Sales Update

Sales #'s as of August, 2012

ebooks sold thru Amazon                                    345,253        
borrows thru Amazon                                           19,855
Free books thru Amazon                                       301,344

ebooks sold thru B&N                                            16,555

ebooks sold thru Smashwords                                 1,052

total ebooks sold in 18 months:               360,860


I have not offered freebies since June, 2012, and have no plans to do so in the future

Abducted and Dead Weight were sold to Thomas & Mercer on March 27, 2012

Abducted alone has sold over 151,000 books

The most books sold in one month: 50,000 books in February 2012

I plan to release four books a year

Will be released: December 2012

At this time, I plan to focus on writing contemporary romance and thrillers

I just finished writing Book 3 of the Lizzy Gardner series, which is to be released early 2013

I am working on a collaboration with DD Scott (a short christmas story) to be released in 2012

I have two contemporary romances (cover art above and below) that I will be releasing in 2012

I plan to release Book 2 and 3 in the Baylor Family series in 2013 (sequels to Having My Baby)


Although I continue to experiment and try new things, I do feel a need to focus. In 2013, I plan to spend more time writing and less time speaking and attending conferences.

Advice to writers thinking about self-publishing. Give it a try! What do you have to lose? It's only overwhelming if you allow it to be. Take it one step at a time. Don't spend all of your time worrying about what other writers are doing. Try different things and see what works for you. If you don't want to spend time learning about formatting and making cover art, hire someone. Go to my LINKS tab to see who I use for cover art and formatting. Be professional. Spend money on an editor/proof reader. Most of all...HAVE FUN! You can do it!

Coming soon!

Thanks to all my readers. None of this would or could have happened without you!

Sales Update

BOOKS SOLD as of MARCH 31, 2012: 255,655


Total(s) are as of March 31, 2012 and do NOT include over 185,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N combined Sales)
Borrows have NOT been included in total 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: 1,457
February: 1,519
March 2012:  1422

Total: 17,845

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: 2,685
February: 1,485
March 2012: 1,620

Total: 36,665


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 (272 borrows)
January: 4,393 (782 borrows)
February: 1,088 (99 borrows)
March 2012: 1,692 (114 borrows)

Total: 16,602

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 (1,088 borrows)
January: 2,523 (791 borrows)
February: 1,908 (123 borrows)
March 2012: 2,077 (46 borrows)

Total: 19,408

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: 2,118
February: 32,500 (5,088 borrows)
March 2012: 18,188 (3,674 borrows)

Total: 136,033

Dead Weight - Released December 22, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

December: 451

January: 1,430
February: 11,385 (325 borrows)
March 2012: 15,836 (1,399 borrows)

Total: 29,102

The BEST part of my indie author journey has been connecting with readers.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to read one of my books, write a review, comment on my blog, offer congrats, or email me to tell me I have a new fan!

No matter what YOUR dreams are, don't let anyone tell you that you can't succeed.

Don't be afraid to try new things. Stay positive.

YOU CAN DO IT!

145,419 books sold!

December Sales Update II

Totals are as of December 27, 2011 @ 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: 862*

Total: 13,235*

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: 1,844*

Total: 30,336*

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: 1,295*

Total: 9,163*

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: 1,400*

Total: 9,879*

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: 3,033*

Total: 82,611*

Dead Weight - Released December 22, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

December: 195*

Total: 195*

*sales as of December 27, 2011 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

2011 has been a very exciting year! A Knight in Central Park was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. Abducted stayed on Amazon's Bestseller List for All Kindle Store for three months. In ten months I have sold close to 150,000 ebooks. Thank you, READERS! 

Twenty years ago, when I sat down to write my very first book, I ended up with binders filled with notes and character sketches. I had fifty pages of what turned out to be an outline. Five years after beginning my writing journey, I finished Return of the Rose and I joined Romance Writers of America. I also joined the Sacramento Chapter of RWA. I worked with critique partners, I signed with two agents, and I worked with more than a few editors on two of my novels. I garnered six nominations in RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart Competition. I entered writing contests and later became a judge for many of those same contests. I attended conferences all over the U.S. and, most importantly, I wrote every day. Despite all of my hard work, signing with a publisher in New York was not to be. I had written more than ten novels and too many partials to count and I was frustrated. That’s when I decided to write a thriller and kill off some characters and my frustrations at the same time. While researching real-life serial killers I began to have nightmares and had to put the book away. Nine months later, I read what I had written and I felt compelled to finish the story. My husband told me I should self-publish. He also reminded me to write for the love of writing and nothing else. He was right. And that’s exactly what I began to do. I cannot wait to wake up every morning and write. I have a passion for telling stories and I cannot imagine doing anything else. Becoming an indie author has allowed me to share my stories with readers--a dream come true.


***

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/

October Sales Update

TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 110,615

Totals are as of 10/10/11 @ 8PM and do not include 25,000 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:              564*
Total:            10,429

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:              460*

Total:            26,728

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:             614*

Total:              4,207

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense

May:                 187

June:                 261

July:                  325

August:          1,159

September:       3,363  
October:             958*
Total:            6,253

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May:                       25

June:                     694

July:                   1,708

August:             12,917

September:       39,413
October:               8,241*

Total:              62,998

*sales as of 10/10/11  @  8 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. As you can see, ABDUCTED numbers are slowly dropping. What goes up, must come down. I would love to hit the top twenty and stay there...forever. But that's not realistic. I have been enjoying every moment of this amazing indie author journey and I feel good about every book I have released. After months of marketing and promotion, I am writing again. I have two finished novels waiting for their turn to be polished/edited, but they have been pushed to the side while I work on the sequel to Abducted. 

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?

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.

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.