Wednesday, January 25, 2012

163,007 books sold in 10 months

January Sales Update II




Totals are as of January 24, 2012 @ 10PM and do NOT include 106,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N 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: 1,955
October: 1,527
November: 981
December: 1,074
January: 1,173*


Total: 14,620*


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: 2,088
October: 1,348
November: 876
December: 2,383
January: 2,343*

Total: 33,218*


Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Comedy

April: 30
May: 182
June: 265
July: 310
August: 934
September: 1,872
October: 2,125
November: 2,150
December: 1,561
January: 3,889*

Total: 13,318*


Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense

May: 187
June: 261
July: 325
August: 1,159
September: 3,363
October: 2,089
November: 1,095
December: 4,421
January: 2,192*

Total: 15,092*


Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller


May: 25
June: 694
July: 1,708
August: 12,917
September: 39,413
October: 18,176
November: 6,645
December: 3,649
January: 1,870*

Total: 85,097*



Dead Weight - Released December 22, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller


December: 451
January:    1,211*

Total: 1,662*


*sales as of January 24, 2012 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)


Exciting times.

My advice to any writer is to try it all. Go the traditional route and self-publish too. It's exciting to be an author and a publisher. I decide on cover art, editing, formatting. I do my own marketing and promotion. For more info on self-publishing, go to my LINKS tab.

I am very excited about my review of Abducted by Kirkus Reviews. Go HERE to read it. Above you'll see a spike in sales for Taming Mad Max and Finding Kate Huntley. I have put those two books in KDP's Prime Lending Program. Both books went free for 3 days and reaped the benefits after the 3 days were over. I plan to have each of my books in the prime lending program at least once for the three month period. As of today I have about 1,500 borrows for two books in January. Last month I had a total of over 1,200 borrows.   

Try everything! Believe in yourself. Do not stress about making mistakes. If you decide to try the 90 day exclusive thing and it doesn't work for you, at least you tried it. No Fear! You only live once.

The only one who is going to look out for you, is YOU. 

Be happy. Stay positive. Work hard and never ever give up on your dreams.

***


Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.

If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing, promotion and formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 500 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.

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

Other authors who share numbers:

Lisa Mondello
Debra Holland http://www.drdebraholland.blogspot.com/
Norah Wilson http://www.norahwilsonwrites.com/wordpress/
D.D. Scott http://ddscottville.blogspot.com/p/wg2e.html
Trish McCallan and Jolyn Palliata http://totaltransparencyselfpublishing.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Meet Sandy Blair!

I fell in love with historical Romances while in my teens then married a man who not only took me to Scotland but whose relatives speak with a Scottish brogue. My Scotland-set historicals have earned RT’s 4 ½ star Top Pick, won the Golden Heart, National Readers Choice Award, Golden Quill and Berkley Awards, and a nomination for a RITA. On occasion I’ll throw in a dash of the paranormal just for fun.

Did you ever want to quit writing? Why or why not?
Once upon a time, but only because I’d yet to learn to say, “No,” to an editor who wanted to push my contracted deadlines forward.  I ended up writing 4 single title novels plus a hefty novella in 3 years while dealing with all the required promotion. Thank God for readers. Their kind letters breathed life back into my muse, which had totally flat-lined.

What are your writing career goals? (i.e. to write 2 books a year? To hit the NY Bestsellers List? To sell 100 books a month?)
I’d love to make the New York Times Bestseller list with my next release.  If that’s not in the cards then I’ll settle for the USA Today list. J  Of course another RITA nomination would also make my year.

Have you truly mastered grammar and sentence structure? Do you feel 100% confident about every comma in your book?
Ha! If only.

How many pages do you think you could write in one day if you had zero interruptions from 8 AM to 8 PM?
While under the gun I can produce 20 solid pages per day…but over an 18 hour period, not 12.

How do you think (take a guess) writers like Nora Roberts write so many books in a year?
I’m not sure, but if I didn’t have to cook, clean, do laundry, buy groceries, scrub toilets and do my own promotion unless the urge struck, I too might be able to write more.

What would be easier for you to write, a sex scene or a murder scene?

Hmm, the answer depends on the day. If I’m in my “I love you today more than yesterday. Yesterday you really pissed me off,” mode, then writing the love scene is easier. If he has yet to apologize, then the murder scene.   

If you were allowed to have only ONE book (of yours) for sale on Amazon and B&N, which book would you select? Why do you think readers might enjoy it?
Easy…My current release The King’s Mistress is a romance set against actual historical events. It’s currently available in Kindle and Nook versions through B&N and Amazon. On June 5, 2012 it comes out in paperback for those who love to hold books in hand. 

Any advice for new writers just getting started?
Enter your manuscript into contests with published author judges before submitting it to an agent or editor. When you receive your score sheets really think about the advice you’ve received. If all three judges say the exact same thing, listen to them. If they don’t agree, go with your gut. After all, only your career is resting on the manuscript.

More writing tips can be found on www.SandyBlair.net along with great monthly prizes, photos of castles I’ve slept in, video book trailers, and answers to that age old question, “What’s Under the Kilt?”  Folks can also follow me on  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=617887056 

Thank you!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

155,808 Books Sold!!!

