Today’s guest is Alan Tucker 🙂 Thanks, Alan!
My Indie Publishing Journey, or How to Give Away Thousands
of Books and Be Thrilled to Do It.
of Books and Be Thrilled to Do It.
By
I
write this article with serious doubts anyone will ever read it, or be
interested in my story. In fact, that’s much the same outlook I had when I
began writing my first book about three years ago.
write this article with serious doubts anyone will ever read it, or be
interested in my story. In fact, that’s much the same outlook I had when I
began writing my first book about three years ago.
I’ve written most of my life — stories, poems, advertising
copy, you name it — and had even started a couple of novels along the way, but
had never finished one. Then, in the summer of 2009, my daughters were off in
California, visiting their mother, and I found myself with some uninterrupted
time. I began playing with a few ideas I’d had rolling around in my noggin’ for
a while and, about four months later, I had a first draft completed. I set out
simply to write a story that I’d enjoy reading, and hoped my kids would like it
too.
copy, you name it — and had even started a couple of novels along the way, but
had never finished one. Then, in the summer of 2009, my daughters were off in
California, visiting their mother, and I found myself with some uninterrupted
time. I began playing with a few ideas I’d had rolling around in my noggin’ for
a while and, about four months later, I had a first draft completed. I set out
simply to write a story that I’d enjoy reading, and hoped my kids would like it
too.
At that point, I sent out a handful of queries to agents
after I’d finished that first story, and received the standard rejections, or
silence, that 99.9% of people get. As I continued to research more agents to
submit to, I discovered more information about ebooks and the growing number of
people who were self publishing. The more I looked into it, the more I thought
that route was for me. I told myself that even if I found an agent the next day
(highly unlikely) and if that agent were to sell my book to a publisher quickly
(extremely unlikely), it would still probably be two years or more before my
story saw the light of day. I decided to give myself those two years and see
what I could do.
after I’d finished that first story, and received the standard rejections, or
silence, that 99.9% of people get. As I continued to research more agents to
submit to, I discovered more information about ebooks and the growing number of
people who were self publishing. The more I looked into it, the more I thought
that route was for me. I told myself that even if I found an agent the next day
(highly unlikely) and if that agent were to sell my book to a publisher quickly
(extremely unlikely), it would still probably be two years or more before my
story saw the light of day. I decided to give myself those two years and see
what I could do.
I first published with Smashwords in April of 2010, liking
the idea of a “one stop shop” to distribute to the various ebook retailers.
After considerable research, I chose Lightning Source (the POD arm of Ingram)
for my print copies. I then ordered a couple of boxes of books and began
sending them out to reviewers who’d shown an interest in the story, as well as
some friends and family and several local school libraries and English
teachers, since it was geared toward teen readers.
the idea of a “one stop shop” to distribute to the various ebook retailers.
After considerable research, I chose Lightning Source (the POD arm of Ingram)
for my print copies. I then ordered a couple of boxes of books and began
sending them out to reviewers who’d shown an interest in the story, as well as
some friends and family and several local school libraries and English
teachers, since it was geared toward teen readers.
Then, the waiting began. In some ways, it was almost more
excruciating to await the book reviews than it was to wait and wonder if I’d
hear back from an agent. I started work on the second book, vainly hoping that
people would want to read more adventures involving Jenni and her friends.
excruciating to await the book reviews than it was to wait and wonder if I’d
hear back from an agent. I started work on the second book, vainly hoping that
people would want to read more adventures involving Jenni and her friends.
Those reviews, and a handful of sales, trickled in. The
reviews were positive, though few, largely because I spent a great deal of time
trying to identify reviewers who enjoyed the type of story I’d written. Young
Adult was just becoming the “next big thing”, but the category was largely
dominated by romance. Since my book was more focused on adventure, and self
published, I found it difficult to find places to get it reviewed.
reviews were positive, though few, largely because I spent a great deal of time
trying to identify reviewers who enjoyed the type of story I’d written. Young
Adult was just becoming the “next big thing”, but the category was largely
dominated by romance. Since my book was more focused on adventure, and self
published, I found it difficult to find places to get it reviewed.
