Cody C. Engdahl's Blog, page 9

How Do You Market a Sequel?

Seriously, how do you do it? This is article is mostly to ask that question. So if you have some insight, please share it in the comments here, or wherever you found this. I’ll appreciate it and perhaps so will some of the other readers. In the meantime, I’ll share some of my thoughts and plans.

I had marketing on the mind from the get-go. I knew that I would be handling it myself once I got published. So many of my decisions, in the beginning, were made with that in mind. As a historical novelist, I chose the American Civil War because I knew it had a huge built-in audience. As an avid reader, I knew that I was much more likely to buy a novel in a series from one of my favorite writers than a stand-alone novel. Once I’m in a series, I feel almost obligated to buy the next. But does everybody feel that way?

I realize that writing a series can also trap you into the vortex of a diminishing audience. When you think about it, it makes mathematical sense. Say 100 people read your first book.  Will all 100 read the next? If you’re lucky, maybe 80 of them will come back for the second. Then maybe 60 come back to the third. You can see where this is going. So following this logic, it seems the best approach is to keep loading people into the top of your funnel by constantly pushing your first book.

But you worked so hard on the second! Plus, your friends and fans are getting burned out by constantly seeing you promote the same book they’ve already read. Heck, they might not even know you wrote a second one or even more!

K.M. Ashman is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read several of his series. I’m also friends with him on Facebook, which delights me to no end because I’m a total fanboy. I was reading his Blood of Kings series as they were coming out. The first three were numbered, but I noticed the fourth one wasn’t, nor did it bear the “Blood of Kings” series title. I asked him about it. He told me his publisher said that numbering books and labeling them in a series discourages new readers. Interesting. I can see how that would work. You see a book at the store. You think it looks great but oh wait…this is book four and they don’t have the first one, or maybe you don’t want to go through all the work reading three whole novels before you can get to the one that caught your eye.

This brings us to the question of what kind of sequels you are writing. In my studies, I have found there are basically two kinds: episodic and serialized.  James Bond is a perfect example of an episodic series. You don’t have to read every book or see every movie to enjoy the next one coming out. All you need to know is that he’s a British spy and everything else will be explained in the episode. You could pick up any of Ian Fleming’s novels or watch any of the movies as your first, and be fine. In other words, each installment is a stand-alone narrative that can be consumed in any order. This is probably the safest way to write a series since your readers can jump in at any time.

The best example of serialization is soap operas in which the overall plot continues across multiple installments. Many of the shows on streaming services work this way: Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Outlander, etc. In books and films, think The Lord of the Rings. If you read or watched the middle installment, The Two Towers, first, you might be a bit lost. Who are these people? Why is this ring important? What the hell is a hobbit?

Serialization has its benefits for sure. If you write a great novel and end it with a “cliffhanger,” you could have readers chomping at the bit to get to the next book. But if your first book isn’t that great, your readers may never know just how great your second one is.

I try to ride the line with my books. Each one is a complete story in itself, for sure. But The Perils of Perryville picks up directly in the aftermath of Rampage on the River. Both of them continue an overall story arc that will come to a completion in my planned third installment of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry Chronicles: Blood for Blood at Nashville.  I have other novels planned afterward that will be related to this series, but more on that later. I realized when I wrote Perils that my reader might not have read Rampage first. So I wrote it with that in mind, giving them just enough exposition to understand what’s going on and the motivation of my characters, without boring someone who just finished the first book.

So this brings me back to my question: how do you market the sequel? I asked that in one of the writing groups I’m in on Facebook. I got a lot of answers. The two schools of thought were: keep pushing people into the first book, or push the second. Most people said I should push the first book for the same reason I said before: get people into the funnel. A few said I should concentrate my marketing efforts on the second novel, and even though they were clearly in the minority, they made an excellent point. Since my sequel is marked as “Book 2,” it might motivate the reader to buy the first one. So in other words, promoting my second book might actually help the sale of my first. This is the strategy I decided to adopt.

Of course, this brings us back to the problem I stated before: readers might not want to do the work of reading the first novel or it may not be available to them. To counter this, I put this in the description, and in the blurb on the back:

This is the second book in the “2nd Michigan Chronicles” series. You don’t necessarily have to read the first book to enjoy this one.

I was even more overt in the preface:

YOU DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE READ THE FIRST BOOK TO ENJOY THIS ONE.

Hopefully, the all caps will make that jump off the page to the casual browser. I think ultimately, a trilogy is as far as you can get away with a serialized series. I do have a prequel and a sequel to the trilogy planned, and even more afterward, but I plan to take a more episodic approach to those even though they will push my characters and their legacies further and further into time.

