robin tidwell « Robin Writes

Last week, I gave you a list of possible sites to market your book, and now, as promised, I’m going to tell you what happened:

I submitted REDUCED to Kindle Books and Tips and was told that my book would be blasted at 9:00 a.m. on Friday; it was. It went live on their blog at 2:00 p.m. The email and the blog had a list of half a dozen books, and mine was near the bottom; the higher-paid featured book was on top, of course.

My cost: $25

My sales, twenty-four hours after the blog went live and twenty-nine hours after the email was sent: 50.

That’s a pretty big jump, and yes, I’m happy about that! I may well do it again, but I want to try a couple other sites first, just to get some perspective. But I’m not going to go crazy with this; I’ll do another one next month.

I also, starting in November 2014, hired Breakthrough Promotions. They are a publicists out of Texas, and they have quite a few media connections. They offer different packages, depending on your needs, and my contract with them runs six months, through April 2015.

I’ve had three online features, plus five radio interviews—two in California, and one each in NY, Virginia, and Orlando; I have one more scheduled, to date, in March.

As for sales, my December sales from 2013 to 2014 doubled, and my January sales—not counting the most recent promotion above, tripled.

So, yes, I think this is worth it. For me. It might not be for you. That’s something only you can decide, based on your book(s), your career, and your finances. Some authors thrive on media appearances, some would rather hide in a closet—but the only way to sell books is to get yourself, and your books, out there. And sometimes that means spending a little cash.

Well, I’ve had about enough of this land search, and I’m sure you have too! We’re still a second on the property we’re most interested in, but it’s looking less likely. We haven’t had time to go look at any new ones—plus, it’s been cold.

Now, I’m not a fan of cold, especially when it’s also windy, but I’ve been trying to desensitize myself a bit. Not that it’s working out too well . . . I decided that 40 degrees is about my limit. You know, like being inside a refrigerator.

I received some lovely, fuzzy earmuffs for Christmas and they are AWESOME. They certainly help my ear issues (wind), and I don’t feel like I’m so bundled up I can’t move. I also received some mitten-gloves, which also helps—when you need your fingers to check maps.

Yes, I know all about layering, I just hate to do it because when I come back inside, there are all those layers to remove. And that requires, first, removing my boots. Maybe I’m lazy, but when I’m dressed, I stay that way all day.

Anyway, I do NOT like the cold. Could I stand it if I had to? Sure. But until then . . . 46 days until spring!

So, what can you do to prep if you’re NOT going out in the cold? A lot of things:

Go through your house, closets, cabinets, room by room, and get rid of the excess stuff. Stuff you can use, if it’s not an immediate use, box it up. Stuff you can’t, start a pile in the garage for a spring yard sale.

As long as you’re pulling stuff out of all those spaces, wipe down the inside of the cabinets and the closet shelves. Clean the closet floors. Heck, that’s a lot of “spring” cleaning you’ve already finished—in winter!

Rotate and inventory your supplies. Admit it. You keep meaning to do this, but haven’t quite gotten around to it. Do it now.

Wash the inside of your windows, as long as it’s not TOO cold. All that grime built up . . . ugh. There is no rule that says you must ALSO do the outside at the same time.

Plan your garden. Your state ag extension office will have a lot of suggestions, including how much to plant, a common question, as well as where and how.

There. That should keep you busy until week’s installment of Prep Monday. At least!