What do you do when a series isn’t
selling? I have six books in my vampire series. The latest was released on
April 1 to lackluster sales. I started advertising on Amazon (took a class in
April that showed me how to create low bid ads). Sales have increased on book 1
(yay!), but unfortunately I’m spending more than I’m bringing in. It’s not a
huge loss ($20-30/month), but not exactly the profit I had hoped for.
I was told that my series is
probably perfect for Kindle Unlimited (vampire romance does well there, I
guess). But I would make less per book based on what they pay for pages read vs
the royalties I get on the selling price. Of course, I have to SELL the books,
right?
I’m really wondering whether I
should even bother writing more books in this series. If I decide to stop, then
it might not matter if they’re sold wide. Right? Luckily, this isn’t a decision
I need to make anytime soon. And I may wait at least until the last book has
been out a year. If my advertising loss becomes too pricy, I can always stop
the ads. Right now I’m still acting on hope. Hope that the series takes off. Thing
is, it takes time to get recognized. And I have to advertise to get recognized.
This publishing business sure can
be frustrating.
Here’s what I read since my last
update:
Book #28
Dates read: July 12-19
Title: Cut and Run
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Lucy Kincaid #16
# of Pages: 432
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid is dead-set on solving a cold case—even if the original investigators stonewall her every step of the way. A violent storm has uncovered the remains of a family that authorities assumed fled the country years ago to avoid prosecution. But the boy of the youngest Albright son never turned up. If the child is dead, why wasn’t his body found with his parents? If he’s alive, where has he been…and what does he know? Now Lucy and her partner Nate must reconstruct an old crime to find a missing child in the present day.
Meanwhile, investigative reporter Maxine Revere is called to San Antonio. A confessed killer of a young woman named Victoria has recanted his statement, which opens the door to a whole new world of secrets and betrayal. Max hires Sean Rogan, Lucy’s husband and seasoned PI, to help. The discovery that Victoria might be connected to the Albright family leads Max, Sean, and Lucy to the darkest corridors of corporate crime. But how can they untangle their complex web to find justice for the victims…and the killer in their midst?
My thoughts: This series is beyond being romantic suspense (but it is how Lucy and Sean started). Doesn’t matter much to me, though. I enjoy these characters so much.
Title: Cut and Run
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Lucy Kincaid #16
# of Pages: 432
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid is dead-set on solving a cold case—even if the original investigators stonewall her every step of the way. A violent storm has uncovered the remains of a family that authorities assumed fled the country years ago to avoid prosecution. But the boy of the youngest Albright son never turned up. If the child is dead, why wasn’t his body found with his parents? If he’s alive, where has he been…and what does he know? Now Lucy and her partner Nate must reconstruct an old crime to find a missing child in the present day.
Meanwhile, investigative reporter Maxine Revere is called to San Antonio. A confessed killer of a young woman named Victoria has recanted his statement, which opens the door to a whole new world of secrets and betrayal. Max hires Sean Rogan, Lucy’s husband and seasoned PI, to help. The discovery that Victoria might be connected to the Albright family leads Max, Sean, and Lucy to the darkest corridors of corporate crime. But how can they untangle their complex web to find justice for the victims…and the killer in their midst?
My thoughts: This series is beyond being romantic suspense (but it is how Lucy and Sean started). Doesn’t matter much to me, though. I enjoy these characters so much.
It’s probably a good thing I stalled on writing the 7th
book in the vampire series. But I really need to work on something new (besides
revising the next ghost book). Yesterday I might have gotten an idea for another
ghost book. But I really need to get book 3 in the ghost series done and
published. Apparently my ghost series is selling better than my vampire series.
See? There’s still hope I’ll make a profit at this gig!
So... What are you reading? Anything good?
Happy Reading!
Stacy
2 comments:
Bummer to hear that about your vampire books - they are really good! I know it's not much consolation, but non-Scottish time travel isn't a big seller, either. :)
I made more when I was running ads - about equivalent to what I paid for the ads. So I stopped the ads, because why bother? The only outlier was Bookbub, but who can get in there anymore?
I am reading Nora Roberts Key trilogy - really good!
Jennette - I'll keep running the ads because at least I'm getting SEEN. After so many looks, people start remembering... right? And then they want to buy. That's my hope. It's been a long time since I read a Nora Roberts book. I wasn't too fond of her head-hopping (although she does it better than most).
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