Genre? Pricing? Luck?

Nobody really knows why one book sells better than others. Publishers and analysts have been studying the market and gathering data for years, but they don't know what the next big thing will be until the next big thing strikes like lightning, taking most by surprise. Time Travels, Vampires, Cozy Mysteries...what's the next big thing in books?

I don't know the answer, but for the first time in many years, I don't really care. I can write a story that appeals to me, knowing MY audience is just like me. They want something fresh and new, without formulas. They want to escape. They want to be entertained.

Want to be inspired? Read about Kathryn Stockett's refusal to give up on her book, THE HELP. Read the story HERE.

Below are my sales as of 8/7/2011. I rounded down, so numbers are not exact.

My romantic thriller, ABDUCTED, is my best-seller. Return of the Rose and A Knight in Central Park, both medieval time travels are second and third as far as number of books sold per day right now. My romantic comedy and romantic suspense are tied for fourth place and I have high hopes for both.

What does all of this tell me?  KEEP WRITING! :)

Return of the Rose, Medieval Time Travel; 94,000 words $2.99

March 2, 2011 thru August 7, 2011 - 5,700 books sold


A Knight in Central Park, Medieval Time Travel; 86,000 words $.99

March 18, 2011 thru August 7, 2011 - 14,550 books sold


Taming Mad Max, Romantic Comedy; 82,500 words $2.99

April 25, 2011 thru August 7, 2011 -  860 books sold


Finding Kate Huntley, Romantic Suspense; 82,000 words  $2.99

May 5, 2011 thru August 7, 2011 - 860 books sold


ABDUCTED by T.R. Ragan - Romantic Thriller; 93,000 words  $2.99

May 29, 2011 thru August 7, 2011 - 2,950 books sold

TOTAL books sold (Amazon and B&N) as of 8/7/11 - 24, 920 books in 23 weeks

Is Your Book Ready for Publication?

If you self-publish your book, you might sell 1 book and you might sell 1,000 books.

If you sign with an agent and sell your book to a traditional publisher, you might sell 1 book and you might sell 1,000 books.

Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, your book is going to be competing with the big dogs.

Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, your book is going to have readers who love it and readers who hate it.  Go read the reviews of some of your all-time favorite books to see what I’m talking about.

Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, you need to have conflict, interesting characters…and LUCK to sell your book to readers who aren’t family members.  

No matter how many editors you hire, somebody at some point is going to pick your book apart and tell you your writing is amateurish and not to give up your day job. Go read the reviews of some bestselling authors to see what I’m talking about.

Who are you going to let determine whether or not your book is good enough for publication?

One of 50 busy editors in NYC?

Your critique partner?

The judge from a contest?

I like to assume YOU, whoever you are, are smart enough to know if your book has been edited. Have you received feedback from readers, agents, editors? Having a few relatives look over your book isn’t going to cut it.

If you’re still not sure, start submitting to contests, agents, editors and see what they have to say. Is there some interest there? Are you getting feedback?

If you have been at this writing gig for a while now and you’re still not sure if your story is good enough, then it probably isn’t. Put your novel away for a while and read it again in a few months. If your story doesn’t hold your attention, it probably won’t hold anyone else’s either.

Most importantly…keep writing, revise and rewrite, and believe in yourself!

"This morning I took out a comma and this afternoon I put it back in again."

--Oscar Wilde