tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post1321426126252849834..comments2024-01-23T14:12:39.185-08:00Comments on Vanessa Wester: Advertising your eBooks? My experience as a Self-Published AuthorVanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-8734594185136408972015-03-22T00:20:39.066-07:002015-03-22T00:20:39.066-07:00I am reading one that was no.4 in the UK free char...I am reading one that was no.4 in the UK free charts and I do not understand how that happened! Well, I do... I suspect Bookbub! <br /><br />Well done for having had that level of success in the past. I missed that bubble by a whisker! <br /><br />I agree. Over the past few weeks I have had so much positive feedback that its given me hope. It has not reflected in loads of sales, but that is the way things are at the moment.<br /><br />We have to keep smiling and remembering what we do it all for. What was that again? Ha ha! :)Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-19057473143353097282015-03-21T05:05:34.769-07:002015-03-21T05:05:34.769-07:00Vanessa, I know exactly what you mean - I just re...Vanessa, I know exactly what you mean - I just read a book that's at something like 400 in the whole chart, and was Richard and Judy's pick, or something, and it wasn't that great. I've read better by self-pubs. Yes - it can really get to you, so I think you have to just try not to let it and do what you do anyway! That's what I and a couple of other writers (who are both brilliant!) were assuring each other earlier this week, anyway.... grrrrr!!! :D<br /><br />I have been at #1 in the free charts which got me to #24 in the REAL PAID chart, once long ago when there were hardly any Kindle books!!!!!!! But it didn't do me that much good in the long run - I just caught the end of it being easy. I think the bubble burst with the free promotions about two months after I had that success. I don't write mainstream so will never be likely to achieve anything like that again! <br /><br />The best thing ever is someone who has no agenda telling you that they loved your book and are really looking forward to the next one - I think we have to keep reminding ourselves of that xxTerry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-85246712564224958232015-03-19T02:50:06.610-07:002015-03-19T02:50:06.610-07:00Tell me about it... one of the things I don't ...Tell me about it... one of the things I don't like about the kindle is when it tells you that a book is going to take 12 hours to read! I'm like, really? Ahhhhh! :)Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-72886279610176672192015-03-19T02:48:58.194-07:002015-03-19T02:48:58.194-07:00I agree. I have not submitted my book to anyone si...I agree. I have not submitted my book to anyone since 2012 when I decide to self-publish. I might try again with my next novel, since it is a story that would appeal to many. You never know! :)Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-16046097542325609952015-03-19T02:46:53.140-07:002015-03-19T02:46:53.140-07:00As an author, I totally agree with you. As a reade...As an author, I totally agree with you. As a reader, I love the promotions and free books. That's the trade off. I am able to read so much more than than I use to, and this is great. the question is how to find the books in the first place. Then again, think about how I came across yours! You were one of three people to send me a link when I requested a book to read on Twitter. I am so glad you did... but, the thing is the chances are there, like I have said in this post. If you are ruthless or determined enough then you will succeed. I have seen many authors do this. Review exchanges, constant promotions everywhere, attending reader groups. It can be done. I personally don't have the energy to do more than what I have done already :)Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-25019417084051787592015-03-19T02:43:09.958-07:002015-03-19T02:43:09.958-07:00I think if we manage to sell books then we should ...I think if we manage to sell books then we should be happy. <br /><br />My biggest gripe is seeing some of the books in the top of the charts! HOW do they get there? I have read some of them and they are not ones I would think were worth of the "top 100" calibre... just call me the green-eyed giant! <br /><br />If I ever get into the top 100 FREE charts (I was close once) I will give up chocolate for a month - trust me, this is REALLY hard for me! :)Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-6821498749332867182015-03-19T01:47:49.749-07:002015-03-19T01:47:49.749-07:00Linda, it's even more than that. There are so...Linda, it's even more than that. There are something like 2 million Kindle books on Amazon UK alone. If you're selling and getting read outside friends and family at all, you're doing pretty well! Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-4974500930237864942015-03-19T01:45:58.680-07:002015-03-19T01:45:58.680-07:00Oh, I get what you mean now, sorry!
