Sarra Cannon's Blog, page 37

Amazon.de!

Last week, Amazon opened a Kindle store in Germany! It was so exciting to log in to my Kindle sales report and see a new tab added for amazon.de. Amazon has had a Kindle store in the UK for a long while now, and while I have sold some copies there, it's been minimal. So far this month, I've sold about 30 copies of my books in the UK, but hey, 30 copies is still better than none! And to suddenly have another venue to sell in makes me very excited!

On Sunday night, I had my very first sale in Germany, and it put such a huge smile on my face. Just to know that someone halfway across the world bought MY book and put it on their Kindle is just amazing! I wonder if they've started reading it yet? I wonder what they think? I keep checking to see if there's a review up, but since it will probably be in German, I'll have to rely on google translator to figure out what they said, haha. It will definitely be an exciting day if I get a good review from Germany.

And with Kindle stores open in the US, UK, and Germany, how far behind can France, Italy and Japan really be? Right now, I have no idea how to best market my books to overseas English-speaking Kindle users, but it's nice to know the opportunity exists. There are so many exciting things happening in the world of publishing and books right now, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Meanwhile, if you're in Germany and reading this blog, go pick up BEAUTIFUL DEMONS in your amazon.de kindle store. :)

Amazon's new "Top Rated" Ranking and A Giveaway

Today when I was obsessing over my Amazon sales rank, as I tend to do daily, I noticed a new feature! In the product details area where the general sales rank is listed, it now also lists the average customer review as well as what categories your book is "top rated" in.

From what I understand, there has been a Top Rated tab for a while now, but the information has been somewhat buried. A user had to go to the Bestseller lists for a category first, then click on the Top Rated tab. Now, Amazon is including these rankings right there on the book page along with the Bestsellers rank. Basically, what this does is give a boost of recognition to those books that are well-liked by readers.

For example, a book might be #150 in a certain category and therefore not actually making it into the Top 100 list of Bestsellers for that category. However, if there are enough good reviews behind that book, it's possible that it could get boosted up into the Top Rated list for that category. I'm sure it will take some time to figure out how the list actually works.

The Bestsellers Rank, for instance, isn't just a flat listing of the top books in sales for all time in a category. Amazon has some algorithm for determining ranking based on the number of most recent sales. A book has to be selling lots of copies NOW, not just ever in its existence. The same is probably true for the Top Rated ranking. I might have a five-star ranking, but if I only have 15 reviews, I might still be listed below someone who has 100 reviews and a four and a half star ranking. Recent sales might also come into play here. It will take some time to figure it out, but I think it's a great feature. It gives readers a chance to see what books are the most well-liked by others - not just the books that are selling the best right now. Sometimes, that list will be the same, but other times it won't. I'm hoping it gives a boost to good books that might have been getting less attention.

Okay, so with all that said, I have a plea to make! Please, please please, if you have read the Peachville High Demons series, I would sincerely appreciate it if you would take the time to leave a review for at least one of the books on Amazon. Right now, I have 19 reviews for Book 1, only 7 for Book 2, and 10 for Book 3. The overall ranking is great, but if I want to hit more of these Top Rated lists, I need more reviews! (Preferably high stars, haha, but you have to be honest about what you thought of the books!)

I'll even throw in a giveaway! If you leave a review on any of the 3 Peachville High Demons books, send me an email at sarracannon (at) gmail.com with your name and address, and I will mail you a signed Demons bookmark and a temporary demon tattoo, just like the one Harper wears in the books! Heck, just for fun, for those of you who write a review for 2 or more of the Peachville High books, I will even throw in a sneak-peak page from Book 4 - never before seen writing!! This giveaway opportunity is open to anyone who leaves a review on Amazon for my three books by May 1st.

Ereaders Just Keep Getting Cheaper

It amazes me that some people are still in denial about the future of books. People who continue to cling to the idea that paper books will dominate publishing for many years to come should open their eyes and take a quick look around them. Evidence of the ebook revolution is everywhere. And it's happening even faster than I ever dreamed.

Today, for example, I was perusing the Sunday fliers from the paper. I was looking at the CVS flier and thinking about possibly going to buy some Easter candy when I noticed an ad for an ereader called the LookBook for only $49. The LookBook comes with a 7 inch full color LCD screen, has wireless capability, and comes with 150 free books. I couldn't believe it! Only $49??

Okay, so it might not be the best ereader on the planet, but it's CHEAP. When I looked up reviews online, the LookBook doesn't come out a winner. It has a small battery life and doesn't seem to be user friendly when it comes to adding your own books unless you use their wireless online store. On the other hand, it's only $50. And for that price, I'm betting a lot of people will casually pick one up and give it a try.

