Year in review: I don’t know about everyone else, but I am so relieved to put 2010 behind me. It was a really, really tough year, starting off with health issues that cost me my job, forcing me into early retirement and cutting my income by more than half. The first seven months of the year were filled with anxiety that bordered on panic. Oh my God! What am I going to do? How am I going to make it? How am I going to keep my bills paid and food on the table, not to mention pay for all the new prescriptions with the loss of my health insurance coverage? Needless to say, I had to cut expenses to the bare minimum and come up with an extremely tight budget. With the help of my children picking up the slack, the bills were paid and I was getting by . . . barely.
Then in August things started to turn around. The rights to all my previously published work reverted back to me and thanks to an old friend, Ellen Fisher, I discovered Amazon Kindle ebooks and self-publishing as an Indie author. There was finally a glimmer of light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel. By mid-November I had my re-releases up and running and to my relief, they were selling. Not in great numbers, but it was a start and at this point, every little bit to supplement my income helps. At a point where my life had been turned upside down, publishing with Kindle as an Indie author gave me control of a part of my life which was so important to me . . . my writing.
The silver lining began to shine through the dark clouds. My alter ego/muse, affectionately known as Cybill, who had gone into hiding, returned with a vengeance. I was writing again and loving every minute of it for the first time in a very long time. I was back!
While working to get some work finished so I can get something new up and running, most of October, November, and December were spent exploring what I call the Amazon Jungle - the Kindle Boards and their various threads, learning where to promote and where not to promote, finding new groups and loops receptive to the work of self-published, Indie authors. Each month has shown a rise in sales over the previous month. Still not great numbers by some authors’ standards but I’m aware that it takes time and I’m pleased with the response I’ve received so far.
What I’ve found interesting is that Detour’s sales have far exceeded all my other releases. Why? Is it due to the great 5 Star review I received from a Kindle reader? While I posted previously received reviews on my book information page, that 5 Star review showing below the cover image must have an impact on potential buyers. I’m well aware that the average reader isn’t inclined to write reviews and post them on Amazon. However, if you have purchased and enjoyed any of my releases, I would greatly appreciate any honest reviews you would be willing to post.
Or, maybe the fact that Detour features a mature hero and heroine, characters the majority of romances readers can relate to has influenced the sales? Maybe the readers have had their fill of young and beautiful heroines with perfect bodies, and the gorgeous, buff, hero. Maybe romance readers are ready for real people leading exciting lives and finding their happily ever after. It’s something to consider in my future releases.
So ends 2010 and begins 2011. I’m looking forward to the new year grateful to feel productive again with a renewed positive attitude and goals to achieve. As always - THANK YOU to those of you who have stood by me and supported me and to those of you who have purchased or at least taken the time to check out my work. Wishing each and every one of you a bright, happy, and prosperous new year.
Kay
