Catherine Bybee & Eliza discuss their e-Publishing experience.
A year ago last December, I remember the email I received from Catherine bemoaning her miserly book sales. It seemed a poor showing for all her efforts to market the book. But I told her to have patience, that I’d heard from another successful author that the sales would increase with the number of releases she produced. More books, more individual book sales. Catherine had a Time Travel Trilogy that was about to release the two final books that following year. The VOWS series had a great year in 2010 and is still selling strong. Let’s see what Catherine has to say:
Today, my guest is Catherine Bybee. Please leave a comment if you have a suggestion for promoting or if you have an opinion about the suggestions we've made. We'd love to hear from you. I'm offering a free eBook to one of my Blog readers, so make sure and leave an email address. The winner will be chosen by the professional method of "eany-meany". Next Tuesday the winner will be announced here at this Blog.
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Catherine Bybee and I have been friends for several years, and during that period, we’ve compared notes, commiserated, and rejoiced about our e-Publishing successes and failures. Since she published first, she’s been the one e-Book author I’ve tried to emulate when it comes to promotion. She is tireless, energetic, and an endless wealth of knowledge on the experience of e-Publishing. So I appreciate that she shares her expertise with the rest of the world, selflessly.
A year ago last December, I remember the email I received from Catherine bemoaning her miserly book sales. It seemed a poor showing for all her efforts to market the book. But I told her to have patience, that I’d heard from another successful author that the sales would increase with the number of releases she produced. More books, more individual book sales. Catherine had a Time Travel Trilogy that was about to release the two final books that following year. The VOWS series had a great year in 2010 and is still selling strong. Let’s see what Catherine has to say:~~~~~~~~~~~~
CB - Okay... Here is my soap box... so hear me out. December 2009 Binding Vows was released. The opening sales weren't all that exciting, but hey... no big deal, it was my first full length book so what did I care? Duh! ... Of course I cared!!!!
But now, a year later and Binding Vows is selling gang busters on Amazon. Selling 4-5 copies a day. Yes ‘a day’! And right behind it is Silent Vows, the 2nd book in my trilogy. My books are in the top 100 of time travel romance at Amazon daily! Redeeming Vows has recently been released and is having better success in the first month than either of the other two books in the series.
Why am I bragging? I'm not... I'm encouraging you to go about your day...blogging, promoting, telling the world about your books, and making sure everyone knows that e-Publishing is here and growing better than any business out there (taking author liberty - I'm not sure this is true, but I know the eBook is huge in the growth business right now)
Tell everyone you're an author and point them to your Blog, Pen, Bookmark, Postcard, and Blurb supporting your story.
People are busy running about their lives, living... so give them a place to escape with your story!
In addition the VOWS books, Catherine has several other books available. She wrote Kilt Worthy, an erotic jaunt with a sexy Highlander and the follow up, Kilt-A-Licious. Like shape-shifter romance? Try Before the Moon Rises and Embracing the Wolf. You can find information about all her books and where to buy them on her website at http://catherinebybee.com/
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EM - Thank you for sharing that Catherine. I have one thing to add for authors. Keep writing. Make time for writing that next book. Don't get caught up in promotions. Remember every book is your next promotion, too
What a great year Catherine has had, and I wish her an even better one this year. I’m so excited for her and all eBook authors. Now, please tell me about your experiences with eBooks - either as a reader or an author. Do you use a Kindle, an iPhone, an eReader, Nook? What - a PC? How is that working for you?
Great post with lots of information. No w I don't feel like I'm the only one.
ReplyDeleteWe are all in this promo world together, Lorelei!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for having me here, Eliza. I love talking shop.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I think you need to blog, blog, blog. And interact with other authors on the net. Hopefully readers will read those blogs!
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to add that networking is a biggie as far as I am concerned. Hand out those book marks, don't just let them sit in your purse. We have an author in my FRW chapter who is an auctioneer. Now that girl can sell books!!!I watched her sell twelve books in a half an hour or so at a bookstore in the mall. Imagine!
Oh, Mary - I love a great sales person.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about blogging and networking. I'm always a little leary of over-doing it to other authors, but I guess we have to remember we're all readers, too! I never mind a reminder about a book. I may not be in the mood for a mystery today, but tomorrow it migh tbe exactly what I'm looking for. I don't mind a gentle reminder.
