Monday, May 9, 2016

Reasons to Focus on Print: An authors decision in a digital age



Several people have been asking me about what Jenny Trout reported about my sales in her recent blog post about returns. It’s been enough people that I figure I should probably write something up about it. So here goes. 

Yes. We have all but abandoned digital releases in favor of print and audio.  This wasn’t a decision we had decided lightly, so before I start getting emails from people saying I’m disparaging digital work… let me explain.

Historically we have always sold poorly in e book. We have 38 books out right now, between our SA Price, Stella and Audra Price names, my Anastasia Virgas name and my other pen name Dagmar Avery.  Sales are low for us, and have always been. We have been okay with it, because we aren’t mainstream with what we write. But it’s gotten worse. 

With the influx of books being uploaded to Amazon every day (I believe the last count was 700+ a day!)Our limited visibility was further cut down, and then with the advent of this returns bullshit, sales were set to nothing. 

We rarely make 50 sales TOTAL in ebook a month, and during release week, hell release day, we are inundated with almost if not HALF of the sales for the released book returned. That is no way to be able to keep releasing books. 

Then we looked at out print and Audio. Whereas audio sales aren’t huge, we make more on them. And print? Print we do awesome with. When you are selling double what you’re selling a month in e book in print… well it tells me some things. It tells me E books are not the medium to get our work out there with. It tells me print is not dead, and I need to focus on what works for us.
Here’s a breakdown. 

We are lucky. When we put out a book, I don’t have to pay extra for formatting or Cover work, so our overhead is low… between 300-500$ for edits. Now in order to put another book out, I need to make back what I put into a release. So in e book, if a book sells for 4.99 (the majority of the books sell for this) I have to sell a minimum of 144 copies to break even. That’s not even making a profit. As the E sales we have average between 2-4 a book a month… at the high end it would take me 36 MONTHS to make that money to simply edit the work, back. 

Now, in print, selling at 12.99 we would have to sell 27 copies. WHICH DO YOU THINK IS EASIER?

At Con, for a new release, I sell books at 10$. This means I need to sell between 30-38 while there. Considering we always sell well at con, this is not a hardship.

Most would say E book is the easier way to go. But not for us. No, not at all.  So selling 27 print book means I have the ability to release another book in a few months.  

36 months to earn out on e-book? Not feasible. At all.  

I realize readers are pissed about this. Certain readers don’t read print, don’t do audio. To be quite honest, the amount of readers that only read e book and read us is so low, I can’t even count it. Yes, losing any sale is hard but consider the other side of this. 

No E books means my books aren’t being pirated. It means they aren’t being read and then returned, and most importantly, it means I’m not checking KDP daily and getting more and more frustrated that for the 6th day in a row I haven’t sold a damn thing. 

I like the idea of a return to the printed word as well, digital while easier and all but immediate, can't compare to the tactile wonder of holding a book in your hands.

The 1-15 sales I get a month on a .99-4.99 book isn’t worth the stress and the feelings that I am not good enough. I know I am, and the work we do is. Shit visibility is the culprit, but that doesn’t compute when you are constantly tearing your hair out over nonexistent sales. Maybe things will change in the future, but for now, this is the best course of action for us.  I always liked print better anyway.

So I'm going to open up the discussion here for those that feel the need.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Rocker romance? No. Not this bitch.



In taking Bianca Sommerland’s lead, I need to confess something. 

I write Metalcore Romance. 

See I’m tired of trying to lump what I do in with these ”rock” romances, because I don’t write the popular idea of a “rock star”. My guys don’t have long hair, and drug habits, they aren’t groupie crazy and they have respect for women. So many rock books out right now deal with what I call ‘peter pan syndrome” where the guys are like fucking lost boys. Well I don’t write that.

My guys are contemporary. They have tattoos and piercings. They aren’t giant gym rats that women assume rock stars look like. They aren’t practicing doms (cuz that shit is LAUGHABLE--- these guys don’t have time to sleep let alone be a practicing dom… though I know they are kinky as fuck… ), their music is heavy, and means more to their fans than anything else out there. They treat the band like a business, and while they might have wild times, they aren’t ruining their careers with drug addictions, drama and rehab. 

