Robert Hobkirk's Blog: Hobkirk Blog, page 5
December 4, 2015
Most popular categories
Smashwords just came out with their results of their latest survey for e-book sales. Below info will show you which categories sold the most.
9. Top 10 Fiction categories during the one year period: 1. Romance. 2. Erotica. 3. YA and teen fiction. 4. Fantasy. 5. Mystery & detective. 6. Gay and lesbian fiction. 7. Science fiction. 8. Historical. 9. Thriller & suspense. 10. Adventure.
10. Top 10 Non-fiction categories during the one year period: 1. Biography. 2. Health, wellbeing and medicine. 3. Business & economics. 4. Self-improvement. 5. Religion & spirituality. 6. Relationships and family. 7. Sports and outdoor recreation. 8. Education and study guides. 9. New age. 10. Computers & Internet.
9. Top 10 Fiction categories during the one year period: 1. Romance. 2. Erotica. 3. YA and teen fiction. 4. Fantasy. 5. Mystery & detective. 6. Gay and lesbian fiction. 7. Science fiction. 8. Historical. 9. Thriller & suspense. 10. Adventure.
10. Top 10 Non-fiction categories during the one year period: 1. Biography. 2. Health, wellbeing and medicine. 3. Business & economics. 4. Self-improvement. 5. Religion & spirituality. 6. Relationships and family. 7. Sports and outdoor recreation. 8. Education and study guides. 9. New age. 10. Computers & Internet.
November 28, 2015
Audio video
I made an audio video of me reading the first story from Blind Date. Looking at the screen, it's on the left. Check it out, and give me some feedback how I can make the next one better.
November 22, 2015
Public library
Yesterday was Saturday and I got a chance to visit the public library. Libraries, I love 'em. They're quiet, no one is looking to start a fight, they're on the honor system where they trust people to bring it back, and we get something tangible for our tax money. Whose idea was it anyway? Sometimes a good idea gets put into play.
Roaming the shelves I found a couple Kerouac books I'll have to read. Visions of Gerard - so far, so good. And the other was co-written with Burroughs - And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks.
I also looked on the "New" shelf, but couldn't find anything. I'm afraid all my favorite writers are dead. Long may they live.
Roaming the shelves I found a couple Kerouac books I'll have to read. Visions of Gerard - so far, so good. And the other was co-written with Burroughs - And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks.
I also looked on the "New" shelf, but couldn't find anything. I'm afraid all my favorite writers are dead. Long may they live.
November 16, 2015
Uploaded Tommy's Exodus
Uploaded my new book to CreateSpace. The first try was over 400 pages and minimum reatil price would have been 14.95. I changed the font to 12 from 14 and single spaced instead of 1.5 lines, getting it down to 225 pages at a price of 9.95 retail - more affordable.
I'm waiting for a copy to arrive in the mail so that I can proof it one more time. Gliitches show up when it's an actual book, which were never seen on the computer screen.
Tommy's Exodus will launch early next spring.
I'm waiting for a copy to arrive in the mail so that I can proof it one more time. Gliitches show up when it's an actual book, which were never seen on the computer screen.
Tommy's Exodus will launch early next spring.
November 14, 2015
Wrist a little rusty
The other day out of the blue, I got a sore wrist. Actually the soreness had been building. It was bad enough to be hampering me when I tried to type, which was a bummer because I was trying to finish the formatting and final pages, like introduction and dedication and so forth, on Tommy's Exodus and upload it to CreateSpace. To make a short story shorter, I had a massage, reflexology actually, and today it's as good as new.
Hopefully today, I'll send the file to CreateSpace and request a proof copy to go over one more time to look for glitches that one just doesn't see until it's in book form.
Have a nice day,
Rob
Hopefully today, I'll send the file to CreateSpace and request a proof copy to go over one more time to look for glitches that one just doesn't see until it's in book form.
Have a nice day,
Rob
November 10, 2015
KU
My books are now in the Kindle Unlimited program. If you subscribe to this program you can read any KU book for free. Authors are paid for number of pages read out of the subscription pool.
