Confusing world!

Well as I go further along this journey of self publishing I learn each day that I have done something wrong (or on the rare occasion – something right). Following the general advice of Amazon I decided to enlist in Kindle Select which not only forced me to list a price I thought was too high for the eBook but also means I can;t sell it anywhere else on the internet as an eBook (for 90 days). Fine print is fine but when reading it not everything makes sense and it is very easy to just go with the flow as I did and find yourself missing out on getting your work out on all available channels.

So that was my big lesson for this week. As a result I’m now stuck with Amazon only Kindle until JULY for Footprints On The Other Side and even worse SEPTEMBER for Origins Of The Magdon. Saying that though I have now signed up to Smashwords so I can release on all other formats just as soon as my agreement with KDP Select and Amazon comes to an end.

This is honestly a massive roller-coaster affair. Some days I think why did I bother and then other days I love the fact I have done it.

Marketing is another whole new dimension to me. There are some many people offering to Tweet this, feature that, sell this and sell that. Very little makes sense to me and really doing all this off your own back is a very daunting affair!

Thankfully I have managed to receive support from the internet in the form of CircleOfBooks who have featured me and both my books. I have no idea how this will impact, if at all, on any sales but I clearly don’t know what I’m doing on my own so am really grateful when someone takes the time and effort to help me along. The two features for my books are brilliant and keep floating around Twitter so that’s good. Spreading the word is the first step.

I don’t know, it’ been a tough week and you always go in with high hopes and expectations/dreams that never really seem to be reached. That said though at least I am out there in the wide world available for people to read if they want to. Anything less and all the time and effort I have put in would really be a wasted venture.

I was reminded today that four years ago I was editing parts one and two of Footprints…..FOUR YEARS AGO. Now look at it. I have the ability to say people have read it, people have bought it and judging by the slowly rising number of reviews (we are now on three) people have been enjoying it.

I suppose it’s a word of warning to always remain realistic going into this. It’s fine to dream (after all that’s where most ideas come from) but remember it’s not all plain sailing and every day as they say is a school day!