Dear O'Abby, What do I do if my book doesn't sell?

 Dear O'Abby,

My debut novel was published over three months ago, and it really hasn't sold well at all.  I got my first royalty report and it was... well, let's just say it was embarrassing.  I'd planned to splurge on a new dress or pair of shoes with that first cheque, but I ended up celebrating  commiserating with a bottle of off-brand domestic champagne that I bought on special because it was past its best-by date.

What do I do now?  I was so certain it would sell at least a few copies.  I'm realistic enough to know I wouldn't do Stephen King or John Grisham numbers, but this is devastating.

Do you have any advice?

Yours,

Dejected.

Dear Dejected,

All may not be as gloomy as it might seem.  I don't know if you self-published or were published traditionally, but if you just received your first royalty report, it may not include all the sales for your book.  It sometimes takes a while for sales made by third-party retailers to be collated and reported, and you will find these sales will show up in your next royalty report.  I had the same devastating shock when I received my first ever royalty report from my publisher.  Especially since the book had been a best-seller in its category the first weekend it went on sale.

But it could also be that your book really hasn't sold well.  I read somewhere recently that most books published sell 250 copies or fewer.  So at least you're not alone with your miserable royalty report.

As for what to do next, my suggestion would be not to give up.  If you believe in the book, if you're certain it's good and worth the price it's being sold at, keep pushing it.  It doesn't stop being worth selling just because it's not a new release anymore. And don't stop writing either.  Sometimes it takes more than one book to make your mark. 

Maybe your marketing wasn't right.  Take a look at what you did and see if there is more you can do without spending a small fortune.  Remember the idea is to make money and if you spend more on advertising than you earn, you're not making anything.

 If you self-published, take a look at your cover and blurb.  Do they do the book justice?  Are they eye-catching?  Intriguing? A book can sometimes get a whole new life just from a change in cover art or a new, tighter description.

On social media do you just talk about your book?  Or do you engage with people about all sorts of things?  You are not your book and the more you engage with people and let your personality shine through, the more likely people are to be interested in reading your work.  My suggestion would be to only pimp your book occasionally on social media, maybe if it's on sale, or if a particularly good review comes through.  Otherwise, stick to talking and sharing other things.  Engage with people in a genuine way.

Have you had any reviews for the book?  If they're good, use them as marketing material to help push the word out that this is a book worth reading.  If they're not good, look at what the reviewers have said and see if you can use anything they said to your advantage.  I'm not saying to re-write the book based on a couple of reviews, but if a reviewer mentioned poor editing or continuity, if you're a self-publisher, you should be able to fix that.

Reviews are important, so if you didn't reach out to reviewers pre-publication, it's not too late.  You can still get reviews and they will still be valuable.

Just remember that books don't disappear.  The right person might find it in two years' time and sing its praises to the rooftop, sending it skyrocketing to the top of the best-seller list.  Or it might be your next book that really connects with readers, and that will send them searching for anything else you might have written.

Writing and publishing is a long game. It may take years and several books to reach the level of sales you dreamed of.  You might never get to that level of sales. But you're still a published author and you should be proud of that, regardless of if you sell five books or five million.

Hope that helps!

Dear O'Abby, I Hate My Cover...

Dear O'Abby,

My debut novel is about to be published and I've been super excited about it.  Then today, I got sent my cover art from my publisher and I hate it.  It's nothing like the way I imagined the book would look, and makes it look like it's something totally different to the book I wrote.

What do I do?  I don't want to ruin my relationship with the publisher, but I also really don't want my book going out in the world with that cover.

Best wishes,

Uncovered


Dear Uncovered,

I feel your pain.  I recently had exactly the same experience with my new book.

How you deal with this depends very much on who your publisher is.  If you're with a 'big-five' publisher, you will probably have less say in what the cover looks like than if you're with a small press.  But it's important you speak up.  Don't just roll with something you hate because you feel like it's rude to complain.

If you have an agent, speak to her in the first instance.  She is there to advocate for you and have those tricky conversations with the publisher on your behalf.  Outline your concerns and explain the reasons why you feel the cover is wrong.  It may even be helpful to send a few images of covers from books like yours that you do like as examples of the kind of look and feel you wanted for the cover.

If you are unagented, you will have to do this for yourself.  Reply to the publisher thanking them for sharing the artwork.  Then outline the problems you see with it, and again, maybe send some examples of covers you like that are on books similar to yours.

