Read Sales in the Sunset

[Philip]

I thought it might be useful to have somewhere to compare notes about sales? For example, is it just me or have anyone else's sales fallen off a cliff this weekend?

[Patti (baconater)]

Sorry Phil, I don't understand the thread title? It's a bit obscure.

[Philip]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "Sorry Phil, I don't understand the thread title? It's a bit obscure."

Ok. I'm probably trying to be too clever for my own good - sorry! Shall I change it?

[Simon (Highwayman)]

They are authors patti. Why would they say "sales are down' when they can say 'the sales figures danced into the sunset with the amazonian goddess, beautiful, enchanting but unfortunately destined to wither and die like a spring flower in the autumn"

Hmmm, I think I am getting the hang of this....

[J.S.]

Admittedly my baseline is pretty low, but I've had more US sales this month than last month... bearing in mind that this month is less than 2 days old!

[Philip]

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "They are authors patti. Why would they say "sales are down' when they can say 'the sales figures danced into the sunset with the amazonian goddess, beautiful, enchanting but unfortunately destined ..."

Yeah, that sounds about right.

I guess I imagined this thread could be somewhere to celebrate triumphs and commiserate over disasters, but we'll see if there's any interest.

[Terry]

Philip wrote: "I thought it might be useful to have somewhere to compare notes about sales? For example, is it just me or have anyone else's sales fallen off a cliff this weekend?"

Philip, I don't believe this! This is just what I was discussing with my husband - is it just me, or is it a weekend thing, this weekend? In the UK, Jubilee stuff - ist weekend of the month so everyone's out spending money - who knows, but so glad not just me!

Oh, go on, tell me it's just me, then. I'm horrible, and my books are rubbish, right? What's that? Paranoid, over-sensitive creative type? Nah!!

[Philip]

Terry wrote: "Philip wrote: "I thought it might be useful to have somewhere to compare notes about sales? For example, is it just me or have anyone else's sales fallen off a cliff this weekend?"

Philip, I don't..."

That's two of us then! Beats me. It was as if someone had thrown a switch.

[Philip]

J.S. wrote: "Admittedly my baseline is pretty low, but I've had more US sales this month than last month... bearing in mind that this month is less than 2 days old!"

Well, that's encouraging. Regrettably, my books about growing up in Burton upon Trent are not wildly popular in the U.S. Can't think why ;-)

[Elle]

The word read is confusing the heck outta me. Just cause you buy a book doesn't mean you technically read it........

[Kath]

Well I thought it was a damned clever thread title. I guffawed. I felt bad about it though when I realised it was about falling sales.
Commiserations, she said, stifling a titter!

[Philip]

Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "The word read is confusing the heck outta me. Just cause you buy a book doesn't mean you technically read it........"

Probably not, but I guess we authors can hope?

[Terry]

Philip wrote: "Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "The word read is confusing the heck outta me. Just cause you buy a book doesn't mean you technically read it........"

Probably not, but I guess we authors can hope?"

I try not to obsess over sales. Because all you can do is your best work, and do your best to promote. I don't even check my chart positions and sales every day - I don't want to start being driven to twittering frenzies of desperation. You know, those thinly veiled 'buy my book, please buy my book' !!! tweets!

[Patti (baconater)]

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "They are authors patti. Why would they say "sales are down' when they can say 'the sales figures danced into the sunset with the amazonian goddess, beautiful, enchanting but unfortunately destined ..."

That would be the beer you've got the hang of.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I think he got the hang of beer many years ago.

[Philip]

Ignite wrote: "Well I thought it was a damned clever thread title. I guffawed. I felt bad about it though when I realised it was about falling sales.
Commiserations, she said, stifling a titter!"

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ignite. For the avoidance of doubt (as all good solicitors say) the purpose of this thread was not just for me to have a good old moan about falling sales (although that is a happy side-effect) but to give authors somewhere to discuss sales trends, to consider what may or may not work in terms of promotion and accessing other markets, and to celebrate success in all its forms.

While I'm at it, it would be interesting to know from the readers out there if they have been less inclined to purchase books this weekend and, if so, why?

[Katie]

Red Sails in the Sunset is one of my favourite Colm Wilkinson songs. He does a rock'n'roll version. Now I can't get it out of my head.

