tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post7419656454732186580..comments2024-03-18T21:30:04.613-07:00Comments on <b>Smashwords</b>: Smashwords Publishes 15,000th Indie EbookDovetail Public Relationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-12261674258366168392010-08-15T23:55:42.290-07:002010-08-15T23:55:42.290-07:00The biggest (and most important) book that I'v...The biggest (and most important) book that I've ever written (800 manuscript size pages) was written for me! I happened to be living in the Mississippi Delta and started learning important civil rights history that I had never learned in traditional history books. I couldn't stop myself until I got done (over 1,000 footnotes, to boot). As it turned out, I sold about 400 books and that made it even better. But you are so right, Mark, many books have no intended audience except for the author. I always enjoy hearing from someone who has read "Where Rebels Roost", however. It's history I want the world to know.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596228094618600990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-14155029012859272582010-08-05T13:45:02.644-07:002010-08-05T13:45:02.644-07:00Congratulations. I used Smashwords to publish an o...Congratulations. I used Smashwords to publish an old screenplay of mine ("Whackers") and it was a mostly easy and interesting experience, though I haven't penny to show for it yet.<br /><br />I will be distributing my upcoming Dracula novel "Dragon's Ark" through Smashwords later this year. I wrote about this decision at my page at the Red Room at: http://www.redroom.com/articlestory/one-game-closed-another-one-opens-first-a-seriesThomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-28617475007119229262010-07-18T03:49:10.460-07:002010-07-18T03:49:10.460-07:00What a great milestone. I plan on helping you get ...What a great milestone. I plan on helping you get to 30000!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06757704993379297525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-79830031182010978022010-07-17T22:36:58.466-07:002010-07-17T22:36:58.466-07:00Congratulations Mark, and thanks for the post of H...Congratulations Mark, and thanks for the post of Hugh McGuire's piece, it's brilliant and dead-on. Here's to the next 15,000!JFBookmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11233715897322560514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-61336414067156762192010-07-16T08:41:45.790-07:002010-07-16T08:41:45.790-07:00Congrats Brian!!! That is great news!
MariaCongrats Brian!!! That is great news!<br /><br />MariaMariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234907275906877802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-83031225493581310632010-07-16T08:36:08.605-07:002010-07-16T08:36:08.605-07:00I would like to leave my books where they are at t...I would like to leave my books where they are at the various online retailers--but it seems the only way I can change the price from free on those sites (especially B&N & Kobo)--is to try to have the book removed (roots, ratings and all), and then re-send it.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-91912570136784715492010-07-15T19:42:35.153-07:002010-07-15T19:42:35.153-07:00Thank you very much Mark.
Recently I had the oppo...Thank you very much Mark.<br /><br />Recently I had the opportunity to send one of the brightest authors I've seen in years your way, and when it was all said and done, I was just happy that Smashwords was there.<br /><br />She had a good experience setting up on your site, and that's a credit to you and your people. Creating a system that is easy to use is difficult, making it accessible to customers doubles the difficulty. So far you and your team have only improved things since I joined up 11 months ago. Here's to 15,000 more.<br /><br />Now, back to work on the next book...Randolph Lalondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05997175656842769265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-1094423205760109662010-07-15T09:49:01.274-07:002010-07-15T09:49:01.274-07:00Hi Randolph, thanks for stopping by. Whenever f...Hi Randolph, thanks for stopping by. Whenever folks ask me to point to examples of indie authors who are doing it right, I often point to you and Brian. Just by looking at the sales reports as they come in, your fans don't just buy a single book. They'll read your free samples and then purchase the rest of the series all at once, sight unseen. That tells me that you and Brian (and many other successful SW authors) are honoring and impressing your reader with that first read, and in the process you earn their trust, confidence and investment of time and wallet.Dovetail Public Relationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-4315301014800994402010-07-15T08:52:23.339-07:002010-07-15T08:52:23.339-07:00Congratulations Brian, and I'm so happy that S...Congratulations Brian, and I'm so happy that Smashwords has become home to so many independents.<br /><br />I have such faith in Smashwords as an indie author that I'm releasing my next book, Spinward Fringe: Fragments, there first. It'll be weeks before it appears anywhere else.<br /><br />That trust in earned, and I'm getting emails from readers that are beginning to enjoy their Smashwords memberships more all the time as well.<br /><br />My personal measure of success is wrapped up in how entertaining readers find my work. That's my job, I'm an entertainer, and I love fulfilling my role using prose. Doing this for a living independently for the last two years has been a dream come true.Randolph Lalondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05997175656842769265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-31850018066424047292010-07-15T07:58:59.179-07:002010-07-15T07:58:59.179-07:00I recently made the decision to self-publish and l...I recently made the decision to self-publish and likely will be using Smashwords for the non-Amazon part. More likely than ever now that I read your blog<br /><br />I blogged about my decision this week.