tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7542183330894019172024-03-13T03:05:05.043-04:00My Own Brand of MadnessCarey Corp ~~~~~~~~~~Darkly Romantic, Lightly Enchanted Smart Teen Fiction with a TwistCareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-87707299422553220222013-04-29T06:58:00.001-04:002013-04-29T07:00:03.569-04:00Changing with the times...<span style="font-size: large;">Hi friends,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Due to the new <i>Doon Series</i>, I am attempting to simplify. <i>Doon,</i> co-written with Lorie Langdon, debuts 8.20.13 from BLINK (a new imprint of Zondervan/HarperCollins). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will be taking a break from this blog to write the next 3<i> Doon</i> books and the sequel to THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE KEEPER - which is delayed due to some publishing complexities. (My apologies to you all - but hopefully I will have some great news to share on the HALO front soon!) <span style="font-size: large;">If you'd<span style="font-size: large;"> like to contiue to follow my journey - and I'd love to have you come along - you can find me at <a href="http://www.doonseries.com/" target="_blank">www.DoonSeries.com</a></span></span> and at <a href="http://www.honestlyya.com/" target="_blank">www.HonestlyYA.com</a>.</span><br />
<br />CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-81337762992117868832013-01-21T12:09:00.000-05:002013-01-21T12:09:47.285-05:00An epic BOOKSTRAVAGANZA giveaway!Reposted from my Honestly YA blog:<br />
<br />
We've had a lot to celebrate in the past year! Just to name a few milestones:<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://www.leanolan.com/" target="_blank">Lea Nolan</a>'s debut, CONJURE, released from Entangled Teen.<br />
*<a href="http://www.melissa-landers.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Landers</a>'s debut, ALIENATED, sold to Disney-Hyperion.<br />
*<a href="http://www.jennifermcandrews.com/" target="_blank">Jen McAndrews</a>'s mystery debut, DEADLY FARCE, released from Avalon Books/Thomas & Mercer.<br />
*Co-authors <a href="http://www.lorielangdon.com/" target="_blank">Lorie Langdon</a> and <a href="http://www.careycorp.com/" target="_blank">Carey Corp</a> sold DOON to Zondervan/Harper Collins.<br />
*4 new YA authors joined the Honestly YA blog: <a href="http://www.jennifermcgowan.com/" target="_blank">Jenn McGowan</a>, <a href="http://waterworldmermaids.com/themes/major-themes/" target="_blank">Pintip Dunn</a>, <a href="http://marnibates.com/" target="_blank">Marni Bates</a>, and <a href="http://kristi-cook.com/" target="_blank">Kristi Cook</a>.<br />
<br />
We hope 2013 is even kick-assier than 2012, so we're starting it off with a celebration of our books! (**US/CAN only, please.**) Here's what you can enter to win:<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Uqsp7FFXL._AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Uqsp7FFXL._AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Grand Prize: a $50 gift certificate to Amazon! </h3>
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</h3>
<h3>
Other prizes: Autographed copies of our books: </h3>
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1. An ARC (advance copy) of Jennifer McGowan's MAID OF SECRETS, coming in May from Simon & Schuster.<br />
2. DECKED WITH HOLLY, by Marni Bates, now available from Kensington Teen.<br />
3. An e-book copy of CONJURE, by Lea Nolan, now available from Entangled Teen.<br />
4. HAVEN, by Kristi Cook, now available from Simon Pulse.<br />
5. THE GUARDIAN, by Carey Corp, along with the ETERNAL SPRING anthology.<br />
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By entering this giveaway, you agree to the terms and conditions set forth on our <a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/p/contest-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">Contest Disclaimer</a> page. Good luck, everyone!<br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/08007c4/" id="rc-08007c4" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-56194863336527980332012-12-20T11:48:00.000-05:002012-12-20T11:48:12.614-05:00It’s official! I have a new FOUR-BOOK DEAL. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The DOON Series
(YA, co-written with Lorie Langdon), Brigadoon reimagined coming September
2013.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Read more at Honestly YA! </b><a href="http://bit.ly/VRzzaD"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">http://bit.ly/VRzzaD</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b> </div>
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Join our journey on Facebook: <a href="http://bitylink.info/DOON"><b><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: HGHeiseiKakugothictaiW3;">http://bitylink.info/DOON</span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: HGHeiseiKakugothictaiW3;">Also did a fabulous photo shoot with a young, talented actor at ESSENZA STUDIO this week for the cover of THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE KEEPER. More details soon!</span></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: HGHeiseiKakugothictaiW3;"> </span></b></span></div>
CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-47410084329384657492012-08-20T06:00:00.000-04:002012-08-20T06:00:00.857-04:00CONJURE - Cover RevealCongratulations to my Honestly YA blogmate Lea for her upcoming debut. I am thrilled to be among a handful of bloggers revealing her cover today! It's absolutely gorgeous!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc1E9Al5bpbhRMF8JgJqg7IWCgXZmp-xqSaguAmGVZHML2OWfjFhbmblDQ25IZ5bLQzD3qMIFsCJqjPyf23xxkgvuWUV4y_HEAndlXZyeBkylQzKq3ge65bcQvSIi5hX1BQYca0-lKWI/s1600/CONJURE-by-Lea-Nolan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc1E9Al5bpbhRMF8JgJqg7IWCgXZmp-xqSaguAmGVZHML2OWfjFhbmblDQ25IZ5bLQzD3qMIFsCJqjPyf23xxkgvuWUV4y_HEAndlXZyeBkylQzKq3ge65bcQvSIi5hX1BQYca0-lKWI/s320/CONJURE-by-Lea-Nolan.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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About CONJURE: <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Be careful what you search
for…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina
Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend
and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack.
