Pressing On

by David Batten-Hill
27th February 2012

Again not so much a question as a report.

My novel 'This Son of York' has just gone live in the US as a paperback. I did this via Createspace and I'll see what happens now.

The UK paperback version is about to go live too, via FeedARead.

All this has used up a lot of time but not a lot of money - just a few pounds on proofs, and £29 on a revision.

The links are at www.tsoy.co.uk and www.thissonofyork.com

On the Kindle side, sales have slumped for the moment, just five in February, according to Novelrank. It's just a matter of pressing on as far as I'm concerned. The main frustration is trying to push traffic to the web sites. I've done the keywords and tags but I expect that the effects may take time to show in Google Analytics.

Nil desperandum!

Replies

Well, thanks for the encouragement, folks!

I've done the Twitter thing - it seems like a lot of indie authors telling one another about their books. I steer clear of Facebook, though. Don't fancy it.

I had a word with the local library today. It seems I can do a launch/signing when my UK physical copies are available. I'm thinking seriously about giving it a go.

I'll keep you posted!

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David
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David Batten-Hill
28/02/2012

I think you're doing fine. My experience of Kindle sales is that they're pretty variable, and it seems to me unless you're writing crime or horror you won't sell loads until you've at least a couple of books to promote.

I've not bothered with Twitter - that might be a mistake, but I try to have a life(!) Posting on related-subject blogs/forums seems to produce sales, if you can incorporate a relative URL into your signature, but some hosts don't like it.

You're quite right about plodding on, though. It's tortoise and hare IMHO.

http://cavalrytales.wordpress.com

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Jonathan
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Jonathan Hopkins
27/02/2012

Hi David.

Firstly congratulations!

Secondly, you mention that the Kindle sales have slumped and visits to the websites are low?

How are you marketing the websites and indeed the book? Do you have Facebook and Twitter pages set up to directly promote 'The Son of York'?

If not I would get those set up straight away and with twitter offer short extracts to try and create a buzz. Get your friends to also do the same.

Sign up with bitly too and use the URL it gives you directly in the tweet then you can see how many people are coming via twitter.

Facebook you can aak direct questions about York. Even give a way a free copy or two running your own competition (you can use Wufoo an online form builder to create the competition).

All in all though it sounds like an exciting time for you even if a little frustrating.

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Anthony Scott
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Anthony Scott Glenn
27/02/2012