Sales

A friend in my writer’s group, Debra Holland, check her out on Amazon, has had phenomenal success self publishing. I’m grateful for her success for a two reasons.
1. It’s motivating and encouraging.
 2. I can watch and learn from her.

In fact, currently she’s teaching an online class through RWA on self publishing and I’m taking it. I’m not a very vocal student—I’m more of a lurker—a stalker. I’ve made Debra my case study and here’s some Debra versus Kristy stats.

Debra has five books out, six if you include her nonfiction book on grieving. The first book in Debra’s Montana Sky series is only .99 cents. Debra’s book won the Golden Heart—I think that’s a huge selling point. Romance readers know darn well what a Golden Heart is and what to expect from a Golden Heart winner.

Debra has three books in the Montana Sky series and the covers are all very similar. I think the advantage here is if readers enjoyed the first book, they can correctly assume they’re in for another sweet western experience with the other two books in the series.

So, what can I do with this? I’m entering contests. I thought about changing my covers, but people seem to love my covers so I’m sticking with them.

In the next few months I’ll be participating in a couple of “book buffets” where I’ll offer my books for a discount.

But mostly, I’m writing. Debra has six books, I hope to have four published by the end of the year.

The interesting, or should I say boring, thing about all this writing is it gives me nothing to say in conversations. When friends ask me how I am or what I’ve been up to, I have very little to say. I admit I’ve been holed up in my room playing with fictional characters, but that can only take a conversation so far. And unlike writing fiction, I can’t just make stuff up. That would be lying.

I’ll finish Losing Penny by the end of the week. Tomorrow disaster will strike at a donkey basketball game. I love writing--the making up stuff part. Even if I don’t sell as well as Debra. Yet.