Jess B. Moore's Blog, page 2
March 1, 2019
who’s buying books
As an author, I put thought into who is buying books, and where they’re buying them. (Not too much thought, mind you, or I’d go insane).
According to Penguin Random House: Amid a flattish ebook market, independent bookstores are showing signs of resurgence.
What does that mean for authors? I personally sell far more ebooks than print books. Perhaps because I can’t get my books into independent bookstores. Believe me, I’ve tried. (I’ll save my woes for another blog post one day).
I find this tidbit from Written Word Media far more interesting: In 2018 we’ll continue to see reports of declining ebook sales however the data being used is focused on traditionally published titles and is incomplete; it excludes self-published titles, digital sales on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited, and stats on library ebook lending.
Most studies aren’t looking at Indie authors – who are growing fas – nor are they looking at Kindle Unlimited. I’m just as aught to study my pages read as I am my books sold (in fact, as my books are on KU, pages read is what it’s all about).
Speaking of ebooks and Kindle Unlimited, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Let’s consider this information (from blurb dot com): They never go out of print. It may be easier and cheaper to enter the ebooks arena, but that digital advantage is rapidly diminishing. As the number of books exponentially increases, readership does not.
I live and breathe this fact! My books are one in millions. I can’t even say a needle in a haystack, because they’re like a needle in a field of haystacks.
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Want to be seen? (Me too!). Facebook doesn’t work. Twitter doesn’t work. What works??
Amazon launched its own internal advertising, with the ability to promote products and visibility in its search. Amazon also commands more than a third of all book revenue, and 70% of ebook revenue, so these developments can’t be ignored.
*As far as I know, this big Amazon news is only helpful if you are self-published. My books are exclusively sold via Amazon, but I have a publisher, and therefore can’t run my own ads.
I write romance, and as such find the trends of the romance genre particularly interesting. First, we can rest assured romance isn’t going anywhere: The romance industry is big — it’s the second largest category of fiction, outselling science fiction, fantasy and the classics — which means there are a lot of readers, who may or may not fit the stereotype. (According to the Huff Post article on the topic).
But who’s reading romance? Who is your/our audience??
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*Pro-tip: aim your marketing at the folks reading your books! I think it helps that I am a romance reader, and I fit the bill perfectly. At least I know who I’m selling my books to.
All of this is sounding down trodden, like we’re without hope. But I refuse to give up hope. I’ll continue to write and to put my books out there. I’ll keep up my marketing and self-promotion.
Overall I think it’s a good thing that there’s an increase in Indie book stores (they’re my favorite place to hang out), and a good thing so many of us are able to get our books out there (even if it floods the market). In the end, I know that readers are out there, and they aren’t going anywhere!
Keep it up, friends.
February 28, 2019
stay sane
One of the most difficult parts about becoming an author has been learning to promote myself. I’ve had to navigate building a website – something it’s taken me a year to feel like I’ve gotten good at doing. I’ve had to dive into the world of marketing, finding what works and what doesn’t, and learning the ropes as I go.
Sound familiar?
Remember when we thought getting published (or figuring out how to self-publish) was the hard part? That’s because no one warned us about all the *work* involved in being an author!
Whether you’ve just begun, or you’ve been in the trenches for a while now, I want to help. I’m by no means an expert (learning as I go, remember?), but I love design, and I’m having fun on this journey, and I want you to have fun too!
Ten Ways to Stay Sane When Marketing Yourself
1. Don’t worry if you fail. Seriously! You create an ad, share it, and there’s not much response … oh well. First way to keep your wits about you and not tumble down a rabbit hole of despair, is to not let it be a huge deal. You’ll make some designs that are awesome. You’ll make some that you look back on with disgust. It’s all good. You’re learning, right?
2. Outsource. I off set some of my marketing, to get it it out of my hands, and to have it be seen by more people. Examples: blog tours. For each of my book releases I’ve invested in a blog tour, letting someone else create a banner, spread the word, and book a dozen book reviews on blogs for me. (Not in the budget? Ask book bloggers if they’re interested, and you’ll find some who are more than happy to read/review your book).
3. Keep on brand. Again I say: seriously! This has been my biggest struggle. I want to change my branding every few months, updating colors and designs and keeping things fresh. No. Stop it. Pick your brand (not sure how? email me: jessbmoore.author@gmail.com) and stick to it. Keep all your posts, headers, ads, and everything you do ON BRAND. This means people will start to recognize you on site and not wonder who you are.
4. Recycle your work. You’ve made an awesome post for Instagram? Sweet. Post it, alter a few colors and fonts or images, then save it for a rainy day. You’ve got a killer book release ad? Awesome. Keep it, put it on all your social media, AND share it in your newsletter. You don’t have to start from scratch every time.
5. Ask a friend. I’m lucky enough to have a best friend with a degree in marketing. I try not to take advantage of her expertise – since I’m not paying her to work for me – and not ask for her help too often. But you better believe I run some ideas by her. Especially the big ones, like my book covers and my website. Even if your friends have no experience, they have eyes and opinions, and it can be a good idea to see what they think.
