Friday, October 30, 2015

10 Tips to prepare for NaNo!

I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo, aka NaNo, which starts
November first, for the first time. The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. Here's what I've done to prepare and what I recommend.

1) Cleared some tasks due in November off my plate, such as a writing column, to free up more time and brain space/energy to write.
2) Limited extraneous activities, while still making room for some social activities. I think some down time helps refill the well and lets the subconscious generate more ideas.
3) Chose the project to work on and did a bit of preparation, such as jotting down thoughts.
However, I'm sorry to say I'm still waffling on this. I wanted to write the second book in my new series. But I keep wondering if I should choose a more popular romance subgenre or another project I've been wanting to work on.
4) Plan to write with a friend or go to a few write-ins, where participants gather at a coffee shop or other location to help each other stay on task and feel less isolated.
5) Told family/friends I'm doing this and that it's important to me. I still have a few more people to tell.
6) Signed up online to keep track of my word count and put it out there publicly that I want to do this. They say goals should be written down and shared.... And there's a lot of helpful information and encouragement on the NaNo site.
7) Put writing appointments on my calendar, especially mornings because I'm a morning person, so I can reach the 1,667 word count early in the day and even get ahead if I make more time to write later in the day. This approach should help in case I have to miss an entire day or two because of paying commitments.
8) Decided to bring my laptop or use the handy stylus on my phone when I'm on the bus so I can get in more words and time.
9) Joined a Word War, in which groups compete to complete the most words. To some this may add a layer of pressure, but I think it adds motivation. I don't want to let my group down.
10) Believe I can do it.

Something I learned that surprised me: While there are very successful books written/begun during NaNo, the vast majority of participants and winners (those who complete the 50K in time), never even finish their projects. I mistakenly assumed that most people did NaNo to get a head start on something they wanted to complete and sell, rather than participate (and succeed) several years, but not finish any of the books.

What's your best NaNo prep tip?

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Top 10 reasons why your book isn't selling

In the online writing groups I follow, one issue is brought up again and again: how hard it is for new self-published authors to sell any books at all, much less gain some traction.

Why?
1) The competition. As of this writing, 11,667 new romance Kindle books released in the last 30 days, or around 400 per day. There are 326,894 romance ebooks to choose from. What's a newer author to do to compete in fields with so many flowers?

2) Free reads! Some readers will return a .99 boxed set. Though just a few years ago we willingly went to a bookstore and paid $6.99 or more for a paperback, these days there are so many permafree and temporarily free books that paying even .99, much less $2.99, Amazon's recommended sweet spot for my historical romances, can seem like a lit. Kindle Unlimited, which is $10/month, and Kindle Owners Lending Library are other options readers are choosing to lower their reading costs.

3) The rapid rise in book discount newsletters. I get at least 5 newsletters every day offering discounted, .99 or free books. I don't have to search online but merely open and glance at the books available that day. With a click or two, that free book is mine. Even if I never read it. I couldn't keep up with all of the free books I could get every day if I tried. These newsletters can be costly, so if you're not selling, it can be hard to justify buying more ads.

4) What I call volume authors. There are some authors who are so prolific and successful that they can dominate the new releases or bestseller lists, making it harder for newbies to rise to the top. In one of my categories, 4 of the Top 10 bestsellers are by one author and 3 are by another. In some areas on Amazon, only the top three show up as recommendations, which I'm sure helps those books sell even more. These volume authors already have a huge following and promotional machine in place, which most new authors don't.

5) The three bears syndrome. Novellas (usually under 40,000 words), shorter books and boxed sets (usually three or more books for .99) tend to dominate some bestseller lists, so that the standard full-length novel (300-400 pages) is no longer just right. Right now five boxed sets are in Top 10 medievals (I happen to have a book in the #2 box). In the Regency Top 10 are two boxed sets and four books under 300 pages (and that includes front/back matter and any excerpts) and one with 94 pages.

6) Reviews. Many newer authors may not be able to get reviews, so they can't take out ads on sites that require a certain Amazon rating or number of reviews. Reviews can also be used on websites, in promotion, etc., but not if you don't have any.

7) You only have one book. Everywhere I go, I hear that
a) one book is rarely enough. Some even advise waiting until you have four or five so you can set up a release schedule.
b) one release a year isn't enough...to help get your name out there and keep the Amazon algorithms working in your favor. I'd planned to release four of my own books this year, but was invited to be in two boxed sets. So I had a new release every three months...and some say that's too long.

