Eight months post self-publishing--will I do it again? Should you?

If you are a writer like me, you wonder how another writer's books are really selling. Is self-publishing as good as some claim? Is it as bad?

My journey into self-publishing still makes me happy. Why is it important I'm happy? Because I wasn't last September when I almost gave up writing completely. I told myself last February when I took the plunge to self pub that I would stop when it was no longer fun. Today I can report that putting a book out there is still fun.

August was my best month so far. Overall, I've made almost as much money in the KENP program as I have selling e-books. So for now, that's where my books will remain.

How much have you made? you ask. Honestly, more than I did with my first book that was with a mid-sized publisher. I think that's because I have actively promoted and advertised The Bend more than I did The Mulligan. But since I'm doing it all my self online, I have more opportunities to set up the advertising, especially through Amazon.

Would I do it again? Of course. I hope to be much smarter about the next one--doing a low pre-promotional price, better book inside design, and being positive there is not one error in it as much as I can prevent. I will also choose better categories to set it up in, and start my Amazon advertising immediately rather than months later.

Already I am sharing the next cover and blurb and will heavily promote it as the time grows closer.
Honestly, selling is all about advertising. Who will find your book and buy it if you don't put it in front of them?

So my best advice to those who want to take a similar plunge? Write well, be brave, advertise and just do it. 

When Mediocracy is Good Enough

I watch America's Got Talent every week, crying when a contestant gets a standing ovation or the gold buzzer. Excited that they found their courage to take the step and share their talent with the world. But not all have that something. Most of them are average people hoping and dreaming they have that something special.

Aren't we all like that or am I the only one? Hoping deep inside, there is a talent that you can share with the world. Not to be famous, or make money but to be really really good at something. I have tried to learn so many things in my 60 some years. Ice skating, (could not do it) music--piano and the guitar and finally realized I am not musically inclined. Same with singing--my father told me to give it up. Ouch. And then I dreamed of acting but instead was given backstage duty in my senior play. I tried out for cheerleading, couldn't do the flips, and so I tried color guard. Not a chance. The list goes on. Is yours similar?

Then I turned to my love of writing. Surely someday I would be another Stephen King. Someone would read my book and make it into a movie. I'm sure all writers dream that dream. I'm no different. Finally reality stumbles through my door and reminds me that a zillion people write books. Few rise to stardom. Few books turn into Hallmark movies. Instead you must read reviews that make you cry, market into a vast void of emptiness and pat yourself on your back that at least you "did it."

I count the years I have left to pull out of average--out of mediocracy. Maybe if I studied harder. Wrote more often. Hired more editors. Maybe, maybe. Maybe I'm just not that good.

Ugh.

Like my musical ability or my physical abilities, maybe these other talents I'm trying to cultivate will always be hobbies and nothing more.

The question is: Is that ok? Can I live with being an average writer, photographer, etc. What if the one thing I'm good at will never be publicly applauded or recognized? What if the one thing I'm good at will always be between God and me? Is that enough?

Of course I know the answer. It's the answer that pops up each time after I work through another meltdown. Another reality check.

I have one audience and that is always enough. His applause deafens anything the world can bring at me.

Self-publishing three months later

It's been awhile since I've written a blog post so I thought I would share what's been happening with my book and writing life in general. It seems blogs and reading them are so time-consuming anymore with all the other social media one has to keep up with.

On Memorial Day, I gave my book away, THE BEND, for free. One day. 1,000 readers took me up on my offer. Much more than I expected but I did it as a promotion. The next day my Amazon rating was much lower, Then I sold the highest number of  books on Tuesday. My page reads also increased significantly. All in all, the promotion did what I had hoped it would do--create more interest in my book. A few weeks ago, I did a Panera gift card giveaway and to enter the person only had to follow my Amazon page. I gained over 1400 followers who will be notified when my next book comes out next year.

All this promotion work isn't easy. But it is necessary or my book will never get out there. Posting a book on Amazon guarantees no sales at all. It's work. Hard work. I miss just writing but so far I have made more money doing the self-publishing route than I did in three years with a publisher.

I am also deep in checking out all these book promotion sites such as BookBub --but there are smaller more affordable ones I am using first. I have one set up for next Sunday for $15 and a free one the same day. I am using Amazon's promotions and will offer a reduced price on my book in August or Sept and combine it with one of these promo sites.

I consider this year with THE BEND the time to learn about book marketing to prepare for my next novel. Maybe I'll be better at it when I release the next one. Also doing work with setting up an audio version which can be done through Amazon as well. Got to take a deep breath to dive into that one as there is a learning curve there too.

Finally, I am editing with my CP's help my next book for the second time around. A chapter a week.

And my son-in-law wondered if I was bored at home all day.  Not A Chance.

Why do we writers write?