November 8, 2015
Book Giveaway
How low can some go? One of the five copies of Somewhere Poetry Grows Wild Under the Eucalyptus that was in last month's Giveaway has now wound up for sale as a used copy for $5 on Amazon. This person wasn't the one in five who wrote a review. The Giveaway cost me $10 per copy. It would have been cheaper if this guy just emailed me, asking for a handout of $5. Okay, I learned my lesson, no more GoodReads Giveaways.
November 6, 2015
Book Description
I wrote the book description (what goes on the vendor's page describing the book) for Tommy's Exodus (out next spring) yesterday.
It should have taken Tommy only a few hours to leave Los Angeles and get back home, but when he doesn’t follow the tip of an English mad man, Lord Hampton, his straight line north takes unexpected twists and turns. Not praising the Yelp review about a hamburger by an eccentric billionaire, Pharoah, throws him head over heels into the spiritual realm where a frog recites haiku. Under the influence of a love potion, Tommy runs away from the marriage altar where two red headed Russian twins, Niki and Kiki, are waiting for him with shotguns, and he learns the meaning of “curbside injustice.” Naturally, he finds sanctuary in an insane asylum, leaving a little crazier than the day he enters. Paul, the chef, who loves to put soul in his food, gives Tommy a powerful ju-ju, and Gina gives him the love of his life. His wild ride home has only just begun, but a little bird, a sparrow, has told him that everything is under control, almost.
It should have taken Tommy only a few hours to leave Los Angeles and get back home, but when he doesn’t follow the tip of an English mad man, Lord Hampton, his straight line north takes unexpected twists and turns. Not praising the Yelp review about a hamburger by an eccentric billionaire, Pharoah, throws him head over heels into the spiritual realm where a frog recites haiku. Under the influence of a love potion, Tommy runs away from the marriage altar where two red headed Russian twins, Niki and Kiki, are waiting for him with shotguns, and he learns the meaning of “curbside injustice.” Naturally, he finds sanctuary in an insane asylum, leaving a little crazier than the day he enters. Paul, the chef, who loves to put soul in his food, gives Tommy a powerful ju-ju, and Gina gives him the love of his life. His wild ride home has only just begun, but a little bird, a sparrow, has told him that everything is under control, almost.
November 4, 2015
Could It Be the Way
Just downloaded Michael Bracccia's (GoodReads author) novel, Could It Be The Way: Living with Autism at Kindle for $2.99 while the countdown sale is on for a couple more days. I'm looking forward to reading it because someone in my family is autistic, but fortunately not severley. He can speak, has a great sense of humor, is extremely kind, and I'm sure has a talent waiting to develop. He'll do just fine.
October 31, 2015
Book Cover
The other day I designed my front and back book cover for Tommy's Exodus. The book cover is a satisfying part of the process because the end is in sight. To be honest after all the proof reading, doing a little art work is a welcomed relief.
Remember Fabio? He was on the cover of all the romance books at one time. I wikied him to see if he's still alive, since the last I saw of him was for the Parkay ad. Yup, he's still alive. Apparently he did quite well with his modeling job, he has over 200 motorcycles. He likes dirt bike riding the best.
One interesting thing was that he was riding a roller coaster - had to be the front car, of course. When the coaster got to the top and came down, a wild goose flew by and Fabio hit it with his face, messing him up. The article didn't say if Lloyds insured his face or not.
Remember Fabio? He was on the cover of all the romance books at one time. I wikied him to see if he's still alive, since the last I saw of him was for the Parkay ad. Yup, he's still alive. Apparently he did quite well with his modeling job, he has over 200 motorcycles. He likes dirt bike riding the best.
One interesting thing was that he was riding a roller coaster - had to be the front car, of course. When the coaster got to the top and came down, a wild goose flew by and Fabio hit it with his face, messing him up. The article didn't say if Lloyds insured his face or not.
