January Sales Update II
Totals are as of January 24, 2012 @ 10PM and do NOT include 106,000 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: 1,074
January: 1,173*
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: 2,383
January: 2,343*
Total: 33,218*
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: 1,561
January: 3,889*
Total: 13,318*
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: 4,421
January: 2,192*
Total: 15,092*
Romantic Suspense/Thriller
May: 25
June: 694
July: 1,708
August: 12,917
September: 39,413
October: 18,176
November: 6,645
December: 3,649
January: 1,870*
Total: 85,097*
Dead Weight
Romantic Suspense/Thriller
December: 451
January: 1,211*
Total: 1,662*
Exciting times.
My advice to any writer is to try it all. Go the traditional route and self-publish too. It's exciting to be an author and a publisher. I decide on cover art, editing, formatting. I do my own marketing and promotion. For more info on self-publishing, go to my LINKS tab.
I am very excited about my review of Abducted by Kirkus Reviews. Go HERE to read it. Above you'll see a spike in sales for Taming Mad Max and Finding Kate Huntley. I have put those two books in KDP's Prime Lending Program. Both books went free for 3 days and reaped the benefits after the 3 days were over. I plan to have each of my books in the prime lending program at least once for the three month period. As of today I have about 1,500 borrows for two books in January. Last month I had a total of over 1,200 borrows.
Try everything! Believe in yourself. Do not stress about making mistakes. If you decide to try the 90 day exclusive thing and it doesn't work for you, at least you tried it. No Fear! You only live once.
The only one who is going to look out for you, is YOU.
Be happy. Stay positive. Work hard and never ever give up on your dreams.
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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.
Other authors who share numbers:
Lisa Mondello
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/