Here are my facts:

Traditionally published book 2015 with medium-sized publisher--sold almost 500 books made a little over $100 in royalties so far.Took two years to be published and write. Paid editor $$$+

Self-published book two weeks ago--sold over 50 books and have made more in royalties than above. Took over a year to write, a month to publish, paid editor $$$+

Article for magazine this fall--took ten minutes to write--earned $100 for 1,000 words. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul --took ten minutes to write--earned $200.

So why do we write with these kind of facts? In my ten plus years of writing, I know of only a handful of writers who made it with a big publisher and/or got a three book deal. When I owned a bookstore and attended conventions, I dreamed of becoming one of the writers people stood in line to get an autographed copy of their book. In reality, I knew that dream would never materialize.

But is it the dream that keeps us going? Surely not the time or money.

For me it comes down to this: I have stories I want to share. I want to take others on the emotional journey I have gone on. I want one or two people to think about what I wrote and maybe it will make a small difference in their life.

Is it enough and is that dream satisfying enough? 

Go back to the top of this post and spin your own numbers. But maybe you will be one of those who breaks through, makes a ton of $$ and I stand in line for your autograph. I hope that is true because it offers still more hope to many.

I write. I share, It's what I do. 

And it's enough. 

Around the Corner--An update

I can't believe six months have flown by. I promised myself to update this blog occasionally and I think that time has arrived.

We have moved again! We left SW Florida behind to move to the NE coast of Florida. Another husband job change--one I can report he loves. February proved to be a rugged time for us as we lived in an extended stay hotel, applied for a loan and finally purchased a home. Finally is the word as we didn't want to pay rent any longer while we worked in Florida.

For over two months, we renovated the house. Painted, put in flooring, cleaned and updated. I loved the experience. Now I'm decorating with thrift store finds for when we sell someday. Yes, we still own our PA home that we now call our retirement place.

As for writing, I'll finish my edits this week on The Bend and send it to my editor before handing it back to my agent. Publication takes time starting with a good story. Hoping my current story will find a home soon.

But God has given me so many fun activities to do along with writing. I'm redoing furniture, learning photography and playing my guitar. Sunday we visited a new church. Hopefully, we won't need to visit any others.

I never thought I'd be living in this part of Florida. Never thought I'd ever own two homes after our loss in 2007. I never thought I'd be enjoying so many new hobbies.

But as I always say: God knew.

Keep your eyes open. You never know what is around the next corner.

Changing the way we look at life

I've lived many places in my thirty-six years of marriage. Today I call Bonita Springs, Florida home--a gift from God.

When we started building last spring, we never dreamed we wouldn't finish by this year. I had hopes of seeing my cabinets completed and inviting my first guests over for dinner. I saw myself planting a garden this spring and painting my porch furniture to match my front door.

Today this street view is what greets me every morning. It's nothing like the two acres we own in a small town in Pennyslvania. They call this development resort style living. People ride bikes and jog and swim in the two pools or work out in the fitness center that overlooks one of many lakes. Every day at two, I walk across six bridges to the town center post office to check for mail. If I want I can get my hair cut, my toes painted, pump gas, plan a vacation, do banking or dine in one of their many ammenities.

It's different. But then I knew different would come with this territory when we made the jump. Different will face me many more times as I find a new church, a new doctor, a new stylist and new friends. Being open to different will help.

Being open to what God wants from me will help too.

You know that feeling when you wonder what God is doing with your life? I'm there. I've always been a homebody type of person. I like stability. I thrive on it. For some reason, that part of me needs to go away because change seems to be the norm now.

Who knows when we might move again?

So I'm riding a  twenty-year-old bike, working out in the gym, saying hello to new neighbors and driving around unfamiliar territory in search of a great thrift store.

I'm opening my heart to the change in my life. Are you?

Blessings of Encouragement

Many of you asked me to report on how my first meeting at my home went on Saturday. I’d sent out initiations to the ladies in my Bible Fellowship class asking if they wanted to be encouraged and be an encourager.

I’m happy to say five ladies attended with several more communicating to me their desire to come to the next one but because of prior commitments, couldn’t come this time.

Since I’m all about the keeping it real, and goals—I made up a bunch of questions, typed them on slips of paper and passed them around. Each person took one and read it aloud, answered and then asked the question of someone else.

I called it my Icebreaker. It certainly did.

So many people keep their thoughts and lives bundled so deeply inside that those around haven’t a clue to their needs. They call it being strong or private, or socially polite.

I call it being fearful.

I hope my writing shares more than just words. I hope it offers people a deeper look into who I am and hopefully into the character of God.

As a Christian writer, we shouldn’t be afraid to put it out there—and I don’t mean the in-your-face kind of preaching—but the kind that is honest and real.

How are you keeping your writing real? And when you do, how have you been blessed?