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Congrats on finishing the first volume! It’s such an amazing achievement! I’m proud of you!
I’m currently working on book one of a new series about mental health. It’s actually a romance novel, but focuses on the mental health of my character who is dealing with depression and anxiety.
I self-published my first book in February, which is book one of a different series. I’m quite a ways into books 2 and 3 of that series as well, but stopped working on them to work on the mental health one. Here it is!
Her: A secret painter.
Him: An overworked financial advisor.
A 10-year high school reunion.
One steamy day, several hot nights.
Can they find a balance to their lives or will it die before they have the chance to see?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0853FQZYC/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_tw\_dp\_x\_jhhdFb9E00AQZ
I've done something similar before for a story I wrote and printed for a friend of mine. What you want is a scrapbook style book with insertable pages. This is the one I used, but you can get all different kinds as long as the pages are 8.5x11. You can even get one at Michaels, I believe.
Depending on the length of this story, you might need more than the pages the book comes with. I did, so I ordered this refill pack to go with it.
I got fancy with mine and printed it on colored paper, lime green because it's my friend's favorite color. Have fun and good luck!
Yes! And they don't have to be romantically involved just seem oddly not interested during times people think they should for some odd reason. In Gods Among Us: Alienthology you'd never guess it til way down the series but it's vaguely implied in one of the chapters, which is a hint on the series as to how extraterrestrial species view sexuality more openly. It's a brand new book so I'll leave you the link if you wanna check it out.
Dalle2 plus programming. Though, the programming is optional. That is why I was curious how other people did it. You can preview them on kindle. Search Robert Calvert. (Not meant to be self promoting just sharing reference.)
It's not "an Amazon title" as much as "listed on Amazon". And no, it's not self-published, as much as it's published by small press (literally, I'm their second author, ever, and I knew that going in).
An "out of pocket" author is someone who pays for everything. The publisher's marketing efforts are minimal, since I'm a first-time author, so I'm doing my own stuff too. Small publishers like these guys are also trying to build as much as I am. But the larger publishers wouldn't even look at it, let alone touch it, because they want someone who already has success before they'll even look.
So, I'm "out of pocket" because I have to build my own stuff up. The problem is, I didn't realize what I'd be getting into when I contracted with this publisher last spring. I'm absolutely out of my depth with marketing (being an introverted type). Thus, I have to spend money from my own wallet in order to further the efforts of the publisher, who has promised a higher royalty because I'm doing exactly that.
Which, from my perspective, feels like a criminal racket on their part, even if in fact it's not. I've never worked so hard for so little return in my life.
That's what "out of pocket" means.
But I still think it may be worthwhile, since it's kind of a long game. That's why I'm doing it.
If all you are doing is basically using it as a typewriter to transpose hand written pages, go with a low end Chromebook. They're very inexpensive and you can use google docs (free) as you word processor.
Thanks so much for the info and the word of caution! I was wondering about DRM and the potential impact of piracy. Ironically, I was talking this over with my coworker after posting the question and he found my book available on Amazon already! I guess they are part of the IngramSpark distribution network, so I could just provide the link to purchase the ebook there. Even though it'll impact my revenue, it provides an inexpensive work-around to the DRM issue.
Of course now it's more likely that people will buy their print copies through Amazon as well ... but the website will still help me promote and grow my brand, and give me an outlet to sell signed copies with personal notes for those who might give it as a gift. On the bright side, I won't have to worry too much about keeping stock on hand.
3 so far working on a fourth ☺️ Flies & Their Honey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2NTYBZ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_V0YENZCBYMQ3NDDW1CK8
They are dark books so beware if you intend on checking them out
Here are a few things to examine:
1) Are you marketing the books? Do you have a reader magnet/free book? Do you do book promotions with other authors on Bookfunnel or Prolific Works to get subscribers for a newsletter? Do you have a newsletter that you use to market to an audience of subscribers? Do you do newsletter swaps with other authors in your genre? Do you schedule promotions? What is your book pricing? Have you tried releasing at 99 cents?
2) If you are doing all of number 1, have you had beta readers look at your books to give you feedback?