<br /><br />LindsayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-83653325296087205282010-07-15T06:21:00.637-07:002010-07-15T06:21:00.637-07:00I found you in the last Writer’s Digest newsletter...I found you in the last Writer’s Digest newsletter. I looking for informaytion in order to publish my first poetry book in spanish. I'm a physician from Puerto Rico living in Miami, Florida. I'll appreciate any information you can provide me. I love your blog!<br />Thanks,<br />YeliYelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17369904648437813758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-19085509054919724442010-07-14T15:51:00.286-07:002010-07-14T15:51:00.286-07:00Thanks all for you kind words. This is really *yo...Thanks all for you kind words. This is really *your* celebration, and it's only the tip of the iceberg for what's ahead, especially for indie authors who respect their readers.<br /><br />RJ, I wonder how many big publishers have enough respect for their readers to say what you just said: "I think most readers out there are just as smart as me." Brilliant. The successful indies respect their customers by giving them the best possible read at a fair price. Indies are much closer to their customers. Ask many big publishers who their customer is, and they'll tell you, "my distributors and retailers."<br /><br />Rex, funny with the video poker analogy, but it's true. We give you the tools to make your own decisions, and sadly, many authors make the wrong decisions, such as pulling out of distribution, then jumping back in, then pulling out. It's really important to get in, build sales rank and reviews, and then let the community build. The moment your book lands on a retailer shelf, consider it a seedling that needs to be nourished with your marketing and nurtured with your patience. Let it set roots and grow. When you remove it from distribution, you yank out the roots and all the value you earned over time (reviews, sales ranking, SEO) is lost. Welcome back!Dovetail Public Relationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-82751094178509502292010-07-14T14:52:11.391-07:002010-07-14T14:52:11.391-07:00$4000 in a month on B&N. I almost fell out of ...$4000 in a month on B&N. I almost fell out of my chair when I read that. <br /><br />Okay, I'm back in. And I have to admit I've been publishing/unpublishing/republishing and changing the distribution options on Smashwords as if it were a video poker game. I think some of my books have passed each other on the way back and forth to the various sites. I'm a little bit fickle.<br /><br />Thanks for putting up with me, Mark--and thanks for spelling my name right.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-75454752943918321142010-07-14T14:43:20.749-07:002010-07-14T14:43:20.749-07:00Smashwords is so amazing. It allows me, an author ...Smashwords is so amazing. It allows me, an author with a book and a dream, but no connections, to make my book available world-wide. How awesome is that?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267066733031149882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-987724236138217342010-07-14T12:08:58.724-07:002010-07-14T12:08:58.724-07:00Great post, Mark.
Over the past year, most of wh...Great post, Mark. <br /><br />Over the past year, most of what I've read has been self-published and a good 90% has been superior to what I'd have found in a bookstore. Then other 10% has been mostly pretty good, at least comparable to what's being traditionally published. I know that there is a LOT of self-pubbed crap, but I'm smart enough to be able to discern that before I purchase. I think most readers out there are just as smart as me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-33070722252239634812010-07-14T09:13:46.636-07:002010-07-14T09:13:46.636-07:00MichealEdits put it very well. There is something ...MichealEdits put it very well. There is something deeply gratifying in receiving a note from a reader telling you how much he or she enjoyed your work. And to see notes like that coming not only from all over the US, but places like Australia, Great Britain and France is just amazing. How could I have hoped to achieve that with the old publishing model, where even if my book had been picked up by a big publisher it likely would not have made it onto bookshelves across the ocean.<br /><br />Whenever the chance to democratize anything that was previously the province of the "discerning" and "inherently worthy" comes to town there are those who will try to shout it down or demean it. The same mindset gave us voting rights based on race, gender and land ownership. Should there be a filter? I think so. Should that filter be the readers themselves? Yup.<br /><br />Congrats on the milestone and thanks for the chance to be a part of it.Alan Hutchesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03880999192085868408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-39331048415637898202010-07-14T09:03:03.620-07:002010-07-14T09:03:03.620-07:00Congrats, Mark! That's an impressive mileston...Congrats, Mark! That's an impressive milestone. You're doing great work at Smashwords!<br /><br />I'm an author with a background in traditional publishing. My fantasy novel "Firefly Island" was published by Gale in 2007 (they're a large publisher known mostly for textbooks, but they also publish some fiction). I struggled to sell those $26 hardcovers. I went indie this year, uploading "Firefly Island" as an ebook to various ebook stores. I've been selling over 100 copies a month, and earn more profit per sale than with my hardcovers. With my next novel, I plan to go direct-to-indie. I love how 2010 is seeing indie authors finally finding success. I know I'm not alone, and that many other indies are also reaching many readers.<br /><br />Thanks again, Mark, and keep up the great work you do for indies!<br /><br />Daniel Arenson<br />http://www.DanielArenson.comDanielArensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04625226407617944418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-20917794203910367072010-07-14T04:45:38.645-07:002010-07-14T04:45:38.645-07:00My measure of success is groupies.