If you're lucky, the publisher will take this on board and try something different.  The first cover my publisher sent for my new book made it look like a historical novel, possible with some supernatural elements.  It was very pretty, but pretty wasn't right for my dark, dirty sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll novel.  So I did exactly the above, including examples, and ended up with a cover that I love and perfectly suits the novel.

So it's worth having that conversation.  Even if it is difficult.  Publishers don't always get things right.

Good luck!

And please share your cover when you get one you're happy with.  We'd love to see it.

X O'Abby

Mini-Book Charms for Authors

Ever get sucked into something different while you sit around and wait for the publishing industry? Well, that happened to me just recently, thanks to fellow bloggers Angie and Michelle.

However, with their insistence and encouragement, I decided to take my little creative endeavor to the next level—and I opened an Etsy shop for these adorable mini-book charms.

I honestly have no idea how much work I just created for myself, but special thanks goes out to Michelle, Angie, and AJ for letting me play with their covers-- your charms are in the mail!

The first thing I want everyone to know is that these charms are ONLY made for authors/ publishers/ designers (not fans) who have permission to use the novel's cover art for marketing swag, etc. Much like having bookmarks or postcards made for giveaways.


Who wouldn't want to show off their book everywhere they go?

The charms make great jewelry, key chains, handbag/purse charms, ornaments, bookmarks, or lanyard decor for badges at speaking engagements, conventions, book fairs, book signings ... you name it!

Each charm is handcrafted with YOUR cover art on the front and back. If you don't have a back cover, I'll choose a color from the front and make a blank one for you. I'll also put your name on the spine. 

~Acid-free pages are trimmed and layered to fit the dimensions of your cover. This book does NOT open when finished.

~High-gloss, color covers are glazed with acrylic gel for protection against normal wear-and-tear and water resistance (it's still paper.. can't be 100% waterproof).

~A small loop is securely embedded within the pages for extra durability. 

~As for size, each book will vary depending on the format of your cover. But I'd say it's safe to expect something around 1" x 1.75" x .25". (I'm willing to go smaller if you plan to do a bracelet with multiple books of a series—just let me know!) 

All charms will arrive ready for use, however, there are two variations: A simple charm by itself, or, a charm with extra bling added. (Bling would be theme charms and/or beads added to the mini-book, and either a ribbon/cord necklace to hang it on, a ball chain, or a lanyard (for you professional business types).




We can talk about focusing the extra bling on a theme, or I'll do my best to guess based on the style of the cover. I'll even run to the craft store if I don't have something that works perfectly. :-) 



I'll offer a discount for volume if you want to keep some on hand for giveaways or merchandise on your website or blog- just ask.

Any questions? I'll answer here on the blog. 

Like me on Facebook!

Visit my Etsy page! 

COVER LOVE: Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel

I've been enjoying my status as a peon in children's publishing for nearly half a year now. I work for Month9Books as an editorial assistant. Month9Books is a fantastic publisher and we see eye to eye when it comes to good fiction. Case in point: Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel. This is the first book I read for them that will be published, and the date is set for March 2014. It seems SO far away, so I am thrilled to share this crucial step on the road to publication: the cover reveal! I found it here, and here and here and here and here and here and here on Jen McConnel's author website. (Also the author is hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway of two other great books.)

Add it on Goodreads

Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch.
Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be.
But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is the first in a YA paranormal trilogy.

I can't even tell you how fulfilling it is to see something I had a (very, very small) part in turn into a real out-there book. I have experienced it as a critique partner to the amazing Operation Awesome blogger/writers and it never gets old. I LOVE WORKING IN PUBLISHING!!

Jen McConnel is an experienced writer whose other books also have a creeptastic witchcraft motif and stunning book covers. Check them out:

CONGRATULATE JEN ON TWITTER

Blog Tour Interview: STUNG by Bethany Wiggins

Yesterday, Michelle featured Bethany Wiggins' STUNG as part of the Book Paparazzi's STUNG Blog Tour. Her post includes the essential Top Ten Necessities for a Girl on the Run. The blog tour continues its second day at Operation Awesome (yes, we loved it that much). 

Today we've got an interview with the lovely author and an excerpt from the book!

Scroll to the bottom of the post to enter a giveaway for one of four signed copies of STUNG and some delicious honey sticks (which will make total sense once you've read the book). I had to laugh because Michelle and I had the same impulse to hoard honey after reading STUNG. Bethany might single-handedly increase honey demand globally. (I am in no way giving stock advice.)

About the Author

Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid writer.  She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn't until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction--not the Bible.

Once upon a time, Bethany's sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read--but it taught her how to write.  She is the author of SHIFTING, STUNG (April 2013), and CURED (2014).

