Saturday, December 29, 2012

Looking back: 18 months as an Indie Author



 
It's been eighteen months since I released Beckoning Light. It's hard to believe how fast the time's gone! If I need a reminder, I only need to look at my 15-month old son. I've never done a post reflecting on book sales or lessons learned, but I thought I'd do one now. 

Stats:

5 books published to date. 3 in the last 4 1/2 months
over 10,000 books sold. (over 8,000 in the last 4/12 months)

Types of books

YA Fantasy (2)
Mature YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance (1)
New Adult Contemporary Romance (2)

Looking ahead:
Next release is Focus (Crescent Chronicles, #2) in late January

Biggest Lessons Learned:

Covers Matter. They really really matter. But it's not as black and white as a good cover or bad one. A cover has to be great, but it also has to be the right cover for your book. What does that mean? I'm still learning (i.e. Derailed cover revamp).

Friends Matter. They really really matter. I can't imagine where i'd be right now if I hadn't met other indie authors and bloggers along the way. A huge shout out to Jennifer Snyder here-- seriously how did I put out books before you?

Writing what you love matters. This is really important. I'm pretty sure I would have burned out by now if I wasn't writing stories that fill me with the kind of excitment my books do.

Writing a lot matters. I've read tons of advice from other authors, and the one rule that seems to work for EVERYONE is to write more books. If I'd stopped with Perilous Light...well I probably wouldn't be writing this post.

Just because something works for one author doesn't mean it's going to work for you. You have to experiment, and try different things. Along the same lines, don't compare yourself to other authors. You have to make your own way, and feel good about your own successess, even if they aren't as large as someone elses.

Just because something works for one of yours books doesn't mean it's going to work for your next one. Don't get down on a book that isn't as successful as your others. You wrote it. Be proud of it. Sales don't equal quality. The book I'm most proud of is also one my lowest sellers to date. Does that matter? For my pocket book? Yes. But for myself as a writer? No. It's important to remember that part of writing is improving. Every book you write should be helping you improve your craft.

And my biggest lesson? Have fun. Write the books you want to write, take chances, and challenge yourself. When I first hit publish my husband made me promise that I'd stop if the stress ever outweighed the enjoyment. I'm happy to say that hasn't happened. I've absolutely loved this crazy yet amazing journey, and I can't wait to continue with it in 2013.

Thank you to everyone who has walked this path with me. I appreciate you all.


Have a Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Focus Update



Hey everyone, Happy Holidays!

Focus will be releasing on January 31st! I'm so excited to share the next chapter of the Crescent Chronicles. This one is a bit steamier than the first, and it was a lot of fun to write about Allie's first semester in college. I'll be starting the teasers soon, so be sure to stop by and check them out.

I'll be revealing the cover for the third Crescent Chronicles book soon as well.

Have a happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto


Hi everyone, Michelle Muto just released a new book! This sounds like a fantastic read if you love horror. It's exciting to see New Adult books popping up in every genre now!

NEW RELASE! THE HAUNTING SEASON

New Adult/Horror Recommended for readers 17+

Be careful what you let in…

Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead.

The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all.

Available now!


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Supa Christmas Sale

Supa Christmas Sale!!
With the stress of the holidays nearly over, now is a great time to sit back, curl up in your favorite reading chair, and get lost in fabulous new worlds. To help you do just that, some authors have banded together and put all their titles on sale, right NOW!! Some of this season’s most popular e-books have been discounted to just $0.99!!! Don’t miss out!
For all of you who got new Kindles for Christmas, this is the perfect opportunity to start your new library!! Please spread the word and share this post with all your friends – they’ll thank you for it!
Heather Hildenbrand
::Across The Galaxy::
RaShelle Workman
::Blood and Snow Volumes 1-4::
Michelle Muto
::Don’t Fear The Reaper::
Stacey Wallace Benefiel
::Zellie Wells Trilogy::
Christie Rich
::Five - Elmental Book 1(FREE)::
::Dark Matter Book2::
Laura A.H. Elliot
::Transfer Student::
Karen Amanda Hooper
::Grasping At Eternity::
David James
::Light Of The Moon (Legend of the Dreamer, Book 1)::
Leigh Talbert Moore
::Rouge::
Helen Boswell
::Mythology::
V.J. Chambers
::Trembling (Jason & Azazel #2)::
V.J. Chambers
::Tortured (Jason & Azazel #3)::
Elizabeth Sharp
::Natural Selection::
Leigh Talbert Moore
::The Truth About Faking::
Taryn Browning
::Dark Seeker (Seeker Book 1)::
B&N Link
Heather Self
::The One::
L.P. Dover
::Forever Fae::
Nancy Straight
::Blood Debt (Touched Book 1)::
Nancy Straight
::Meeting Destiny::
Free
Chelsea Fine
::Anew (Archers of Avalon, Book 1)::
Raine Thomas
::Becoming::
Alyssa Rose Ivy
::Flight (The Crescent Chronicles, #1)::
Magan Vernon
::How To Date An Alien::
Janine Caldwell
::Rematch::
Courtney Cole
::Soul Kissed::
Karli Rush
::Crescent Bound (Book 1)::
Jennifer Snyder
::Marked (Marked Duology 1)::
Shelly Crane
::Significance::
Bethany Lopez
::xoxoxo (Stories About Melissa, Book 2)
Jill Cooper
::The Dream Slayer (Book 1)::
Jill Cooper
::Demon Royale (The Dream Slayer Book 2)::
A.M. Hargrove
::Determinant (The Guardians of Vesturon #3)::
Bonnie R. Paulson
::Barely Alive (Barely Alive #1)::
Bonnie R. Paulson
::Falling Apart (Barely Alive #2)::
Bonnie R. Paulson
::Mostly Dead (Barely Alive #3)
Addison Moore
::Ephemeral (The Countenance #1)
C.A. Kunz
::The Modified::
Addison Moore
::Ethereal (Celestra Series #1)::
Addison Moore
::Tremble (Celestra Series #2)
Sarah M Ross
::Echo Of An Earth Angel::
Sarah M Ross
::Awaken::
Amy Maurer Jones
::Soul Quest (Soul Quest Trilogy #1)::
Amy Maurer Jones
::Wildflower (Wildflower Series #1)::
Thomas Amo
::Forever ME::
Amy Harmon
::Slow Dance In Purgatory::
Cheri Lasota
::Artemis Rising::
G.P. Ching
::The Soulkeepers::
G.P. Ching
::Grounded::
Mina J. Moore
::A Vampire’s Touch (Prequel to The Red Velvet Trilogy)::
LK Gardner-Griffie
::Misfit McCabe (Book 1)::
M.R. Polish
::Wolf Spell::