Can I have a hug please? Showing 751-800 of 1,136

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

Hugs for everyone on the luckiest day of the year!

[Christina]

Hug a black cat because today is a crummy day for our maligned fur babies.

[T.L.]

Hmm...nope.
This was Waterstones, but same applies for WH Smith.

They need someone like Gardners to be the distributor.
Gardners need Createspace to have a UK based distributor to deal with my books. But they don't.

So, I either find a different way to publish the paperback.
Or on Nielsen (who I purchased my ISBN with and put the details on their system)...name myself as the distributor, order the books from Createspace myself and send them on to Gardners. But this sounds really convaluted and more than a little scary.

I've jumped through so many hoops (each stage being vague, and difficult to achieve), yet with no reward (yet).
I knew it'd be tough. It's why I stuck to ebooks for so long.
I just want bookstores in my own country to sell my book! :(

Any advice with an encouraging hug would be appreciated, please.

[T.L.]

Thanks Alex. Feeling a bit better as now I feel like a brave pioneer.
I will see if I can pave a way for us all :-)

[Lyra]

Erica wrote: "After a couple fairly successful months of sales, I am wrapping up my first month of nothing. As I was reading through this thread, I noticed many other authors going through the same thing. While ..."

I love your post, Erica. Thank you. <3

[T.L.]

Sending out ((warm hugs))
Sat here with a wheaty bag on my feet as it's so cold!

Hope you're all well xx

[Leo]

When you get a chance, go to Mexico for a while. I can really recommend that. Warmer and lots of inspiration.

[T.L.]

Haha; my inspiration needs to come from Wales at the moment. Cold and dank is just about right for my WIP :)

((Weekend Huggles))

[Amie]

It has been cold and dank here in the Midwest too. Today is our first sunny day in like two weeks! It makes me sleepy. I have to have the sun.

Keep us posted about getting those books in the stores.

[G.G.]

to everyone who needs one!

[T.L.]

Update 1; The Createspace respondere "didn't understand my query"

So, I've clicked on 'if this has not answered your question', repeated and included slightly snarky SUMMARY to really spell it out. :-/

I really was quite explicit. Tsk!

(btw this was after I requested a "chat with a consultant" but had an email to say they were unable to reach me. Perhaps if they'd tried dialling the number I provided?? I had NO missed calls!!)

I'm persisting! Like a dog with a bone!!

(sending CS love & light xx)

[T.L.]

G.G. wrote: "

to everyone who needs one!"

Love the gif! <3

[G.G.]

hehe here's my SammySue version of hugging the stuffing out of you:

Or maybe it's the vampire in me...

[G.G.]

January is known to be a tough day for depressions so I hope all of you are doing ok...only a few more days to February. That should count for something! :)

[Jane]

Hugs from me and mega hugs from Dog - who is currently upside down with all four legs in the air.

[G.G.]

[T.L.]

Aww Jane upsidedown Dog = ticke tums! xx

GG ur pics are awesome (even the hug to bursting one) :-0
I really hope you like my book 6. Nervous about my own "vampires".
Planning on getting stuck back into writing this week.

Today is snuggle under bkankey with a cuppa & a good boom Sunday for me :-)

I'll just leave some comforty hugs right here for any in need xx

[G.G.]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Did I read vampires??

[T.L.]

Haha yeah. When draft 1 is done do you want to be a beta reader GG (as a vampire fan)?

And I want your cool gifs!!

[G.G.]

I'm not saying no, but it will depend on when and what I am doing at that time. I hate to say yes and then be so absorbed by something else and not be able to give my 100% or at least my 90% hehe

My cool gifts...should I share the webpage who has all the codes? but but but but...

[T.L.]

haha, no worries on either count GG ;p

Update on CS vs UK distribution.
My book is available to bookstores in the UK, but as far as I can tell that's via Amazon UK, so they'd pay the full price as a general reader??? Well, of course that's against their policy!

