If I'd written this blog entry three nights ago, it would have been to report cheerfully that my price increase from 99p to £1.99 had gone swimmingly and had, if anything, helped increase sales.
But pride, as always, comes before a fall. I had four UK sales over the weekend at £1.99 and a sale on Monday evening, but nothing since.
I also haven't had a buyer on Amazon.com in over a week.
But for now at least, I am going to hold firm at £1.99.
I do think it is a reasonable price - a fair mid-point between the prices that established publishing houses charge and the bargain basement indie brigade who flog their wares for 77p or less.
As I suggested in my last post, if authors such as myself insist on selling books that cheap then ultimately writing novels will be reduced to being merely an amusing hobby, never a career, and that would be a shame.
Anyway, cheering me up somewhat is the following fantastic email I received from a reader who clearly shares my love for the Lleyn Peninsula - she's a "northerner" where the peninsula is concerned (Nefyn) while I'm a southerner - Abersoch.
This is what she had to say about Smugglers at Whistling Sands:
Hello George,
I have just bought a kindle touch and yours is the first book that I have read. It was recommended by my friend as we both have a caravan on the Llyn peninsular mine is at Morfa Nrfyn at Dinas and my favourite beach is Whistling sands!!
I have loved your novel what an enchanting story I have read it in two days and being a busy mum with three young children that is a mean feat!!
My ten year old is going to start reading it tonight
I am so excited to go to Porth Ysgo on my next visit to my caravan I also love pith Dinllaen where the ty Coch pub is on the beach
Thank you
When people take the time and trouble to write to you with comments like that, it really does make it all worthwhile. And that's why I want to make it as a novelist - the sheer satisfaction of producing something creative that others will enjoy.
Showing posts with label North Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Wales. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, October 02, 2011
A bit about my book, Smugglers at Whistling Sands
I said in my last blog I'd give people a bit more of an insight into my children's adventure novel, Smugglers at Whistling Sands, based at Abersoch, North Wales.
Actually, looking back through my earlier blogs, I did talk about it a bit in my entry on August 20th, that said, it's probably well worth offering a reminder, especially for those of you who have only recently discovered my blog.
As I mentioned just over a month ago, Abersoch and the surrounding area is in my blood - I love the place and have been going there on holiday all my life - ie. for 44 years! So when I decided to write a children's adventure novel, the part of the world which has such fond memories for me seemed the obvious location.
The title makes no reference to Abersoch, but refers to Whistling Sands as in "Smugglers At Whistling Sands". As you'll gather from that, this beach does feature prominently in the book, and the sand on that beach does whistle by the way. Well, not whistle exactly, it's more of a squeak - but in all the beaches I've ever walked on, I've known any other sand to make that noise as you walk across it.
The youngsters who feature in this book are on holiday at Abersoch but they do not just stay put there. Their adventure takes them to a number of places including Whistling Sands obviously but also the St Tudwal's Islands, Aberdaron and Porth Ysgo - a remote beach nearby, and the hillside above - and the disused manganese mine to be found there.
The owners of the Vaynol Arms public house in Abersoch might be pleased (I hope) to discover that their premises features in the novel. Oh and the grotty hotel where one of the smugglers stays is, I hasten to add, a figment of my imagination!
The action centres around the Johnson children, Jack, David and Emily (aged 12, 11 and 10 respectively) and a headstrong girl called Lou whom they meet on the beach. It is she who is the catalyst for these rather dull Johnson siblings to spread their wings a bit. And what better time to do that than when they should happen across the activities of smugglers!
As I said in August, there is quite a lot of realism in this story, for all the fact that it is a rather post-modern children's adventure owing some of its inspiration to Enid Blyton's novels which I enjoyed a great deal as a child.The activities of the smugglers are based on real life occurences and if you do a search on Google at the point when the children do their Google search, you might well come across references to real-life smuggling which was in part the raw material for the book.
I could say more, but Downton Abbey is about to start. (Martin in Canada, you may not know what I mean by that but all UK residents will!)
PS: Sales update: four sales over the weekend takes tally to 43 - will I make the big 50 by next Sunday? If I do, as I said before, I guarantee to write a sequel.
Actually, looking back through my earlier blogs, I did talk about it a bit in my entry on August 20th, that said, it's probably well worth offering a reminder, especially for those of you who have only recently discovered my blog.
