Epub – What the Media Isn’t Telling You (Part 4)
A few weeks ago I set out to debunk the misleading media coverage that may make it seem like everyone who self-publishes makes it big. Today us the fourth post in this series, where I’ve been asking five self-published author exactly what it’s like to self-publish and sell a book. [Read the first post, read the second post, read the third post]
I asked each author the same few questions for today’s post. You can read their answers below their website and book info.
Amy Bennett
Her book: Entangled
Websites: www.EntangledBook.com and www.PermissionToPeruse.
Sarah: Did you both e-publish and self-publish? And, did you do these at the same time? Or did you release the self-pub version earlier?
Amy: I released both at the same time.
Sarah: What kinds of things did you do to promote your book as it was released?
Amy: I contacted a large group of people to either do reviews, guest blogs or mention the book in some way over the first week. I offered the book for free for twelve hours on launch day in exchange for putting it on Facebook or Twitter.
Sarah: How has sales gone so far?
Amy: A few hundred have made it out the door but it certainly wasn’t what I had hoped if I’m honest. But I know it’s more important, in my book’s case, that the right people get it, not how many.
Brandon Clements
His book: Every Bush Is Burning
Website: www.EveryBush.com and www.BrandonClements.com
Sarah: Did you both e-publish and self-publish? And, did you do these at the same time? Or did you release the self-pub version earlier?
Brandon: Yes. I did them both at the same time.
Sarah: What kinds of things did you do to promote your book as it was released?
Brandon: Well, my book has been out for just over a month and a half, so I’m still figuring this part out. So far, I did a really nice release party where we had a lot of fun, and aside from being a blast (and a reward for Kickstarter backers who helped fund the book), I think that helped with general excitement and word of mouth. I’ve given away a bunch of copies, and done a tiny bit of advertising. I plan to do more giveaways, guest posts, and maybe a blog tour soon. I’ve got some other ideas tinkering around too but who knows.
Sarah: How has sales gone so far?
Brandon: I don’t have a huge platform, and I’ve never written a book, so I didn’t really know what to expect. But I’ve been really, really pleased with how things are going so far. I think total I’ve sold somewhere around 400-450 copies in less than two months, so I think that’s great. People are buying it, saying great things, and talking about it…so I can’t ask for much more than that!
Mike Hall
His book: Jigsaw
Website: www.JigsawBook.com and facebook.com/mikeisspeaking
Sarah: Did you both e-publish and self-publish? And, did you do these at the same time? Or did you release the self-pub version earlier?
Sarah: What kinds of things did you do to promote your book as it was released?
Mike: I very well could have put all the costs involved on my credit card and plowed ahead, but instead, I worked out a deal with my web designer for a very simple site (jigsawbook.com). He would get 100 bucks up front and then 10% of the total amount I brought in from this process. Second, we put together a very simple page and directed 50 specific people who believe in me to visit. It said something to the effect of, “You were chosen to be a part of a new project I’m working on because you love teenagers.”
Third, a week later, I sent them back to the site (which had now been redesigned) with an invitation to be a “JIGSAW PRODUCER”. If they chose to do so, they could help print copies of the first run of books. It cost $56 to print 20 and there was an option to print a greater number of their choice. But $56 was the lowest option.
In return, they got 2 copies of the book, their NAME printed in the front, and the original hard copy of one of the book’s illustrations. 9 people opted in with a total of $880. My web designer got about 175 for all his hard work and I was left with 700 or so to defray printing costs.
Sarah: How has sales gone so far?
Mike: I have sold 250 copies and given away another 100 to various people who I know can potentially do something to promote it. I will be reordering right after Christmas. One important thing to note is that I go to schools to speak to students in assembly style settings. I needed a “product” as a companion piece to my speaking. What better than a book, so as to continue my influence with them well beyond the hour long assembly.
Andy Merritt
His book: Eden
Website: www.EdenTheBook.com and www.recklessliving.com
Sarah: Did you both e-publish and self-publish? And, did you do these at the same time? Or did you release the self-pub version earlier?
Andy: Yes. I published the e-pub version a few weeks after the self-pubslihed version. This wasn’t by design, just when I got the work done.<
Sarah: What kinds of things did you do to promote your book as it was released?
Andy: I did several things: One, I did a Twitter giveaway. Two, I promoted it on pixelofink.com which promotes Kindle book deals. I can’t say enough about this one. My book broke the Kindle top 100 for a little while thanks to this service. Third, I asked people to spread the release via word of mouth. Fourth, I created a website for the book. Finally, I found book clubs to read the book.
Sarah: How has sales gone so far?
Andy: I have been very pleased with sales. Between digital and physical copies I have sold around 1,500.
Jimmy Spencer
His book: Love Without an Agenda
Website: www.book.lovewithoutagenda.com
Sarah: Did you both e-publish and self-publish? And, did you do these at the same time? Or did you release the self-pub version earlier?
Jimmy: We released a free PDF version (that was continually being edited and refined) for the year leading up to the paperback release. Over the course of that year, about 2000 people downloaded it. This gave us feedback and gave us reason to communicate with our growing tribe on a semi-regular basis. We offered the PDF version for free up to the day before the paperback was released. Then we switched to offering a free sample chapter.The original digital version helped us market and seed the book. It gave us an immediate group to announce the release to and built some small amount of community.We currently have the following versions: Paperback (available on Amazon & our website), Ltd. Edition Paperback (comes signed with a very snazzy hand-sewn book pouch), Kindle Version, Nook Version, Audio Version and iPad Version (releases Feb ’12). All of these were done in house by the LWA Team.
Sarah: What kinds of things did you do to promote your book as it was released?
Brandon Clements February 21, 2012 (10:50 am)
Thanks for sharing our stories Sarah! Very cool to hear from other authors in the same boat.
Sarah February 22, 2012 (10:02 am)
Absolutely @Brandon. Thanks for participating. I’ve got some other great posts from people on the other end (the business end of e-publishing) to come!