Trying to Sell to New People

This LONG weekend, I tried and failed to sell my book to new people. Friday, I put my Cut-out in the Coffee Shop I spent my morning working at but I didn’t have the opportunity or the courage to bring up my book. I have learned that trying to talk to strangers is more difficult unless they bring it up or looking at the product. Then on Sunday, while the world came to my suburb, I didn’t have time to let slip that I am an author. I wanted to, but I didn’t get a chance.

Monday, I advertised that I would sell my book at Wollongong Golf Club for a different audience and took several books with me to an event that happened on the night. But I learned that people take a while to buy a new concept, a new book. People need time to accept a new story, and especially a self-published story.

The hope is that come October I will sell the rest of my books that I ordered back in May and June and that by December people will be buying it online.

Me, Myself and I are doing their best to market, promote and advertise but it also takes word of mouth from those who have bought the book. Those who have read it to, post a review, spread the word too. That way more and more ‘new’ people' can understand what the book is about and buy it.

Book Two on iTunes and Things to Come

The presale has ended, the second book “Immortal and the Hex” is now available for purchase on Apple Books, this was a long process, trying to figure out why it wasn’t working. Attempting every second day to publish it, only to get an error. Here’s hoping those on Apple Devices, will enjoy reading the two books.

This book delves into the the 21st Century, an alternate 21st Century. It looks at the Mitchell’s continuous desire to help and protect as well as the consequences of his actions.

In 30 days, I plan on selling all the book copies I have left that I ordered in one go, I will be having a Book Signing in my local community. I hope to sell some books on Monday when I travel down south for an event, and then keep selling books. I hope that I attract enough buyers from all around the area so I can be sold out on the day.

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Yesterday, my third book cover was revealed, if you missed it, check out Facebook or Instagram. I am impressed with the turn-out, something that tells a bit about the book without giving it away. I hope to publish the third book late October after the Book Signing. But I will take each week as it comes.

Catch the Clues

Tomorrow the third Book Cover will be revealed, the last three days I have posted clues on Facebook and Instagram. The clue could be in the image, the words or both. The clues will help give you a mental picture of what the cover might look like. Of course, I am leaving the main part of the cover unmentioned until the big reveal.

Can you guess the blank space?

The problem with starting a series and being a beginner author is that you don’t know if people are liking the book, finished reading or even started the book. You can only hope; the feedback you get helps but until people outside your friends, family and those that you pay to provide feedback, the book is still an unknown factor. I was hoping to have three books out in 1 year. Because the books flow and lead from one to another, but unless someone leaves feedback saying “I can’t wait to read the next book.” It’s all uncertain.

So please, comment below, have you got any guesses for the clues, have you finished the book?

Tease of the Cover

Yesterday, I posted on Social Media, a hint of the Third Book’s Cover. With the big reveal on the 21st, I will be dropping hints on social media for those who are keen observers. It took two extra months to arrange for the third book’s cover. The plan of three in a row went out the window. Then iTunes struggled to publish Immortal and the Hex onto Apple which took over two weeks. So that will come out on the same day as the Cover Reveal.

Comment what you can see, and what you think might be on the cover. Keep checking social media to see if you can figure out the clues and hints.

Post from Saturday 17th September

Pre-Order, Previews and Pictures

This week you can Pre-Order “Immortal and the Hex” on iTunes and have it ready to read by next week. The book continues straight off from Book #1. After a month of struggling to get the book available, using a Windows computer to do something that works better on Apple and Mac products hopefully will be worth it in the end.

This week, I will also be providing hints and clues to the cover of Book #3, “Class of the Immortal” which will have its cover reveal next week on the 21st of September. If you check out my Instagram or Facebook page this week, there will be word clues and visual clues.

Finally, I am running out of material to use for marketing and need the help of those who have bought my book, eBook or Physical. If you have the book at home, take a picture of the book somewhere in your house, your office, car or even public transport. Then send me the picture, and you will have credit for the picture when I use it for marketing. I just need pictures of the book in new places to help promote the book.