I seem to be chasing my tail here, and getting dizzy.
But I'll pursue it a bit more.

xx

[T.L.]

Yep; circles in the sand.

So CS expnaded distribution is US only.
If UK bookstores want to order (via a UK distributor) they can't! :(
They can order via CS/Amazon (paying full price!) or I can order author copies, turn my home into a warehouse and send them on to the book suppliers (no royalty)!!!

most helpful bit of CS response:
"I understand your indication that having options to distribute to bookstores/retailers in the U.K. would be great. In this case, I've recorded your suggestion so that our appropriate team can consider it while making further improvements down the road."

I shan't hold my breath!

Need a hug! ;(

[Azrael]

Life is ebb and flow, similar to waves. Book sales are more like off-roading in a Chevy Aveo. Keep going! Your hard work will pay off! Hope I have at least given you reason to smile! :-)

[Jane]

Dog and me send hugs - snuggly wiggly hugs.

He is currently asleep but promises something extra special in the hug dept when he gets up....

[Aislinn]

TL, you've probably already thought of this, so feel free to ignore me. But many of my author friends back in Aus have 2 distributors. Createspace for all their US stuff/on Amazon, and then a local one (or one with local distribution) like Ingram (or, in their case, Fuji).

Can you not also publish your book with a local company so you can either sell to the bookstores yourself at a cheaper price, or find out who they buy from and go through them?

I'm not sure if that makes any sense. I guess what I'm saying is that you don't have to be exclusive through Createspace.

[T.L.]

Yeah, thinking I'll have to find a UK alternative to CS. Any recommendations?
Annoying as I put so much work into this.
Hey ho. It's all learning. And why I only tried with 1 and not all 5 of my books.

Thanks for the hugs gang xx

[[deleted user]]

TL Clark (author of love) wrote: "Haha yeah. When draft 1 is done do you want to be a beta reader GG (as a vampire fan)?

And I want your cool gifs!!"

TL Clark, if you don't mind, I would like to be a beta reader, I love vampire-related books and will indeed read them.

[[deleted user]]

TL Clark (author of love) wrote: "Yep; circles in the sand.

So CS expnaded distribution is US only.
If UK bookstores want to order (via a UK distributor) they can't! :(
They can order via CS/Amazon (paying full price!) or I can ..."

Hopefully it works out for you, *hugs*.

[Aislinn]

*Sigh*

I need a hug today guys. Sales had been going pretty well since my promo late in December. But the last few days have been particularly dismal for sales.

I know I have to keep positive and all that. It just sucks that when you finally think you're getting somewhere, it turns out you are actually worse off than before!

Ugh.

[J.]

Miss Aislinn, the fact that your book sales have slumped does NOT mean you're not getting somewhere. You're out there. Your books have sold and probably will again. It's up an up and down sort of thing, not always linear. Do NOT let this slump make you feel like you're less than you are.
And if it helps, my sales have tanked in the last week or so too ; )

[G.G.]

Aislinn, I would consider myself lucky to have only a few days without sales...I mean.. a few days only? Many of us can stay months with flat lines. What's a few days? It will pick back up.

[T.L.]

Hugs to Aislinn xx

January has flatlined for me. But so busy writing book 6 I'm notpromoting my others.
One day I hope I'll get a steady trickle of sales without my input.

But yeah; it's a turbulent beast.
Keep at it.

Hugs to all xx

[[deleted user]]

Aislinn wrote: "*Sigh*

I need a hug today guys. Sales had been going pretty well since my promo late in December. But the last few days have been particularly dismal for sales.

I know I have to keep positive and..."

Although, I haven't released a book yet, I already know that what you are doing is brave and inspirational. Now, sales won't always be that great and they will be inconsistent, but I gurantee you that your sales will come right back up.

