ROBUST discussion
Author to Author
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Amazon Select book lending program
Amos wrote: "What are the chances Amazon are faking the numbers to get people on board?"Zero.
Andre, if the reason you got into KDP was to get readers, of course you're going to be checking your numbers -- and you're going to check them often when you're having a special promotion. That is, you will if you're not Andre Jute.Indie books are tools to be used by Amazon, just as physical books have been for years. I don't expect Amazon to love me, but I do expect them to help indie authors as long as it serves their purpose to do so. I do not expect them to do terrible things to us if (or when) we're no longer of use to them. I see a lot of paranoia expressed in relation to Amazon, but I think it's misplaced. Do people think Smashwords is any more altruistic than Amazon is?
What you can learn from this experiment is whether it has legs. Will the free books lead to reviews? Will the reviews help or hurt your sales? Will a graph of your sales following the experiment rise, fall, or stay the same over time? You can compare all that with your pre-promo numbers from the time you first enrolled in KDP. That sort of thing may not interest you, but it sure as hell interests me -- as I think it will the majority of enrolled authors. Why would they enroll if they didn't care about their books' performance?
There is a glitch in the free book promo. My promo ended but the books are still free and the downloads are continuing. I don't mind, of course, but it does seem they have some software problems to iron out.
Update: The are now no longer free. It took the system half a day to catch up.
Tee, hee, Patricia. I was thinking: Homily, what homily? Then I checked the post and realized I had used the word without thinking. Which is odd because it's not a word I normally ever use. I was referring to the saying about Carter and peanuts. In fact I remember wondering if the adage wasn't older than Carter and 'Planters' would have been used in its place. Just my normal wandering mind.Thank you for continuing to post your numbers. It's valuable info for the future. Interesting that your numbers continued to move each day. Like you I would not have expected that. For my own book I plan a 2-2-1 free promotion, starting with tomorrow and Friday, then either the 26th and 27th or 27th and 28th, as I figure those might be the days new Kindle owners could be at their most exuberant. I know many other authors will do the same, but there will also be more new readers, and I'm guessing even the demographics of those new readers will change. So it's possible the readers I want to find my book might have a better than ever chance of doing so. After that I expect I will do the last free sometime mid-January or so. I have no expectations whatsoever but I am grateful for the opportunity. And grateful for those who are sharing their experiences.
Andre said: Too many indies appear to live in a continuous hysterical panic.
Yes they do, and that is why I have never boarded the 'Amazon is out to get me' train. What would be in it for Amazon to oust indies? They sell content, lots of it. They need us, just as they need batteries and TVs and, I dunno, pick anything you want, let's go with Persian rugs - or bicycle tools. They went for years making no money; in fact losing tons of it, building up content and figuring out how best to distribute said content. Books have always been a huge part of it. They offer a generous percentage to those authors who abide their pricing conditions; pricing that, to me, gives a very wide range of options and makes tremendous sense for what an ebook aught to sell for. They offer one of the best distribution outlets in the world, (if not the best) and a further option for those authors wishing to sell outside the 70 percent profit. I use the word profit here deliberately, because that's what it is - it is not a royalty and (35%? is that what it is now?) is still certainly more than an author could count on when traditionally published.
Someone tell me why, in some reasoned way and not in imagined 'hysterical panic', Amazon would want to get rid of indies? They need our content just as much as, if not more than, any other thing they sell. There are far, far more indie authors than there are trad pubbed, and if my own reading is any indication they are taking more care and getting way better at their writing.
Furthermore, if Amazon did want to get rid of us, would not some enterprising new JB step forward? Methinks there are plenty waiting in the wings...
Yeah, what Sharon said.___
By the way, Sharon, it was K.A. who made the Carter/peanuts remark. You and Andre mix us up, but here's how to tell us apart: I'm a bird, and K.A. is a sizzling hot babe.
Since the promo ended, my downloads have come to a screeching halt. No surprise. Life has returned to normal.
Sharon wrote: "Kat, hope you took some screen shots of those charts!! Post them and use them for all they are worth!!"I have refrained from posting them on KB and crowing. Admirable restraint...and I'm baking cookies today. Also attempting an old family recipe for Finnish Coffee Bread. Took 2 weeks to find Cardamon.