As I mentioned just over a month ago, Abersoch and the surrounding area is in my blood - I love the place and have been going there on holiday all my life - ie. for 44 years! So when I decided to write a children's adventure novel, the part of the world which has such fond memories for me seemed the obvious location.
The title makes no reference to Abersoch, but refers to Whistling Sands as in "Smugglers At Whistling Sands". As you'll gather from that, this beach does feature prominently in the book, and the sand on that beach does whistle by the way. Well, not whistle exactly, it's more of a squeak - but in all the beaches I've ever walked on, I've known any other sand to make that noise as you walk across it.
The youngsters who feature in this book are on holiday at Abersoch but they do not just stay put there. Their adventure takes them to a number of places including Whistling Sands obviously but also the St Tudwal's Islands, Aberdaron and Porth Ysgo - a remote beach nearby, and the hillside above - and the disused manganese mine to be found there.
The owners of the Vaynol Arms public house in Abersoch might be pleased (I hope) to discover that their premises features in the novel. Oh and the grotty hotel where one of the smugglers stays is, I hasten to add, a figment of my imagination!
The action centres around the Johnson children, Jack, David and Emily (aged 12, 11 and 10 respectively) and a headstrong girl called Lou whom they meet on the beach. It is she who is the catalyst for these rather dull Johnson siblings to spread their wings a bit. And what better time to do that than when they should happen across the activities of smugglers!
As I said in August, there is quite a lot of realism in this story, for all the fact that it is a rather post-modern children's adventure owing some of its inspiration to Enid Blyton's novels which I enjoyed a great deal as a child.The activities of the smugglers are based on real life occurences and if you do a search on Google at the point when the children do their Google search, you might well come across references to real-life smuggling which was in part the raw material for the book.
I could say more, but Downton Abbey is about to start. (Martin in Canada, you may not know what I mean by that but all UK residents will!)
PS: Sales update: four sales over the weekend takes tally to 43 - will I make the big 50 by next Sunday? If I do, as I said before, I guarantee to write a sequel.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Couple more sales and a really nice email is spurring me on to thoughts of a sequel
My decision to put the price of my novel Smugglers At Whistling Sands back up to £1.71 seems if anything to have increased sales. I've had a flurry of three over the last couple of days and an email from my latest buyer very pleased with the book.
Interestingly, she actually thought it was too cheap at £1.71. I don't agree - I don't intend to increase the price on my Amazon ebook any further. £1.71 (£1.49 plus VAT) is the lowest I can charge to qualify for the 70% royalty. At its previous price of 86p I only got a 35% royalty which equated to 26p profit per sale. But at £1.71 I get 99p and I think, for an ebook that is a perfectly reasonable cut. I do not understand why it is that major publishers feel the need to charge almost as much for an ebook as they do for the paper and ink version.
That said, and maybe not everyone knows this, hard copies of books do not attract VAT - but ebooks do and Amazon - as the seller - must therefore apply 20% VAT to the £1.49 cost of my book, hence the VAT inclusive price of £1.71. But I still find it hard to stomach that an ebook, even of world-famous authors, should cost £6 or more. For me, £1.71 is just fine. A smallish sum for the buyer but a reasonable return for the author. Above all - and this is the key reason for dropping the 86p price tag - it is because it puts off more buyers than it attracts.
The sort of person keen to buy a children's novel like this, either as a nostalgic read for themselves or for their kids, aren't likely to need to be corralled into a purchase with an ultra-cheap price.
Anyway, it was great to have a few words of appreciation for the book because like most writers I am inherently insecure and love praise. And I am now seriously turning my mind to a possible sequel to Smugglers. I said I would start one for definite if I could reach a total of 50 sales by the end of September. I am 15 sales adrift so that might be pushing it - but when that milestone is reached, particularly if it's fairly soon, I will definitely consider it.
Interestingly, she actually thought it was too cheap at £1.71. I don't agree - I don't intend to increase the price on my Amazon ebook any further. £1.71 (£1.49 plus VAT) is the lowest I can charge to qualify for the 70% royalty. At its previous price of 86p I only got a 35% royalty which equated to 26p profit per sale. But at £1.71 I get 99p and I think, for an ebook that is a perfectly reasonable cut. I do not understand why it is that major publishers feel the need to charge almost as much for an ebook as they do for the paper and ink version.