But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces,
revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers
the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks
Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on
his approaching sixteenth birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become
a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to
learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost
forever.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />In honor of her cover reveal, Lea is giving away prizes!<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9022372/" id="rc-9022372" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-85115184571069839832012-08-10T11:17:00.000-04:002012-08-10T13:25:19.178-04:00The Takedown of LendInk: Who Won?<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This week marks the demise
of LendInk and the end of owner Dale Porter’s American Dream. It’s a sad, yet
fascinating, case of ethical business practices. (Disclaimer: Content has been changed to correct erroneous information.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong>LendInk:</strong> (Previously stated that LendInk did not have a FAQs page, which was incorrect.)<strong> </strong>LendInk did have a FAQ page asserting the validity and legality of their site. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Although the site is no longer live, you can read some of that content at <a href="http://aprillhamilton.blogspot.com/2012/08/congratulations-you-killed-lendink-and.html" target="_blank">Indie Author</a>. LendInk appears to have done everything right, so why did they become the target of an indie author outrage mob?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="http://www.digitalmediamachine.com/2012/08/what-happened-to-lendink-owner-explains.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Read: What Happened to LendInk? The owner responds.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Authors:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Aside from not doing their due diligence to understand the site, they
failed to resolve their conflict (real or perceived) in an ethical manner.
I’m sure LendInk did get numerous contacts from confused authors but those concerns should have been easy to arbitrate considering that LendInk was legally and ethically in the right. Instead, authors waged a very public campaign complete with virtual
pitchforks and fueled by ignorance. <u>Regardless of whether the authors were in the right or the wrong, they made a sizeable mistake: Reaction instead of Ethical Action.</u> Which has led to some ugly backlash and
retaliation against certain indie authors. <a href="http://www.2abd.com/politics/copyright/lendink-taken-down-by-asshole-indie-authors/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Read: LendInk taken down by A**hole Indie Authors</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s a bit ironic that many self-published
authors call themselves <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indie</i> to
break away from the ignorant, vanity press stigma and, subsequently, the
term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indie</i> has grown in negative
connotations. Which begs the question, is “Indie” the new “Self-Published?” (Please
Lord, I hope not. I hope we are aspiring to do better!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The point for me is not to lay blame, but to ask: <strong>Is there anything worth learning from <em>The Tragic Tale of LendInk</em> that will make me a better human being and a better business person?</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">No matter what you call your
author-self, the basic principles of business ethics are important. Let’s look to the <a href="http://www.bbb.org/us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">US Better Business Bureau</span></a>, whose motto is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Start With Trust</b>, for guidance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #67812d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What complaints do we
handle?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Disagreements between businesses and their customers. However, we
reserve the right to reject complaints that use abusive or foul language.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #67812d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How do we handle your
complaint?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Everything you submit will be forwarded to the business within two
business days. The business will be asked to respond within 14 days, and if a
response is not received, a second request will be made. You will be notified
of the business’s response when we receive it (or notified that we received no
response). Complaints are usually closed within 30 business days.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s useful to note that the
first thing the BBB does is to facilitate communication between the customer
and the business to rectify the perceived wrong. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How can we as self-published authors/small business owners reapply this
best-in-class practice?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do your research. Reach out
privately, business to business. Ask for a response within 14 days. If you do
not get satisfaction within the requested period, escalate privately using <a href="http://www.muso.com/home/overview/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">MUSO</span></a> or legal representation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Before you wage (or join) a
public crusade, ask yourself: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do I know what I’m talking about—have I done my research? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What if I were the person on the opposite end? How would I want to be treated?<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Have I tried to arbitrate privately? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Could this damage my reputation? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Is this something I want on the internet FOREVER? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And finally: What would I advise my child or a relative’s child to do?
Is this responsible advice?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Always keep top of mind: <strong>A
few books sales lost to piracy are not worth the loss of your professional
reputation.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Carey<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Who may,
or may not, work in the Marketing & Sales division of <span class="st">a
global, publicly traded Fortune 500 </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">company</span><span class="st"> which happens to be the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">largest consumer</span><span class="st">
packaged </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">goods company</span><span class="st"> in the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">world</span><span class="st">.) <a href="http://www.careycorp.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.careycorp.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-36664352924222063892012-08-08T13:14:00.000-04:002012-08-08T13:47:43.227-04:00Self-published = Salesperson, That’s Crazy Talk!<br />
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Hi All,</div>
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I’ve been in deep lurk mode as I work on the sequel to THE
HALO CHRONICLES: THE KEEPER (sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Halo-Chronicles-Guardian-ebook/dp/B0051HGCBI" target="_blank">THE GUARDIAN</a>). But as indie-related
business articles or posts catch my eye, I’ll try to pass them on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Back in March, <a href="http://www.courtneymilan.com/" target="_blank">Courtney Milan</a> did an interesting blog post about review ethics and specifically <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ask.</i></div>
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<i> </i> </div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“But I have seen a handful of
self-published books, where at the end of the book, there is a brief note that
says something like this: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you enjoyed
this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com.</b>”</i> <a href="http://www.courtneymilan.com/ramblings/2012/03/03/a-question-on-review-ethics/comment-page-2/#comment-24734" target="_blank">Read post here.</a> (Be sure to peruse the comments.)<br />