6. Take a break. If you’re working too hard (eyes blurring, head aching, mind boggling), it’s time to be done for the day. Or at least for an hour. Take a walk. Eat a snack. Work on your book (ha, you know you’re procrastinating by working on marketing instead). Come back to it when you’re feeling fresh.
7. Find your niche. I started out using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram equally. I shared variations (not the same designs/posts across all three) every day. I spend time scrolling, liking, sharing, responding each day. A year later, I realized my largest and most engaged following was on Instagram. By far. Now, I concentrate my efforts there, giving FB and Twitter a little less attention.
8. Don’t repeat your mistakes. Seems obvious, right? You’d think. I’ve run a Facebook ad every few months, even though I know it has *never* worked. Not once has it gotten me more followers or more book sales. Waste of money. I vow to never do it again! (If they work for you, let me know your secret!)
9. Plan ahead. Make a dozen designs from the blueprints of one, save them all, and voila you have something to post for the next dozen days. Facebook lets you schedule posts, which is super handy – I do this especially when we’re traveling and I know I won’t have time to spend working. The only time this doesn’t work is for Instagram Stories, which need to be from the last 24 hours. But snap a photo of wherever you are, keep it raw and real, add a hashtag, and you’re good to go.
10. Be engaged. This is your job, and it deserves your attention. Ask questions, and you’ll get responses. Then you can reply to these, creating a connection with your followers. My favorite accounts to follow are #bookstagramers, so I’ve become one myself (posting pretty photos of books). I’ve joined #followloops to connect with romance readers, romance writers, etc.
Bonus: It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Pick ONE thing to do each day. If design isn’t your strong suit, take a photo to share. Have good handwriting? Write out info, video it, and post that. (Especially fun to see in time-lapse). Good at cake decorating? Make themed cupcakes, share photos, and the recipe. You be you, and you’ll find your people.
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February 27, 2019
strawberry aesthetic
You may have noticed the pink and berry-sweet upgrade to my website.
It’s true, I’m obsessed with fruit, and especially strawberries! They’re my favorite to eat, too. I found these lovely collection of watercolor graphics on etsy, at the store. I’ve favorited so many of her designs, it’s absurd. Be sure and check out her shop and let me know your favorites!
Book Release
cake logo
berry cute dress
calendar
berry sweet pattern
homemade jam
facebook cover
fresh strawberries
January 21, 2019
readers welcome
Welcome. I’m so happy you’ve stopped by, and I hope you enjoy a romp around my new website.
I write romance (mostly). I am an artist (sort of). Reading is my thing (and writing, of course).
My books are character driven, heavy on family bonds and the ins-and-outs of relationships. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a touch of angst. Most of my books are set in the fictional town of Fox River, North Carolina, where bluegrass rules and gossip abounds.
Don’t miss my FREE novel, Beauty & Melancholy, available exclusively to my newsletter subscribers. It’s set at the beach along the Gulf Coast of Florida, and you can read it one chapter at a time along with my monthly updates.
coming soon
The “coming soon” portion of my site is going to be large for a while yet. But let’s focus on the books rather than the website building.
My third novel, The Worth of a Penny, releases on March 29.
Blurb:
Sweetheart Penelope Davies is what her daddy calls gullible, right after he told her she was stupid and worthless. With her cheek red from being slapped by him, and her heart trampled by a worthless boyfriend, she packs up and follows her half-brother to Fox River, North Carolina, in need of a fresh start.
Dominic MacKenna is the youngest of five brothers, the friendly one with a killer smile and easy laugh. His brothers are all grown up, and one by one they’re flying the nest, leaving him out of sorts and unsure of his place. Who is he if not the youngest MacKenna?
Penny falls in with the MacKenna brothers, welcomed in as family, and offered the kind of love and support she never knew existed. With a new job and a lot of determination, she is finding out what she’s capable of. The last thing she needs now is to fall in love with the most notorious flirt in town.
Dominic falls for the sweet strong girl with a penchant for random facts and quirky homemade dresses. All he wants is to show Penny how wonderful she is, how smart and funny, and how desired and loved—even if he has to do it as her friend.
Do you love audiobooks? I know, right! Makes the commute much more fun. Both The Guilt of a Sparrow and Fierce Grace are in the process of becoming audiobooks!! It’s been an incredible journey finding the narrators and working with them to produce something amazing for you.
Jess B.
from the ground up
Writing is the part of my job with the least struggle. I like creating characters and crafting their stories. Getting published is a joy and something I will never get used to or take for granted. Building my own website, doing my own marketing, and learning how to run my empire (by empire I mean tiny cabin in the woods), is a different story.
I entered into a world of CSS and SEO and web design. For the record: I still don’t know what those things mean! It’s complicated! This is a learn as you go job, and I’m putting my all into figuring it out.
