Michael J. Sullivan's Blog, page 11
June 10, 2022
I have the coolest fans ever - here's why
The BEST thing people do is recommend the books to others. It's been over 15 years since the release of The Crown Conspiracy (Book #1 of The Riyria Revelations and now published under the omnibus book Theft of Swords). Because of this "word-of-mouth" advertising, my books have had amazingly long legs. What does that mean? That even after all that time, the early books are still selling extremely well. Every six months I receive royalty checks from my "backlist," and even if I never wrote a single new word, I could live comfortably on this "residual income." But don't worry - I have no plans to stop writing new stuff. Yeah, I'm getting old and books take longer than they once did, but creating them is what I love to do the most.
Speaking of the backlist. It's also apparent that I have extremely "faithful readers" - people who aren't just "one-and-done," but those who discover one of my books and then go on to buy all the others - even though it means jumping into new series with different characters than they first fell in love with. I won't lie, it was a risky pursuit to step away from a proven winning formula rather than writing exclusively Royce and Hadrian stories. But these days I have just as many people starting with Legends and going to Riyria. When I receive letters from people who say they will buy anything I write, it tells me they like me, they really, really like me. And while I'm always focused on "writing a book I want to read" it's good to know that my scribblings have connected with others.
People who leave reviews on sites like Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, and Barnes and Noble. My wife has in the past (and is starting to resume again now that things are starting to get back to normal), taught courses to authors on the business of writing. She does these for free - her way of helping others receive the success that I have benefited from. One of the things she emphasizes is how important independent third-party opinions are to a successful writing career. There are many people who are not willing to be the "guinea pig" so they wait to hear what others are saying about the book. After seeing a number of positive reviews it gives these people the courage to stop sitting on the fence and give the books a try. Any review, yes even the negative ones, is a help. People know that individual tastes are subjective, but a book with no (or few) reviews is even worse. With each release, we sit on pins and needles as the reviews slowly trickle in.
People who reread the books - more and more I'm hearing from readers who haven't just read the books once, but multiple times. This is a huge time investment, and I personally think my stories are even better the second (or third) time around. Why? Well, there are a ton of Easter eggs and secrets woven throughout - and even across the series. A first reading (before you know where the book is heading) will miss many of these little "winks and nods to people in the know" and re-reading (once everything is revealed) will give a much richer experience and shed new light on scenes. Writing in these interconnections is one of the things I enjoy the most, but it's only those who take the time to do a re-read who will notice them. Finding out that so many people are willing to spend the extra time lets me know that "added effort" was not a waste of my time.People become invested far beyond anything I would have expected. Recently I received an amazing stained-glass window. It's a one-of-a-kind work of art, and it took hundreds of hours to produce (and not a trivial amount of money in materials). Tammie and Mike even delivered it (and Tammie has spent uncountable hours as a beta reader for my books). While this is amazing in its own right - It's not the only instance. Above our pellet stove is a beautiful piece of antique wood that has an engraving with a favorite quote from my books. I also have received a framed silk screen of my "author logo" that hangs behind my desk, and I hand-blown hourglass made by a master glass-smith. To list all the amazing gifts would take far too long - this is just a small sampling and it indicates that people love the work so much that it inspires their own creative pursuits - and what's more they are generous enough to send them to us! And no, this isn't a plea for more gifts - but it's just one of the reasons why I appreciate my readers so very much.
All of the above is just a preamble to what I really came here for. Yesterday I ran across a book trailer for Farilane that was created by a fan. It's...well...amazing!
It's just one of many videos on the channel Riyria Explained. If you aren't already a subscriber - please join. The above video is so professional! And what's even better are the other videos that provide a deep dive into the books and pick out many of the little connections that I spoke about earlier. All the work that has gone into these videos is tremendous - and they are well worth your time if you are that avid reader that has picked up all the books - but if you haven read widely - be warned - there are tons of spoilers in the "non book trailer" videos.
Well, those are just some of the reasons I'm so grateful to you all. I'll do my best to keep the books coming and hopefully you'll continue to rea them.
June 9, 2022
Farilane hits #1 Epic Bestseller List!
I'm pleased to report that Farilane is the #1 Bestselling Epic Fantasy Audiobook! Thanks all for the early support. You can pick up a. copy here!