I love talking shop with you too, Catherine.
ReplyDelete;-)
I think blogging is the most effective approach I've tried. At least I get a few comments back, and a comment from a reader or two. Without the reader feedback, I wouldn't know if anything had sold. So far, I have very little feedback considering sales, but I think there has been some. I am trying various publishers now, just to see if I can get more feedback on new releases. Great blog. I'm glad I'm not alone.
ReplyDeleteJames, the nice thing about social networking in any industry is keeping your pulse on what's happening. We're all wondering the same things, experiencing the same doubts. Sharing our impressions and experiences should at least make us feel like a cohesive block working toward similar goals. Where and when we can help each other we should. Pay it forward... Thanks for commenting and good luck.
ReplyDeleteEliza M.
I joined Bookreads, and I friend everyone who has read or has put my book on their "to read" list and make an effort to interact with them. Great post! I wish I had more time for blogging!
ReplyDeleteI do blogs, Facebook, Twitter as my main thrusts but also belong to LinkedIn, Authors Den, Goodreads, etc. I feel the more places your name pops up, the better. As for what works, who knows? It's all a gamble. Catherine, it sounds as though you're doing something right to have steady sales!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the sales, Catherine! I failed to promote much last year and it reflected in my sales. So, promoting is definitely important. You can have the best book ever, but if no one knows about it, it won't sell. Keep up the hard work, ladies!
ReplyDeleteMary: You know me, m'dear. I blog tell I drop. Well, not as much as some I suppose. And it isn't always a 'sale' either. It's talking to talk and connect.
ReplyDeleteJames: Blogs and talking with people who read your book or books is a huge ego boost on top of the fact that you promo as you go. I reach out to many authors after I've read their book to tell them my thoughts. Not all of them have time to comment back, but when they do they've found a reader for life.
Sharron: Do you mean Goodreads? I've never heard of Bookreads. So many place I'm not on, which shocks me.
ReplyDeleteNancy: It always helps to have a steady flow of books coming. So in all the chaos of promoting, you have to write the next book and the next.
Emma: Are you looking for places to blog? You know I'm in. You were a bit busy last year if I'm not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready to have a few of you stop in for a blog day here. Just let me know. We'll pick a fun topic and open it for discussion. I like blogs for the 'comradery'. I had to look up the spelling of that word...and that alone could start a subject. There are three or more acceptable spellings for it, and the one I started with wasn't any of them. LOL
ReplyDeleteELiza M.
Thanks, Catherine! I was a little busy last year, but I still feel guilty!
ReplyDeleteThis is all extremely helpful. I just published my first book on Siren last week (Saving McCade)and am a little lost in terms of what I should be doing to promote. Siren has the real time sales page for the author so I can see exactly how much I have sold, but I'm driving myself crazy with it. Besides working on my next one (which I'm editing now), what would you say is the most imporatant promotion I should be doing right now? Any input would be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteAngela: You can't get stuck with numbers in the beginning. They do build on themselves as time moves forward and new books come out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Catherine. I'll try! Meanwhile, my husband wants to figure our how to disable the author sales page from my computer. I guess I'll just keep writing and hope for the best. Thanks
ReplyDeleteOh wow, what a great post honey!!! And it is always great to see things from a new author!
ReplyDelete**waves to Ms. Catherine**
I read off of everything, lol...
Paperback, Tradeback, iPad, iPhone, computer... lol! As long as I get my smut, I don't care from where.. But I do have to say that I like to pet the covers, lmbo... and smell the pages, lol!
LOL Cecile, I pet my covers too. I draw the line at adding a little tongue when I kiss them! I love my nook, but paperback will always have a place on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteCecile, I can always count on you to make me laugh. Gotta love the book covers. Spice up our lives a bit don't you think? LOL
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by...hugs!