Find Bethany: Website | Goodreads | Twitter

About the Book

Releases April 2nd, 2013 by Walker Childrens

304 Pages

There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Find Stung: Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository | IndieBound

INTERVIEW:

Katrina: I loved this early description of STUNG by you: "STUNG is about (in a nutshell) bees, child beasts, and a hot guy. It's the best thing I've ever written." Having read SHIFTING, I thought that last bit was high praise indeed! What do you love most about STUNG?

Bethany: Wow! You kept that description? That was from a long time ago! What do I love about STUNG? I love that the minute you read the first page, you are in the story. It is sort of like this whirlwind that sweeps you up, takes you on a furious ride, and then spits you out and leaves you gasping for breath. 

Katrina: Fiona awakens with a mark on her right hand, dubbing her one of the infected. Was the mark/tattoo—a black oval with five marks on either side—difficult to design or did the design just sort of come to you as you were writing the first draft? Is there any special meaning behind it other than what's described in the book?

Bethany: The mark sort of just happened, without a whole lot of thought. Even the ten lines on the sides--that has a HUGE meaning in the story, but when I originally gave Fiona the mark of a Level Ten, I didn't realize how crucial it would be to the plot. The meaning is just what I described in the book--nothing less, nothing more--but I do call it "the mark of the beast," which is a reference to a Biblical term.

Katrina: How many books are slated for this series? (Are there sequels in the works for the universe of SHIFTING, too?)

Bethany: There are definitely two books in the STUNG series (book two comes out January 2014), and probably three. As for SHIFTING, I don't know if that will ever go beyond one book. 

Katrina: STUNG has been called by many "the next Divergent" or "the next Hunger Games." But I'd like to hear from the author herself, what were your biggest influences in creating the universe of STUNG?

Bethany: Wow. I don't know who is calling it "the next Divergent" or "the next Hunger Games," but those are two incredible books to live up to. Just reading this question made me gasp! The biggest influences for Stung came from several sources (and actually, I didn't read Divergent until after I'd completely finished writing STUNG). The main inspiration for this book came from a nightmare, which is now chapter one. Also, I started writing STUNG at the time the Swine Flu was this big deal, and everyone was storming the health departments around the USA for a vaccination against the flu. I remember thinking to myself, "What if the government got the vaccine wrong and all of these people are going to turn into mindless zombies or something?" I did not get myself or my family vaccinated! A third factor was an article I read about the dying off honey bees. If you mix those three things, add some romance, some deceit, guns, and child beasts, you have STUNG.

Katrina: Since you have zombie-esque creatures, how difficult was it to write a romance in the midst of such carnage?

Bethany: The romance was the easiest part to write! The beasts and violence? Not so easy. Everything I write, I think to myself, "Will my daughter be able to read this when she's twelve?" So writing about insane teenagers who want to tear everyone to shreds was hard to do in a way that wasn't too gory or gratuitously violent. The romance was sort of like a breath of fresh air in the midst of the carnage!  

Katrina: What was the hardest scene/chapter to write and why? Or, alternately, which was the easiest to write?

Bethany: Believe it or not, the most important chapter, the one that ties everything together into a neat little package, was the very last--and hardest--chapter I wrote! It's in the middle of the book, the scene in the dark alley with the governor and the Raiders. When I very first finished the book I realized that it needed more, needed to be tied together earlier on, so I sat down and re-plotted the whole thing out, and then stuck a brand new chapter smack dab in the middle of the book! Easiest chapter? Chapter one, since I dreamed it and knew exactly how it looked, smelled, sounded, felt.

Katrina: What is your advice to new and/or struggling writers?

Bethany: If you love to write, don't give up! If you get rejections from agents/publishers, keep writing . . . BUT don't be afraid to write something new and better. SHIFTING was the fifth book I wrote. The first four weren't good enough, and I accepted that fact and put them permanently on the shelf. STUNG is the tenth or eleventh book I wrote, but when I started it, I knew it was good, so all the others I'd written were gladly stacked onto the shelf. So my point is, never stop trying. Never stop honing the craft of writing. Never be afraid to start something new. The more you write, the better you get.

THANK YOU BETHANY FOR THE INTERVIEW!

EXCERPT:

The world swims before my eyes, a blur of brown coats, golden skin and guns, and my knees buckle. Bowen’s arm snakes around my waist and he drags me the last few steps toward the beast. In one swift move, he throws me down to the ground. And then he sits on me, his legs on either side of my hips. 