*Hugs and smiles*

[Jane]

Aislinn wrote: "*Sigh*

I need a hug today guys. Sales had been going pretty well since my promo late in December. But the last few days have been particularly dismal for sales.

I know I have to keep positive and..."

You are about to get a Dog hug. And a reminder not to let the world grind you down. Just do what you do with a grin and it will be good in the end

[Aislinn]

Thanks guys! Trying to stay positive. :)

I do appreciate the hugs though!

[T.L.]

Aislinn; this is exactly why this thread started.

We all get collywobbles sometimes. Welove our books and get disheartened when we perceive not enough people are reading them.

But you wrote your book.
You had the courage to publish it.
You are a successful writer.
Feel it. Feel the warmth of achieving that.

Readers are great but do not define yourself by them. That way pressure lies.

Now take that hug from Dog and all us hoomans. Have some hot chocolate. Take a deep breath and carry on.

Mwah xx (sneaky cheek kiss added)

[Aislinn]

Thanks TL.

These have been my worst sale days since about August or September when I first published, so I'm sure you can understand why I'm a little disheartened. And it happened really suddenly and with no warning (rather than a steady drop off) which has me doubly worried.

I'm going to be unemployed as of the first of February (by choice) so I was hoping something might come of my writing, but now I think this is a sign, and not a good one.

It would be nice if I could just write from the love of it, but I think all of us also write to share our work with the world.

I'm obviously not giving up yet, but this just really sucks, is all. :p Thanks again!

[Melanie]

Oh no that's such a shame. It happens to most authors from time to time. But feels so bad when it happens to you personally. John Kremer has a great book called 1001 to Market Your Book which libraries near you may have. It has amazing free or cheap marketing ideas to get sales back up. Wishing you the very best. Don't ever give up x

[Steven]

Many authors still can not find out what really works for them, but you do. So, for the fact you knew that your last promotion worked means you can repeat it to get the same or a better result. Hugs!

[Thomas]

UGH! Today is not my day....hugs to whomever needs 'em. I know I sure do!

[Aislinn]

Thanks everyone <3

[Aislinn]

Hugs to you, Alex! I'm sure it would be worth one more attempt? Just so you know for sure. Maybe wait a bit until you're up to it, though

[T.L.]

Oh dear; most frustrating, Alex.
Yes, those promo spots can be tricksy to get into.
There was a website somewhere listing lots of places who can advertise for free/low cost.
Cast your net wide and see what little fishies you can catch.

Aislinn, my comment to you seems to have disappeared, possibly as I linked to my blog. It was only because I wrote a post there about 'advice to new authors'.
Even the greats struggled.
Beatrix Potter was technically self published.
And Louisa May Alcott was told to stick to teaching.
JK Rowling had numerous failed attempts at getting published.

So, we can all take comfort that we are not the first to go through struggles as a writer.

Sending warm comforty hugs to you all xx

[Jane]

Friday hugs to each and all
We hope your weekend is a ball
With magic sales
And many ales
And feeling ten feet tall

A poem by Dog

[T.L.]

Aaawww Jane, that's lovely <3

Ball? Someone say ball? Gimme the ball! ;p
Fetch Dog! xx

Alex; slow and steady wins the race :)

xx

[Jane]

Gale force winds have all but blown Dog's fur inside out. Which has made him exceptionally huggy. So there are many hugs going spare chez us at the mo.

Do pop in and grab one...

[G.G.]

Oh and usually that means they smell great too. Love to smell them after they went out in the wind...they smell...like spring.
Can I have a hug from Dog? :P

[Jane]

Dog says GG may have two hugs as he thinks she sounds like a very nice lady.

And yes, his fur smells fresh - like the wind has spring cleaned him.

[G.G.]

Thank Dog for me. :) What breed is Dog? Not that it makes any difference. I love them all. :P

[Jane]

Dog is a Belgian Shepherd. Groenendael. If you look at my author page on the Zon that's him. There's also a pic of him on my GR author page.