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As I started to comment, I realized I had a post worthy of
sharing. <b>So here are my thoughts:</b></div>
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My indie books do have a gentle ask at the end. Honest
reviews are critical to an indie's credibility, brand building, and self-owned business. As self-published authors, we are entrepreneurs/small-business
owners. And we have to act accordingly. In this brave, new publishing world, not
only do authors have to think and act like marketers, they have to be savvy salespeople.</div>
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If you think about it from a sales perspective, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">books = products</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">readers = consumers</b>. So what do we know about the average consumer
and their product experiences?</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sales:</b> Studies
show that dissatisfied customers will tell more people (8-10) about their
experience with a product than happy customers (2-3 people). Read more <a href="http://money.howstuffworks.com/customer-service2.htm" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://returnonbehavior.com/2010/10/50-facts-about-customer-experience-for-2011/" target="_blank">here</a>
(or just Google <a href="https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=dissatisfied+customers&oq=dissatisfied+customers&gs_l=hp.3..0l4j0i30l5j0i5.1399.1399.1.2493.1.1.0.0.0.0.187.187.0j1.1.0...0.0...1c.BrYOSNDlKeo&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=9d7eac37a5baeb65&biw=1280&bih=643" target="_blank">“dissatisfied customers”</a>).</div>
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<a href="http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-27/strategy/29996467_1_customer-satisfaction-e-commerce-game-statistics" target="_blank">“About13 percent of dissatisfied customers tell more than 20 people.” (White House Office of Consumer Affairs, Washington, DC)</a> eCommerce is a game of statistics
and the global potential for disgruntled readers to rant is exponential. The
first place they go—you guessed it—on line. <a href="http://web.mediaspacesolutions.com/blog/bid/131621/Adding-kindness-to-your-customer-service-works" target="_blank">Here’s a great article from MediaSpace to illustrate the point. </a></div>
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<b>Even more compelling, perhaps, is the data that comes from science:</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Science:</b>
Psychologically and physiologically, human beings are hardwired to focus on the
negative (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/your-money/why-people-remember-negative-events-more-than-positive-ones.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">NY Times article: Praise is Fleeting, but Brick Bats We Recall</a>). <a href="http://www.csom.umn.edu/Assets/71516.pdf" target="_blank">"Bad is Stronger than Good."</a></div>
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This data has 2 primary implications: 1) readers are more
likely to review books that have made some sort of negative impact on them, and
2) prospective readers are likely to weigh negative reviews stronger than
positive ones.</div>
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<b>That brings us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Ask</i>:</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on
Amazon.com.” </i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ask</i> helps
level the playing field. It equates a positive reader/consumer experience with
a call to action in a very non-threatening way. Genuine, positive reviews build
product confidence for potential readers. Think about it for a second…Have you
ever looked at the reviews for a product you were considering on Amazon prior
to purchasing? Have the rating/reviews ever swayed your decision to buy or not
buy? Have you ever looked at reviews for a book that you were considering? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are people saying about this? </b>is a
question most consumers are curious to answer, and the greater the risk, the
more we want reassurance before a purchase commitment. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So why wouldn’t you, as an indie author, do everything within the
boundaries of your principles and ethics to get the reviews needed to grow your
business?*</b></div>
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It is my theory that so many authors are uncomfortable with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ask</i> for the same reason they would
never consider a career in sales. They lack the constitution/principles/desire
needed to succeed as a salesperson. I get that (really, I do). But just about
every successful business on the planet has a sales department—even the big six
publishers. So who is the sales force behind the self-published author? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">* pause
for dramatic emphasis*</b> That’s right. I am/you are. So don’t neglect your
sales plan. </div>
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It’s like I always tell my kids: “How
am I supposed to know if you don't (respectfully) tell me what you need? After all, I’m not a
mind reader”—and neither are my potential consumers. </div>
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Happy sales!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Carey </div>
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(Who may, or may not, work in the Marketing & Sales division of <span class="st">a global, publicly traded Fortune 500 </span><i><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">company</span></i><span class="st"> which happens to be the </span><i><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">largest consumer</span></i><span class="st"> packaged </span><i><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">goods company</span></i><span class="st"> in the </span><i><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">world</span></i><span class="st">.)</span> <a href="http://www.careycorp.com/" target="_blank">www.careycorp.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*To clarify, I’m not suggesting that if you have sketchy
ethics that it’s okay to solicit false or overly positive reviews from friends
and family. Reviews do need to be authentic and honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am merely suggesting there are a broad
spectrum of principles and ethics in the field of sales that may govern what
you are, or are not, willing to do. Don’t confuse this with comfort level. Think
of how uncomfortable marketing can be—but we all agree it has value and needs
to be done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Difference between ethics and comfort zone: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 1:</b> Is
asking for reviews from readers at the end of my book out of my comfort zone? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yes.</b> But is it unethical? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. </b>Does is make sense from a sales
perspective? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yes.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 2: </b>Is
asking Aunt Nancy and her friends to go online anonymously and give glowing, 5–star
reviews of my book outside my comfort zone? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maybe not… Everybody does it. </b>Is it unethical? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Abso-FREAKIN’-lutely! </b>Does is make sense from a sales perspective? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No way!!! If Aunt Nancy and friends are discovered,
my credibility will suffer. And the amount of negative comments produced by
public outrage will tank my career (as it should).</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 3:</b> Is my
cousin’s unsolicited review, with acquaintance disclaimer, of my book that she
purchased with her own money out of my comfort zone? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perhaps… (Family and friends are always tricky business.)</b> But is it
unethical? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. </b>Does is make sense
from a sales perspective? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perhaps… It’s
an honest review from a paying customer. However, widely publicized relationship
abuse between authors and their friends/family to promote books dishonestly tends
to make this a risky practice. Although it’s not wrong, the more strategic
choice might be to ask my cousin to use word of mouth power and remove the review.