'Sold' a copy of Mom's 'Turned Out' on AMazon DE!
Okay this is the afternoon chart:Let's Do Lunch
Amazon US = 1651
Amazon UK = 395
Amazon DE = 0
Turned Out
Amazon US = 85
Amazon UK = 25
Amazon DE = 1
Numbers have more than doubled and I'm going over to see what the romance charts look like.
"Let's Do Lunch" is #4 on the Free Romantic Suspense charts for both US and UK.
(Thud)
Sorry, had to pick myself up off the floor.This isn't going to last - as with Patricia the numbers will fall back to nothing when the free session is over.
BTW - thank you for the compliment, Patricia. That's very sweet.
This too shall pass. I can't get too wrapped up in it. It's easy to give books away, people, especially Romantic Suspense Readers, hoard them.
Plus the book isn't a 'proper' romance, so I expect some snark.
Just as I was about to get the smelling salts for you, I see you're back on your feet, K.A. I did have one sale since the promo ended. And it was returned. Sigh.Don't worry about getting wrapped up in what's happening with your numbers. You deserve to have some fun after all the work and time you've put into trying to get some eyes on your books. It's about time something good happened.
I'm expecting to see a lot of returns by people who see only that big, fat $0.00 which pertains to the lending library -- and then they hit buy by mistake. I almost did that very thing with a short story today, but I caught it in time. I wish Amazon would find a better way, visually, of handling the zero and the prices.
Now I feel like a cheapskate because a mere $.99 cents was all I would have had to pay for that story that looked interesting to me.
Maybe I'll feel so ashamed, I'll go back and buy it. It's called Renovator.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
S'okay, Patricia, I bought a copy. Will I ever read it? Dunno, but maybe I'll make someone smile today.Kat! Queen for a day! Who knows what will come of it?
Did you tell us you were looking for Cardamon? Could have sent you some (whole or ground with the mini coffee grinder I have for that purpose). We are so multi-cultural here we can get pretty much every spice/food known to man within one km. Seriously, next time ask.
Would love to send you a well-deserved crown, but that would be pushing it. Consider a cyber one sent (cause I don't have the skill to post an image)
I bought it, too, Sharon. He can smile at least twice.
Patricia wrote: "I bought it, too, Sharon. He can smile at least twice."Probably a giant grin...
Patricia, that's hilarious. Kind of proves a point I made up-post (though of course I'm not accusing you of doing it on purpose). Amazon wants to and does sell everything under the sun. Must admit I would not have thought of checking them for spice.
Sharon wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I bought it, too, Sharon. He can smile at least twice."Probably a giant grin...
Patricia, that's hilarious. Kind of proves a point I made up-post (though of course I'm not accus..."
I check Amazon first for just about everything because I have Prime. Without it, I wouldn't.
Mod
I have refrained from posting them on KB and crowing. Admirable restraint....."
You should post on KB. There's a brag board specifically for people in the Top 100.
Mod
Excellent analysis, Sharon. It has always been my case that Amazon is a trader, which is very different from a publisher (of the more desirable kind) in attitude and practice. It also means that Amazon has no reason to favour indies especially, or to create them any differently from other suppliers of goods.
Thanks for the crown! I'll keep it polished!The first batch of coffee bread was DRY(!!!) though tasty. Better luck next time.
I agree about Amazon.
They have a huge amount of server space that wasn't doing anything. So why not allow anyone upload files to it? The technology was in place, nearly automatic, so why not use it?
This is an historic day. I've had my first "borrow" from the lending library (Sheet Music). I figure this will entitle me to at least half of that $500,000 pot.
Mod
Results for The Storyteller:Day 1 - 8 am PST.
US - 77 free
UK - 12
de etc. - 0
No borrows, of course
Patricia, I'm thinking you are gonna be rich, one way or the other!
Hope to spend a bit of time over at KB, largely ignored yesterday, see what's shaking over there.
