On the eve of turning 40, the gods have blessed me with book sales.
As of this moment, Faking It is ranked #19 on the Kindle Store bestseller list, with Ordinary World following at #133. (I'm even beating out Dan Brown at #22!!)
Keep a few things in mind (and my ego in check): The Kindle Store rankings fluctuate quite a bit. Also, they don't necessarily reflect the rest of the market (i.e the New York Times Best Seller list). You'll see that most of the titles on the Kindle list are either free or priced at a buck, so you can see where the attraction really is.
But still.
I'd like to think that my price gets them to the door, and the writing keeps them inside.
And yet, I can't help but have an uneasy feeling about this. Booksellers and agents are voicing opposition to the low pricing, and claim that devaluing our books (beyond just price) is killing publishing. And I agree with them to a point, actually. Not necessarily that it's killing publishing, but it's certainly upsetting the industry, and I'm a part of that now.
But hey, I'm a bookseller too. And I can't help but think about how much fatter the check would be even if I at least doubled my price. But would as many copies have sold? They didn't the first time around (although I didn't have the patience to find out if the readers would've come around anyway). I've got readers now. And reviews. Good ones, too. That's what I really wanted all along.
But I worry if traditonal publishers will reject me now because I'm not playing their game and am part of the devaluing. I took advantage of the capitalist system, that's all. I persisted. It's the number one advice I get from agents, editors, and other writers. Persist.
Anyhoo... I'm getting off track here.
It's a neato birthday present, is all I'm sayin'. And it feels good.
8 comments:
I say rejoice today, worry tomorrow. It might not have worked for Ms. Antoinette, but it might work for you.
Aren't I a little ray of sunshine?
Seriously, numbers are numbers. However, it might be time for a change in your attack formation.
Beth
Congratulations! Go get 'em. What a nice way to celebrate a birthday.
I've been thinking about it, Beth. My older brother and I were talking about ways to capitalize on the blog tour next month in terms of print sales.
Thank you, Betty!!
Congrats! That's HUGE news! You go girl!
Thanks, Andi!
You're looking at it wrong, Elisa. You've reeled us in with the low prices on the first two. Now we'll be willing to pay more for your future releases, since we know we like you. No worries, just blessings!
Terri, thanks so much -- I like your perspective!
:)
I just want you to know that I did purchase Faking It on my Kindle because it was cheap. But I loved your writing, I loved Andi and Devin. I bought Ordinary World as soon as I finished Faking It. I read them both in a day. I loved it also. While the low price made me decide to buy it in the first place, it was your writing that made me want more. I would very happily pay a normal book price for your books. I just want to keep reading them.
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