8) The book itself and/or the book's presentation. I checked the Amazon page of one author who commented about not selling. The blurb was full of errors.
Did you hire a qualified editor, and then perhaps have that editor or another one read it after you made suggested changes? Did you also use a proofreader? How does your cover stack up against books that are selling well? A newbie author should still have a bestseller-like cover. Is your subject matter in favor? Trends come and go. There's the dichotomy of writing the books of your heart and writing something readers want. You should learn the market to know where your story fits. My fourth book might combine too many genres...time will tell.

9) Your platform. What have you done/are you doing to build your newsletter list (this is one thing I need to do better) and social media presence? Do you interact on Goodreads? Do you have a newbie website or one that looks professional?

10) Where is your book available? Is your book in the right Amazon categories? Are you "going wide," meaning you're available on many sites, or just on Amazon and perhaps going Select? I hear that more authors are going wide because of changes Amazon has made, but I sold far fewer books on B&N and iBooks, so I'm sticking with that.

What can you do to improve your ability to sell?

Thursday, October 15, 2015

What makes an international bestselling historical romance?

As of this writing, Highlanders, Lords and Lovers, the new boxed set with my second medieval FOLLOW YOUR HEART, has these Amazon rankings:
In the UK, HLL is

And  I'm currently ranked #63 out of Amazon's Top 100 Historical Romance Authors, up from #68 this morning! (You have to grab screen shots, because rankings are updated every hour.)

I'm honored to have my second book be part of a set that includes books by the multi-published Cathy MacRae, currently #2 in Top 100 Historical Romance Authors, Elizabeth Rose, who's #6, and April Holthaus at #38. I'm sure their high ranks attract more readers to our set. We've all done some social media, held a fun Facebook party, and took out some ads to help get the word out.

It's not always clear why some new releases languish while others rise to the top. Readers' interest in the combination of the writing, setting, plot, the mix of authors and/or books in a boxed set, the title, cover, and/or alchemy of advertising, marketing and promotion for one book or set can't easily be duplicated in another. Some new releases catch the tide of Amazon's algorithms, which then propels them even higher. There's no way to predict how long success will last.

I hope readers are enjoying my first two books as I get ready to release #3.


Monday, October 05, 2015

Facebook Release Party Today for Highlanders, Lords and Lovers!

We're  thrilled to announce the release of our new boxed set, Highlanders, Lords and Lovers, via a Facebook Release Party, today, 10/5 from 1:00-6:00PM Central. We hope you visit, comment and enter to win one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

And if you hop to each of our author sites before Friday, 10/9, collect the names of the mystery icons, then return to Elizabeth’s site and enter them into the rafflecopter, you'll be entered to win an ebook from each of us.


HLL features two Scottish and two English medievals by bestselling authors. Just .99 for all four, or free with Kindle Unlimited.

AMBER by Elizabeth Rose
Can a pure dove change the morals of a devil or will he change her morals first?


FOLLOW YOUR HEART by Ruth Kaufman
When irresistible attraction makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his dangerous secrets keep them from following their hearts?

THE HIGHLANDER’S OUTLAW BRIDE by Cathy MacRae
Forced into a marriage neither wants, it'll take a king's edict and sacrifice from both to discover what love means. But can they accept their losses and learn from their mistakes before she marries another?

HIGHLAND DAYDREAMS by April Holthaus As they travel across land and sea, they discover a secret about her past that’s worth its weight in gold. Will he be able to keep his promise to return her to her family, knowing he may lose her forever?

Thursday, October 01, 2015

New Boxed Set: Highlanders, Lords and Lovers!

My second book Follow Your Heart is part of a new .99 boxed set that released this week: Highlanders, Lords and Lovers

HLL features two English and two Scottish medievals by bestselling authors.                                                            
AMBER by Elizabeth Rose 
Can a pure dove change the morals of a devil or will he change her morals first?

FOLLOW YOUR HEART by Ruth Kaufman
When irresistible attraction makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his dangerous secrets keep them from following their hearts?

THE HIGHLANDER’S OUTLAW BRIDE by Cathy MacRae
Forced into a marriage neither wants, it will take a king's edict and sacrifice from both to discover what love means. But can they accept their losses and learn from their mistakes before Brianna marries another?

HIGHLAND DAYDREAMS by April Holthaus As they travel across land and sea, Lara and Bram discover a secret about her past that’s worth its weight in gold. Will Bram be able to keep his promise to return her to her family, knowing he may lose her forever?

Do you like medievals? If so, do you have a time period and/or setting preference? If you don't like medievals, why not? If you haven't read any, perhaps you'll give these a try.