In early 2011, I published the second book in the series and
began the process all over again. The readers I found clearly liked the
stories, but finding them was proving much more difficult than I’d ever
imagined. I had also dragged my feet on getting the ebooks into Amazon.
Smashwords kept promising that distribution to that coveted channel was coming,
and I wanted to believe them. Getting the first book prepared for their Premium
Distribution had proved troublesome, and I had no desire to repeat that process
for another platform. By March of 2011, I finally bit the bullet and posted
both books in Kindle Direct Publishing.
began the process all over again. The readers I found clearly liked the
stories, but finding them was proving much more difficult than I’d ever
imagined. I had also dragged my feet on getting the ebooks into Amazon.
Smashwords kept promising that distribution to that coveted channel was coming,
and I wanted to believe them. Getting the first book prepared for their Premium
Distribution had proved troublesome, and I had no desire to repeat that process
for another platform. By March of 2011, I finally bit the bullet and posted
both books in Kindle Direct Publishing.
Fast forward to 2012 and the completion of the third book in
the series. Sales for the first two hadn’t been encouraging — double digits
during a month was a cause for celebration — but I’d wanted to finish what I’d
started. During the previous two years, I’d spent a lot of time reading about
the burgeoning business of self publishing. Names like John Locke and Amanda
Hocking had become well known, even outside publishing circles, and the more I
researched, the more I saw that volume held the key to larger sales — volume of
works and volume of downloads. At the same time that I published the third
book, I also created an all-in-one edition for the three stories. It put
another “title” on my shelf and gave me a chance to experiment with a different
style of cover.
the series. Sales for the first two hadn’t been encouraging — double digits
during a month was a cause for celebration — but I’d wanted to finish what I’d
started. During the previous two years, I’d spent a lot of time reading about
the burgeoning business of self publishing. Names like John Locke and Amanda
Hocking had become well known, even outside publishing circles, and the more I
researched, the more I saw that volume held the key to larger sales — volume of
works and volume of downloads. At the same time that I published the third
book, I also created an all-in-one edition for the three stories. It put
another “title” on my shelf and gave me a chance to experiment with a different
style of cover.
At this point, I also took a plunge I’d been contemplating
for several months: setting the first book to a price of free. Hundreds of
authors had huge success in Amazon’s Select program, which it unveiled near the
end of 2011. I debated putting my books in it, but decided against it based on
their exclusivity requirement. The power of free, however, was not lost on me.
After several weeks of reporting a lower price, Amazon finally price matched A
Measure of Disorder to free in the Kindle store.
for several months: setting the first book to a price of free. Hundreds of
authors had huge success in Amazon’s Select program, which it unveiled near the
end of 2011. I debated putting my books in it, but decided against it based on
their exclusivity requirement. The power of free, however, was not lost on me.
After several weeks of reporting a lower price, Amazon finally price matched A
Measure of Disorder to free in the Kindle store.
I never thought I’d be so happy to give my work away.
The book has been downloaded well over 10,000 times in the
past four months or so, and sales for the next two books have begun to pick up
dramatically. I reached triple digits for the first time in June. While that is
a paltry figure for many of my Indie author friends, I’m quite pleased
considering the average self published author sells less than a hundred books
during the course of a career.
past four months or so, and sales for the next two books have begun to pick up
dramatically. I reached triple digits for the first time in June. While that is
a paltry figure for many of my Indie author friends, I’m quite pleased
considering the average self published author sells less than a hundred books
during the course of a career.
What does the future hold? Only time will tell, but I’m more
than happy to be along for the ride.
than happy to be along for the ride.
Bio
Alan Tucker, author of A Measure of Disorder, A Cure for Chaos, and newly released Mother’s Heart, is a dad, a graphic designer, and a soccer coach. Mostly in that order. He’s had a lifelong adoration of books, beginning with Encyclopedia Brown, progressing through Alan Dean Foster’s Flinx, and continuing on with the likes of Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine and Naomi Novik, to name a few.
“I wanted to write books that I’d enjoy reading. Books that I hoped my kids would enjoy too!”
Visit the main website at mother-earthseries.com for more information about the books. View maps, watch trailers, see reviews and much more!