website URL on my LINK page.

KINDLE BOARDS

Here is a great post on why you should use kindle boards.

Today I’m reading all about Kindle Boards. Lots of fun, great info whether you’re a writer or a reader or both! But, like most things I’ve been learning about lately, it takes time to figure it all out. Just make sure you follow the rules…and if you are like me and you don’t like rules, too bad. You have to follow them over there. They are strict about rules and you don’t want to get kicked off or eaten alive if you post on the wrong topic. Ha! Come register at Kindle Boards and say hi!

One more thing...

IndieRomanceInk

PERMISSION GRANTED TO FORWARD (& forwarding is much appreciated!)


Indie Romance Ink is a free gathering place for indie romance authors. Come to the new IRI Yahoo group to network and share the indie journey with your peers--tips, wins, marketing strategies, etc. The co-founders (Cate Rowan and Carly Carson) want it to be a great resource for the indie romance community, so we've also reserved the URL IndieRomanceInk.com for future expansion--blogs, author/reader interactions, etc.


Indie Romance Ink is open to anyone who's self-published a work of romance (short story to mega-novel--it's all good!). RWA membership isn't required. Come on over--and please spread the word to your indie friends!


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndieRomanceInk/

Sales Update

18,450 books in 16 weeks.

I released my first book in March, 2011. I now have five books on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.com.

A Knight in Central Park - medieval time travel

Return of the Rose - medieval time travel

Taming Mad Max - romantic comedy

Finding Kate Huntley - romantic suspense

Abducted - romantic thriller

IMO, the more books you have out there, the better. I don’t think it hurts to have different genres either.  I am using a different pen name, T.R. Ragan, for my romantic thriller because it is so different from my other books and it hasn’t hurt sales...maybe even helped.

In 3 ½ months A Knight in Central Park ($.99) has reached #65 in all kindle books, hovering around 600 for a few months and has a sales rank between 1,100 and 1,400.

Return of the Rose ($2.99) has made a steady climb over the past three months and as far as sales ranking goes this book now hovers between 1,100 and 1,400.

Taming Mad Max ($2.99) and Finding Kate Huntley tend to have the biggest range in sales ranking while Abducted, my most recent release, made the bestseller’s romantic suspense list in three weeks (not sure if it's still there as of today).

I’ve had people ask me what I am doing for promo.

I have no plan and I feel unorganized, but so far this is what I'm doing. In the first month I sent out lots of emails, I put my covers on Facebook, and I blogged and joined a few indie groups.

Next, I joined Twitter and I’m still learning about the world of twitter.

I did two FREE interviews in May/June and now I am using Twitter and Google to find indie review blogs. I have already met a lot of friendly people who are happy to add my book to their review list. I will be reviewed by The romance Reviews, C&R  Romance ebook Reviews, Backofthebookreviews, and more . I either gift a book from Amazon or send the review site a coupon from Smashwords. I figure the more places my books can be seen, the better. I try to send out one request a day.

I paid for my first advertisement last week. My books will be displayed on The Romance Review Site, Tara Green’s Eye on Romance, and Kindle Nation in September. I’ll keep you posted on how that works out.

I just finished formatting my first book for CreateSpace and I am awaiting my book to review. It was time consuming.

I must say, I didn't know I would be running a business. I always thought I would write and someone else would design, promote, market, sell. It's easy to become overwhelmed. I am trying to find balance. My writing has become a business. No question about it. Instead of going crazy, I am taking one task at a time and I am determined to enjoy the ride. Just watching the sales rank go up and down can drive you nuts if you watch it too closely. I am trying hard to stick to a goal for each day. Send out one request for review. Write 5 pages. Blog once a week. Maybe format a book for Createspace on the weekends until that is done. Read. Write. Breathe.

Let's not forget to have fun!

I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.