3) Are your books written to market? I suggest reading this book if you haven't already on how to research what sells. https://www.amazon.com/Write-Market-Deliver-Faster-Smarter-ebook/dp/B01AX23B4Q
Have you read Romancing the Beat? It's very helpful and shows the different stages of the romance. Usually both the hero and the heroine have a problem with love that has kept them from finding anyone. The first 0-15% of the book is set-up for the normal world and everything changes at the inciting incident. You can still have the meet-cute in the set-up but you are showing their normal world. Does that make sense? Here is the book. https://www.amazon.com/Romancing-Beat-Structure-Romance-Kissing-ebook/dp/B01DSJSURY
That is very interesting and I understand what you are saying. Sounds like interesting stuff though and I wish you the best. I wrote this and its not very erotic but has a certain romantic angle if you like cats. https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Three-Winters-South-Pole/dp/1640125523
Here is the free one of my most successful set of books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0992VKNXC
It sold 15,000 copies then I made it free and another 50,000 copies have been downloaded from Amazon. About 30% of those people buy the second book in the series, and about 65% of those go on to read the rest.
I also made a short story in the series free, but it has't caught on. Making the first book free changed everything.
Don't even need the newsletter. You just need a free book at the start of a series. And, both the free book and the other books need to be pretty good. I've sold 65,000 books this way in about a year.
Example (1st book in one of my series): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0992VKNXC
I've had good luck with Facebook and Amazon ads. If you're exclusive to Kindle for your ebook, you can take advantage of a countdown deals or free days--but when you do those (either of them), you'll want to engage some of the promo sites that push those deals out to their subscribers each day. (Depending on your genre, you'll find different promo sites targeted toward the readers you're looking for . . . One place you can find those lists is on Reedsy.com.) You'll find a lot of good information from David Gaughran, Joanna Penn, Sandra Beckwith (Build A Book Buzz) and many more like that. Otherwise, some of the best advice is to keep writing the next book and the next one and so on. The more books you have out the further your marketing efforts go. Particularly, if those books are all part of the same series.
I've been using the site Reedsy.com to get in touch with editors. You can also put ads out on Craigslist seeking editors, and I've had success with that as well.
As far as cost, it varies greatly depending on the type of edit you want, what the person's rate per word is, and the length of your works. If all you want is grammar and sentence structure, it sounds like you want a line edit, and in my experience those go for about 2 cents a word.
I published my book Dark Heart this year in May and so far I’ve sold about 300+ books! One thing I can suggest doing is find pop up shops and festivals that you can become a vender. I sold almost 40 copies in a day and people were able to get signed copies. That’s ok being that this is my first time doing this and I enjoy it. It’s definitely a hustle. You can send copies to libraries and indie bookshops. In my case my book is a murder mystery about Adam and Eve that takes on the challenges of informing people about mental conditions and depression. When I was getting ready to publish my book my dad committed suicide and it took me by storm, which forced me to take a step back to evaluate what I was doing. So I decided to dedicate the book to him and created a foundation in his name. Called the Warney Ray Smith jr. foundation and I take a percentage of book sales and put it into the foundation to help those that are going through something similar. The whole process as been very overwhelming but being put in the light for those that are in the darkness that my dad was in actually makes me feel like I’m doing good. That being said it’s been a process!!!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0943PGKHW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HY6KDD3VYHZDWG6W7YJP
Thewas.co
Thanks for your thoughts. My first book certainly wasn't financial successful...none really are, I self-published as most do.
That said, the ratings I've gotten by reviewers (paid and unpaid) have rated it nicely. I had a vote of confidence when the New York Review of Books reached out to me and asked if I wanted to advertise in their newspaper. When I did some research, they told me that they found my book on the review sites, saw it was rated well, and reached out.
So, I'm hoping that with a well-written book the first time, I might have a shot at getting an agent for this upcoming book. Thanks again.
Kipexo is a battle-wounded commander just trying to return to active duty. To get him back to the front lines faster, his friends suggest he adopt an Earthling, a rescued human from the dying planet Earth. He thought he’d be getting a simple servant ready and willing to lend a helping hand, but from the day Ethan arrives, it becomes clear Kipexo got a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Ethan doesn’t know a word of Kipexo’s language, can’t follow even simple instructions, and seems bent on disobeying his new master at every turn. As Kipexo struggles to tame his new Earthling, he’s torn between the urge to punish Ethan and the desire to hold him close. When he learns Ethan has some scars of his own, Kipexo wonders if he should find the human a more suitable master or simply give in to temptation and take Ethan to bed.
Kipexo is a battle-wounded commander just trying to return to active duty. To get him back to the front lines faster, his friends suggest he adopt an Earthling, a rescued human from the dying planet Earth. He thought he’d be getting a simple servant ready and willing to lend a helping hand, but from the day Ethan arrives, it becomes clear Kipexo got a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Ethan doesn’t know a word of Kipexo’s language, can’t follow even simple instructions, and seems bent on disobeying his new master at every turn. As Kipexo struggles to tame his new Earthling, he’s torn between the urge to punish Ethan and the desire to hold him close. When he learns Ethan has some scars of his own, Kipexo wonders if he should find the human a more suitable master or simply give in to temptation and take Ethan to bed.