To celebrate its release, we're doing a drawing for a free audiobook download code (you don't have to be an Audible Member to use it. You an sign up for it here. The winner will be picked from a random drawing which will be held June 15th. Right now you have a one in 119 chance to win - and I may end up giving a way a few at a time depending on how many people enter.
If you can't wait for the drawing, then you an pickup a copy with an Audible Credit . And while you are there, checkout the trailer which was filmed at my house in Luray - you'll get a glimpse of my office so you can see where Robin chains me to the desk.
Even better the reviews coming in are fantastic! Here's some snippets:
"Another Character that I Fell in Love With"
"Such a great story from beginning to end! I couldn't stop listening! Ten stars!"
"In my opinion, it’s the best book he’s written so far."
"SUPERB!"
"I found myself laughing so hard and so much and I want to be her!!"
"Sullivan does a masterful job of weaving in elements and creating a story arch that is worth reading and then reading again to find what you've missed."
"There are no words to prepare you for what comes at the end."
"As a huge fan of Michael J Sullivan’s works, this book did not disappoint."
June 8, 2022
Farilane Book Trailer and audiobook giveaway!
Hey all, Audible just posted a book trailer for Farilane - This was filmed in my house in the Shenandoah Valley (and you can see my officer and where the magic happens). Check it out!
Oh, and while I have your attention, you can enter to win a free copy of the Farilane audiobook from this link. You don't have to be an Audible member to win, and you won't be required to join any plan to listen.
Good luck on the drawing!
June 7, 2022
Farilane Release Day!
Today is the release date for digital versions of Farilane (Book #2 of The Rise and Fall). That means you can get the audio and ebook of it now! Until today, you HAD to get the book directly from us and more than 3,500 people did exactly that!
As for the hardcover...well, we are still waiting for it to come off the presses, but you can pre-order a signed copy from our website. And we have both limited faux-leather hubbed-spined limited editions ($75) and regular hardcovers ($30). No matter which one you choose, they will be signed and come with a custom-signed bookmark.
If you want a copy of the ebook, you can get a copy from the following places: NOTE: The Riyria Enterprises link is a purchase directly from us and it is the same price as through retailers but 100% of your purchase comes to us by cutting out the "middlemen."
The above Kindle button is for Amazon US, if you are outside the US, here are the links to various international Amazon sites.
As for the audiobook, it's available only from Audible, and you can pick up your copy here.
It's doing very well in the rankings. It has hit #1 on the Audiobook Epic Fantasy List on Amazon.com.
And on the Audible site, it's in the top 50 Bestselling Audiobooks - currently at #33!
I've said it before, but it's worth repeating, I think Farilane is the best book I've written to date. Yes, Percepliquis (2nd book of Heir of Novron) took a long time to be unseated. Both have an incredible emotional impact, but Percepliquis had the advantage of being the cumulation of the five books that came before it. Farilane is largely standalone, so pound for pound it wins the prize. Here is a bit about it from the marketing copy found on the back cover:
SOME TRUTHS ARE DANGEROUS, CERTAIN SECRETS BEST CONCEALED, AND ONE STORY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AT ALL.
Being an unwanted twin in the imperial line of succession, Farilane becomes a scholar, an adventurer, and—in a time when reading is forbidden—a hunter of books. Her singular obsession is finding the mythical Book of Brin, a tome not just lost but intentionally buried. Although she is respected and beloved by the Teshlor Knights, not even their legendary skills can protect her, for what she finds is more dangerous than what she sought.
From the three-time New York Times best-selling author Michael J. Sullivan, Farilane is the second novel in The Rise and Fall trilogy. This latest set of stories sits snugly between the Legends of the First Empire series and the Riyria books (Revelations and Chronicles). With this tale, Michael continues his tradition of unlikely heroes who must rise to the call when history knocks, demanding to be let in. This series will conclude in the summer of 2023 with the release of Esrahaddon, the final piece in a narrative that began in 2008 and contains nineteen full-length novels spread across four series.
April 25, 2022
Huge Audiobook Series Sale
Audible is having a major sale on series with prices in the $4 - $6 range (significantly below the $15 a month credit fee). I have not one, or two, but ten, yes 10 titles in this sale. Each is narrated by the amazing Tim Gerard Reynolds (multiple Audible Award nominations and several Earphone Awards). \
With Farilane coming out in June, I highly recommend digging into the Legends of the First Empire (the series that precedes the Rise and Fall Trilogy).