</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Hey wait, is this an example where the negative connotations are more
prevalent in society than the positive? For every author that engages in sketch
reviews practices, there are probably a thousand or more that don’t.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bottom Line: </b>This
is your career and your business. Don’t lie to your consumers; don’t devalue
them. Be honest. Apply discipline and operate with integrity. Which sounds suspiciously like <i>The Golden Rule.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.35pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: -27.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b>YOUR TURN: </b>Have you ever noticed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">**</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If
you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">** </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">at the end of a book?</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How often have you noticed <i>The Ask</i>?</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> How did you feel when you saw it?</span></b></div>
</div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-44825054994720744482012-08-02T11:23:00.004-04:002012-08-02T11:24:17.439-04:00In Case You Missed itKristen Lamb's INSIGHTFUL post:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/the-five-mistakes-killing-self-published-authors/" target="_blank">The Five Mistakes Killing Self-Published Authors</a><br />
<br />
It's well worth reading.CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-19084430742242230892012-06-29T11:16:00.000-04:002012-06-29T11:17:22.637-04:00Passing on Inspiration - words can touch people<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcFkdiZgUIL5xjmACcydeVMOizWE_GycKGYw4qwXB_wdmmgiVEuw-vucEMtWSByxs9md1b4czgOGm-8UqsriVlBXu3NPBI9HDU6Ly0b-xNVOSisVf0prqz-wienE8ceymPmoAnGLnpH8/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcFkdiZgUIL5xjmACcydeVMOizWE_GycKGYw4qwXB_wdmmgiVEuw-vucEMtWSByxs9md1b4czgOGm-8UqsriVlBXu3NPBI9HDU6Ly0b-xNVOSisVf0prqz-wienE8ceymPmoAnGLnpH8/s400/Picture1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>I got this quote today from a friend.</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From Flavia Weedn's <span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flavia-Weedn/132283945283#!/pages/Flavia-Weedn/132283945283"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span></span></span> Page:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;">I grew up in Los Angeles during the
post-depression years. As a child I developed a love of color and design from
my mother who was a doll maker. But it was my young uncle, Jack, who sparked my
development as an artist. His great love of life led me to see the same wonder
and beauty he found in the ordinary, and to share we must remember
everything... i try to, it's all so fragile and precious... the same joy he
found in the writings of the great romantic poets.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a child I disliked my name until I learned from Jack that I
was named after a princess in a book. I was embarrassed that we lived in a
house beside an alley, across the street from a tire factory, until I learned
from Jack that it didn’t matter where we lived as long as we were a family and
loved and cared for each other. I had a thousand dreams inside my heart and
thought none of them had a chance, until Jack taught me that if I worked hard
and believed in my dreams, I could do anything.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I remember sitting in my grandmother’s fig tree, writing and
illustrating my stories, and dreaming my dreams. I knew then that Jack had
taught me to see life in a different way, and that he had given me a rare gift.
What I didn’t know was that he had changed my life, and that what I had learned
from him would directly influence my life’s work.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a young adult I began to paint because I loved it. I found at
my first showing that a passion within me was pushing me to express my feelings
through my art, and to share the philosophy I had learned from Jack. From that
time on, words literally became an integral part of my paintings. My husband
and I began selling my work in the early 1960s at outdoor art fairs and open
art exhibits. My work was so very different and I was afraid viewers would
reject my openness, but I came to realize that it actually validated what many
people felt deep inside—feelings they wanted to hold on to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For more than 50 years, my work has continued to be my passion.
I believe that art is communication—a way of sharing who we are and what we
feel. I believe that in this life there are no endings, only beginnings; that
our lives are journeys and that we grow from our experience on these journeys.
I believe we discover through every heartache how to love more and love better,
and that life has hidden gifts in its hands—the greatest of which is love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Today, as the mother of two grown children, Rick and Lisa, and
grandmother to my precious granddaughters Sylvie and Stella Mae and dear
grandson, Miguel, I stand proud to know that what began as my dream carries on
through their lives. Jack’s legacy of love lives on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-hide: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whether feelings are expressed on a large painting or a small
greeting card, whether they are shared through technology or in a passing
whisper, words can touch people. The power of care can heal and make a
difference in all of our lives and in this world we live in. This is my belief,
the faith I hold in the human spirit, and the hope I wish to share with you."<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Check out her:<span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-hide: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><a href="http://www.flavia.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Art</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B001IZXABC_sr?sort=relevance&search-alias=books&field-author=Flavia+Weedn" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Writing</span></a></span><br />
<br />CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-23136250627186522722012-05-26T08:32:00.001-04:002012-05-26T10:48:01.106-04:00Who should see your book before you self-publish?Hi All,<br />
<br />
I know I've been a little absent lately. I'm working on my indie sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Halo-Chronicles-Guardian-ebook/dp/B0051HGCBI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2" target="_blank">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN</a>. And I've been in revisions for a traditional pub. project.<br />
<br />
This morning I came across a question on the yahoo indie loop (Indie Romance Ink) about who should see a book before you self publish. This question was posed by a new author finishing up her first manuscript. Despite needing to make coffee and pack to go out of town, I felt compelled to answer.<br />
<br />
The short answer: Several people and at least one professional!<br />
<br />
Here's what I shared:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Congratulations that you are almost done with your book.
That is huge! You should definitely stop and celebrate your achievement. But
after you pop the champagne, you should think about the revision process as
another critical step to being a professional author. One of the biggest mistakes
newer authors make is to release material before it crafted to a professional
level. It’s soooo tempting, and we’ve all been there. Don’t do it! Usually the
revision process, if done right, will take several months of intensive work. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t mean to sound discouraging, by this manuscript is
your baby. You wouldn’t take your baby out in public with torn clothes and a
dirty face, right? The baby needs cleaning up first. This is what separates the
professionals from the amateurs in a deluged eBook market. And it’s worth it, I
promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In looking for a critique partner, you want to find someone
slightly ahead of where you are in your journey, whose experience can help
identify the opportunities to strengthen your manuscript. The critique
relationship is about building trust – after all, you’re trusting this person
to point out flaws in your baby. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Loops, organizations you belong to, local writing groups are all great place to
look for a critique partner. In googling “critique groups”, I came<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>across a fun site: (</span><a href="http://www.ladieswhocritique.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ladieswhocritique.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)
*<b>disclaimer</b>* I have never used this group, but their approach is cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As to your question on editing, most newer authors don’t
know what type of editing they need. There are 3 standard types of editing in
fiction writing and as an indie, you have a fourth. Knowing what type of
editing you need is something a crit partner can help you with. At minimum, you
will need #s 2, 3, & 4. Chances are, being newer, you will need #1 as well.
And unless you have an amazing line editor, you might need a couple
proofreaders. I’ve found readers, friends, or family with an eye for mistakes
make great proofreaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are the types of editing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Substantive Editing – structural (pacing, plot,
characterization)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copy Editing – (Grammar, spelling, syntax, word
usage, punctuation, writer tics, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Line Editing – proofreading (typos)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Format editing – (finished eBook forms and print
pdf look as they should)* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*I would also extend this to any
copy (blurbs, bios, etc.) you put on the web.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You might not need to hire a professional for all of them.
#1 - Most of us that have been doing this awhile need less substantive editing
than we used to (often our crit partner can point out issues and we can fit). <u>#2
Get a professional.</u> #3 and #4 – can be people we know with a meticulous eye
for details. Have multiple proofreaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This might sound overwhelming, but consider the alternative.