That said, and maybe not everyone knows this, hard copies of books do not attract VAT - but ebooks do and Amazon - as the seller - must therefore apply 20% VAT to the £1.49 cost of my book, hence the VAT inclusive price of £1.71. But I still find it hard to stomach that an ebook, even of world-famous authors, should cost £6 or more. For me, £1.71 is just fine. A smallish sum for the buyer but a reasonable return for the author. Above all - and this is the key reason for dropping the 86p price tag - it is because it puts off more buyers than it attracts.
The sort of person keen to buy a children's novel like this, either as a nostalgic read for themselves or for their kids, aren't likely to need to be corralled into a purchase with an ultra-cheap price.
Anyway, it was great to have a few words of appreciation for the book because like most writers I am inherently insecure and love praise. And I am now seriously turning my mind to a possible sequel to Smugglers. I said I would start one for definite if I could reach a total of 50 sales by the end of September. I am 15 sales adrift so that might be pushing it - but when that milestone is reached, particularly if it's fairly soon, I will definitely consider it.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Fantastic message from a reader - makes it all worthwhile!
I won't give his name as his comments weren't posted on a public forum but somebody who has recently bought my book, Smugglers at Whistling Sands, has sent me a message via Facebook to say how much he enjoyed reading it - and also his 10-year-old daughter, who was particularly pleased and proud that she could relate to the photographs I have sprinkled throughout the book.
Furthermore, he stays in a place not too far from where I and my family stay while on holiday at Abersoch - and he's invited me to join him for a beer when I'm next up there. I have, of course, been only too happy to agree!
The buyer has also promised to spread the word about the book, based as you will know, at Abersoch. That sort of thing is crucial to my success as a fledgling novelist. Think of my book like a restaurant you've been to for the first time. If you don't like it, you won't recommend it - but if you do and you tell others about it, then word of mouth can work wonders. I've now had 13 sales and that's pleasing because it shows a steady trickle of orders.
Anyone reading this who are themselves fledgling novelists, do take a look at the site www.authonomy.com run by Harper Collins - it was recommended to me by a fellow writer. Absolutely excellent place to be for anyone seeking help, advice and feedback on their own writing. The only catch being, you need to dole it out to others. But one thing I am fast learning, is the sheer goodwill that exists in the writing community and towards writers.
As you may know, I am a journalist - and the reaction to that when I meet people socially for the first time can often be one of slight unease, curiosity, and a sense of wondering what sort of chap we have here.
No such qualms exist towards novelists, who are much loved by all. I'll raise a glass to that!
Furthermore, he stays in a place not too far from where I and my family stay while on holiday at Abersoch - and he's invited me to join him for a beer when I'm next up there. I have, of course, been only too happy to agree!
The buyer has also promised to spread the word about the book, based as you will know, at Abersoch. That sort of thing is crucial to my success as a fledgling novelist. Think of my book like a restaurant you've been to for the first time. If you don't like it, you won't recommend it - but if you do and you tell others about it, then word of mouth can work wonders. I've now had 13 sales and that's pleasing because it shows a steady trickle of orders.
Anyone reading this who are themselves fledgling novelists, do take a look at the site www.authonomy.com run by Harper Collins - it was recommended to me by a fellow writer. Absolutely excellent place to be for anyone seeking help, advice and feedback on their own writing. The only catch being, you need to dole it out to others. But one thing I am fast learning, is the sheer goodwill that exists in the writing community and towards writers.
As you may know, I am a journalist - and the reaction to that when I meet people socially for the first time can often be one of slight unease, curiosity, and a sense of wondering what sort of chap we have here.
No such qualms exist towards novelists, who are much loved by all. I'll raise a glass to that!
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Welcome to my new blog
Thank you for finding my new blog. I've set this up primarily as a wannabe novelist who has just written a full-length children's novel called Smugglers At Whistling Sands, set on the Lleyn peninsula of North Wales. I also hope to chart my journey from being completely unpublished to - possibly - making it as a writer of fiction.
There is so much more I wish to say, but I'm on a promise to my wife to cook the evening meal, which as it is 7pm here in North Wales, I had better go and do right away!
I'll post again very soon.
There is so much more I wish to say, but I'm on a promise to my wife to cook the evening meal, which as it is 7pm here in North Wales, I had better go and do right away!
I'll post again very soon.
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