So what do you think? Is my plan sound? How would you handle it? How have you handled it? I’d love to know!

If you like this, I have a little inexpensive booklet on writing that you might like. Check out the preview below.

Here’s a preview of the first novel in the series:

Here’s a preview of the sequel:

Woo-hoo! My second novel: The Perils of Perryville, is out!

After months of research, writing, and editing; I’m proud to say that my second novel, The Perils of Perryville, is available on Amazon right now, all over the world.

[image error]Colt Revolving Carbine Rifle used by the 2nd Michigan Cavalry

The Perils of Perryville picks up right where Rampage on the River left off at the fall of Island No. 10. It’ll explain a lot of what was happening with the Confederates Kyle, Kathryn, Liza, and Lathan after we left them in the previous book. I should say at this point that you don’t necessarily have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. I wrote it with the idea that it might be the first of my books you read, or that you may not remember everything that happened in Rampage.

[image error]The 2nd Michigan Cavalry Regimental Flag

The Perils of Perryville will take you through the very real history of the Battle of Shiloh, the Fall of New Orleans, the Siege of Corinth, the First Battle of Memphis otherwise known as the “Battle of the Rams,” the Battle of Munfordville, and ultimately the Battle of Perryville. It’s full of real historic people as well like Albert Sidney Johnston, Nathan Bedford Forrest, Braxton Bragg, “Fighting” Phil Sheridan, Ulysses S. Grant, Don Carlos Buel, and many more.

[image error]William Minor Porter of C Company, 2nd Michigan Cavalry

The book will also bring back many of the characters from the first novel with some surprising and exciting reveals about them. I’m very excited about this book. I think it’s my best yet. It’s the second in a planned trilogy, which is actually part of a pentalogy…and there are still other novels I’m considering with these characters going further into the future. So if you like my writing, stick with me. I’ve got a lot planned! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy The Perils of Perryville! Click on the preview below if you’d like to check it out. It’s now available anywhere you live in this world.

Click here to view The Perils of Perryville anywhere in the world.

New Book: “How to Write, Publish and Market your Novel” is Available!

Hey, folks, I have a new little book that I hope will help you along your own path as a writer. It’s called How to Write, Publish and Market your Novel and it’s available on Amazon for $1.99 for the ebook, $4.99 for a print copy in the US and at comparable prices worldwide. I’ll also try to keep some around if you happen to find me signing books somewhere.

[image error]Photo courtesy of writer Loyd Elmore Jr. Click the link to check out his blog.

It’s a brief little book, but straight to the point with advice that you can use today. Here’s the table of contents:

The Idea

Preparation

Writing

Write to your Reader, Right to your Reader

Editing

Publishing

Marketing on Amazon

Social Media Marketing

The book is a compilation of the articles on writing I had published on this blog. I have since taken those down since I didn’t want someone to pay for the book and then find that most of the content was still available for free on my blog. However, I did keep the price to a minimum so that it’s affordable all over the world. I’ll also probably give away the ebook, or at least reduce the price from time to time to get it out there.

Thank you for hanging around, reading my posts, and your general support as I climb my own mountain here. I wish you the best of luck in your own endeavors. If you believe in you, I believe in you.

Click below for a preview.

Available in print and ebook

Coming Soon: The Perils of Perryville

I’m excited to announce that I’ve just finished my third draft of my latest novel, The Perils of Perryville, just moments ago and it’s now in the hands of my editor, who also happens to be my girlfriend. We should have it done and out by the end of the month but there are a few things I can share with you right now, like the cover!

[image error]

My good friend Stephanie Churchill designed it for me. She did the cover for Rampage on the River as well. We wanted to make the new cover different but recognizable. We used the same cavalry jacket as before, but the background is actually a picture of the Perryville Battlefield itself. I spent some time there doing research on the battle. I find it really makes a difference to actually stand where the 2nd Michigan Cavalry stood and see the layout of the land the way they saw it. The Perryville Battlefield does a great job preserving the grounds as they were in 1862. They have a great museum and gift shop that I hope will carry this book someday.

I should also point out that Stephanie Churchill is also an author. She writes historical fantasy novels along the lines of The Lord of the Rings and The Game of Thrones. You should click on her link to learn more about her work.