Bad reviews, bad ratings, damage to your author brand. And the internet is
FOR-EVERRRRR. I’m going to go all cliché, but you only get one chance to make a
first impression with a reader. <strong>Make it count!</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><a href="http://amandabrice.net/" target="_blank">Amanda Brice</a></strong>, my fellow indie YA sister and co-contibutor/driving force behind to the Eternal Spring YA Anthology <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/150218" target="_blank">*free here*</a> had this to say about when to release your baby into the world:</span><br />
<br />
Congrats on getting close to THE END. Anytime you type that is a momentous
occasion, but never moreso than your first time.
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
However, because this is your first book (and you wrote it without
feedback), I'm inclined to agree with Maureen. You're probably not ready for
either an editor or a beta reader yet. The first thing you need to do is find
yourself a critique partner or critique group (are you a member of your local
RWA chapter? Also, Romance Divas is a good place to learn the craft). </div>
<br />
<div>
Then once you have the ms as sparkling as you can, I'd enter some contests
for unbiased feedback. Then you might be ready for an editor. But even still,
maybe not. I venture to guess that most of us did not publish our first ms and
never will. The stereotype of the "book under the bed" is because first
manuscripts tend to be learning books.</div>
<br />
<div>
Is that the case with everyone? Of course not. some authors do publish
their first book and do wonderfully. But most of us were not ready for
publication on the first book, and you won't know this for sure until you get
unbiased feedback. Hiring an editor will probably be a very expensive way to
find out whether you're ready (and some books are unsalvagable), so I encourage
you to run it through crit groups and the contest circuit first. This will take
several months, but worth it.</div>
<br />
<div>
Then once you're satisfied this book is potentially publishable (and you
don't want to go the trad route), you'll need to find an editor. Since this is
your first book, I highly encourage you to get both content editing and line
editing, although some authors prefer to skip the content editing stage once
they have a few books under their belt (and instead rely upon their critique
partners and beta readers for developmental suggestions).</div>
<br />
<div>
Good luck! I hope this wasn't discouraging, but the worst thing you can do
is publish before you're ready.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Carey says: Thanks Amanda!</div>
</div>
<br /><strong>Now your turn: If you are an author, how many early books do you have buried under your bed?</strong><br />
<br />
I have books 1, 2, & 3 under the bed. #4 is my indie, 5 & 6 are with agents exploring traditional options.CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-65788824225023971932012-04-02T12:29:00.000-04:002012-04-02T12:32:18.024-04:00My Newest Honestly YA Post<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2012/04/cross-sex-bff-relationship-equation.html" target="_blank">The Cross-sex BFF Relationship Equation</a><br />
with funny charts, John Hughes, and Star Wars</div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-77051035920114500412012-02-08T14:02:00.001-05:002012-02-08T14:03:27.781-05:00Honestly YA Welcomes Erika O'RourkeErica O'Rourke talks high school regrets today at <a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2012/02/welcome-wednesday-erica-orourkes-high.html" target="_blank">Honestly YA</a>. *ALERT* one lucky follower will win a copy of TORN and her new book TANGLED. And if you haven't read Erica's books - you are missing out!CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-73458847156041880042012-02-03T13:46:00.000-05:002013-03-20T15:53:14.458-04:00Dear Aspiring YA Author<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Dear aspiring YA author,</div>
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<br /></div>
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We have reviewed your manuscript and are declining representation with out regrets. Although your writing is exceptionally strong with a unique voice, we believe the premise is a bit too similar to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Series. Due to Ms. Meyer’s iconic imprint on teen readership, we are not interested in acquiring manuscripts that contain the following:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Angst</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Boys that sparkle</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>Boys that are serially shirtless</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Any manuscript using any form of the word “dazzle”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Girls into fashion</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Girls into sweatpants</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Girls that read </div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Meadows</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tall trees</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Indian tribe analogies</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Vampires, Werewolves, or Shape Shifters</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>B-list paranormal creatures, such as fairies, shadowhunters, selkies, banshees, ghosts, zombies, mermaids, angels, demons, etc. (because they’re not as cool as vampires and werewolves)</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens that are really old</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens that age appropriately</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens that need to eat</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens that don’t eat</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Floating feathers (to be safe, no birds of any kind)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Extraordinary abilities like mind reading, manipulation of emotions, and seeing the future</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Weather (including rain, snow, and sunshine)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Prom</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Apples</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Forks (in fact, all cutlery is generally to be avoided)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Times of day (especially sunset, sunrise and midday)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Lunar cycles</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Red eyes, golden eyes, black or brown eyes (eyes in general have become c<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">liché)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Old trucks, motorcycles, and new sports cars</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Love triangles and teen couples (romance of any kind should be avoided especially true love and puppy infatuation)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Relocating to a new town</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Living in the same place for any length of time</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Windows</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bedrooms</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Kissing</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Sneaking in windows to kiss in bedrooms</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens that move too quickly into marriage</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Teens who don’t get married in opposition to books containing those who do</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Cold and hot (we will not publish any manuscript that references temperature)</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Anything with a pulse</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Anything without a pulse</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Characters that enforce or break the law</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Characters with foreign sounding names, old people names, or trendy names</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The number 17 (no characters of that age, nor any manuscripts containing the page number 17 or a 17<sup>th</sup> chapter will be considered)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Manuscripts with short or one word titles</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Manuscripts with long titles (too contrary to what’s hot in the current YA market)</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Exotic locations like Italy, South America, or private islands</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The Pacific Northwest</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The Southwest (in fact, probably best if you set your story somewhere other than Earth)</div>