Changes and Updates

The world mourns the passing of the Her Majesty, the Queen, Elizabeth Windsor. The world will never be the same, but she will not be forgotten. When I heard the news, I was devastated, she didn’t make it to Christmas. She has been through a lot, two wars, flood, fire and epidemic. She lost her father, mother, sister and husband, along with daughter-in-law. She traveled the world, she met so many people, shook so many hands and wore so many hats. As long as her story is told, she will not be forgotten, especially by the commonwealth.

I may have written her to live to 100+ I may have made her retire at 100, but that was my Fantasy, my alternate reality.

Now for an update, I have managed to get iTunes to publish Book #2 “Immortal and the Hex” onto Apple Books, however, I have decided to postpone the release of the book until the 21st of September, around the same time I am revealing the third book’s cover. I waited this long for it to be available on Apple, while not another two weeks.

Spanner in the Works

It has been over a week since September started, and Apple still hasn’t resolved the error preventing me from publishing my second book there. I have been emailing them for the last seven days, and they keep getting back to me with can you tell us what the problem is. Hopefully, this will be resolved before the end of the month. I am really hoping to have it available on all three platforms BEFORE I reveal the cover of the third book.

The biggest spanner in my works is social media not reaching the wider audience; having only 50-100 people reached isn’t getting the word out there. The same people are seeing the advertisement, and unless they are sharing the posts, no one else is. In order for this to reach a wider audience, I need social media actually to have their “Algorithms” work in my favour.

Writers Unleashed: Meet the Authors

Saturday 3rd of September; Writers Unleashed, Sutherland Writers Festival, hosted by the Fellowship of Australian Writers (Sutherland Branch) is a gathering of writers and readers. Today was the first time in three years to be face to face and it was great to see so many people. I had the privilege of listening to Gary Lonesborough talk about his first book; listened to Deborah Abela give tips on writing any story. Heard from Deb, James Bradley and Victoria Brookman as they spoke about their books based around Global Crisis. I was part of the group as we listened to Nardi Simpson in conversation with Dinuka McKenzie.

I got to talk to and get autographs from ten of the attending authors and was encouraged to continue my journey. I watched as high schoolers were awarded for their creative writing skills during the SPARK Competition.

I hope that maybe in the next few years, I can sell my book there and even one year, be involved. It is a big dream but one can do that. For now, I will cherish the time at Gymea Tradies.

Delay on Apple Books - Now on Lulu

Today is the last day of August, and it seems that the glitch in the iTunes server is delaying my release of Immortal and the Hex for Apple Books. I was hoping to have it out last week, but after seven days of no communication with tech support and numerous attempts to publish it. The second book of the series will have to come out next month. Well, that’s the way things are; the Reedsy launch was delayed 60 days. I decided to hold off on the third book until October. At least the ebook version until October.

On the other hand, I have released the book on Lulu. I made Lulu 18+ to limit the number of people buying the book on there. However, the book is for anyone that is a young adult or advanced reader age. The content is ideal for those 15/16+, but those as young as 13 can enjoy the story.

On Saturday, I plan on getting more advice on how to get my book out there, known by a wider audience. For now, I am relying on those that have the book and know about the book to spread the word. Take a picture of them with it, and make a comment on social media. I rely on those that read my blogs and my social media to help spread the word. I don’t care if they buy the book in 12 months’ time or five years.

I will keep you updated; as soon as the book is on iTunes Apple Books, there will be a post and a blog.

Asking the Shops

These past two weeks, I have been trying to get my book into different venues to be sold; been my own publisher, distributor and marketing team. This means I am speaking for myself on behalf of my book. Yesterday, I went to Dymocks, in Wollongong Central, to talk to them about getting the book in their shop. It sounded promising but still complicated. Being my own distributor, I had to talk to them directly.

I have to email them to see what else is needed to get the books into their franchise. If I need to print dozens of copies to have them sell, then I hope I get my money back plus some.

Earlier I gave the book shop in Thirroul; Collins Booksellers, a copy of my book so they can decide if they are selling it. I haven’t heard back from them yet, but I am hoping I hear before October ends. There are plans to get my book known to my local area and the world, but it takes time. Small steps and persistent asking.

The only way I can get more people to know about my book is if those who have heard about it, show interest. Click the link below, upvote my book or start following it. Let people know about the book.