What To Charge For Your Book (Or: George Carlin Might Know; He Can Ask God)

My last post was a little heavy. Elie Wiesel. The holocaust. God on trial. I decided today I would be a little more of the light-hearted self and talk about book pricing. Nothing heavy or controversial about that. Ahem. No, but take my wife…seriously. By the way, before we get started, I missed my 100th […]

 

Power-Wash Your Writing

On June 28, 2012, in eBook Pricing, Indie Authors, Opinion, The Market, Writing Tips, by rsguthrie

The other day we had the wood on our fences and our deck power-washed. If you had asked me a couple of days before that what the boards on the fence and deck were worth I would have said “nothing”. They were an awful shade of gray—not light gray, or bright gray, but that dingy, […]

 

Are You Still Trying to Sell A Million EBooks?

On June 18, 2012, in Indie Authors, Miscellaneous, Opinion, The Market, Writing Tips, by rsguthrie

I know a few people who play the lottery. Many of my friends are engineers, and mathematicians long ago calculated that your odds of taking out a ten million dollar life insurance policy and then flying from one coast to the other every hour of every day would be a better investment than purchasing one […]

 

Back Pain Sucks (or, Despite my Back, I’m Back) – Dedicated to Caleb

Wow. We had a wallop of a storm here a week ago and I tried to pretend I still had a little of the twenty year-old Herculean in me, running through the wind, downpour, and driving hail to save our basement from flooding. Oh, did I mention I was carrying a 27 foot extension ladder […]

 

Indies, Babies, Bathwater, and a Farewell to the Dark Ages

On May 20, 2012, in Famous Writers, HuffPost, Indie Authors, Indie Reader, Opinion, The Market, by rsguthrie

Last Friday was the one year anniversary of the publishing of my first book as an Indie. Note I no longer use the moniker “self” in front of my published status. The reasons I stopped using that word are myriad and akin to the same reason that in our household we never used the word […]

 

The Revolution Is Here. ARE. YOU. IN?

On May 6, 2012, in eBook Pricing, Indie Authors, The Market, by rsguthrie

I ranted Saturday. It happens. Usually I am just getting something off my chest and not too concerned with the ultimate outcome. You know, that “hey, if I reach a few readers and help one or two find their way or feel better that they aren’t alone in how they feel, I’ve succeeded” kind of […]

 

My Novel Is Worth More Than John Locke’s Comb

On May 4, 2012, in Celebrities, Famous Writers, Indie Authors, Opinion, Rant, Soap Box, The Market, by rsguthrie

  Okay, this is it. The rant to end all rants. I’m warning you here. I’m done being nice. I’ve talked to too many Indie authors who feel the same way I do. I’m saying it. I have to say it. I hope all of you who feel the same as I do will rise […]

 

Does Your Cover Brand YOU?

On April 25, 2012, in Indie Authors, Opinion, The Market, Writing Tips, by rsguthrie

I grew up in Wyoming, so I know a little bit about branding. However, as an author, I sometimes lose sight of its importance. To an Indie author—hell, to ANY author whose last name isn’t King or Koontz or Locke—there is nothing more important in the beginning. You’ve got to get your name in front […]

 

Are You Marketing Like A Caveman?

On April 17, 2012, in Indie Authors, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Soap Box, The Market, Twitter, by rsguthrie

  I work my ass off marketing my books. I tweet and I buy ads and I pimp myself until I feel like I should be pulling on some lacy leggings and walking the red light district (I apologize profusely for the image I just created in your mind—may it not be as indelible as […]

 

KDP Select WORKS!

On April 9, 2012, in KDP Select, The Market, by rsguthrie

I’m finally ready to deliver my verdict. Each of the past three or four times I have run one or both of my books free on Amazon, I have seen a nice increase in sales post-freebie. It does drop off a bit after a few days, but I think the key here is that your […]