<div style="margin-left: 14.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -32.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We are also not interested in books set in outer space or alternate worlds</div>
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However, if you are able to come up with a fresh YA concept that does not infringe on these areas, we would be most anxious to read it. We are also looking for Dystopians.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jane Doe Publisher</div>
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<br /></div>
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(Author note: My new young adult WIP is about one ordinary child and one eyeless grownup who don’t live anywhere, go anyplace, or have any adventures of any kind. Estimated length is 16 pages. It’s guaranteed to be a bestseller!)</div>
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YOUR TURN: What else needs to be on the list?</div>
CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-47241600947801475042012-01-19T06:38:00.000-05:002012-02-03T13:48:33.815-05:00The Experimental Girl, part 2: More ExperimentationThanks to everyone who chimed in on promoted prices vs. every day available price. I am taking THE HALO CHRONICLES THE GUARDIAN off sale and back to $2.99.<br />
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I decided to let the .99<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">¢</span> sale go through MLK Day, so I requested the pricing change ($2.99 , 70% royalty) for on Tuesday. As usual Amazon is taking their sweet time to make the change.</div>
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It will be interesting to compare velocity at the higher price with THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER continuing as a free promo vehicle.</div>
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-size: large;">As of this morning, here are my <u>January 2012</u> sales results:</span></div>
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<strong>THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN ($.99): <strike>123 </strike>128 (as of 1/19 8:30pm)</strong></div>
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<strong>THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER (FREE): <strike>4903</strike> 5056 (as of 1/19 8:30pm)</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: orange; font-size: x-large;">1/30 Results:</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN ($.99): 203 (and back up to $2.99)</strong><br />
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<strong>THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER (FREE): 8007 (in 1 month!)</strong></div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-21042285861781422382012-01-05T07:08:00.000-05:002012-01-06T09:08:17.009-05:00The Experimental Girl<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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December was an experimental month for me. In November, I published a dystopian short story, THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER, at $.99. At the end I included the first chapter of THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN. Then I dropped THE GUARDIAN from $2.99 to $.99 to participate in a holiday promotion called <a href="http://bookloversbuffet.com/young-adult/">Book Lovers Buffet</a>.</div>
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For the purposes of this analysis, I am going to use my Amazon sales.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">December 1-24 results:</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.99:</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99:</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 66</b></span></div>
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I decided to make THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER free to promote THE GUARDIAN. It went into effect just after Christmas.</div>
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><strong>December 26-31 results:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.00:</span><strong> 617</strong></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99:</span><strong> 53</strong></span><br />
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<strong>January 1-4 results:</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.00:</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">767</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99:</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 27</b></span></div>
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The results are so phenomenal that I am going to keep <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Way-Life-Was-Forever-ebook/dp/B006777W9M" target="_blank">THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER</a> free.</div>
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Now my dilemma, the promotion for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Chronicles-Guardian-ebook/dp/B0051HGCBI/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ends 1/15/12. Should I keep it at $.99 with much lower royalties or take it back up to $2.99. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do you think?</b></div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-90100764222389889252011-12-01T05:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T18:08:31.726-05:00New Book Season<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: red; font-size: x-large;">12/14 UPDATE:</span> <br />
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Today is my official Seasons of Reading Blog Hop day. So to celebrate, <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104659" target="_blank">THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER</a> is now free at <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104659" target="_blank">smashwords</a> for the rest of the month. Happy Holidays!!!<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: lime;">NEW BOOK SEASON:</span> </span></span></div>
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year. New Book Season. All year long, I look forward to my holiday break—two wonderful weeks off from work, two fabulous weeks to spend with my family, two glorious weeks to read.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love getting books as Christmas presents, almost as much as I love giving them. As a kid, it was one time of year when I would get a brand, spankin’ new book with crisp pages and a glossy cover…and the smell. Is there anything better than the smell of cracking open a new book for the first time? Ok, maybe a rare edition or six.</div>
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One of my first Christmases with my hubby, I gave him a limited edition, hardback copy of one of my favorite stories, The Giving Tree. And when I found out I was pregnant I started amassing books for baby first Christmas, everything from older editions of fairie tales to Sandra Boyton board books to gorgeously illustrated classics.</div>
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For the Corp family, books are an integral part of the holiday season. Each December, I diligently fill out our bookstore wish lists. I hit the brick-and-mortar stores for gift cards for teachers and friends. Then I canvas the school book fair and load up on books to give my family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiofppVR4syIPmvwR8ogh2iNgKvWw9JtqIgxV9EhEWMUlmRFVGSmN5GRavzOlTescVoDLucPO8P3-gjSLImArw0OsS2dGTrGz9vEQWzh-y3xxEge0J-xhOWCaICwsQfpZLJKQh77BwUw/s1600/DWK6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 130px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 118px;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiofppVR4syIPmvwR8ogh2iNgKvWw9JtqIgxV9EhEWMUlmRFVGSmN5GRavzOlTescVoDLucPO8P3-gjSLImArw0OsS2dGTrGz9vEQWzh-y3xxEge0J-xhOWCaICwsQfpZLJKQh77BwUw/s200/DWK6.jpg" width="169" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kid 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRkiVpSpatHzeBqt9CdhxhLE9vGukhmtIKLcJhcOOq0178WflUgDrTOfU9zPKXt6do_uE7UAED5n4UTO-cJ42pDqdTNBoR_8mY1spt-5cMjlcZJ7AbRjUlWmCIt51uMpp5oOoHBRLxM4/s1600/BK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRkiVpSpatHzeBqt9CdhxhLE9vGukhmtIKLcJhcOOq0178WflUgDrTOfU9zPKXt6do_uE7UAED5n4UTO-cJ42pDqdTNBoR_8mY1spt-5cMjlcZJ7AbRjUlWmCIt51uMpp5oOoHBRLxM4/s200/BK.jpg" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kid 2</td></tr>
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So what’s on the list this year? </div>
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The kids are easy. </div>
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My hubby got his new book a few weeks ago (and will be reading for some time—the book is freakin’ huge!):</div>
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Me? All I want are: Clockwork Prince & Kiss of Night</div>
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And this year, there’s a new twist to New Book Season, my own book! </div>