The bands are realistic, to a fault, even though I write paranormal. 

The bands I write are a direct result of the music. Bands like From Autumn to Ashes, Ice Nine Kills, The Birthday Massacre, Motionless in White, Upon a Burning Body, All Out War, Grade, Thrice, and others, are what fuel’s the words on the page. There’s NO hair bands in my work.

So if that’s what you are looking for, Hair Bands, my shit is not the shit for you. But if you are a Lover of the music I love, then you will like my books.

My boys and girls are caustic, fun, super pop culture, and above all responsible adults. NO off the cuff drama, because who the fuck wants drama in a good time?  

So fuck the Rock and Roll Romance designation. I listen to Metalcore, so I'm writing Metalcore. A better tip o the hat to these amazing musicians I couldn’t ever think of. 

So if you love metalcore, Like romance books, and lots of naughty sex in those romance books… I am the author for you. 

If not. Cool. But I’m through trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. I'm writing a subgenre of a subgenre. And I know there are readers out there that are looking for it. So my books will now be labeled METALCORE ROMANCE on amazon. 

It makes sense. If you write Metalcore bands, consider that suggestion. 

BUY MY BOOKS:

That's right 8 books... the band (13 Shades of Red) are Metalcore... let them show you why rock isn't as cool as metal. 

Sex, Love and Metal,
Stella

 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Information on Authors After Dark 2016... Authors... you want this info.



This final year for Authors After Dark is going to be a little different, and full of fun and great times sure to make lasting memories. We are back at our favorite Savannah hotel, the Savannah Riverfront Marriott, and they cannot WAIT for us to return! We will be rocking the hotel for the even August 2-6 2016.

For those that were at the 2013 event, you know the hotel is amazing, so easy to work with and has the BEST in house staff of any hotel. Its sad AAD is ending, but we are happy to be ending our run at such a fabulous hotel.

So a lot of people are asking about author spots, and being involved. Well since it is our last year, we want it to go out with a bang, but make it easy for as many to attend and participate as possible.  So read on for information.

In the interest of being completely transparent, The following information is what we have decided, based on space at the hotel, room block requirements, and of course, location. Everything below has been worked out to be not only the best for the people attending, but the best options for the convention in order to fill our contractual obligations. 

Authors….

While AAD in the past has only had A Master of Ceremonies and a list of Featured authors, this year it well be a little different. 

We are completely scrapping the Master of Ceremonies, as times have been changing and we have largely seen that it’s not one author that largely brings in the masses anymore,  but many who are focusing on the reader, not just their writing. So, We will have instead of a MoC this year, Many more authors, in order to make the readers coming happy. 

We will have Featured authors, and attending authors, as well as Debut authors. EVERYONE will be allowed to sign for the 2016 year, provided they follow the event rules. Everyone will be able to promote, set up banners, and have sponsorship opportunities (for parties, meals and events) and have an AUTHOR badge and ribbon. Due to space, however, Panel participation will be limited. 

Featured Authors have already been asked to attend. We have a large number of authors that are returning to the event for its last year, and every one of them have been to AAD before, as a featured author. These authors have been with us largely from the beginning, and have become reader attendee favorites.  

To attend as an ATTENDING or FEATURED or DEBUT author an author for the convention must agree to the following :

·         Stay at the host hotel a minimum of 4 nights (wed-Sunday)
·         Pay their OWN registration for the event
·         HELP bring readers in by PROMOTING their involvement in the convention to their readers via their FB pages, WEBSITE, blog and Newsletter, allowing for readers to KNOW they will be there and encouraging them to attend.
 
While there is no difference in Attending or Featured author except the fact that Featured authors were given an early invite and have been to the event before, Debut authors will have a small “meet and greet” event they will have to buy into if they would like to participate in it. A Debut author for AAD is an author that’s been published less than 18 months at time of registration, and is looking to grow their readership. There will be more information on this, and the other opportunities for ALL AUTHORS after an author registers.