Another announcement this week says that Staples will begin carrying the Nook Color starting May 1. They already carry the Kindle at Staples now, and BestBuy carries several different ereader types. Oh, and also the Kindle just announced a $114 ad-supported version. My husband picked up a Kobo reader at a closing Borders store for only $59 on sale. Ereaders are everywhere. And if they are already at places like CVS, it's only a matter of time before they are on the shelves at the grocery store and convenience stores. Dollar General. Everywhere.

The ereaders are just sitting there with their low price tags. Begging people to pick them up and try them. Eventually, their persistence will wear down even the most devoted paperback fan.

With the prices of ereaders getting lower and lower, I have to ask - how long will people really be willing to pay $10 or more for each ebook? I mean, if you can get an ereader with 150 free books for only $49, shouldn't you be able to buy at least 10 books for that same price? I believe readers will become less tolerant of the high prices legacy publishers put on their books. But a $.99 book? That's easy. A reader will happily pick up a book for $.99 if it looks interesting. And if it's an author they already like and trust? Paying $3-5 won't be a problem. $10 books, on the other hand, are harder to afford and I believe readers will become hesitant to spend that much on a single book unless it's by their very favorite author.

If it's this easy for me to see what is happening, why is it so difficult for legacy publishers to see it? And if they are seeing it, why aren't they making some changes? It's an interesting question. As ereaders become more ubiquitous, ebooks will naturally become the dominant format for reading. The bottom line here is that I feel I published in ebook at just the right time. I'm excited about the future, and I can't wait to see what happens moving forward.

Peachville High Demons Promo Items!

I have some exciting news! I've been working on some prize packs for a "spirit week" in the days leading up to Book 4 of the Peachville High Demons series. I am planning 7 days of giveaways, and have started ordering all the items that I'll be giving away.


For starters, I designed some bookmarks with the following tagline: In Peachville, even the cheerleaders have a dark side. On the back, it lists the names of all five books in the series, along with the months they either were released or will be released. I also signed all the bookmarks. Yes, I realize the irony in giving away bookmarks for ebooks, but hopefully by the time SHADOW DEMONS comes out, there will be a print book out for all of the books as well!

The second item so far is a blue demon temporary tattoo, similar to the ones the cheerleaders in Peachville wear when they are getting ready for game night. The third item is a demon blue nail polish. I also have some blue ribbon like the ribbon Harper ties around her wrist sometimes.

By the time the contest/giveaways begin, I hope to add more things like some personalized Peachville High pom poms and possibly some signed print copies of BEAUTIFUL DEMONS. I plan to also give away some random YA books and some gift cards to Barnes & Noble and Amazon. So stay tuned for some great giveaways in May just before the release of SHADOW DEMONS!

If you have some good ideas of something else that would be cool to give away for promoting the Peachville High Demons series, just comment and let me know! I'll definitely take anything into consideration. Also, let me know what you think of the items so far! Do you like the bookmarks (in the picture, I've got one showing the front and one showing the back)?

20 Minutes At A Time

I've been sitting at my local Panera most of the day writing. I wanted to take a little break from SHADOW DEMONS for a few, so I'm hiding out on my blog.

When I first started writing full time (about three years ago), I had a really hard time motivating myself to work all day. I never realized how hard time management could be. I always thought that people who worked for themselves were just so lucky and they had it so easy. God, was I wrong! Working for yourself and setting your own hours is HARD. It definitely has its rewards, but in order to make it work, you have to truly learn some self-discipline.

I am not the most disciplined girl in the world. My bathroom is always messy. My computer desk is crazy unorganized. Hell, even the desktop on my computer is cluttered. I like to stay up late and sleep in. I spend hours a week gaming. And I love to shop. Before I found my motivation, I used to waste most of my days. I could hardly get 500 words a day written, and most of the time I just threw out whatever I was writing.

Fast forward three years and I'm writing 2,000 words a day on average. I've written and published three full books since September, and I'm already halfway through Book 4. So how did I do it?

In 20 minute spurts. I started with a little kitchen timer and now have started using my cell phone timer. I set it for 20-30 minutes depending on how I'm feeling, and just go go go. When my 20 minutes is up, I take a break. I pamper myself and do something fun. I watch an episode of something fun like Arrested Development (I heart Netflix) while I do my nails. Then, I set my timer again and get back to work. Somehow, I manage to fit in 2,000 words, two long walks a day, meals, chatting time with my husband and friends, and I still have time for social networking, blogging and yes, gaming.

Instead of sitting down to write this very daunting daily word count, I break it into small, manageable chunks. It makes the day seem do-able. I just write out my to-do list in the mornings (okay, some days it's 11:00 when I crawl out of bed, but for now, we'll just call that "morning"), then go about completing the list 20 minutes at a time. I'm not perfect by any means. My desk is still a mess and I probably have dirty dishes waiting for me at home, but I'm writing and besides spending time with husband, that's the most important part of my day.

And now my 20 minutes is up, so I'm going to wrap up this blog post and get back to SHADOW DEMONS.

