tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post8093041300849479560..comments2024-02-17T02:20:40.505-08:00Comments on Dr. Debra Holland - Blog: Self-Publishing: One Year's ResultsDr. Debra Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-62484478030694557742013-06-30T22:01:16.075-07:002013-06-30T22:01:16.075-07:00Your story is so encouraging! Thank you for sharin...Your story is so encouraging! Thank you for sharing your numbers. You make me want to write...write...write!<br /><br />Verna ClayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-44013977745588895392012-11-15T22:07:11.255-08:002012-11-15T22:07:11.255-08:00You're doing such a great job helping the Sand...You're doing such a great job helping the Sandy victims, which is so you. I tweeted your blog post so others could send people to your counseling sessions. Big hugs, Deb!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-19752533785096203792012-08-29T07:25:58.557-07:002012-08-29T07:25:58.557-07:00Best of luck, ladies!Best of luck, ladies!Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-9841392623497167222012-06-10T21:59:10.670-07:002012-06-10T21:59:10.670-07:00Best of luck you two!Best of luck you two!Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-25797962073054811092012-06-08T10:57:50.995-07:002012-06-08T10:57:50.995-07:00Thank you for your encouraging post! I just self-...Thank you for your encouraging post! I just self-published my first short story on kindle books about two weeks ago. It has been exciting just to see the numbers on the two free days! And, because it was free, I already have turned a profit! (granted, not a very big profit, but a profit none the less!)<br /><br />Allyna Berry<br />http://allynaberry.comNursingMentor1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10487593746893255338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-32879634076224165862012-06-07T13:02:38.658-07:002012-06-07T13:02:38.658-07:00Debra, Thank you so much for your very inspiring p...Debra, Thank you so much for your very inspiring post - I love a great success story! I entered self publishing a year ago and I am very much enjoying it and aspire to the same successes you've enjoyed. Congratulations!Marguerita McManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03947847070073719585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-6964714908757476262012-06-04T19:20:16.173-07:002012-06-04T19:20:16.173-07:00Wow, Lisa! How exciting for you. Congrats and best...Wow, Lisa! How exciting for you. Congrats and best of luck with the movie coming out!Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-39468813596106697772012-06-04T13:40:05.206-07:002012-06-04T13:40:05.206-07:00Thank you for sharing your numbers and congratulat...Thank you for sharing your numbers and congratulations on your success. I just want to point out that the taliest survey is not really a survey as explained by an industry expert here: http://kriswrites.com/2012/05/30/the-business-rusch-not-a-real-survey/ <br />I just celebrated my first year self-publishing with wonderful sales, and a movie option on the first two in my angel series, which has been "exercised" (movie talk for it's in preproduction). None of this would have been possible if I hadn't taken that first step into self-publishing.Lisa Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644935187230421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-87432346427426806802012-06-03T10:43:58.797-07:002012-06-03T10:43:58.797-07:00I'm glad I can inspire and encourage. That'...I'm glad I can inspire and encourage. That's why I'm writing these numbers blogs. :)Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-83502422267195020062012-06-02T16:01:13.052-07:002012-06-02T16:01:13.052-07:00Congratulations Debra!!! I'm so excited for y...Congratulations Debra!!! I'm so excited for you!!! :)<br /><br />Thanks fro sharing all your numbers too! It's very interesting and encouraging!<br /><br />Lisa :)Lisa Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06209324744019368067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-91004515134787048012012-06-02T15:59:55.129-07:002012-06-02T15:59:55.129-07:00Wonderful to hear your success story. So inspiring...Wonderful to hear your success story. So inspiring. Congrats.Roxy Boroughshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16628693047992126654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-56845303555398252122012-06-01T07:53:51.577-07:002012-06-01T07:53:51.577-07:00Thanks, Shelley! :)
Paula,
I'M a technophobe...Thanks, Shelley! :)<br /><br />Paula,<br /><br />I'M a technophobe! But I managed to do it. I payed a formatter, and the steps to upload a book on Amazon and B&N are relatively easy. I PROMISE YOU CAN DO IT! Don't give away your possibilities of success because you're afraid or uncomfortable.<br /><br />DebraDr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-52052005230766322412012-06-01T03:35:52.586-07:002012-06-01T03:35:52.586-07:00My indie publisher does it all for me, Debra - it&...My indie publisher does it all for me, Debra - it's the best compromise for a technophobe like me!Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-26342594435805213562012-05-31T22:48:13.213-07:002012-05-31T22:48:13.213-07:00Congratulations, Debra. Those numbers are amazing....Congratulations, Debra. Those numbers are amazing.Shelley Munrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090469550227550713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-5112753652119237552012-05-31T18:04:19.600-07:002012-05-31T18:04:19.600-07:00Paula,
If that's the case, don't even TRY...Paula,<br /><br />If that's the case, don't even TRY to figure out the formatting. Pay someone the vast sum of $40 to do it for you!<br /><br />Debra.Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-11701593736498700182012-05-31T15:39:44.444-07:002012-05-31T15:39:44.444-07:00Thanks again, Debra. I've gone with an 'in...Thanks again, Debra. I've gone with an 'indie' publisher for my 3rd novel, simply because I don't have enough 'techno' knowledge to go completely indie myself. I've heard too many scary stories about formatting problems and know I wouldn't have a clue how to sort those out! So my 'indie' publisher does that for me.<br />Having said that, I know a lot of self-published authors who aren't doing much better than I am!Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-31753333942919481712012-05-31T15:21:21.835-07:002012-05-31T15:21:21.835-07:00Paula,