Here's what is on sale:
Legends of the First Empire (Books #1 - Book #4) - $21 for four books
Age of Myth $6Age of Swords: $5Age of War: $5Age of Legend: $5Riyria Chronicles (All Four books) - $20 for all four books
The Crown Tower: $6The Rose and the Thorn: $4The Death of Dulgath: $5The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter: $5Riyria Revelations (Books #1 & #2) - $9 for 2 books - but each is a 2-book omnibus so that is actually 4 books total.Theft of Swords: $4Rise of Empire: $5If you've tried just one of my series and enjoyed it, then now would be a great time to try one of the other series. I hope you do pick up some of these titles at these amazing prices. But you have to hurry the sale ends April 29th!
March 21, 2022
What everyone is missing regarding Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter
Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter has been huge! $32.1M and counting - making it the highest-funded Kickstarter of all time. A lot has been written about it. Some are asking if this puts a death-nail in traditional publishing? Some (bitter authors eating sour grapes), are lambasting it due to white privilege. Others wonder why someone so rich needs to do a Kickstarter. Here's a hint - Kickstarters aren't always about "need" but they always provide a more personal buying experience between creator and buyer.
In it, he mentioned how he feels like there is a gun to his head. 85% of his income comes from Amazon, and if something were to happen he could see his whole livelihood vanish. But as someone who has been doing Kickstarters for a decade, I want to mention something that Brandon didn't spend much (or any as I recall) time on.
Here's the BIG secret of why Kickstarters are so important. Shhhh, don't tell anyone. It's the emails stupid. I say "stupid" because I feel publishers have been exactly that in relying on retailers to sell their books. Amazon makes a ton of money, but their most valued asset is the millions (maybe billions) of emails they have collected over time. Why, oh why, haven't publishers understood this? It's one of the reasons Amazon rules and traditional publishers struggle.
Brandon will have the email addresses of 134,500+ readers--each one of which is willing to open heir wallet to give him money. These are fans so loyal, that they'll buy something even without knowing what it is!
It's not the 32.1 Million that is keeping the gun from Brandon's head - it's the fact that he can reach out -- personally - to his fanbase at any time and tell them, "Hey, guys/gals. I've written something new - would you like to support me to get it?"
That's why I got into Kickstarters. I LIKE having that personal connection with my readers, and I know that if publishers, Amazon, and all the other "middlemen" disappear. I have my own little list (much less than 135,000) where I can reach out, and my bills will get paid.
I don't see anyone else talking about this, but when I recommend to fellow authors to do Kickstartarters, this is a big part of the reason.
Oh, and I want to give a big thank you to Brandon for pointing out my own longevity in doing Kickstarters. At the end of his blog he writes:
"This is a step I could take. It’s something I’ve wanted to try for years. I’m certainly not the first to try it–not even the first bestselling fantasy novelist. (Michael J. Sullivan has been using Kickstarter for almost a decade now to indie publish books. He’s an excellent writer, and recently had a very successful Kickstarter of his own that deserves attention.)"
If you missed my Farilane Kickstarter, you can still join the fun by coming through the "backdoor." We can manually add you to the project if you tell us what you want at this link.
March 12, 2022
Author's helping authors - Will Wight's Kickstarter
I've been trying to get Will Wight to do a Kickstarter for years now. He has a HUGE fanbase, and I knew he would kill it. I even predicted he'd blow me out of the water. Well, he finally pulled the trigger - with a little help from my son, James, who has taken over running my own Kickstarters. I was right:
Yesterday, "the man" himself (Brandon Sanderson) shared this video on Twitter and Facebook, and that gave another shot in the arm to Will's Kickstarter. It's just one more example of authors helping authors. Brandon didn't have to do that - but the fact that he did shows what a "good bloke" he is as well. With so much cynicism floating about in the world today, it's nice to see.
I hope you'll join me and Brandon, and give Will's Cradle Kickstarter a look-see, and if you like what you find, please consider backing the project.
February 25, 2022
Farilane Kickstarter - 7 days left!
Wow, how time flies, and the Farilane Kickstarter continues to do well. It moved up a bit in the rankings and it is now the 9th most-backed and 9th highest-funded Fiction Kickstarter of all time. Of my nine Kickstarters, it's in second place (based on funding) and only surpassed by Nolyn (Book #1 of the series.