As for sales - in the UK, not brilliant at the moment. I'd forgotten the Jubilee. But I rely on Amazon US (default for us Aussies), so I hadn't been worrying.

[Terry]

Philip wrote: "Ignite wrote: "Well I thought it was a damned clever thread title. I guffawed. I felt bad about it though when I realised it was about falling sales.
Commiserations, she said, stifling a titter!"..."

Yes, that would be very interesting to know! Mine picked up for one, but not the two that are usually the best sellers - weird! Now I want to be getting on with number 4, but feel I should be tweeting all morning instead! (Nb, and no I DON'T just do those 'buy my book' tweets!!!)

[Terry]

Katie wrote: "Red Sails in the Sunset is one of my favourite Colm Wilkinson songs. He does a rock'n'roll version. Now I can't get it out of my head.

As for sales - in the UK, not brilliant at the moment. I'd fo..."

It's very hard for us in the UK, as we need to post links to US too - virtually all my sales are in the UK, and that's fine with me - it's where I want to become more known. The US is too big a market for me to attempt, really!

[Kath]

I haven't bought anything for a few days because I've been proofreading something. I am now continuing with the book I interrupted to do that. I don't think the day or weekend or time of year affects my purhcases. I don't know if I'm typical though.

[Lorraine]

Back when I was running my makeup retail business on the side, there would always be a slump in sales near the summer. People save for their holidays go out more because they haven't seen any sunshine for six months etc. Maybe it's the same for books? If they have less time to read due to other activities, so because they read less they just buy books less often?
As a reader, same as Ignite. I buy when I need to buy, and it's more on impulse. Doesn't mean I'm going to read it right away though.

[Terry]

Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Back when I was running my makeup retail business on the side, there would always be a slump in sales near the summer. People save for their holidays go out more because they haven't seen any sunsh..."

Thanks, yours and Ignite's comments were helpful and interesting.

[Patti (baconater)]

Erm. I've bought (paid for, not freebies) three books in the past two days.

Two yesterday, one this morning. Two yesterday were indie, today's was trad.

They've all gone into my TBR pile. No idea when I'll get to them.

[Philip]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "Erm. I've bought (paid for, not freebies) three books in the past two days.

Two yesterday, one this morning. Two yesterday were indie, today's was trad.

They've all gone into my TBR pile. No idea..."

We need more like you, Patti ;-)

[Patti (baconater)]

Katie wrote: "Red Sails in the Sunset is one of my favourite Colm Wilkinson songs. He does a rock'n'roll version. Now I can't get it out of my head.

As for sales - in the UK, not brilliant at the moment. I'd fo..."

Ha! I had no idea it was a song title!!!

Now the thread title makes sense!

[Philip]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "Katie wrote: "Red Sails in the Sunset is one of my favourite Colm Wilkinson songs. He does a rock'n'roll version. Now I can't get it out of my head.

As for sales - in the UK, not brilliant at the ..."

I'm too obscure, sometimes Patti ;-)

[Terry]

Phillip, I've just been reading a book about the whole process that says that summer is a bad time for book sales, period!

[Kath]

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea,
Oh carry my loved one home safely to me - from memory?

[Philip (sarah)]

I tend to read less in the Summer months as I spend more time on other hobbies.I bought three books this weekend,1 Indie and 2 Trads.

[Terry]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "I tend to read less in the Summer months as I spend more time on other hobbies.I bought three books this weekend,1 Indie and 2 Trads."

Philip (sarah) - what makes you buy an Indie, as opposed to a trad (I love this!)? V interested. Sometimes if I see a book and I haven't heard of the author I don't know if it's Indie or Trad - some 'Indies' are getting v good at it - ie, publicising themselves as 'published authors' without adding the 'self-' bit in front. All hail to them for doing it, I just can't quite DO THAT! Ditto those who call themselves 'Amazon Best-sellers' because they were number #1 on the sub-sub-sub-genre "romantic>suspense>urban>MiltonKeynes>super-grunge for, like, one DAY!

I realise I have gone off-topic, and apologise. :D

[Kath]

I buy mainly indies Terry. That's because I find they don't need to be as formulaic as trads because they aren't writing what the publisher demands but what they are inspired by. That's more likely to inspire me.