Unfortunately, you're echoing what I&#...Paula,<br /><br />Unfortunately, you're echoing what I've heard from every other small published author I know--they don't make much money, even though they might like their experience otherwise. They make FAR more money self-publishing.I don't know if you can get your rights back and self-publish, or at least will be able to at some point.<br /><br />I'm against going with small publishers. Midsize ones, like Samhain, might be different. I think most authors can do far better self-publishing, PROVIDED they pay for a professional edit, and make or pay for a good cover. If you're stuck with a small pub for a while, then write and self-publish some other books on the side. I know people who report that their self-published books drive up the sales of their small press books. <br /><br />Don't look back, look forward! :) Good luck.<br /><br />DebraDr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-85173928057028681562012-05-31T12:28:25.856-07:002012-05-31T12:28:25.856-07:00Thanks, Debra. I think that, being self-published,...Thanks, Debra. I think that, being self-published, you have one big advantage over people like me who've been published by a 'small' publisher - which is that you can set your own prices for your books. My first two books are (IMO) priced far too high for the current market. My third is with another publisher who sets a more reasonable price, but even so, my sales are - to put it mildly - very low. It's very depressing at times!Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-12262950080404355302012-05-31T11:27:39.057-07:002012-05-31T11:27:39.057-07:00Paula,
I've written a few blogs on these subj...Paula,<br /><br />I've written a few blogs on these subjects because people keep asking the same questions. So look back through the last 10 months or so. There's not that many. :)<br /><br />As for reviewers... I sent various books out to about six reviewers. Enough to garner some good reviews that I could use on my product page description. But I haven't sent any in several months. In fact, I have a reviewer urging me to send her a book, but haven't had time. Sigh. Will have to remember to do that.<br /><br />DebraDr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-65034028786713073322012-05-31T09:15:34.758-07:002012-05-31T09:15:34.758-07:00A very interesting post, Debra. Since you say you ...A very interesting post, Debra. Since you say you don't spent a lot of time promoting, I'm curious (as I suspect many others are) about how your first book was 'noticed' among the million others on Amazon. I'd also be interested to know whether you sent it to any reviewers or asked people to leave a review on Amazon.Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-48144992130450313502012-05-30T21:18:13.252-07:002012-05-30T21:18:13.252-07:00Ah, Bev. How sweet of you. :)Ah, Bev. How sweet of you. :)Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-4759253233197103422012-05-30T17:58:03.910-07:002012-05-30T17:58:03.910-07:00Congratulations, Debra! Such success couldn't ...Congratulations, Debra! Such success couldn't have happened to a nicer or more supportive person. Thanks for all the encouragement and look forward to reading more of your lovely Montana books.Bev Pettersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03348514076036548423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-44510224088100190182012-05-30T10:54:00.034-07:002012-05-30T10:54:00.034-07:00Thanks, Jennifer, Freda, and Claude.
Claude,
I&#...Thanks, Jennifer, Freda, and Claude.<br /><br />Claude,<br /><br />I'm well aware of what MANY self-published authors are selling, and I don't take my sales figures for granted. I've read the numbers from that survey, and while I'm not disagreeing with them, I think that romance authors have a better chance of success then the average author. First, it's the most popular genre. Second, most romance authors belong to RWA and have extensive resources, especially those that stress learning the craft of writing.<br /><br />Therefore, I think most writers who've hung around Romance Writers of America for a while are going to have worked through some of the newbie ways of thinking, learned that this isn't a get rich quick business, honed their writing skills, and learned the value of promotion.<br /><br />While I might look like an overnight success (okay a year of success) I've been a member of RWA for something like fourteen years. I didn't try to publish a newly written book, but one that had been through a lot of edits over the years. I've learned a lot along the way that I can now apply to the books I'm currently writing, and I've put together a team of plotting and critique partners, beta readers, and a professional editor. I've accumulated these people over the years. (I probably should write a blog about this.) :)<br /><br />I believe that with time, most romance authors WITH WELL WRITTEN BOOKS, will achieve some amount of success. It may take months or even years, though.Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-72371339620520909532012-05-30T06:55:10.217-07:002012-05-30T06:55:10.217-07:00Wow and congrats! This is really wonderful, Debra!...Wow and congrats! This is really wonderful, Debra! And I think you don't realize quite what a feat it is: most indies according to a recent survey (very credible stuff: over 1000 Indie authors responded - see it on Taleist)don't make anywhere the amount you have, or for that matter $3,000 like your friends. For most people it's just somewhere under $500 not per month but per year!!<br /><br />So you should really be very, very proud of yourself. But what happened to you still doesn't change my opinion that anyone contemplating self-publishing should be very, very careful. For one "black swan" (like you and the likes of Amanda Hocking) there are zillions of white swans that don't get to fly anywhere...What's needed of course is top writing, top talent, in short what you've got!Claude Forthommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093171382309456549.post-32499504391086239762012-05-30T03:02:58.224-07:002012-05-30T03:02:58.224-07:00I thought I was doing well, my books having taken ...I thought I was doing well, my books having taken off in the last few months, but you have motivated me to work even harder by showing what's possible. Well done and I wish you continuing success.Freda Lightfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15645328548631325064noreply@blogger.com