After a year of having an easy all-in-one website, I’ve swapped to a new venture which requires skills I’ve yet to acquire, and it’s a process. Thank you for your patience while I build this site from the ground up to bring you something beautiful.
Jess B.
September 12, 2018
fiction?
They're all REAL to me, these people I write about.
Rationally, yes, I know they are fiction. Figments of my imagination.
Yet, I follow them through their lives and write down what happens, and sometimes I forget.
I just wrote a scene for what I'm calling The Heart of a Girl - the much anticipated sequel to The Guilt of a Sparrow - and I had a moment. A freak out panic moment. All because Vincent Berry might move back to Asheville.
I'm writing a scene between Dominic (the hero of THoaG) and Louisa Berry (Vincent's younger sister), and she said he's thinking about moving back to Asheville.
Wait! What? No. I love him!
But these things happen. He'll stay or he'll go. Which remains to be seen.
August 30, 2018
Thinker Thursday
Hello, my name is Jess, and I'm an over thinker.
Nice to meet you.
Thursday seems a good day - as good as any other, it just happens to be Thursday today - to share more about myself.
I found a list of 50 questions, and I'll tackle 5 each week.
1. What is your name? Where did it come from? What does it mean?
Jessica Brianne. I shortened Jessica to Jess for my official author name, simply because Jessica Moore is an incredibly common name. Jess B. Moore is more stand-out. My name came from two primary things: 1) it's simple to pronounce and spell. My mother had an difficult to pronounce name, and didn't want to curse me with the same, and 2) my initials match my brother's. JB1 and JB2.
I've looked up the meaning before, but I forget. Do you know?
2. When and where were you born?
Late late at night, mid-summer, 1980 in a very small Louisiana town.
3. Write about your mom. What would you want people to know?
Ah, that's a timely query. Nothing has been on my mind more lately than my mom. She passed earlier this month, and I spent the last few weeks of her life sitting at her bedside. But that isn't what I want to tell you. My mom, with the challenging name, was a beautifully eclectic woman. Thick curls and dark eyes. Perfectly rounded fingernails. Curious, smart, and funny. She worked hard and felt harder. Life could be too much for her at times. She put herself through school and supported me by herself. She made mistakes and usually blamed herself. My mom loved me and was always proud of me, and I never doubted either of those things. She drank too much and kept it a secret. In the end it turned out she had quite a few secrets. She smoked, and when she quit smoking she wished she could start back up. Finding a bargain brought her a thrill. She loved shoes and makeup, but loved the beach more. I got my love of art, reading, and music from growing up exposed to all three at her hand.
4. Write about your dad. What would you want people to know?
I don't know my dad. Not anymore. Not for a long time. I remember him making pancakes on Sundays - I have this image of him standing in the kitchen of our little single-wide trailer, in track shorts, flipping pancakes on the electric griddle. Then we'd go to the beach. He liked Westerns and Ninja movies. For a brief time he drove a sparkly green VW beetle; which he constantly worked on. My mom and I moved out the summer I turned eight, and he moved away a couple years after. The last time I saw him was the summer I turned sixteen. When my mom was sick, one of my aunts called him, and I found out his second wife had died seven years prior and he'd remarried again. I don't know what you should know, because I don't know anything myself, and I'm okay with that.
5. Do you have any siblings? Write about them.
Yes. One. I had an older brother. JB1. When we were little he tormented me or ignored me. Then he lived with our dad while I lived with my mom, and they moved away. Not that it much mattered, as he spent more time running away and living who-knows-where than at home. I never knew him. There are questions I'd love to ask him now, but will never get the chance. In a lot of ways he seemed unknowable to me, older, tougher, always in trouble, and completely unreachable. He lived on the streets. He spent years in jail/prison. Mostly I hated him for being a burden on our lives. Then I grappled with enormous guilt after he died, because I felt relief he was gone. My first book, The Guilt of a Sparrow, conquers this theme of guilt. I took a kernel of my real life emotions and turned them into a fictional tale.
Thanks for reading. See you next week.
with love, jess b.
June 27, 2018
Olivia singing - an excerpt
An excerpt from my work in progress:
I let my lids fall closed, and I remembered hours before when I sat on the stump by the river. Alone and at peace. Then I opened my mouth, and even though I could have sworn I forgot the words, they came out.
Denver joined my voice first, long dulcet fiddle tones harmonizing with me. Then Beau came in on the bass, sure and steady, giving me an anchor. I belted it out, keeping my eyes closed, and letting the song carry me. Dominic and Cotton layered their instruments into the song, making it even more beautiful. Time stilled, held me in its hands while I sang, then started up again when I finally opened my eyes.
I've been working on a sequel for The Guilt of a Sparrow, featuring Denver MacKenna and Olivia Hamilton. In this scene Olivia sings for the MacKenna boys at Denver's request.
Working title is The Weight of a Choice, but I have a feeling it will change as I continue working.