Hey I just published a book which is a short story collection ( https://www.amazon.com/Big-Island-Middle-School-light-hearted/dp/B093RPTLW3/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=big+island+middle+school+ketki&qid=1620710449&sr=8-3)
I'd really love to team up with you, I've been looking to be on some podcasts. Message me if you're still looking?
Kipexo is a battle-wounded commander just trying to return to active duty. To get him back to the front lines faster, his friends suggest he adopt an Earthling, a rescued human from the dying planet Earth. He thought he’d be getting a simple servant ready and willing to lend a helping hand, but from the day Ethan arrives, it becomes clear Kipexo got a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Ethan doesn’t know a word of Kipexo’s language, can’t follow even simple instructions, and seems bent on disobeying his new master at every turn. As Kipexo struggles to tame his new Earthling, he’s torn between the urge to punish Ethan and the desire to hold him close. When he learns Ethan has some scars of his own, Kipexo wonders if he should find the human a more suitable master or simply give in to temptation and take Ethan to bed.
Kipexo is a battle-wounded commander just trying to return to active duty. To get him back to the front lines faster, his friends suggest he adopt an Earthling, a rescued human from the dying planet Earth. He thought he’d be getting a simple servant ready and willing to lend a helping hand, but from the day Ethan arrives, it becomes clear Kipexo got a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Ethan doesn’t know a word of Kipexo’s language, can’t follow even simple instructions, and seems bent on disobeying his new master at every turn. As Kipexo struggles to tame his new Earthling, he’s torn between the urge to punish Ethan and the desire to hold him close. When he learns Ethan has some scars of his own, Kipexo wonders if he should find the human a more suitable master or simply give in to temptation and take Ethan to bed.
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Rescue is free on Kindle Unlimited or just $2.99 without KU. Paperback is also available for $9.99.
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This collection of erotic poetry puts you in the mindset of a Dominant during BDSM scenes. They're meant to make you feel the emotions, both the highs and the lows, that a Dominant experiences when they take control of a lover. With themes ranging anywhere from vanilla sex to the kinkiest of kinks, there's something for everyone in this collection. Do you dare to step into the head of a Dominant and find out what it means to take control?
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Kipexo is a battle wounded commander just trying to return to active duty. To get him back to the front lines faster, his friends suggest he adopt an Earthling, a rescued human from the dying planet Earth. He thought he’d be getting a simple servant ready and willing to lend a helping hand, but from the day Ethan arrives, it becomes clear Kipexo got a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Ethan doesn’t know a word of Kipexo’s language, can’t follow even simple instructions, and seems bent on disobeying his new master at every turn. As Kipexo struggles to tame his new Earthling, he’s torn between the urge to punish Ethan and the desire to hold him close. When he learns Ethan has some scars of his own, Kipexo wonders if he should find the human a more suitable master or simply give in to temptation and take Ethan to bed.
Wanna read more? Rescue is available now, free on Kindle Unlimited or $2.99 without KU. Paperback is also available for $9.99.
Get Rescue today! Free on Kindle Unlimited or $2.99 without KU. Paperback is also available for $9.99.
It's available on Amazon!
And on our website.
She knows all the legends, but she doesn't know her own story.Reka has a gift for storytelling and loves spinning tales around the fire to entertain her traveling troupe of acrobats. She tells tales of mythical creatures, of the old king who ruled Orosea and of the upheaval his sons brought upon the land centuries ago. But what if the stories she tells are more than just myth? As Reka is drawn into the still unfolding story of her drought-ravaged land, she finds that she may have a bigger role to play than just surviving another day. Accompanied by her faithful friends, and a warrior whose cynicism matches his skills with a sword, Reka coaxes everyone around her to become the best version of themselves. Will loyalty and friendship prove strong enough as Reka discovers the truth about herself, and the others around her? Or will it tear them apart? Is there hope for a better future in Orosea?
Congrats! I just self-published my first book back in March, and I’m already excited to plan out my next couple years of publishing—it’s an adventure-style novel of kids who accidentally end up in the underworld. :)
Congrats on your book! I just hit 100 sales on my first published work. Been a crazy journey.
My main goal with this project was to express the idea without distorting it with my interpretation or personality, allowing the reader to encounter the concept in the same raw way that I did.
The feedback I’ve received so far seems to indicate that I succeeded, but I’m looking forward to getting to 100 reviews to see if that theory holds.
Anyway, best of luck on your project!