His eyes flicker to my bound chest and he freezes, as if everything in the world but the two of us has disappeared. Time stops, my eyes grow wide, and his green eyes take in every detail of my body before meeting mine again. When our eyes lock, his brow furrows, his eyes narrow in confusion, and he blinks. But then the cuffs on my arms fall from my skin. Bowen picks them up and stands, taking a slow step away from me.

Read my gushing Afterglow review of STUNG.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: LIVES OF TAO by Wesley Chu

Today we have exciting news! Our very own Wesley Chu has his cover for his SF book.  Introducing

LIVES OF TAO

When out-of-shape IT technician Roen woke up and started hearing voices in his head, he naturally assumed he was losing it.

He wasn’t.

He now has a passenger in his brain – an ancient alien life-form called Tao, whose race crash-landed on Earth before the first fish crawled out of the oceans. Now split into two opposing factions – the peace-loving, but under-represented Prophus, and the savage, powerful Genjix – the aliens have been in a state of civil war for centuries. Both sides are searching for a way off-planet, and the Genjix will sacrifice the entire human race, if that’s what it takes.

Meanwhile, Roen is having to train to be the ultimate secret agent. Like that’s going to end up well…

~~~~~~~

Here is the link on good reads: HERE

It comes out in just a few short months (April 30th) so add it to your list.

Or go ahead and PREORDER it now!

~~~~~~

Wesley Chu was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Chicago, Illinois when he was just a pup. It was there he became a Kung Fu master and gymnast.


Wesley is an avid gamer and a contributing writer for the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. A former stunt man and a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he can also be seen in film and television playing roles such as “Banzai Chef” in Fred Claus and putting out Oscar worthy performances as a bank teller in Chicago Blackhawks commercials.

Besides working as an Associate Vice President at a bank, he spends his time writing and hanging out with his wife Paula Kim and their Airedale Terrier, Eva.

SHADOWS of the HIDDEN by Anne Riley is here!

It's out! Well, for pre-order!

Link to pre-order (The link to pre-order is in the sidebar)

If you use this pre-order link, shipping is free.

Goodreads page

Facebook page

Anne Riley author website

Blurb:

Natalie Watson doesn't believe her parents are dead, even though they disappeared five years ago. Discovering the truth about their fate is one of the only things that gets her out of bed in the morning. But after moving from her home in Georgia to her aunt's boarding school in Maine, solving the mystery of her parents' whereabouts is just one of several challenges she must face. When she's not fending off attacks from the popular kids, she puzzles over the rumors about a strange boy in her math class--one with fiery red hair who rarely speaks. 

Despite suspicions that he murdered his sister a year earlier, Natalie finds it impossible to stay away from Liam Abernathy--especially when he confesses to knowing something about her parents. Soon she's following him into the forest, where things happen she doesn't understand...things that shouldn't be possible. 

Natalie soon realizes her connection to Liam is deeper than she ever imagined, and not everyone she counts as a friend can be trusted. When she finds herself at the center of a centuries-old quest for immortality, she must work with Liam to stay alive--even if it means facing a truth about herself and her family that will not only shake her perception of herself, but of the entire world around her.

If you ever heard me gush about THE CLEARING by Anne Riley, then you know I am a big fan. SHADOWS OF THE HIDDEN is its reincarnation, put out by Compass Press.

The new cover goes above and beyond my original hopes for it! Covers aside, the content of this book is deep, moving, and wonderful. 

I've been recommending it to my friends for over a year, and now I have a reason to talk about it some more! 

Even though this is a magical book - okay, so it's got magic in it, not made of - it also touches on some very real-world problems, like the cost of bullying, the reality of bereavement. Adults and young adults alike will enjoy the magic and relate to the pain. As a writer, I know it's tough to strike that balance between magic and realism, but Anne Riley does it seamlessly. 

I hope you enjoy Shadows of the Hidden as much as I have. And if you do, skip on over to Anne Riley's page and tell her how it made you feel.

OA regulars, don't forget to polish your one-line pitches for December's Mystery Agent Contest TOMORROW!! See you then!

J.K. Rowling's New Cover....What do you think of it?

So I know that this is two posts from me in one day. I just couldn't help myself this time. Have you all seen the cover reveal of J.K. Rowling's new book. If you haven't here it is!!

Tah DAH!!!!

Hmm....  Can you imagine the conversation that took place between the publisher and the artist.


---------------------------------------


Publisher: Hey! I have some exciting news for you!!


Artist: Yeah? What's that?


Publisher: We want YOU to do JK. Rowling's new book cover!!!


Artist: (Screams and jumps up and down, wetting himself on the floor).  REALLY?!!!


