December Sales Update II
Totals are as of December 27, 2011 @ 10PM and do NOT include 64,000 FREE downloads
(Amazon and B&N combined Sales)
(Amazon and B&N combined Sales)
Return of the Rose 
- Released March 2, 2011 $2.99
- Released March 2, 2011 $2.99Medieval Time Travel Romance
March: 298
April: 894May: 1,600
June: 1,475
July: 1,291
August: 2,352
September: 1,955
October: 1,527
November: 981
December: 862*
A Knight in Central Park
Medieval Time Travel Romance
March: 247
April: 6,071
May: 4,306
June: 2,414
July: 1,330
August: 9,812
September: 2,088
October: 1,348
November: 876
December: 1,844*
Total: 30,336*
Taming Mad Max 
- Released April 25, 2011 $2.99
- Released April 25, 2011 $2.99Romantic Comedy
April: 30
May: 182
June: 265
July: 310
August: 934
September: 1,872
October: 2,125
November: 2,150
December: 1,295*
Total: 9,163*
Finding Kate Huntley 
- Released May 5, 2011 $2.99
- Released May 5, 2011 $2.99Romantic Suspense
May: 187
June: 261
July: 325
August: 1,159
September: 3,363
October: 2,089
November: 1,095
December: 1,400*
Total: 9,879*
Romantic Suspense/Thriller
May: 25
June: 694
July: 1,708
August: 12,917
September: 39,413
October: 18,176
November: 6,645
December: 3,033*
Total: 82,611*
Dead Weight
Romantic Suspense/Thriller
December: 195*
Total: 195*
2011 has been a very exciting year! A Knight in Central Park was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. Abducted stayed on Amazon's Bestseller List for All Kindle Store for three months. In ten months I have sold close to 150,000 ebooks. Thank you, READERS!
Twenty years ago, when I sat down to write my very first book, I ended up with binders filled with notes and character sketches. I had fifty pages of what turned out to be an outline. Five years after beginning my writing journey, I finished Return of the Rose and I joined Romance Writers of America. I also joined the Sacramento Chapter of RWA. I worked with critique partners, I signed with two agents, and I worked with more than a few editors on two of my novels. I garnered six nominations in RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart Competition. I entered writing contests and later became a judge for many of those same contests. I attended conferences all over the U.S. and, most importantly, I wrote every day. Despite all of my hard work, signing with a publisher in New York was not to be. I had written more than ten novels and too many partials to count and I was frustrated. That’s when I decided to write a thriller and kill off some characters and my frustrations at the same time. While researching real-life serial killers I began to have nightmares and had to put the book away. Nine months later, I read what I had written and I felt compelled to finish the story. My husband told me I should self-publish. He also reminded me to write for the love of writing and nothing else. He was right. And that’s exactly what I began to do. I cannot wait to wake up every morning and write. I have a passion for telling stories and I cannot imagine doing anything else. Becoming an indie author has allowed me to share my stories with readers--a dream come true.
***
Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.
If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing, promotion and formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 500 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.
Twenty years ago, when I sat down to write my very first book, I ended up with binders filled with notes and character sketches. I had fifty pages of what turned out to be an outline. Five years after beginning my writing journey, I finished Return of the Rose and I joined Romance Writers of America. I also joined the Sacramento Chapter of RWA. I worked with critique partners, I signed with two agents, and I worked with more than a few editors on two of my novels. I garnered six nominations in RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart Competition. I entered writing contests and later became a judge for many of those same contests. I attended conferences all over the U.S. and, most importantly, I wrote every day. Despite all of my hard work, signing with a publisher in New York was not to be. I had written more than ten novels and too many partials to count and I was frustrated. That’s when I decided to write a thriller and kill off some characters and my frustrations at the same time. While researching real-life serial killers I began to have nightmares and had to put the book away. Nine months later, I read what I had written and I felt compelled to finish the story. My husband told me I should self-publish. He also reminded me to write for the love of writing and nothing else. He was right. And that’s exactly what I began to do. I cannot wait to wake up every morning and write. I have a passion for telling stories and I cannot imagine doing anything else. Becoming an indie author has allowed me to share my stories with readers--a dream come true.
***
Brenda Hiatt is collecting data on independent publishing. Help her out by sharing your numbers so that we can all benefit. It's all done anonymously. Click HERE for more information.
If you are thinking about self-publishing, but don't know where to start when it comes to marketing, promotion and formatting, don't worry. There are so many helpful authors willing to share what they have learned. My advice to you is to join Indie Romance Ink run by Cate Rowan and Carly Carson. There are over 500 members. Many IRI members are traditionally published and have already self-published a book or two. Some members are undecided. All are welcome to join and learn.
Twice a month I share my number of books sold in hopes that these numbers might help other writers make their own decisions about self-publishing. Every writer has their own personal and unique journey. My hope is that I can inspire others out there who are working hard at their craft to NEVER GIVE UP. Let me know if you have any questions at all. Happy Holidays!
Other authors who share numbers:
Lisa Mondello http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/p/self-publishing-stats.html
Debra Holland http://www.drdebraholland.blogspot.com/
Norah Wilson http://www.norahwilsonwrites.com/wordpress/
D.D. Scott http://ddscottville.blogspot.com/p/wg2e.html
Trish McCallan and Jolyn Palliata http://totaltransparencyselfpublishing.wordpress.com/