I tend to find things either here on the New Releases board, or on Amazon's Meet Our Authors forum. I check out the blurb, the reviews (I'm always a bit iffy if there are lots of 5* by people who've only reviewed that book!) and sometimes the 'Look Inside'. If I'm happy and the genre appeals I'll go for it. I mainly review with highish ratings, something the Amazon brigade aren't keen on, but then, I choose wisely!

[Patti (baconater)]

We must remember though that the amazon brigade are a VERY small sample of readers and not to value their opinions too much.

Did that sound harsh? Don't mean it to.

[Philip]

Ignite wrote: "Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea,
Oh carry my loved one home safely to me - from memory?"

That's the one!

[Kath]

I'm older than I (think I) look!

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

You are incredibly young compared to rocks.

[Elle]

Patti (Stir Crazy) wrote: "Katie wrote: "Red Sails in the Sunset is one of my favourite Colm Wilkinson songs. He does a rock'n'roll version. Now I can't get it out of my head.

As for sales - in the UK, not brilliant at the ..."

HERE HERE! Makes complete sense now.


LOL

[Elle]

PS: RE: not buying this weekend.

Well I did buy a lot on Friday I think it was but they were all trad's.

But anyway, weekends for me always mean going outside. I get much more reading done during the week. When Summer hits especially I spend a lot of time out doors when there is natural light (and even sometimes in the pitch black)

[Philip]

Things have picked up a little today (but not much). Seems odd really - you would have thought that 24hrs of torrential rain yesterday would have encouraged the purchase of books, whereas today...

[Philip (sarah)]

Terry wrote: "Philip (sarah) wrote: "I tend to read less in the Summer months as I spend more time on other hobbies.I bought three books this weekend,1 Indie and 2 Trads."

Philip (sarah) - what makes you buy an..."

Sorry for the late reply Terry.
Prior to having my Kindle I had never even heard of Indie authors.I joined this group and a whole new reading experience was revealed to me.80% of the books I read are now written by Indies and I just can't get enough of them.The originality and diversity not to mention the quality of the writing has left me in total awe of the talent that is out there and so many people are still unaware of it.This past year I have read some of the most memorable books of my life thanks to Indie authors and recommendations from people in this group.

[Emma]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Terry wrote: "Philip (sarah) wrote: "I tend to read less in the Summer months as I spend more time on other hobbies.I bought three books this weekend,1 Indie and 2 Trads."

Philip (sarah) - what ma..."

Sarah, you have just completely summed up my experience too xx

[Kath]

A well written Indie book is the delight of my life. Fortunately there have been many delights recently!

GL that's why it's good to be married to a geologist. The older you get the more interested he is!

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I suppose a wine or cheese expert would be similar.

[Andrew]

I think I've sold a stonking four copies so far this month. Obviously I'd rather it was more, but that's actually not a bad start for me...

[Philip]

Ignite wrote: "A well written Indie book is the delight of my life. Fortunately there have been many delights recently!

GL that's why it's good to be married to a geologist. The older you get the more interest..."

Very good! And he rocks too, I guess?

[Kath]

He does indeed. Do you know him? ;)

[Darren]

I can't sell anything in the US at all. I think it's down to that uniquely British sense of humour not travelling.

My sales were never anything very much until I somehow ended up on some of those filtered lists (you know kindle>fiction>lifestyle>recovery guides>remote control down sofa sort of thing)and they have been relatively steady since then.

I'm not going to be giving up the day job any time soon, but getting on those lists really made a difference.

[Philip]

Ignite wrote: "He does indeed. Do you know him? ;)"

Only by reputation ;-)

[Philip]

Darren wrote: "I can't sell anything in the US at all. I think it's down to that uniquely British sense of humour not travelling.

My sales were never anything very much until I somehow ended up on some of those..."

Interesting. I have no idea at all what (if anything) drives my sales. They were in the gutter for the two months leading up to Christmas and then bounced right back from Jan. to March. Since then, a bit of a mixed bag. Perhaps I should take up casting runes ;-)

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Apparently if you throw asparagus stalks in the air the pattern they land in reflects your sales. For poorer authors celery stalks might be an acceptable alternative. As far as interpreting them goes, I can't help.

[Philip]

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "Apparently if you throw asparagus stalks in the air the pattern they land in reflects your sales. For poorer authors celery stalks might be an acceptable alternative. As far as interpreting them go..."

Celery it is then