September Sales Update - Over 96,900 books sold

Total as of 9/28/11 at 10 PM and does NOT include 25,000 FREE downloads

Amazon and Barnes & Noble combined sales

Return of the Rose - Released March 2, 2011    $2.99

Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:                           298

April:                              894

May:                            1,600

June:                            1,475

July:                             1,291

August:                        2,352

September:                    1,835*

Total:                                9,745      

A Knight in Central Park- Released March 18, 2011   $.99

Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:                            247

April:                            6,071 

May:                            4,306

June:                            2,414

July:                             1,330

August:                        9,812

September:                   1,978*

Total:                       26,158

Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011  $2.99

Romantic Comedy

April:                                  30 

May:                                182

June:                                265

July:                                 310

August:                            934

September:                     1,764*

Total:                          3,485

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011   $2.99

Romantic Suspense

May:                                187

June:                                261

July:                                 325

August:                          1,159

September:                      3,130*

                    

Total:                          5,062

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011   $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May:                                    25

June:                                  694

July:                                1,708

August:                          12,917

September:                      37,178*

Total:                          52,522

 *sales as of 9/28/11   10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

Twice a month, I plan to share my number of books sold in hopes that these numbers might help other writers make their own decisions about self-publishing.

I hope these numbers help to answer questions. What sort of spikes and/or drops will the holidays bring? How will the release of the $79 kindle affect sales? What genre will sell best in December? Will a new release take away from current sales or bring me new readers? Will sales go up and down based on the number of new kindle users peaking and then dropping? Does one genre consistently sell better than another or will my time travel romances out sell romantic comedy over the holidays?

As we all know, every writer has their own personal and unique journey. My hope is that I can inspire others out there who are working hard at their craft to NEVER GIVE UP. 

Let me know if you have ANY questions at all.

THREE CONTESTS - 3 times as fun

Contest #1 - Cheap e-reads writing and design contest. I am lucky enough to be one of three judges. Details are below: 

Cheap e-Reads

The winner of each contest receives a $50 B&N gift card, free publication of their work and free publicity on The Cheap and all our outlets. The deadline for entry is October 14th. Details can be found on our blog, The Cheap, at http://the-cheap.net/

Contest #2 - Win a Sterling Silver Spider ring!

My sister made this sterling silver ring especially for my contest. The ring is adjustable to fit any size. To enter, just leave your email (ex.: theresa ragan @ gmail dot com) in the comment section HERE or under the CONTEST TAB and write ANY sentence with the word "spider" in it. (ex: I love spiders.)

Contest ends October 31, 2011.

Contest #3 - Want Your Name in sequel to ABDUCTED?

I am taking names. On October 31, 2011, I will pick one or two names to use for character(s) in Book #2 of the Lizzy Gardner series (sequel to ABDUCTED by T.R. Ragan). To enter this contest just leave a comment with your email address and give me the name you would like used in the book: (example: RUTH COLE CUNNINGHAM or maybe just RUTH COLE), whatever you like. 

Here's the catch. You won't know whether the character with your name will be dead or alive by the end of the book. That's the risk you'll be taking if you enter contest #3.

Feel free to enter Contest #2 and #3 with one comment. What are you waiting for? If you have any problems leaving a comment, please email me at theresaragan@gmail.com.  GOOD LUCK!

OVER 64,000 BOOKS SOLD IN SIX MONTHS

Total as of 9/8/11 at 10 PM and does NOT include 25,000 FREE downloads

Amazon and Barnes & Noble combined sales

Return of the Rose - Released March 2, 2011    $2.99

Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:                             298

April:                               894

May:                            1,600

June:                            1,475

July:                             1,291

August:                       2,352

September:                      558*

Total:                          8,468

A Knight in Central Park- Released March 18, 2011   $.99

Medieval Time Travel Romance

March:                            247

April:                            6,071 

May:                            4,306

June:                            2,414

July:                             1,330

August:                        9,812

September:                      696*

Total:                          24,876

Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011  $2.99

Romantic Comedy

April:                                  30 

May:                                182

June:                                265

July:                                 310

August:                            934

September:                        371*

Total:                            2,092

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011   $2.99

Romantic Suspense

May:                                187

June:                                261

July:                                 325

August:                          1,159

September:                        641*

                    

Total:                          2,573

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011   $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May:                                    25

June:                                  694

July:                                1,708

August:                          12,917

September:                      10,716*

Total:                          26,060

 *sales as of 9/8/11   10 PM

Clearly, becoming an indie author was the best decision I ever made. But new writers should know that none of this came easily for me. For the past 19 years I wrote nearly every day. In that time, I completed ten 400 page manuscripts and countless partials. I have received my fair share of rejections. I worked hard to learn my craft and I will never stop learning. I joined RWA in 1997. I signed with two agents. I went to dozens of conferences and attended many workshops. I worked with other writers, driving hours to exchange pages every week. I entered contests and judged contests.

I have never felt any competition with other writers. Whenever a writing friend would sell his/her novel, I was happy for them and glad to know that new authors were still being bought. Writers are the most helpful, encouraging people I've ever met. I love being around like-minded people whose minds are filled with plot scenes and characters. So many fiction writers have inspired me. I am certain I never would have become a writer if it weren't for Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor. That is the ONLY book I have read more than once. If I had sold fifteen years ago, I would still be writing time travels. Instead, I was inspired to try my hand at romantic comedy (Taming Mad Max) after reading Susan E. Phillip's Nobody's Baby but Mine. In 2008, frustrated with not selling, I read about Lisa Gardner's journey to success and how it took her a couple of years to transition to writing single title romantic suspense. That's when I decided to write ABDUCTED and I named my main character after Lisa Gardner (Lizzy Gardner).

I don't know what the future holds for the book industry, but I do know that every writer has their own personal and unique journey. My hope is that I can inspire others out there who are working hard at their craft to NEVER GIVE UP.

Are You Shy?

I love this great post by Anne Marie Becker. Confessions of a Wallflower. Go HERE to read it.

I used to be introverted and shy. I'm still making up for lost time. How about you?

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone! Don't forget to smell the roses and read at least one book!