Seriously, tho...My measure of success is groupies.<br /><br />Seriously, those emails that come in unexpectedly from readers who say they've read my book while walking, bumped into something, and chipped their teeth.<br /><br />I like money. I love having lots of readers. But I think those who are sufficiently moved to find my email address, write nice things, and send them is pretty impressive. Ask yourself how often you do that with an author you've read.<br /><br />Also, the "I'm reading your book again" email is nice. I get the impression some people have read Vigilante Justice (my firstborn) more times than I have. I've been told "I can recite your dialogue from memory." Please, no. I do not want to be the next Monty Python. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-55809013087042989462010-07-13T22:21:36.698-07:002010-07-13T22:21:36.698-07:00Onward and upward, Mark. That's such great new...Onward and upward, Mark. That's such great news. I'm really happy for you. <br /><br />Success usually means money, and the self-publishing revolution has made it possible for a lot of niche authors to make a living these days. <br /><br />That doesn't mean that our work is "crap" or "slush"-- it just means that it has a limited audience. <br /><br />My textbooks have a very small audience, but they are still very profitable for me. They would not be profitable for Penguin. sometimes it's something as simple as overhead. Ahhh, back to my old cost accounting classes! <br /><br />There even a lot of indie authors who are selling well enough to support themselves: Zoe Winters and Joe Konrath to name a few. <br /><br />It's a brave new world!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-31779040913330052912010-07-13T17:59:29.426-07:002010-07-13T17:59:29.426-07:00Congratulations on reaching the 15,000 mark! That&...Congratulations on reaching the 15,000 mark! That's quite an impressive milestone.<br /><br />I read an article about the indies being the death knell for quality books. "There's a reason they're not published traditionally." Since joining Smashwords in April, I've had the pleasure of reading four mystery novels. Each were every bit as good, if not better than, books I've bought from the store. I was so delighted by them, I couldn't wait to write a review.<br /><br />There will always be bad books by bad authors. But this distinction does not lie soley on the shoulders of the indies.<br /><br />Susan SchoeffieldSusan Schoeffieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04276710502362763386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-86694420251050227902010-07-13T17:57:14.368-07:002010-07-13T17:57:14.368-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Susan Schoeffieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04276710502362763386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-51215725396047961442010-07-13T16:06:48.754-07:002010-07-13T16:06:48.754-07:00Well done Mark on your point seven of a billion wo...Well done Mark on your point seven of a billion words! <br />Your attitude to indie writers is truly novel (pardon the weak pun).<br />For most writers (myself included) the objective is to get the 'work' out there and monetary reward is really icing on the cake.<br />Smashwords has been to the fore in assisting indie authors. It will not be long before some become 'successful' and I'm sure when that time comes they will not forget the help they got along the way.DesGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02101858584133187717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-51953651182814696322010-07-13T13:51:23.885-07:002010-07-13T13:51:23.885-07:00Thanks, Shayne, typo fixed. We all need editors!Thanks, Shayne, typo fixed. We all need editors!Dovetail Public Relationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-70223547327790536352010-07-13T13:01:00.023-07:002010-07-13T13:01:00.023-07:00Hurrah for reaching the 15,000 mark! And huge cong...Hurrah for reaching the 15,000 mark! And huge congratulations to Brian - those are impressive sales figures. <br /><br />What's my measure of success? Reaching increasing numbers of readers, and learning that my books have touched them in some way. Having readers say that they found themselves caring about my characters. Making money in the process is a very welcome bonus.<br /><br />I'm a bit worried about those cherry "plumbs", though :-)Shayne Parkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071406385872399178noreply@blogger.com