After a Bit of Time Off

I have taken a few weeks off - seems a series of trips to the Dentist and Cardiologist will do that. If you are as old as I am, or close, you may have heard the expression, "I was feeling kind of punk." It came from when wood started to rot and got punky, not sure I like that definition but then again . . . .

Muted colors as the sun was setting -  Mule Deer  does and fawns

Now I am feeling better and hope to get back to writing more than a couple of hundred words a week, where I am now. I have always tried to post on this blog three or four times a month and hope to still make it this month. 

View from the Castle on the North Bluff in Guernsey, Wyoming State Park

We are also planning our annual trip to Branson Missouri, in early November. We have been going there for many years, and it always seems to rejuvenate me, and along with that, my writing.

Walking up a mountainside

Meanwhile, my sales and pages read also seem to be slipping - might be my lack of advertising and blogging. 

My wife and I have been out the past few days hiking and walking, and with that, I have taken a few, okay, a lot of nice fall photos. Enjoy!

See all of my books here - read a free sample.

Taking a break on our Saturday afternoon hike

Keep on reading and keep on writing!

Book Marketing and the Dead Western

Book Marketing

Like all writers I have found that marketing is most difficult. How much is too much? I commonly cut off people I follow on twitter who post too many times a day promotions for themselves or other authors. Not sure how some people have time for anything else. One I quit following must have tweeted two dozen times a day about their book. Another I cut loose seemed to retweet each and every tweet they could find.

Book Promotions

This might be the last chance to download a free copy of my short story click the link and read the short western.

I ran a free book (actually a short story) promotion over the weekend. I limited my promotions to once on each of my blogs and three tweets over three days. Some will tell me that is not enough – maybe not. I did get several dozen downloads but have no idea if that is a good number, or terrible. Nevertheless, this week it will be back to work writing and probably no promotions, other than links on posts like this one. One thing I did notice during the five-day free short story promotion, I sold a few of my other books as the promotion was running.

Is the Western Dead?

I am constantly told that I write in a genre that is dead, or nearly so. Most of what I write could be classified as historical fiction, and I think that is alive and well. The westerns I write may not be doing as well; there are still fans and readers, but not many. So how do the two differ? Historical fiction has real events, real people, and real locations mixed in with fictional happenings, people, and places. Westerns may have a real setting but most, if not all of the story, comes from the active imagination of the author.

Might be a setting for a good story

Making a Living Writing

Mysteries are still popular as part of many genres. Most of my historicals and westerns are also mysteries, something I hope sets my stories apart from many others. Nevertheless, all books, by unknown or nearly unknown authors, have a tough time finding a market. Once in a while, I have a good day or week of sales, but then they often fall off to nothing. Good thing I do not have to rely on my stories to make a living, but along with some writing work for others, I am getting closer.

Here I am heading up the mountain for inspiration - or for the view

One last note 

This could be either good or bad. My wife and I are heading back to Nebraska this week for our class reunion. That wonderful class of 1966. Yep, 50 years and a few of us are still kicking. Should be a lot of fun.

 

Out for a cool morning hike, and then off to a 50-year reunion

Write a Book and Get Rich - NOW

On the weekend,  I often spend extra time looking at writing blogs. Some have good advice, others are not very understanding of self or Independent published authors. One blog post suggested that spending 10 to 15 thousand dollars on promotions and advertising would be a good idea, money well spent.  After a two or three thousand dollars edit, that means a book would come in with expenses of 12 to 18  thousand dollars before the author makes a dime. Big traditional publishers might spend this on A-list authors, but I know of not a single Independent author or small publishing house who would, or could, spend that much money. Most of us don't have a bank account with more than a number or two on the left side of the decimal.

I read somewhere that 95% of books sell less than 100 copies, others say 200. I have no idea if that stat is real or made up, but it sounds reasonable.  With an author making two or three dollars for each book sold, it looks like tough sledding for most. Spending 15 thousand to make $600, is not very good business, not even in and author's imaginary world.  

This has nothing to do with the post, but we had a terrific sunset this evening

The good news, I have one book that is long past 200 copies sold, and another well past 100. Guess that puts me in the category of top 5% of all authors. Maybe I'm famous, or at least a best-selling author. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek)

Meanwhile see all my books here, including my newest book of Christmas Stories in the West.

Tellin' stories and Sellin' books - loving it!