P.D.R.’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2017)

P.D.R.’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

I've finally wrapped my head around the technology needed to do decent marketing of our Writer's Choice prize winning hist fic novels.

One of the useful ways is sharing a promotion via newsletters - anyone out there interested?

Another way is a group sale or giveaway where several authors give a book to make up a bundle of books as prize or on 99cent offer.
- anyone out there interested?

Finally a group of us could each provide a story or novel to make a boxed set for a permafree or 99 cent on Amazon, Smashwords and Kobo.
- anyone out there interested?

The reward for each author is an increased email list of readers who like historical fiction and might be gently approached at appropriate times with non-pushy newsletters and emails about the author's new work, special offers etc.

NOTE this is not romance- hist fic. We write fairly serious but entertaining straight historicals.

Any authors out there want to share?
email me direct as I am hard pressed to get to Goodreads these days -pdrlindsay at slingshot dot co dot.nz
Many thanks and happy writing.

For me characters come first and they tell me how to write the book. Tizzie had to be third - so I could write her story or it would be too painful. Bryce was angry and the reader had to feel it in 1st. Jacob came across as cocky and unpleasant if you weren't in his head and knew his true thoughts in 1st.
Melisande (I know dreadful name but it's hers and I can't change it!) is part 1st and looking back in 3rd.

I'm sorry you hate 1st to read D.J. . Is is because you'll be too close to the character and you need distance? I have a friend who analysed her dislike as that.

Legally it is so tricky but this time I have used one really mad man's exploits but he's disguised!

Phew! Thank you, Carol.

I hope I'll be able to be active here again now my new joints are settling down and I have less time with physio and exercise and more for writing.

Anyone confirm D.J.'s comment that I don't have to pull my books and go Kindle select?

Sorry D.J. but I dare not set foot in Amazon and upset them. I have three books with them and two are all lovely with all my quotes and reviews etc on posts about the book but the third novel they won't let me post editorial reviews quotes etc and I keep asking why and receive no answer. I do not know what is wrong with it or why Amazon is so difficult.

Isn't Wheelers international though? I mean isn't there a UK branch like Neilsens have one?

Thank you, Evelyn, I've now got Rutvi sorted.
Sorry not to be clear in my posting above. Have had two new hips and a new knee over the last 18 months and it's eaten up most of my time with rehab and exercise and the novel!!!

Anyway is there anyone I've missed linking with? If so shout. And thank you to all those who have followed in return. That's six kind people get a blessing in my prayers tonight! :)

Cheers
p.d.r. lindsay

I love Indiesunlimiterd. There is so much helpful and useful info there. I learnt how to make book trailers and always find the info up to date. I even got my head round keywords when I first started out on Amazon.

I keep thinking of all those 'crazes' that happen, from the get rich business bubbles to the ones I see here so clearly in New Zealand. Milk is a classic example as over the last ten years it has gone from steady seller in all its forms produced on family farms to agribusiness rushing in as China opened up as a huge market, science discovered new things to do with milk, and prices soared. More people rush in until there are too many people, prices crash and the people who only care about money get burnt and get out. What is left? Well, it will be different but good stories will always be needed by readers and most writers in my home and Australia have never expected to earn our keep writing fiction.

Things change and we just adapt. I can't afford to make audio books but they are a growing market. I also suspect that multimedia is something we must look at seriously, supplying sound, links to other sites, links to pictures, music and information in our ebooks. I wish I knew enough to do it. There are systems but I find tech stuff difficult and can't afford to buy help.

Streetlib wants an ebook uploaded and I am not techy but didn't find it difficult.

They are really moving right now with running special deals for special sales of our books with various places we are not allowed to tell you about if you aren't with Streetlib.!!! Sorry.

I like their distribution which covers a lot of places the others don't and I think they are working with Kobo on various book sale deals for us.

Marvellous help, CL, thank you.

Like Ann I am afraid of making a horrendous error. But I think I have to enroll my books as Kindle Select don't i? And pull them from Kobo, Smashwords, Streetlib etc? I get more sales form them than Amazon. Perhaps I should try it when I release the ebook of my new novel? Before I set it up with my other places.

In NZ and Australia we can get our print books into libraries and bookshops via Wheelers.

Wheelers website www.wheelers.co.nz
We are a large supplier of books and shelf-ready services to libraries and schools throughout New Zealand and Australia. If you would like your book to be available for public libraries/schools to consider ordering, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) at the bottom of this document before you complete the Wheelers New Title Form which is available from this link:

I understand that to reach libraries and bookshops in the UK you've got to get your book to a distributor.

You can use online library services for e-books but otherwise it's tough.

Hope I've made it.
Thank you.

Rutvi wrote: "Hi, fellow book lovers, I am Rutvi Sompura. I have been writing poems since last 7 years and the passion to write poems elevated in writing stories. I have recently finished writing a novel titled,..."

Twitter link not working - please update fro me, pretty please?

AND
I've caught up and followed on Goodreads, Linked In and Twitter. Don't do Facebook. Anyone do Pinterest?

Sorry to be so slow. Have been in and out of hospital fro the past 18 months!

Bad writing is - surely - bad writing in any POV. As Indies we are free to experiment to do what we feel is right for the story.
AND
A lot of readers love 1st, especially in 'exciting' stories where they are so close to the action! I think of the late Dick Francis who sold millions of copies of his racing thrillers and usually used 1st POV.

Thank you for introducing me to Medium.

With you all the way, Anna.

It's fairly natural to feel a pang of envy, but that's all it should be, a brief pang and then you smile and cheer the other on, because one day it might well be you making people feel a little envious and you know how you'd want people to react to your good news.

:) :) :)

Thank you!

Hugs all round.
p.d.r. lindsay

Yes, more and more please. We writers are not good at supporting each other and tend to let envy and jealousies spoil our communications when we ought to be cheering others on.

I still hear writers make rude comments about JK Rowling's successes, especially recently with her new TV series, whereas I say, One day I'll do that too! (If I get enough years and expertise at my writing skills!)