Thursday, October 27, 2011

For the Nook

Just checked and found out Fractured Facade is now available directly from Barnes & Noble for the Nook. Click here for a direct link. It's always been available for the Nook via Smashwords, but some folks prefer to buy it directly from B&N, so there ya go!

Gosh, it would be nice if authors were notified when the book arrived in an eRetailer. I don't know how I'll find out when it hits the Apple store as I don't have an Itune account!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Facebook Page

Ya gotta have a Facebook page...and you need to have at least 25 "likes" so you can get a shorter url. Well, that's what I've been told, so I went ahead and created one. I really hate asking people to "like" me, but since I gotta have a Facebook page, I'll ask you to "like" me here.

I really don't know what good having a page will do. As it is, I feel like I'm being pulled in too many directions at once. And, I am now questioning the wisdom of having two separate blogs. Originally, this one was set up to document my self-publishing journey, but my other blog gets way more readers. What to do? What to do?

Monday, October 17, 2011

Premium Catalog

I am pleased to report that the book has achieved Premium Status on Smashwords! What does that mean? Well, it means that Fractured Facade has now been entered into their premium catalog.

According to Smashwords...

"Once your book is accepted into the Premium Catalog, we automatically distribute it to major online retailers such as Apple (distribution to iBookstores in 31 countries), Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Borders Australia and Angus & Robertson Australia (both powered by Kobo), Whitcoulls (New Zealand, powered by Kobo), the Diesel eBook Store, eBooks Eros (operated by Diesel), and other distribution outlets coming soon."

The only problem is that I am not notified when it "hits the shelves" at each retailer so I'll have to check every once in a while. From what I've read, it could take a couple of weeks before some of them begin to carry it. It's still available for all those eReaders on the Smashwords site, but some people prefer to buy it from their "store" instead of Smashwords. As an author, it's "better" for me if folks download it from Smashwords as the other eRetailers take an additional 25%, but, I'll be happy no matter where readers get it from!

At least I can now begin to market the book. I wanted to wait until I knew it would definitely be accepted into the Premium Catalog before taking the promotion plunge. So, for today's task...create a Facebook page and a press release.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Best Reward

I have to say for two days after I hit the publish button, my stomach was still doing cartwheels. You know when it stopped? After I sold a handful of books. Besides being available on Smashwords, it is now live on Amazon...click here for the direct link.

I know there must be a way to get the snazzy book little book Amazon icon, but I haven't figured out how to do it. And frankly, right now I just have to step back for a couple of days. Besides living the story, writing the story, editing the story, formatting the story and finally publishing the story, there's also promoting and marketing the story. That takes a lot of effort. I've got ideas and plans, but right now my other life is pulling on my shirt tale.

For now word of mouth will have to do, and the way I look at it is, every sale at this point is gravy. The important thing is that I accomplished what I set out to. My husband feared that after I finished I would just put the printed pages in a drawer and the formatted pages on a flash drive and forget about it. For a second, only a second, I thought about doing that, but then thought, what type of lesson would that be for my children?

No matter how many sales I get, the best reward was having my daughter hug me after she saw the book on Smashwords and Amazon -- "Mom, I am so proud of you. You're a great role model for me."

Who needs anything more? Well, a couple of good reviews would be nice too ;)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

I Did It!

Well, I did it...I hit that publish button and Fractured Facade is now available on Smashwords! Here's a direct link to the page.

I'm just waiting now to get accepted into the Smashwords Premium Catalogue which means other outlets will carry the book. Meanwhile, you can still download it to any eReader from Smashwords. Amazon is still publishing it and I hope to get it up there directly soon.

I'd like to thank everyone, especially my family, for their support. It's been a difficult journey, but I was able to accomplish it because of you. Excuse me now, while I go weep...