As for being ...Oh, I get what you mean now, sorry!<br /><br />As for being 'snapped up' - you have to submit to be so, and I've only ever submitted You Wish and Kings and Queens to agents. Both of them got past the initial sample chapters stage to have the full MS read, but both times I was advised to re-write and resubmit - ie, change it into a different book. Wasn't prepared to do that. But thanks so much for the compliment. Getting an agent is really difficult - out of the thousans of submissions they receive per year, most agents take on less than 5.<br /><br />Yeah, yeah, there are a whole bunch of things I would do differently if I had my time again, too! Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-21754530960362002422015-03-17T05:44:26.853-07:002015-03-17T05:44:26.853-07:00Help! I'm feeling a little depressed because I...Help! I'm feeling a little depressed because I don't want to think about the massive task I have taken on. It's such a mammoth feat to write a book and then you have to sell the thing. Well, I am selling mine slowly but I'm sure if I stop trying, then it will stop selling. I have a theory about why it is so, so difficult for writers to get noticed. Ebooks don't disappear. They stay in print, possibly forever. Each day new ones are added to Amazon etc and in a way this is not a good thing. How can anyone find anything? I noticed that there are 400,000 books available on Kindle so if you've ever been in the top 5,000 you are doing well.<br />And, Vanessa, I don't think your husband is right. It's not vanity. It's just that publishing a book makes you feel very vulnerable and each accolade boosts your confidence. But you need constant top-ups or you get low again. We become like actors who need applause or they think no one loves them. Not sure why we do it, really!Linda Chamberlainhttp://www.nakedhorse.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-13062645043583129902015-03-16T12:45:55.771-07:002015-03-16T12:45:55.771-07:00Hi Terry!
Thanks for commenting... I might need ...Hi Terry! <br /><br />Thanks for commenting... I might need to rewrite bits of this post. <br /><br />What I meant was that if you pay a publisher to prepare your book for publication then it is vanity publishing. Traditional publishing is of course via an agent and/ or publisher.<br /><br />If you pay for/ or do all the components separately, put it all together, and then publish it yourself then you are self-published.<br /><br />I know there are a lot of things I could have done better when I started, but I did not know any better. I feel a bit sorry for anyone coming in now. My advice is try to get an agents and a book deal before you go it alone.<br /><br />Anyway, you are a fab author! No idea why you have not been snapped up yet! <br /><br />Speak soon, Vanessa :)<br /><br />Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607673377543904060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608422958421728460.post-59972419175209210102015-03-16T08:23:28.162-07:002015-03-16T08:23:28.162-07:00That's all very interesting, V. I don't t...That's all very interesting, V. I don't think having an agent is vanity publishing, though; agents are there to find publishers for you, as an alternative to self-publishing. But anyway, let us not split hairs! <br /><br />I wrote 9 or 10 novels before self-publishing; people reading/liking/buying wasn't an issue, then, but I do see what you mean; I would imagine that if I had written two parts of a series and they hadn't sold, I maybe wouldn't write the third. Getting sales changes you, I think; your criteria alters. <br /><br />It's interesting re the free/review thing. I do have reviews from free promotions, and I have reviewed books I've got free, too - to be honest I have so many books on my Kindle that I can't remember what was free and what wasn't; I just download as I see those I fancy, whether they're free, 99p or £2.50 (I won't go over £2.50 for a book from a self-pub I haven't tried before). So if I like a book, I finish and review it, if I don't like it I stop reading and it doesn't get a review, end of story. However - the sad thing is that it doesn't occur to most non-writers to review. You know, when you get that person on Twitter who says "I read Hybrid last week, really enjoyed it" and you wait to see if they're going to review... and they don't...!!! <br /><br />You're absolutely right, though. Getting noticed is getting harder and harder. It's getting to be a case of so many books, so little time. Everyone has TBR lists as long as their arms. You can only read one book at a time, after all!!! Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.com