Because I have been writing a series of novels for some time, I know you all are dying to know how it’s going. I will post up some performance figures after the post for those of you who are stat lovers.

But first, I wanted to chat about what’s been going on SINCE Disk of Death released. I’ve been spending the time I’ve not been writing (or at work) researching info on things we all must know about marketing.

I swear I am going to follow up my Ten Tips for Getting that Book Written with Ten Ways for Marketing Your Book.
But I digress…

Anyway, there are common traits among authors in this genre, that is, mystery/thriller/suspense.

What I’ve observed as a mystery writer:

• You don’t have to have a best-seller status. Well-written books seem to find their readership.

• Readers will purchase, if you promote well enough. They have to know you and your work is out there, and so you have to do everything you can to get the word out.

Here are some promotion tips:

• Pay for cover art whenever possible. It is fine to use software that comes on every PC if you MUST. But remember, readers like pro-looking covers. So please do consider hiring someone with the skills to make your work stand out from the crowd.
• Purchase some promotional real estate. There are places online, like Facebook, who have groups who will offer cheap or free ways to get the word out. These places have a lot of followers and participants and you never know when some or all of them will go to your Amazon page and follow you, or buy your book.
• Try getting a guest blogger gig on some good solid blogs. Try to find some who are affiliated with your genre. Most bloggers need content – we cannot have new fresh ideas ALL the time. So, chances are good if you offer relevant content for their site, they will be grateful to you for that offer.
• KDP Select and offering your book for free still works for getting eyes on your work. It is still true that offering a book for free (when you are relatively unknown) gets people interested in reading your work. Taking the following book in a series to .99 cents also is a good incentive to keep them reading.
• Make the book sound good. Besides a cover, readers want to know what the book is about. This is a great way to get them hooked and have them hit buy. So, some things to tell them in a listing on your page are: what is the plot (what is it about?) what are some of the most interesting parts? Who are the characters? Research the bestsellers in your genre and follow what they do.
• Write more books, better. We cannot always know what will be a hit among readers, but it is a sure thing that a well-written, edited, and interesting book will be in their to-be read lists eventually. That’s because GOOD books always find a home. You should write MORE and write them better than ever before.

Disk of Death stats 

on February 4 – the first day of preorder… it reached:
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,103 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
o #43 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure
o #320 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Women’s Adventure
o #446 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Women’s Adventure

and on February 8 – the first day of actual sales…it reached:
• #40,777 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
o #8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure
o #160 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Women’s Adventure
o #198 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Women’s Adventure

NOT TOO SHABBY !!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess I should get back to my own work now. Formatting frenzy still going on for Book Two.
Leave a comment below if you have anything to add.