January Sales Update I

Over 150,000 books sold in ten months!


Totals are as of January 10, 2012 @ 10PM and do NOT include 64,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N 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: 1,955
October: 1,527
November: 981
December: 1,074
January: 540*


Total: 13,987*


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: 2,088
October: 1,348
November: 876
December: 2,383
January: 1,212*

Total: 32,087*


Taming Mad Max - Released April 25, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Comedy

April: 30
May: 182
June: 265
July: 310
August: 934
September: 1,872
October: 2,125
November: 2,150
December: 1,561
January: 691*

Total:  10,120*


Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense

May: 187
June: 261
July: 325
August: 1,159
September: 3,363
October: 2,089
November: 1,095
December:  4,421
January: 1,456*

Total:  14,356*


Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller


May: 25
June: 694
July: 1,708
August: 12,917
September: 39,413
October: 18,176
November: 6,645
December: 3,649
January: 1,001*

Total: 84,228*



Dead Weight - Released December 22, 2011 $2.99
Romantic Suspense/Thriller


December: 451
January:      579*

Total:    1,030*


*sales as of January 10, 2012 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)


2012 is starting off with a bang! As of last week I have sold over 150,000 books! I am still pinching myself every single day. In 2012 I plan to release 2 romantic comedies, 1 time travel and Book #3 in the Lizzy Gardner series. 

My hope for 2012 is that all of your dreams will come true.

Be happy. Stay positive. Work hard and never ever give up on your dreams. 



***

Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.

If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing, promotion and formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 500 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.

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

Other authors who share numbers:

Lisa Mondello http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/p/self-publishing-stats.html
Debra Holland http://www.drdebraholland.blogspot.com/
Norah Wilson http://www.norahwilsonwrites.com/wordpress/
D.D. Scott http://ddscottville.blogspot.com/p/wg2e.html
Trish McCallan and Jolyn Palliata http://totaltransparencyselfpublishing.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Meet Tori Scott!

I've been a voracious romance reader since I read my first Nancy Drew at the age of ten. (Yes, I consider them romance!) I've been writing forever, but seriously, with the goal of publication, for about 10 years. I'm a Golden Heart finalist, had a short story published in Woman's World magazine in 2005, have one book published through Red Sage Publishing and at this moment I have 6 independently published books available. I write whatever strikes my fancy at the moment, so I have an eclectic collection of romantic suspense, sensual romance, romantic comedy, and contemporary romance.

Did you ever want to quit writing? Why or why not?

I've never really wanted to quit, but life and work forced me to give it up for about five years. I still fiddled with old manuscripts during that time, and even sold one to Red Sage in 2008, but it was an earlier book that only needed rewrites, not actual new writing.
What are your writing career goals? (i.e. to write 2 books a year? To hit the NY Bestsellers List? To sell 100 books a month?)

I want to be inducted into the Kindle Million Club! Yes, a very lofty goal. Until then, my goal is to write 3-4 books a year.
Have you truly mastered grammar and sentence structure? Do you feel 100% confident about every comma in your book?

I have a Bachelor's degree in English and taught high school English for 8 years. I'm pretty confident in my abilities in that area. Yes, things do slip past even the best editors, but not often.
How many pages do you think you could write in one day if you had zero interruptions from 8 AM to 8 PM?

I typically write about 4 pages an hour, so if the story is flowing and the muse is cooperating, about 40 pages. That's allowing time out to get up and move around, eat, etc. The most I ever wrote in one day was 50 pages in an 18 hour sprint. The writing tends to slow down after several hours.
How do you think (take a guess) writers like Nora Roberts write so many books in a year?

Like Trish Milburn said, by treating writing like a full-time job. They write whether they "feel like it" or not. They write through the hard times, and they write through the good times. They don't make excuses like writer's block or a muse on vacation.
What would be easier for you to write, a sex scene or a murder scene?

A murder scene, definitely. I'm a huge fan of NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI NY, and Without a Trace. I love mystery and mayhem. I'd be more comfortable writing sex scenes if I didn't have to worry about my mom, daughters, daughter-in-law, nieces, and granddaughters reading them.
If you were allowed to have only ONE book (of yours) for sale on Amazon and B&N, which book would you select? Why do you think readers might enjoy it?

Oh, that's a hard one. I'm in love with all my heroes and every book I write feels like the best one yet. If I had to choose just one, I'd have to go with Lean on Me. It was my Golden Heart finalist, won a couple of contests, and came very close to selling to Harlequin. It's a small town romance with a troubled teenager, a returning military hero, and an independent single mother with an adorable 4 year old daughter. I've cried every time I've read through it for edits.
Any advice for new writers just getting started?

Yes. Read. Read everything you can get your hands on, and not just in the genre you write. You absorb form and structure as you read. Read once for content, then read it again to analyze it. What worked in the book? What didn't? What would you have written differently? If you don't read, your chances of success as a writer are greatly diminished.

Thank you!


http://www.amazon.com/Lean-on-Me-ebook/dp/B005EDN762/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321625063&sr=1-1