I’ve also written up a blurb to go on the back of the book and on the Amazon page. I might make some changes but here’s where it is today:

A rip-roaring adventure set in the American Civil War where friendship, love, and family are tested by the madness of war. An accusation of treason sends friends and enemies spiraling into chaos as the Yankee invasion pushes deeper into the South countered by a Rebel push into the border State of Kentucky. The Perils of Perryville follows the stories of heroes and villains on both sides through the very real battles of Shiloh, New Orleans, First Corinth, Memphis, Munfordville, and Perryville where the fate of Kentucky is decided.

Here is an excerpt from the book as well:

Cold panic poured through Carl as he cowered behind his tree.

“Shoot! For God’s sake, shoot, you idiots!” Captain Newman shouted as he fired his pistol into the rush of approaching men.

Like jumping off a cliff, Carl pushed himself from the tree, turned, and fired the rest of his cylinders into the rush of men with little effect. A heavily bearded man tore after him with his bayonet. Without thinking, Carl deflected the blade with the barrel of his carbine, but the man’s forward motion barreled him over and soon, Carl found himself on his back with the man on top of him, squeezing the air out of his neck. He grabbed at the man’s wrists and struggled to get free. Then he remembered his pistol. He patted his side frantically until he found it. The bearded man, sensing the new danger, turned to grab the gun. Carl fired as the man pushed his arm away. This caused the bullet to strike him in the shoulder.

“Aaagh! Damn it!” the man screamed as he fell off and rolled on the ground in agony, clutching his shoulder. “You shot me, you son of a bitch!”

Carl scurried to his feet, holding his pistol on the man who was now reeling in pain. He looked up and saw he was surrounded by scenes of hand-to-hand fighting. Then several of the Rebels started shouting, “Fall back! Fall back!” 

All around Confederate soldiers started to look up from their individual fights only to have their faces turn from fury to fear. They quickly disengaged and joined the retreat. The ground began to shake as a heavy rumble took over the sounds of fighting. Carl looked back at his opponent who had gotten to his knees. Still holding his shoulder, the man’s face went white with horror. Carl turned to see the nightmare scene unfolding. Hordes of blue-clad horsemen came thundering through the woods. At the head of the column rode a man with furious blue eyes. He held the reins with his brass claw as he hacked his way through the crowd of fleeing Rebels with his saber.

“Good God…” Carl murmured at the terrifying scene.

“Hey, if you ain’t gonna kill me, I’m gettin’ the hell out of here,” the man behind him spoke. Carl turned to see his opponent scramble off with his hand still clutching his shoulder. For a moment, the murderous sight of Klaus reaping men down like wheat gave him the urge to run too.

You haven’t read the first book, Rampage on the River yet? That’s okay, I wrote this one to be understandable if you didn’t, but if you’d like to read the first book first, there’s plenty of time. Check out the links below:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PTSPD6H

India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07PTSPD6H

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07PTSPD6H

The Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07PTSPD6H

The Battle of Perryville and a Preview of my New Novel

October 8 is the 157th anniversary of the Battle of Perryville and so it’s an excellent opportunity to announce the title of my new novel: The Perils of Perryville.

I just started Chapter 15 this week. I should have the full rough draft done in a few weeks. I’m hoping to launch it at the beginning of the new year. It seems like a good time for a book launch. Many people are too distracted during the holiday season to read, they’ll have New Year’s resolutions to read more, and perhaps they’ll have Amazon gift cards to burn off!

The Perils of Perryville is the second installment of my 2nd Michigan Cavalry Chronicles series. It is a direct sequel to Rampage on the River; however, I wrote it so that it could be easily understood if you didn’t read the first book.

The Perils of Perryville picks up in the aftermath of the Battle for Island No. 10. It’ll start by explaining what happened on the Confederate side with Kyle, Kathryn, and Liza after they said goodbye to Carl in Rampage on the River. Lieutenant Lathan Woods will return and solidify his role as a villain. Nathan Bedford Forrest will also return along with other historical figures like Albert Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, U.S. Grant, Phil Sheridan, and many others.

The book will also cover a lot more historical events like the Battle of Shiloh, the Fall of New Orleans, the Seige of Corinth, Munfordville, and the Battle of Perryville, as well as several other real skirmishes in between. It’ll also reveal a lot more about the characters including the mystery of Carl’s father as well as Liza and Elijah’s parents.

I’m really excited about it. So far, Rampage on the River is the greatest achievement of my life, but I think The Perils of Perryville is going to be even better. Here is an excerpt:

Preview of
2nd Michigan Cavalry Chronicles: Book II
The Perils of Perryville

Coming soon!

Cold panic poured through Carl as he cowered behind his tree.