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So, I’m giving away a signed print copy of <a href="http://www.careycorp.com/index.php/the-halo-chronicles-the-guardian/">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN</a> to one lucky person <u>and</u> donating one on the winner’s behalf to my local public library. Contest runs 12/4 through 12/31. Winner will be announced on January 1, 2012. To enter follow my blog and leave a comment below. Please read the contest disclaimer <a href="http://careycorp.blogspot.com/p/contest-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<strong>YOUR TURN: What' terrific tome is on your holiday list?</strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to find your way to the next post, <a href="http://www.joramsey.com/?page_id=1051" target="_blank">click here</a></td></tr>
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.joramsey.com/" target="_blank">Jo Ramsey</a> and all the <a href="http://www.joramsey.com/?page_id=1051" target="_blank">Seasons of Reading Blog Hop</a> authors!<br />
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ALSO: check out the <a href="http://bit.ly/w2QPye" target="_blank">BOOK LOVERS BUFFET</a></div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-66383052140774257922011-11-21T07:33:00.001-05:002011-12-04T16:18:11.723-05:00Honestly YA: High school, like life, is AWKWARD.Today at Honestly YA, I'm giving MTV's AWKWARD. some love and sharing my own Carefrontation. <a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/11/high-school-like-life-is-awkward.html" target="_blank">Stop by and share yours!</a><br />
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12/4 Nikki DeLoach just shared her Carefrontation to her 15-year-old self, read it here:CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-54171099734992615662011-11-16T18:07:00.001-05:002011-11-29T20:25:34.514-05:00Left Field InspirationWhen I work up this morning, I didn't know that I was about to be inspired, and validated, and encouraged, and changed...But that's kind of the whole point behind blessings. <a href="http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tonya Kappes's</a> post changed my course. <br />
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For her inspiring post HOW BAD DO YOU WANT SELF PUBLISHING SUCCESS, click <a href="http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/how-bad-do-you-want-self-publishing-success" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/H2g0Pk3gBzI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I have a new short story out!!! THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER<br />
It's $.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Way-Life-Was-Forever-ebook/dp/B006777W9M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321537371&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-way-life-was-forever-carey-corp/1107366580" target="_blank">B&N</a>, and <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104659" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>. I'll talk more about the business rationale in a few weeks.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIgl4NGoNRvqhxkwDMr5dLzjtXamNiMEomLPjiAYM3wdGQSD0gNcI-3yaknrkQwjlTkKf8NDJ3tYKPYTDS3uz9UM8XQIcNbcxCiByKsQC2hR9x0UD_1pbrbz5p4C1Pn0Q9P3RxUMq48/s1600/The+Way+Life+Was+Forever_border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIgl4NGoNRvqhxkwDMr5dLzjtXamNiMEomLPjiAYM3wdGQSD0gNcI-3yaknrkQwjlTkKf8NDJ3tYKPYTDS3uz9UM8XQIcNbcxCiByKsQC2hR9x0UD_1pbrbz5p4C1Pn0Q9P3RxUMq48/s320/The+Way+Life+Was+Forever_border.jpg" width="222" /></a><br />
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Today I want to know HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-1361745480552137542011-11-08T15:39:00.001-05:002011-11-17T08:54:25.352-05:00Sneek Peek ...of the cover for my new short story: THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIgl4NGoNRvqhxkwDMr5dLzjtXamNiMEomLPjiAYM3wdGQSD0gNcI-3yaknrkQwjlTkKf8NDJ3tYKPYTDS3uz9UM8XQIcNbcxCiByKsQC2hR9x0UD_1pbrbz5p4C1Pn0Q9P3RxUMq48/s1600/The+Way+Life+Was+Forever_border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIgl4NGoNRvqhxkwDMr5dLzjtXamNiMEomLPjiAYM3wdGQSD0gNcI-3yaknrkQwjlTkKf8NDJ3tYKPYTDS3uz9UM8XQIcNbcxCiByKsQC2hR9x0UD_1pbrbz5p4C1Pn0Q9P3RxUMq48/s400/The+Way+Life+Was+Forever_border.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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coming Thanksgiving 2011</div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-58096027726448963702011-11-07T17:40:00.000-05:002011-11-17T08:55:22.058-05:00Honestly YA's latest post<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">Don't miss Lea Nolan's wonderful post of the evolution of the hero in YA. You'll LOL!</span><br />
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<a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-need-hero-or-origin-of-ya-male.html">http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-need-hero-or-origin-of-ya-male.html</a>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-35019104134601068642011-10-24T06:59:00.003-04:002011-11-17T08:55:39.807-05:00Honestly YA's new post is upLorie Langdon talks about how being a dreamer inspires her writing in <a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/10/following-yellow-brick-road.html">Following the Yellow Brick Road</a>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-59688605224654429742011-10-20T07:45:00.001-04:002011-11-17T08:54:43.629-05:00More Indie Stuff: Marketing, Money, and POD, oh my!Happy October!<br />
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I'm hard at work on my sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Chronicles-Guardian-ebook/dp/B0051HGCBI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1305809156&sr=8-9">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN</a>. Which means I've been sucked into the black hole of my own brilliance. LOL! That may be a slight exaggeration. I'm busy. My fabulous agent has my literary fiction manuscript, ECHOES OF NEVERLAND, out on sub, which means I'm in writer's limbo. Basically, I'm scattered and writing my brains out.<br />
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However, the wonderful world of Indie Publishing goes on. So I thought I'd share some recent (and some not so recent posts) on sales, marketing and POD.<br />
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Theresa Ragan has posted her <a href="http://www.theresaragan.com/2011/10/october-sales-update.html">October Sales Update</a>. She's awesome and I wish I had her numbers!<br />
As usual, Dr. Debra Holland's post on<a href="http://drdebraholland.blogspot.com/2011/10/showing-money-september.html"> September Sales</a> is impressive. I love her transparency!<br />
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Traditional publishing is a very real part of the indie equation. To make an informed decision, it helps to understand what traditional publishers typically pay. So if you haven't seen these posts, they<br />
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Romance: Brenda Hiatt - <a href="http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com/254733.html">Show Me the Money</a><br />
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YA: Agent Mandy Hubbard - <a href="http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com/249542.html">Things You Want to Know</a> & <a href="http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com/254733.html">Things You Want to Know II</a><br />
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Other posts of note:<br />
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POD: <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/2011/10/createspace-or-lightning-source-which-is-the-more-intelligent-choice-for-self-publishing/">CreateSpace or Lightning Source: Which is the more intelligent choice for self-publishing?</a> By Terri Giuliano<br />
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WG2E's <a href="http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/indie-epublishing-d-d-scott-style-prequels-sequels-and-short-stories-oh-my">Indie ePublishing D.D. Scott-Style: Prequels, Sequels, and Short Stories, Oh My!</a><br />
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Write To Publish's 4 part series on Goodreads Marketing. <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/2011/10/goodreads-101-part-1.html">101 part 1</a>; <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-reads-101-part-2-tell-me-about.html">101 part 2</a>; <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/2011/10/goodreads-201-part-3-introducing.html">201 part 3</a>, <a href="http://write2publish.blogspot.com/2011/10/goodreads-201-part-4-4-intros.html">201 part 4</a></div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-90772393407824411562011-10-10T09:04:00.002-04:002011-11-17T08:56:00.698-05:00Stop by Honestly YA for my latest teen related post<a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/10/revenge-is-dish-best-served-with-corn.html">Revenge is a dish best served with corn nuts.</a><br />