The project is now over $150,000 in funding which makes it one of only nine fiction projects to reach that level. And we've cleared a few more stretch goals which will provide the following bonuses:
$111,000 - Matching Bookmark (see below) - UNLOCKED$137,000 - Online Bookclub Read - UNLOCKED$150,000 - Afterword to be written by RobinThe next stretch goal is $153,000 and it will mean that people with physical books will not only get the Farialane bookmark, but the Nolyn one as well:
Thanks, all for the continued amazing support. Please check out the Kickstarter , and if you like what you see, please back it.
February 17, 2022
Kickstarer Loves Farilane!
We are pleased to announce that Farilane has been selected by the Kickstarter team as one of their "Projects we Love" - thanks Kickstarter! They give this distinction to projects they think stand head-and-shoulders above other projects. And I'm proud to say we've gotten this badge of honor many times!
And it looks like the backers of Kickstarter are also in love with the project. In its first two days it has reached the following milestones:Most popular fiction Kickstarter project.Fully funded in 18 minutes.First stretch goal completed - all books will have matching bookmarks,Crossed the $100,000 mark in 11.5 hours (only 15 fiction projects have ever earned that much).And it's in an all-time Top 10 fiction project both in terms of the number of backers and funding reached. It's even beat out a bunch of my prior Kickstarters!
We thank everyone for your continued support, and if you want to check out (and hopefully back) the Kickstarter, here is a link!
February 15, 2022
Big Kickstarter Day!
Well, Farilane's Kickstarter launched at noon today, and it was funded in just 18 minutes! Thanks, all, for your continued support. But what makes me even more excited is that there are THREE great Kickstarters running right now by either myself or authors I've encouraged to get into Kickstarters.
Here are the links and a bit about each:
Farilane (Book #2 of The Rise and Fall Trilogy) - ebooks, regular hardcovers, limited edition hardcovers
Some truth are dangerous, certain secrets best concealed, and one story should have never been written at all.Being an unwanted twin in the Imperial line of succession, Farilane became a scholar, adventurer, and in a time when reading was once more forbidden - a book hunter. Her singular obsession is finding the mythical Book of Brin, a tome not just lost but intentionally buried. Respected and beloved by the Teshlor Knights, not even their legendary skills can protect her for what she finds is more dangerous than what she sought.
Mother of Learning (The first ARC in the serial bestseller) - paperbacks and regular hardcoversZorian Kazinski has all the time in the world to get stronger, and he plans on taking full advantage of it.
A teenage mage of humble birth and slightly above-average skill, Zorian is attending his third year of education at Cyoria's magical academy. A driven and quiet young man, he is consumed by a desire to ensure his own future and free himself of the influence of his family, resenting the Kazinskis for favoring his brothers over him. Consequently, Zorian has no time for pointless distractions, much less other people's problems. As it happens, though, time is something he is about to get plenty of. On the eve of Cyoria's annual summer festival, Zorian is murdered, then abruptly brought back to the beginning of the month, just before he was about to take the train to school. Finding himself trapped in a time loop with no clear end or exit, he will have to look both within and without to unravel the mystery set before him. He does have to unravel it, too, because the loop clearly wasn’t made for his sake, and in a world of magic even a time traveler isn't safe from those who wish him ill. Fortunately for Zorian, repetition is the mother of learning…
Fatemarked - (Book #1 in the 5-book Fatemarked series - #1 Bestseller in 10 Amazon categories) paperback, regular hardcover, and limited edition hardcovers - ENDS IN JUST 3 DAYS!!
They are the Fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshiped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come.
An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turn to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but he has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming, and he can't hide anymore.
For this Kickstarter, the project will be run by my son, James because we have twisted his arm into doing this as a business (mostly so that Robin can scale back what she does). He is also running the Kickstarter for the third project - Fatemarked. It's a book I've read and recommend highly. So if you want to find another great fantasy to get into, stop over and back it.
The other project, Mother of Learning, isn't something I've read, but it's a serial sensation (found mostly through Royal Road). The Kickstarter is being run by Wraithmarked - a company run by Bryce O'Conner and Dyrk Ashton - both are great friends and they are talented writers in their own right. I hope you'll check out that project as well!