Publisher: Yeah! Isn't it awesome!!


Artist: WOO HOOO!!! So, what do you need me to do?? (His creative juices start flowing.)


Publisher: Well....We want you to make... (dramatic pause) a red cover...


Artist: And.... (growing more excited)


Publisher: Yes, a red cover with white writing.


Artist: (leans forward in his chair)


Publisher: And then, we want you to make a black square and but an "X" in it!!


Artist: (Waits for the publisher to continue.)


Publisher: Well?


Artist: Well what? Aren't you going to tell me the rest?


Publisher: I told you the rest. 


Artist: That's it? Just a square and an "X"?


Publisher: And a red cover...oh, with yellow trim.


Artist: (crickets)


Publisher: You still there? Aren't you EXCITED!!


Artist: Um... yeah sure. 


Publisher: We'll need it in 2 months. Think you can get it done by then.


Artist: I just sent it. Finished it already.


-------------------------------------


Just for fun, I did a quick mock up of the cover. What'cha think?  (grin)  Oh, and tell me what you think of Rowling's cover. And regardless of the simplicity, I will SO be there to buy it when it comes out. :o)

Cover Love?

So, I get to throw in my 2 cents for what I'd like to see on the cover for my historical romance TREASURED LIES. And one of the ways I do this is by showing my publisher (the awesome Entangled) three of my favorite covers from my genre. These are three I'm thinking of showing them:

But I'm curious. What type of cover do you like for a historical romance/romantic suspense? What draws you in and makes you think "oooo I must get this book!" :) Do you like gorgeous eye candy on the cover, a little skin showing, or something more mysterious, or just anybody in a to-die-for poofy ball gown? :D


I am having a very hard time narrowing this down because I love so many different styles of covers and can envision several different looks for my book :) Specific suggestions are welcome! :)

Cover reveal: Updated Covers for Possession & Surrender

When the fabulous Elana Johnson announced via Twitter that she had a secret to reveal, I dropped my cookies and jumped at the chance to help her reveal it.

You remember these covers, right?:


Gorgeous, right? Well here's what landed in my inbox from Elana...

First, I present the newly-designed cover for the POSSESSION paperback:

I love (and own) the original cover in hardback, but I think the graduated background colour really compliments the the butterfly in the ice. And did you notice the new tagline?

And here is the hardback cover for SURRENDER:

Again, I think the colour of the background makes the bird in the jar pop.

I'm normally a bit on the fence about cover redesigns. I like my books (especially the ones in a series) to compliment each other when they live on my bookshelves (I know, I'm weird *grins*). But I do love these new covers. Plus the cover backgrounds just happen to be two of my favourite covers. :)

What about you? What do you think about the POSSESSION and SURRENDER covers?

My Agent-ish Experience

So last week I talked a bit about self-publishing, and how I've been considering doing it on my own. (post here)

Well, one of the primary reasons I'd never considered self-publication, is because I'm a cover art snob. That is one of the reasons why I never even considered some of the smaller presses. Sometimes their covers are a big sub-par. I'd rather have no book, than have some small press make it look amateur.

So, for me, one of the most important first steps, was to find a decent artist. I'm crafty, but I know that my abilities are far under what I expect for my cover. So I found a great art forum and posted my propostion. I would pay, so I let them make me an offer.

After 150 applications, I made my decision. :)

Some things that this experience taught me, is that there are a heck of a lot of great artists out there. Sure, there were some...um, not so good ones. But for the most part, I was blown away by the talent. It made me think about how much talent there is in the writing community. And if someone fails on submission, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are lacking talent. I had only 1 spot to fill amongst the numerous artists.

What it boiled down to was...
1. The style of art that I liked.
2. The letter they sent me.

The particular artist that I chose told me that it was his dream to do fantasy cover artwork, and that he would make my story shine and work as hard as he could on it.

And you know what? I belived him.

Sure, there were other artists, some cheaper, some with just as much talent. But in the end I chose a great guy who shares my dreams. I also got a taste of what an agent must feel like, trying to choose a client from the hundreds that pour in their inbox. And I started to understand why some don't respond. :o)  But...being on the other end of the no-response card, I tried to respect them all. Toward the end, I even found myself doing the dreaded form rejection in many cases. (Sorry, if any of those artists are reading this). But really, when I form rejected with "I loved looking at your work, but I chose someone else.."  Well, it was true for them all.

My submissions are well past 200 now, with more coming in every day. And I haven't responded to them in the last week or so. So if you are an artist, reading this, I will respond....eventually.