“Shoot! For God’s sake, shoot, you idiots!” Captain Newman shouted as he fired his pistol into the rush of approaching men.

Like jumping off a cliff, Carl pushed himself from the tree, turned, and fired the rest of his cylinders into the rush of men with little effect. A heavily bearded man tore after him with his bayonet. Without thinking, Carl deflected the blade with the barrel of his gun, but the man’s forward motion barreled him over and soon, he found himself on his back with the man on top of him, squeezing the air out of his neck. He grabbed at the man’s wrists and struggled to get free, then remembered his pistol. He frantically patted his side until he found it. The bearded man, sensing the new danger, turned to grab the gun. Carl fired as the man pushed his arm away. This caused the bullet to strike the man in the shoulder.

“Aaagh! Damn it!” the man screamed as he fell off and rolled on to the ground in agony, clutching his shoulder. “You shot me, you son of a bitch!”

Carl scurried to his feet, holding his pistol on the man who was reeling in pain. He looked up and saw he was surrounded by scenes of hand-to-hand fighting. Then several of the Rebels started shouting, “Fall back! Fall back!” 

All around Confederate soldiers started to look up from their individual fights only to have their faces turn from fury to fear. They quickly disengaged and joined the retreat. The ground began to shake as a heavy rumble took over the sounds of fighting. Carl looked back at his opponent who had gotten to his knees. Still holding his shoulder, the man’s face went white with horror. Carl turned to see the nightmare scene unfolding. Hordes of blue-clad horsemen came thundering through the woods. At the head of the column rode a man with furious blue eyes. He held the reins with his brass claw hand as he hacked his way through the crowd of fleeing Rebels with his saber.

“Good God…” Carl murmured at the terrifying scene.

“Hey, if you ain’t gonna kill me, I’m gettin’ the hell out of here,” the man behind him spoke. Carl turned to see his opponent scramble off with his hand still clutching his shoulder. For a moment, the murderous sight of Klaus reaping men down like wheat gave Carl the urge to run too.

There’s plenty of time to read Rampage on the River if you haven’t yet.

Also, if you’re a regular reader of this blog, I will get back to finishing my How to Write a Novel Series. My computer was down for a few weeks which really set me back. I’m up and running again so I promise to finish that soon. Sorry for the delay and thank you for your patience.

[image error]

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTSPD6H

or

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PTSPD6H

India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07PTSPD6H

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07PTSPD6H

The Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Not Quite a Quid in the UK: £0.99!

I’m trying to be clever but I think we use the word “quite” differently in the US than you do in the UK, So to be clear: the Kindle version of my book, Rampage on the River: The Battle for Island No. 10, is only £0.99, now until Monday, September 16, 2019, 12:00 AM GMT. The print version is £9.84.

Here’s the blurb:

Will the war that is tearing the States apart destroy a friendship? Find out in a swashbuckling adventure set in the American Civil War where love, honor, and friendship are tested in the madness and chaos of war. A reluctant Yankee Cavalryman teams up with his old Confederate classmate to save someone very dear before it’s too late.

Ramage on the River brings to life the real battles of Fort Donelson, New Madrid, and Island No. 10 where the Confederates make their stand against dreaded Federal Ironclads to stop the Yankee invasion. It is the first book in a series that follows the exploits of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry.

Why this sale in the UK?

Because I love the UK. I’m a big fan of British history. I read about everything from the pre-Roman invasion through the Second World War. I’m particularly interested in the Anglo-Saxon/Viking period, the Hundred Years War, the War of the Roses, and the Napoleanic Wars. I’m hoping to find some mutual interest across the sea in the bloody civil war that happened here in the mid-19th century.

Bernard Cornwell wrote about the American Civil War in his Starbuck Chronicles series. If you liked that or his Sharpe series, I think you might like my books. I can tell you that some of my favorite writers are Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Ben Kane, K.M. Ashman, and Paul Collard. Although I am very much my own writer, if you like those guys, I think you might like me. I’m also very interested in reading Steven A. McKay and Matthew Harffy once I replace my broken Kindle. I highly recommend all these writers.

If you like my stuff and want to follow me as I continue the series, please friend me on facebook. And if you happen to pick up the print version of my book, send me a picture of you holding it. I love seeing people with it in different places around the world.

Thanks for reading this so far. I hope you love the book!

Please Read my Rival

My friend and fellow author Rick Revel published his American Civil War Novel around the same time I did. It’s called In the Hills of Tennessee. It’s based on the life of the real Jack Hinson. Hinson went on a murderous rampage using his legendary sharpshooting skills after his sons were killed by Union soldiers. Like my book, his is the first of a planned trilogy. You can click the hyperlink above to get your copy now.