Call Me Indie

On his blog this week, Nathan Bransford brought up the question: Who should have the Indie Label: Self-Publishers or Small Presses?

It's a good question. As a self-proclaimed Indie author, I thought I would throw in my two cents. I think in order to really look at the term, you have to look at how it's used in other venues. Like Indie Rock for example. The funny thing is that when I started googling 'Indie', I realized that there is some level of controversy surrounding that term in both music and films. No one is sure whether it should be given to bands with a certain sound or if it simply refers to anyone who makes music with a certain set of Indie record labels. Apparently people have their own vigorous opinions on the matter.

How could we expect the term to be any different in the publishing business? /shrug. According to wikipedia, Indie is simply a shortform of the word "independent". The Free Dicitonary online defines indie as "1. One, such as a studio or producer, that is unafilliated with a larger or more commercial organization. 2. An artistic work produced by an independent company or group." Dictionary.com says it is "1. an independently owned business. 2. self-employed; privately owned."

I understand that some small presses have been using the term Indie to describe themselves and their authors for years. Self-published authors, for the most part, didn't really register. The problem of no distribution meant most self-pubs weren't selling enough to even make a difference on a grander scale. Then there are the 'vanity publishers' that charge enormous fees to 'publish' an author's books. Some people still hear self-published and automatically think vanity. But times have changed. According to the definitions above, I think those Indie presses are going to have to scoot over and give self-published authors some room.

With the negative stigma placed on the term 'self-published' over the years, authors who are self-publishing will naturally want to come up with some other term to describe ourselves. We want to push away from that stigma that says we can't write for crap or that we are only self-publishing because we couldn't get a publishing contract. Things are different now, so the terms should also evolve. And 'Indie' already has a much more positive connotation. I say that if you have a problem with self-published authors calling themselves independent, you're a little bit crazy. And probably a little behind the times. Or at least in denial about how fast the publishing world is changing.

To say I'm Indie means also saying I'm free from corporate pressure or obligation. I'm brave enough to take my future into my own hands. It means I am willing to let the readers be my gatekeepers. Being Indie means I am taking full responsibility for what happens in my own writing career. It means that I am publishing my own artistic and creative works independent of any corporation or larger commercial organization's investments.

It would be cool if I could come up with some brand-new fresh word to describe what it is authors like me are doing. I mean, I have an easy time coming up with words to describe us. Brave. Free. Awesome. :P Words like that. But since people have already started using the term 'Indie' and since the definition seems to fit, I think that's what we're probably going to be called. And I'm okay with that.

Anyone who isn't is just going to have to get over it.

Writing Through the Rough Spots

Rough drafts are always difficult for me. I constantly worry that the story isn't going the way it should or that things aren't ever going to come together. The more books I write, however, the easier it becomes to trust my process. SHADOW DEMONS is my fourth book in the Peachville High Demons series, but overall, it will be my sixth completed novel. I feel like after several years and all those manuscripts, I'm finally starting to get the hang of it.

But every day isn't sunshine and puffy clouds. I set a plan to write 2,000 words a day, but there are some definite rough spots. Today, for example, I had planned to write like crazy. I even set a goal on Twitter to write 8,000 words. It's now 4:30 in the afternoon. Guess how many words I've written today. ZERO. Well, not counting this blog and all the emails and chat I've sent today. It's been a rough day.

Sometimes I hit days where the writing is rough simply because I have no good feel of what the next scene is going to be. I sit down in front of a blank screen and start to freak out. No fresh ideas come to me, and I panic. Other days, it's personal and emotional issues that keep me from writing like I should. Today is one of those emotional days. I won't go into the personal stuff, but I will say that I found out some very upsetting news today x 3. Three completely separate things, all of which made me cry like a little baby. It's so tough to step away from that emotional side of myself and push aside the personal concerns in order to write about what's going on in Harper's world. You would think it would provide a much-needed escape, but for me, it doesn't really work like that. I've never been good at reaching a point of detachment between my writing and my personal life.

So how do I push through and keep writing? I think the most important thing is to just go easy on myself on days like this. Instead of beating myself up for not reaching my goals, I should give myself a little bit of a break. If I want to indulge in a little TV watching or something, I should go for it. No guilt. But the second part of that is to pick myself up and keep pushing forward. A break is good, but wallowing in self-pity or beating myself up over the little things isn't going to help me get this book written.

In a way, I guess it all comes down to balance. I have to learn to give myself the time I need to heal or deal with whatever's upsetting me or keeping me from my writing, but I also have to recognize when that time is up and the writing is ready to flow again. I'm not perfect, but that doesn't mean I can't reach my goals and strive to be a better person and a better writer. I'm going to give myself a couple of hours to read and relax, and then I plan to get back to my writing full force tonight. I still might make at least my 2,000/day goal. As for the 8,000 I was hoping for? There's always tomorrow.

And as Scarlet O'Hara would say, tomorrow is another day.