Hmmm today is even more fun! #17 overall in UK FREELet's Do Lunch
Amazon US = 2184, #5 best seller FRee Romantic Suspense
Amazon UK = 1169, #3 Best Seller #17 Free Romantic Suspense
Best Seller Free
Amazon DE = 0
-----------------
Turned Out
Amazon US = 106
Amazon UK = 30
Amazon DE = 1
I now have three library loans out, each title is different.Kat, those great numbers just keep growing. Excellent.
Sharon, give it time.
Once again I got booted out when in the middle of a post. Too busy to repeat now.I'm also not going to look at the numbers again until later today.
Patricia, that is encouraging!!
Hey, so I was seeing on one of the other select convo's that you can only borrow on a real, physical, kindle. No lending on the kindle for whatever aps. Anyone know if that's true of the tops of their heads?
Ha ha ha, my post appeared again after my laptop suddenly shut itself off and Windows asked if I wanted to restore. Of course I said yes, and now here it is, FWIW...A point of stupidity: When I first pubbed we were allowed to list in 5 categories. I was on the KDP boards then and advised to put the book into as many as it could apply to. Since there is no specific category that would describe my book, one of the listings I used was 'historical' because there are three stories within the story from ancient times. Of all the categories checked off, this is the least close to being an accurate description. Since I pubbed, only two categories are allowed, and when I tried to go in and delete historical a while ago, I discovered that the 5 categories are 'grandfathered' in and if I made any changes, I would only be allowed the two that new books are given. I did change the orignals early on, and actually would have sworn I had removed 'historical', but I can't find it in my notes so perhaps I was remiss. Of course, the category that is coming up in the ranking stats is... ta-da!... Historical! Oh boy, not going to like the fallout from that, methinks!
A side note: In the UK the rankings shown are for 'Literary'.
At least it will disappear off the map for low rankings soon. It's the readers who may have downloaded specifically because it was listed as historical I am concerned about. Ah, well, naught to be done about it now. Live and learn.
Not sure if other categories will come up if the ranking improves...
I dislike Amazon's category choices.Keryl, you're right: no borrowing except from the device itself, and only by Prime members. On the Kindle, a borrower has to go into the menu to get the loan. Amazon is making sure that the offer is Prime-specific, and device-specific -- probably because those are two things they're selling. Apps are free.
Yeah, I know a couple of authors who listed their books in Non-fiction > > > to end in something that DID fit the book, when they are clearly fiction...
Something I just figured out (I'm slow): even though borrows are counted as sales, the number of borrows isn't included in the column that says how many sales were made. You have to add the borrows to that total to get your true number. I suppose Amazon does that because the borrowed copies don't carry the 35% or 70% royalty.I'm now at four library loans.
Currently #2 in UK Free Romantic Suspense - right next to 'Not What She Seems' by Vitorine Lieske who is #2 on the "paid" chart.This is fun - I'm taking on the 'Queen of the $.99 Romance Indies' for top spot.
Polishing that paper crown for all it's worth. LOL
OMG!!! 'Let's Do Lunch' has 1 in DE and 1 in ES!
That's something to CELEBRATE!
I BROKE OUT IN SPAIN!!!!!
Quick! Someone put rocks in Kat's pockets to keep her down here on earth.
Holy cr@p, you two! Four borrows, Patricia! Getting wealthier by the minute.
And Kat! That is heady stuff indeed. Fun is good... Put some gold leaf on that crown and pour yourself a drink. Perrier should do it!
As for me, not moving very fast. Glad I was out for the day with no internet access (at least any that would not have taken 5 minutes to load), lol.
.com ~ 211 sales - #780 free - #20 Historical
.uk ~ 38 - #558 free - #12 Literary
But big smile! 1 in de!! Love it!
Sharon, you're in categories that probably won't get traffic like contemporary fiction, fantasy, and romance. From what people are posting, it looks like many shop by category which is something that I've never done till recently. Maybe if you change the categories before the next giveaway, it'll speed things up.My borrows are now at 5, plus I've had ten regular sales since my giveaway ended. But I just got an email from a friend whose Kindle was delivered yesterday and learned that she accounts for six of those ten regular sales. Therefore, I can't count them. She bought the books only because she knows me; wouldn't have otherwise.