Promotional opportunities include:
·         Mini event Sponsorships
·         Offsite event sponsorships
·         Blogger/ Book club event participation
·         Meal sponsorships
·         Swag sponsorships
·         Book sponsorships
·         Booksigning
·         Audio book party participation
·         Gift baskets
And many more!
Now here’s the kicker. We have room for 150 authors TOTAL. This will allow for readers to outnumber authors and therefore keep the integrity of the event.  ALL AUTHORS NOT FEATURED are on a first come first serve basis. Once registration opens, Author hopefuls will be able to register and lock in their spots. 

EVERY AUTHOR THAT REGISTERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN. No lotteries, no waitlists. EVERYONE* (Provided you stay at the hotel)

Registration will open September 9th at 10am EST. Author list will be updated on the 15th and every 15 days thereafter till the author spots are filled. 

Come and join us for the last AAD on American soil. We can’t wait to party with you in Savannah!

Monday, July 6, 2015

AUTHORS AFTER DARK 2015 NEEDS 40 MORE AUTHORS!

AUTHORS!

REGISTRATION IS ALMOST CLOSED! JULY 10th is SWIFTLY COMING UPON US! DO NOT BE LEFT OUT!

Registration is 275$. Includes 4 meals (2 lunches, 2 dinners), Signing space, Promotional opportunities (MANY) Access to ALL readers, Free books, giveaways, 2 AMAZING dress up balls, TONS of networking time and reader connection time with CAREER READERS (Long time readers that constantly look for new authors to read) from AROUND THE WORLD!

THIS IS A 4 DAY EVENT! August 12-16 2015 at the Sheraton Atlanta hotel

Don't wait! get your registration in today!

*All signing authors MUST reserve their OWN room at the host hotel for a MINIMUM of 4 nights, in order to get the signing table space AND get the maximum amount of face time with readers.*

MEET THE READERS YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH... THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP READING YOUR WORK! Readers are having such a hard time cutting through the miasma of books out there now, career readers are finding their new faves and auto-buy's at book events they can connect with authors at!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/authors-after-dark-2015-hotlanta-hijinx-tickets-12676574977

Friday, June 12, 2015

Authors. August. Atlanta! Special 2-day pass



We’re gearing up for a mega-con to close out the summer! Feel the heat of Authors After Dark 2015: Hotlanta Hijinx!

Both two-day and four-day tickets are available... and there’s SO MUCH going on it’s CRAZY! Two huge dress up balls, four meals, TONS of freebie books from Indies and Publishers alike, Giveaways, TONS of SWAG and events... And the booksigning will have 100 Featured Authors, including our Master of Ceremonies, SHERRILYN KENYON!

Plus, non-featured author spots are now available for a secondary signing. Check out the FB Group for more info.

Visit the AAD Website for more the lowdown on participating authors, and special events, and get your tickets at EventBrite.

Hope to see you there!

Louisa Bacio
Featured Author

Friday, May 1, 2015

THE BIG AAD VIRGIN REGISTRATION GIVEAWAY!



Sponsored by the amazing and talented authors: 

Marianna Morea, Milly Taiden, Eliza Gayle, Sasha White, TJ Michaels, JM Gregorie, Tilly Greene, Jenny Trout, Bianca Sommerland, Diana Castilleja, Julie Morgan, Stella Price and Nicky Jayne!

Are you an AAD virgin? Wanna attend this year In Atlanta? Can you get your own room for 4 nights?

Well we want to give you a ticket!

See we thought about it, and wanted to get a few more virgins in for the event, to see how awesome it is , and how fun it is for readers.  So the authors involved decided to get together and EACH pay for one Virgin to attend… so 14 VIRGINS (ooh this sounds like the makings of a horror flick) will get tickets!

Want it?

Ok here’s the details:

Reader has to be an AAD VIRGIN (IE: has never attended before)
Reader must pay their own transportation
Reader MUST get a room for 4 days (WED-Sunday) MINIMUM.
Reader cannot room with anyone that already has a ticket and cannot room with anyone else that has won a free ticket.
Reader cannot exchange the prize for money. It has no cash value.

Readers CAN invite a friend to come and stay with them, as long as they purchase a ticket for themselves.

Entering is EASY! Just fill this out: 

Please note: Only fill this out if you are SURE you can get a room and get to the event. If You are not sure, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER. SERIOUS ENTRIES ONLY.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN ON MAY 26th!