 

[image error]Reenactment at Fort Negley. I’m the fiddler on the left

 

It’s hard to believe this but it’s been five years since I first encountered Rick. I was playing fiddle at a Civil War Reenactment at Fort Negley in Nashville. Rick was the emcee. Rick’s a natural showman and great storyteller. He narrated the action on the field through a PA system for the spectators as the actors fired their muskets at each other and thundered by on horses. It was quite a show.

 

[image error]Rick and his Art

 

 

I saw him again, years later at a Civil War collector’s show in Dover, Tennessee. He had a table there where he displayed his artwork and a promotion for his up and coming novel. I introduced myself and told him that I remembered him from Fort Negley. I told him that I was also working on a Civil War book. He was very encouraging. We talked a bit about our progress and publishing plans. We exchanged contact information. I think we became facebook friends the next day.

 

[image error]A sample of Rick’s art

 

I’ve enjoyed keeping up with Rick and watching his progress since. Since we were on similar paths, I wanted to see how he went about things and how he marketed his book. I was really excited once he announced a book signing. To be honest, I had never been to one. I wanted to go to see how they worked in case I would ever have one myself. I thought I’d lay low and just watch anonymously from the crowd.

 

[image error]Rick and me at his signing

 

 

But Rick recognized me immediately. He’s a very kind and engaging man. His talk about Jack Hinson was captivating and when he was done the people lined up to buy a signed copy of his book. He was kind enough to mention to the crowd during his talk that I too was an author. That led to me being invited back to do my own book signing with the local Sons of Confederate Veterans camp.

 

[image error]My book signing with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I’m the guy with the tie.

 

I find Rick to be a fascinating model of an author because of all the ways we are the same and all the ways we are different. Both of us published the first novel of our Civil War trilogy about the same time. Both of our books have depictions of the Battle of Fort Donelson and Nathan Bedford Forrest. We’re both musicians. Rick plays guitar and sings. I’m a fiddler.

 

[image error]Rick on the Rails

 

But we’re also different in who we are and how we approach things. Rick is a proud son of the South whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy and in the American Revolution. Rick speaks in the high lonesome tenor of a Southern gentleman. I, on the other hand, sound like a dumpster on fire in a back alley of Detroit, where I’m from when I speak. Rick’s main character is a Southern partisan who fights against a Yankee invasion. I have main characters on both sides, but admittedly, my book follows the actions of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry.

 

Rick also went with a publisher and does all his own direct sales. I think he’s also in a few museums and gift shops like me. At the moment he only sells printed copies of his book, although I might talk him into doing a kindle version at some point.

 

[image error]Rick does mostly direct sales in person or by mail.

 

I, on the other hand, published through Amazon which offers both paperback and Kindle versions of my book. I originally was going to stay our of direct sales altogether, but I was invited to do that first books signing and had a few local friends who wanted a signed copy. So I ended up buying my first box of author’s copies. I was nervous about it at first. Now I’m on my third box. My book is now also available at the Lotz House Museum, The Robertson County History Museum, and Parnassus Books.

 

[image error]Okay, maybe Grant and Lee like his book better, but Forrest and Sherman like mine. 

 

So why do I promote my rival? Well, I only call him that because it makes for great alliteration in the title of this article. But first, it’s because Rick has been very kind and encouraging to me. Second, because it helps me too. My friend J.T. at the Lotz House has a saying, “all boats rise with the tide.” I promote Rick, other authors, and reading in general because the more people are interested in books, the more likely they’re read mine, especially with Rick’s. The American Civil War is sort of a niche literary topic.  I’m hoping that the more people become aware and read about it, the more they’ll become curious and want to read more, like about the 2nd Michigan Cavalry and their adventures at Island No. 10. for instance.

If you’re interested in Rick’s books, art, music, or acting; check out his site here: Rick Revel

Of course, if you’re interested in my book and you don’t live in Middle Tennessee, you can get anywhere in the world in the links below. Thanks and keep reading!

viewbook.at/RampageontheRiver

[image error]

US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTSPD6H

or

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PTSPD6H

India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07PTSPD6H

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07PTSPD6H

The Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07PTSPD6H

 

The Whu-Special: Cody C. Engdahl

Little Mis-Fit writes fantasy fiction for children, especially those who feel like outcasts. She asked me about my own awkward childhood and how I got past it. She took my answers, added some pixie dust, and came up with this!

The Whu-Special: Cody C. Engdahl