Thanks, Patricia, Contemporary Fiction is one of my categories but since I don't know how the listing works on 'free', I can only assume that in the other categories I'm not that highly ranked. Good to know how most are shopping. Not worried, if just a small fraction read the book, that is a step forward. Will have to see if I can find the time before leaving on my trip to deal with the categories. It may just be that I only want the book in the two best categories in which it fits, but I don't want to leap into that decision. If I go with a second 90-day I will certainly be in a better position to make a good call. No matter how it stacks up, Patricia, those are nice numbers. Soooo impressed with the borrows.
Mod
Anyone know if that's true of the tops of ..."
Yes. Delivery only to a physical Kindle.
Mod
That's something to CELEBRATE!
I BROKE OUT IN SPAIN!!!!! "
World-famous author Kat Jordan today said in Palm Beach, "I just want to be alone."
Nah, not our Kat. She'll be basking on a chaise loungue, Perrier in hand and golden crown perched askew, signing autographs for the hordes who have hunted her down...
Thanks Sharon! That does sound like more fun.It's been an interesting day. A lot of fun with the books. And did some Christmas Shopping.
Cool Patricia! That's the way to go!
Kat, does it really sound like fun to you? I'm such an introverted hermit, I'd hate it.
I doubt it's going to happen. But I do enjoy talking to people. I'm a raging extrovert - by writer standards. LOL
You are talking to someone who spent all day at the tattoo parlor with her husband getting him his Christmas preseant. (No, I didn't get inked.)
I like talking to people one on one, but beyond that forget it.The appeal of tattoos is lost on me. I routinely change the art on my walls, so can't imagine wanting to live with permanent art on my body.
Patricia - I agree about tattoos. Totally beyond me.My husband said "Get one" and I looked at every design in the place. Nothing interesting.
I've got a friend who wants a 'tramp stamp' of a heart with wings. I found one for her. But still - I can't get enthused about what amounts to cartoon art. It's all too crude, with thick black lines filled in with color. (shrug) To each their own, I guess.
As of this morning:Let's Do Lunch 12/16/11
Amazon US = 2601
Amazon UK = 2073
Amazon DE = 4
Amazon FR = 1
Amazon ES = 1
Amazon IT = 0
Turned Out
Amazon US = 116
Amazon UK = 32
Amazon DE = 1
Amazon FR = 0
Amazon ES = 0
Amazon IT = 0
How many more free days do you have left, Kat?
Kat, that is outstanding! Cool to think you may have picked up fans in Europe! Keep on polishing that crown, girl!Here's my 2nd day morning stats, as of 6 am when I last checked:
.com - 261
.uk - 46
.de - 3!
borrows - 0
I'm happy enough with them. Really slowed down today, probably because there are a gajillion more authors getting on board now that they have seen successes like Kat's.
I'm going to stick with just the two days now and two more during the Christmas break, with one reserved for January.
This whole thing has got me going on having another, fresher, look at the last revised book description I posted several months ago.
I'm getting more purchases than borrows at this point.
For me more purchases might be a good thing. I have no expectation of either, though...
Mod
Sharon, I wouldn't be so sure. There was a thread on KB asking for books like yours, so I plugged yours, and there were a few more recommendations, so there is a demand and books to meet it.
This is the last day! Tonight at midnight pacific I turn back into a pumpkin. I will pass you the crown. lol
Andre, I have no idea how many Prime members there are. Bezos won't tell me. He has sooo many secrets. And yes, Prime members are the only ones who can use the lending library.Everyone who buys a Kindle Fire, gets a month of Prime free. Millions of Fires being purchased. Also, anyone with any kind of Kindle can get a free trial month of Prime. More millions.
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At the KB thread Kat referenced I found David Dalglaish obsessing minute by minute about his sales. Maybe that's books now, but if it is, it's not my sort of books. In any event, I don't think you can learn anything from such a short experiment.
Too many indies appear to live in a continuous hysterical panic.
I also find it interesting that people who a year ago abused me for even suggesting that Amazon is on nobody's side but Amazon's profits, are now speculating that Amazon is plotting against the indies. Nope, fellers, indies still matter as much to Amazon as you did back then, very little, about as much as a cheap, easily replaced tool.