<br />CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-56498859526187264042011-09-15T12:59:00.000-04:002011-11-17T08:56:25.370-05:0050 Things Under $50 to Promote Your BookAs a result of some exciting developments, the blogs been a bit quiet recently. Soon I hope to be able to share details.<br />
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In the meantime, check out Penny C. Sansevieri's great report: <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.self-publishing-coach.com/support-files/fifty-things-under-50-you-can-do-to-promote-your-book.pdf">Fifty Things Under $50 Bucks To Promote Your Book</a> </span></b><br />
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<br /></div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-54105886954654422822011-08-25T06:51:00.004-04:002011-11-18T12:17:50.506-05:00Going Indie - Is it worth it?<strong>Time to talk results. </strong><br />
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I take this giant leap of faith - so necessary to gain forward momentum in my career - and three months have passed. Some authors are selling tens of thousands, some authors are making thousands a month, and a very lucky few are doing both.<br />
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And me?<br />
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My results have exceeded my expectations. I have recouped my initial expenses. And most importantly, I have taken the next step in my career. <strong>No regrets.</strong><br />
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<strong>So lets talk Dollars and Cents: </strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Chronicles-Guardian-ebook/dp/B0051HGCBI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1305809156&sr=8-9">THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN</a> sells for $2.99 eBook and $14.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HALO-CHRONICLES-Guardian-1/dp/1463622244/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314268756&sr=1-1">print</a> (discounted at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/halo-chronicles-carey-corp/1102090103">B&N</a> but with very little margin for me). <br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: auto auto auto 4.65pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 279px;"><tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sales</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Earned</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MAY 24th</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #fabf8f; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #fabf8f; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #fabf8f; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$36 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&N</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$46 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JUNE</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #92d050; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #92d050; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #92d050; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$32 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&N</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$52 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #95b3d7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JULY</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #95b3d7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #95b3d7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #95b3d7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$45 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&N</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$38 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Print</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$35 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #b2a1c7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUGUST</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #b2a1c7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #b2a1c7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #b2a1c7; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$35 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">est.</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&N</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$9 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Print</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$7 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 30pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 30pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smashwords (3mo. total)</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 30pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 30pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$23 </span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 30pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; height: 15pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #ffcc66; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TOTAL</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #ffcc66; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">192</span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #ffcc66; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">$358 </span></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: #ffcc66; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A good friend of mine, who published about the same time, has sold in the thousands. While ecstatic for her, for like a second I was jealous of her sales. (LOL <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tonya+kappes&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=12478854947&ref=pd_sl_khsrn0ocd_b">Tonya</a>).<br />
<br />
<strong>Keep in Mind at my Pricing structure: 100 = 700</strong><br />
<br />
I considered dropping my book to $.99. While $.99 price point does tend to explode sales, the margin is very low.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$2.99</b> (70% is $2.093) x<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100</b>sales = $209.30 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$.99</b> (30% is $.297) x<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100</b>sales= $29.70; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">700</b>sales= $207.90</div>
My choice, earnings at $2.99 or sales at $.99? The authors who are really doing well have a tiered approach (that I plan to model). When their subsequent book releases for $2.99 or $3.99, their current title drops to $.99. That way they are accomplishing both sales and earning. So I'm hard at work on the sequel THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE KEEPER. :)<br />
<br />
Here are some other AMAZING indie authors who have transparently shared results:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://norahwilsonwrites.com/wordpress/?p=156">Norah Wilson</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://drdebraholland.blogspot.com/2011/08/self-publishing-showing-money-ll.html">Debra Holland</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
* Debra also has a great post on <a href="http://drdebraholland.blogspot.com/2011/08/self-publishing-what-works-price-point.html">price point</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://drdebraholland.blogspot.com/2011/09/self-publishing-showing-money-month.html">Debra's August sales information</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.theresaragan.com/2011/08/sales-update-and-random-tuesday.html">Theresa Ragan</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://killerfictionwriters.blogspot.com/2011/11/self-publishing-number-breakdown.html" target="_blank">Gemma Halliday's results</a> (1 year 600k and counting)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/">D.D. Scott (on Right side of page)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/goin-indie-my-sales-during-year-one-of-self-publishing/">Cate Rowan</a> on The Ruby Slippered Sisterhood site<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.juliesjournalonline.com/?p=1566">Julianne MacLean</a>'s promotion experiment (How important are cover and price?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Know of any other indies disclosing sales? Post a link in comments and I will update this post. :)</div>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754218333089401917.post-3542764902231618432011-08-22T06:44:00.000-04:002011-11-17T08:57:17.738-05:00Honestly YA: Six authors, one loveHonestly YA launches this morning. Check out my post: <a href="http://honestlyya.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-about-prom-blaine-what-about-prom.html">WHAT ABOUT PROM, BLAINE? WHAT ABOUT PROM?</a>CareyCorphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407766111238021278noreply@blogger.com0