Over 134,000 Books Sold - November Update

TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 134,080

Totals are as of November 22, 2011 @ 10PM 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:         1,527
November:         752*

Total:           12,144*

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:        674*

Total:         28,290*

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:      1,663*

Total:             7,381*

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:        811*

Total:             8,195*

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:       5,137*

Total:           78,070*

*sales as of November 22, 2011 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

Don't forget to come join the November party at The Romance Reviews. Only a few days left of games and free books!

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 and promotion, or even 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 400 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 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 my sales have dropped significantly. I have already reached more readers than I had first envisioned. My plan is to keep writing the best books I can and reach more and more readers as the years go by. DEAD WEIGHT, the sequel to Abducted will be released at the end of December, hopefully before Christmas.

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. And to all who celebrate Turkey Day, Happy Thanksgiving!

Meet Trish Milburn!

I worked as a journalist before becoming a full-time author. I still do occasional freelance jobs, but I dedicate most of my time to writing books now. I’m a two-time Golden Heart winner and have published four books with Harlequin American with three more due out in the first half of 2012, two young adult books (under the name Tricia Mills) with Razorbill, and three self-published titles. I have three young adult titles coming out next year under my own name from Bell Bridge Books.




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

Oh, heck yeah. I’ve told this story many times. I had in 2007 what I called my Summer of Buffy. I’d hit the 10-year mark for trying to get published and got really down thinking that my Golden Heart finals were the best I was ever going to do. I couldn’t make myself write and ended up lying on the couch all summer watching all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time, all five seasons of Angel and the first season of Supernatural. But something happened while I was watching all that TV. I got an idea for a young adult story and ended up writing the first draft in 17 days. It took me a while to sell that story, but Coven is the first in my trilogy coming out next year, debuting in February. It wasn’t the first story I sold, but it’s what kept me going. A year after the Summer of Buffy, I sold my first two books to Razorbill. Three months later, I sold my first two romances to Harlequin American. So I’m a big believer in perseverance now, even when it’s really, really hard to keep going.

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 think we all might have that New York Times Bestsellers List. I want to have at least three releases a year, and I’d love to eventually see at least one of my YA books turned into a movie. I plan to keep up with my three-prong business plan – books with large publishers, smaller publishers and self-publishing. I don’t like having all my eggs in one basket, and I tend to write different types of stories. I’d also love to make enough that my husband could quit his job. He’s supported me throughout the years when I wasn’t selling, and it’d be nice if he could have the free time and energy to indulge the pursuits he likes. 

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

Nobody’s ever going to catch everything. No matter how many times I proof a book, there’s always going to be some little something I need to change. I think all writers experience this. That said I’m pretty confident in the cleanliness of my books. My work at newspapers and magazines helped hone my copy editing skills, and I’ve done freelance copy edit work for other authors and a local publisher.

How many pages do you think you could write in one day if you had zero interruptions from 8 AM to 8 PM?

The most I’ve ever written in a day was between 25 and 30 pages. I find that my pace is fastest when I start and declines as the day goes on and my brain tires. I do best when I write a few pages, then take a break for exercise or chores, then write some more. I’m more productive in writing spurts of about half an hour at a time.

How do you think (take a guess) writers like Nora Roberts write so many books in a year?

They view it as a full-time job and treat it as such. If you have a regular day job where someone else pays you, you can’t say, “I don’t feel like going to work today. I think I’ll stay home and watch TV or go shopping.” Too much of that and you’re out of a job. Why would writing be any different?

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

Hmm, would depend on the book. I’ve written both types and sometimes they flow easily, and sometimes they’re like pulling teeth.

Any advice for new writers just getting started?

Stick with it, even when the going gets tough. And never stop improving your craft. Writing is a crowded marketplace, and with the industry changing so much and so quickly the quality of the writing is really what is going to make you stand out and be successful.

Thank you, Trish! If you would like to learn more about Trish Milburn, visit the following sites:

Trish Milburn's Website

Find Trish on Facebook

Find Trish on Twitter: @TrishMilburn  

Books on Amazon

Books on Barnes & Noble 

Books on Smashwords

OVER 128,000 BOOKS SOLD

TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 128,444

Totals are as of November 7, 2011 @ 10PM 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:      1,527
November:       282*
Total:          11,674*

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:     244*

Total:          27,860*

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:       678*

Total:            6,396*

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:       296*
Total:            7,680*

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:         1,901*

Total:              74,834*

*sales as of November 7, 2011 @ 10 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

I found a new site: The Kindle 3 Books. Every time they mention Abducted, my sales spike. Check it out.

Don't forget to come join the November party at The Romance Reviews. 

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 and promotion, or even 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 400 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 plan to 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.

CONTEST WINNERS!

WINNER of custom made sterling silver spider ring is...BONNIE SPARKS aka "bsparx"

 

WINNERS OF "YOUR NAME IN MY NEXT BOOK"

ARLENE "LENA" RUIZ - Happy Birthday!
DEBRA TAPHORN
CHARLEEN "CHARLEE" SYDNEY BINGAMAN

Congratulations to Lena, Debra and Charlee. Your names are being used in the follow-up book to Abducted, titled Dead Weight by T.R. Ragan. Dead Weight will be released before the end of 2011.

 

 

EVERYONE IS A WINNER!

All who entered will receive a free digital copy of DEAD WEIGHT as soon as it is released: Bonnie Sparks, Lena Ruiz, Charlee Bingaman, Brooke Nelson, Kimberly, Karissa, Debra Taphorn, and Heather Champion!

Thanks to all who participated. Look for more "name in my book" contests in the near future.

October Sales Update #2

TOTAL BOOKS SOLD: 122,611

 

Totals are as of 10/26/11 @ 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: 1,332*

Total:   11,197

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:  1,188*

Total:   27,456

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: 1,742*

Total:   5,335

Finding Kate Huntley - Released May 5, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense

May: 187

June: 261

July: 325

August: 1,159

September: 3,363
October: 1,889*

Total:   7,184

Abducted - Released May 29, 2011 $2.99

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

May: 25

June: 694

July: 1,708

August: 12,917

September: 39,413
October: 16,682*

Total:  71,439

*sales as of 10/26/11 @ 8 PM (B&N and Amazon combined)

Nothing new over here, except to say that seven months later, I can still say that becoming an indie author has been an amazing experience. Recently I was interviewed at Indie Reader. Fun!

As far as promotion and marketing, I love free sites like Digital Books Today. Anthony Wessel is friendly and helpful. "The staff at Digital Book Today is currently a group of 4 who all have either worked in the book industry and/or have been avid bookreaders all of our lives." How cool is that?

And don't forget The Romance Reviews, Eye on Romance, Pixel of Ink and The Frugal Ereader. I will try to list more advertising sites on my next update.  

If you decide to self-publish and don't know where to start when it comes to marketing and promotion, or even 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 400 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 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?

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.

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.