Eliza
Angela, that real time sales page can get you trapped. I have to force myself from visiting it multiple times a day. I reward myself with a trip there after I've written 500 words. LOL. your husband could be right about disabling it, but I do get some instant stat results after doing some promos -- I can see how effective sy efforts have been. Good luck! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! It's a snow day here and so I'm relishing just sitting around and gazing at the snow and writing. Maybe a blizzard will have to figure into the story!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the advice - Angela
Great article. I have 2 books published.I now in print and the 2nd in E Book format. My problem is I can sell & promote my paperback rather easily, not so the E Book. It seems I just don't have a clue. Both books have recieved excellent eviews (5 star ratings). My first book first came out as an E book (the publisher went out oof business) and then rereleased as a paperback. The book sales have far out sold the E Book. I'm trying to learn how to market on the internet, face to face I do very well. Online I'm somewhat overwhelmed. I just have not discovered how to do it successfully, but I am trying to learn. I have a great publisher and they do help promote. My Publisher was and still is solidly behind my book. I have fantistic book covers (my wife really loves my 2nd book cover.) I belong & post on quite a few author/reader sites, facebook,tweeter. Both books are on Amazon and I use amazon's author page. It lists all of an author's books on 1 page. I also talk up both of my books everywhere I go. Several people are asking for more books based on the characters in my first 2 books. My first book is being looked at to be made into a movie. Still my sales are slow and I'm not sure what else I can do. I have done contests and local book fairs and have had limited success. I'm to the point that I'm thinking about going back to school to learn internet marketing. I still am writing. I have 6 WIP so I am definatly still writing and will be needing better more effective E Book marketing skills. I'd like to see colleges offer a course in electronic marketing.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for a great srticle and good luck on your series.
G W Pickle
I love this subject (because it's close to my heart). I had my first novel published in September and have spent hours trying to promote it - usually via reviews I get. But I did read somewhere that Twitter, FB and blogging are getting tired of seeing a person's book continually pushed in their face all the time and that readers will simply pass over a post that, once again, says "buy my book". So I'm trying to diversify and think up topics that might interest readers (and that's difficult). A question like this one is perfect because it creates a great discussion. I'm definitely going to check out all the blogs here (btw I found you via LASR Yahoo group).
ReplyDeleteLovely post,
Sue
Hey GW, my question to you would be what genre do you write and how long ago where they released. Books three and four are what sell books one and two in the e-pubbed world. That's just the way it is. There are plenty of online marketing tools and support groups out there to help bring awareness to your work. But without a continual feed of material, things dry up.
ReplyDeleteRealize that in a bookstore, new titles from mid list authors tend to stay on the shelf for ONLY 5-7 weeks. Or less. At that point the author has to rely on internet sales and people searching out a back list. Only when the author has a steady stream of books and a back list to support will a book store stock their work.
Hey Sue,
ReplyDeleteI did a video blog once that talked about twitter and facebook, I talked about the hard sell and how people tend to ignore it. The power of gab is what has your name in front of people. If you toss junk mail at them, they'll walk away and try and stay clear of you. So instead of talking about YOUR book, talk about THEIR book. Talk about the weather, the world... a funny thing you did today, or a person you met who would be the perfect character in your next novel. Ask people what they think of the name Dick for a hero. People see through bullshit. They know when you're not sincere in what you're saying. Often I can tell when a big name author is using professional bloggers to talk for them. Put your name out there by being yourself. Don't spam or you'll end up at the bottom of the spam filter... and that's worse than being in a slush pile!
GW, I agree with Catherine. But I'd like to add you that when you're online, always inclusde a BUY link to you eBooks and you website, as well as any other places pwople can find your work or your books. I will click through to a link and buy on a whim if it's right in front of me when I won't go off looking and searching for someone. Be easily accesible to your potential readers.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sue, that leads me to your comment. I so understand. I have a very hard time marketing because I feel like I'm either begging or bragging and I'm scared spitless to aggravate people by shoving my book down their throats. Yet when I'm on a readers' loop, I have to assume there are new readers joining all the time...one's who haven't seen my promos before. If that annoys those who have already seen them, then I don't know how to apologize for doing my job. Promoting my book to new readers is my responsibility, and if the message is clearly marked 'promo' it should be ignored by those who have already read it before. LOL, it's a fine line we tread. Good luck to both of you.
Congratulations! Angela Claire is the winner of the "Eeenie Meanie" Contest. I've notified her, and I'm ready to present her with her choice of one of my ebooks.
ReplyDelete