Win 3 Free Books from Author Andy Zach – The Second Way
I feel guilty about this way. But it’s worth the guilt. This method can give you up to four books. My Life After Life Chronicles and my soon coming Secret Supers. My book launch date is March 29.
Life After Life Chronicles
What is this magical, mystery method?
Nope, not creating a world-famous pop hit. Just review one of my books and post it on Amazon or Goodreads. Contact me when the review is posted and then I’ll send you a book of your choice
This means you’ll get four free books for four reviews.
Note you do not have to give a favorable review. Oddly, some people prefer to see some low rated reviews. Amazon cares about the number of reviews rather than the average score.
Some authors try to scam people and Amazon by bribing people with books on the condition they get good reviews. Other people try to making a living giving favorable reviews in exchange for money. I don’t want any of that!
As much as I hate 1 star reviews (I’ve gotten some!) I take solace in that everyone is different. Not everyone will like everything. Even CS Lewis, the author of the Narnia fantasy series, gets dozens of one star reviews.
I got a new review of Zombie Turkeys the other day. Let me give it as an example:
“What’s ‘Happy Undead Mother-in-law Day? I know all about Valentine’s Day. That’s today. What’s up with Happy Undead Mother-in-law?”
My Undead Mother-in-law. Get it for your mother-in-law! Click here.
I’m glad you asked! It so happens My Undead Mother-in-law begins on Valentine’s Day. As the book opens, the family has dinner together, the undead zombies and the normal family members. Naturally, we celebrate it every year.
You can also read the book for free on Kindle or Audible.
Finally, if you’re desperate, you can always do what I do when I want to read a book and not pay for it. Go to Amazon and click on the ‘Look Inside’ button and read random sections until you’ve read it all.
One more thing: here’s a Happy Undead Mother-in-law Review
Why is this my favorite review? It’s from a professional author who doesn’t like zombie books, yet loved My Undead Mother-in-law..
When I started to read this book, I was leery. As far as I know, I’m less interested in zombies than anyone on the planet. How could I give a reasonable review? Turns out, it wasn’t hard at all. I’ve said before and it turned out to be true here that, if you have a ridiculous premise that’s hard to swallow, run with it, normalize it, and readers /viewers will eventually accept. And it worked. The original premise of cognizant, virtually indestructible zombies was lobbed and backed until I was a believer, actively rooting for zombies. Plenty of (bloodier than average) action, some smiling, if not guffaw humor, a nice fulfilling story arc in an easy readable length made for a fun book (if bloody action doesn’t bother you) with charm that didn’t take itself to seriously but still capable of many a tender and touching moments.
I’m glad my prejudice didn’t keep me from enjoying this out-of-the-common-way story.
Happy Undead Mother-in-law’s Day – Now What’s Next?
Later this month I’ll have my cover reveal for my next novel, Secret Supers. Watch this blog or my Facebook page for the exact date. I’m waiting to get all the pieces of the book together: interior text (being edited), chapter titles, and back copy blurb.
Once it’s all together, I assemble it and schedule my publication and launch dates.
Here’s a cover tease:
Aubrey, from the cover of Secret Supers.
But that’s not all! I’ve scheduled my first author appearance this year. See this next Facebook post from my page.
My goal is at least twelve author appearances this year. I’ll let you know as I schedule them.
“Okay Andy Zach. You got me to click. Now show me How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year.”
At your service! First, the proof. My sales for the years 2016-2018:
Andy Zach Book Sales 2016-2018 Bubble size is percent growth.
Next, the first tip!
How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The First Tip
Write and publish on a schedule. I began my first book Zombie Turkeys after I was forced into retirement in November 2015. I wrote it during November thanks to NaNoWriMo and edited myself until March. In April, I enlisted a professional editor Dori Harrell.
Zombie Turkeys audiobook cover. Click to get it!
I gave myself a deadline. The goal: publish on Halloween 2016, one year after I started. I announced the launch date and pressured my artist Sean “Fuzzy” Flanagan and editor Dori Harrell to finish by September so I could make it. Finally, I pressured myself to publish my first book and print copies on Createspace in time.
I kept it up for three years. This is the real key. Don’t give up on writing on a schedule. As soon as I published Zombie Turkeys, I started on My Undead Mother-in-law in November 2016 at NaNoWriMo. I wasn’t satisfied with my one-year performance, so I set the goal of July 31st, 2017.
My Undead Mother-in-law audiobook cover. Click to get!
I actually made it. I got my paperback books on July 25th and I had the official book launch August 4th and 5th.
Following my pattern of one book per nine months, that meant my next, Paranormal Privateers, had to be ready by the end of April. I made it at the beginning of May.
Paranormal Privateers audiobook cover. Click to get it!
And so on. February 28, 2019 is the deadline for Secret Supers, my fourth book. Look for it!
How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The Second Tip
The second tip: Try things! In the words of Ms. Frizzle, “Take chances! Make mistakes! Get messy!”
How messy? How many mistakes?
Next are all the places I’ve spent money marketing. Then notice that all the bold items I consider to be failures, in that they didn’t sell any books. Italic items I consider to be successes, in that I’m sure they sold some books. Then everything else is of uncertain effectiveness. I can risk trying again or I can risk not trying. What would you do?
2016 06
Facebook ad
2016 07
Facebook ad
2016 09
Facebook ad
PO Box 10705
2016 10
Author launch cookies
Facebook ad
2016 11
Amazon ad
Chambanacon registration
Chambanacon table
Facebook ad
San Fran Design Social Media promotion
2016 12
Amazon ad
Arts Partners of Illinois
Merchant Services
2017 01
Amazon ad
International fee
Merchant Services
Nonnie’s book store
www.idns.as domain renewal
2017 02
Amazon ad
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
2017 03
Amazon ad
BookDaily promotion
Facebook ad for B&N signing
Merchant Services
2017 04
Amazon ad
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
Tornado ad
2017 05
Amazon ad
AUTHORWEEK Interview (Bloom Factor)
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
Script pipeline
Vistaprint
Vistaprint – promobox
2017 06
2017 07
Amazon ad
First Book Promo
Second Book Promo Book and Bear
Book Promo Jay Digitals
BookDaily promotion
BookDaily promotion Arcamax
Evensi
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
Vistaprint
2017 08
Amazon ad
Amazon Book to Review
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
US Postage for gift
Vistaprint
2017 09
2017 10
Amazon ad
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
NaNoMo
RyanZee marketing
Vistaprint
2017 11
Amazon ad
Merchant Services
Nevermore Publishing – winter giveaway
Nevermore Publishing – Zombie Boxset
PO Box 10705
2017 12
Amazon ad
BookDaily promotion
Facebook ad
Merchant Services
Postage to
Vistaprint
Vistaprint – business cards
2018 01
Amazon ad
Author interview
BookDaily promotion
Merchant Services
Paypal fee
Shipping cost for free book
Square card reader
2018 02
Amazon ad
BookDaily promotion
2018 03
Amazon ad
Arcamax Promotion
Best page forward
Best page forward – refund
BookDaily promotion
Goodreads Ad
Penned Con table
Shipping cost for free book
2018 04
Amazon ad
Arcamax Promotion
Author asst ticket
Facebook ads
Shipping cost for free book
2018 05
Amazon ad
Book Daily
Facebook ads
Flip loud
Leekmedia.net
RyanZee marketing
2018 06
Amazon ad
Author signature game
Book Cave
Facebook ads
Leekmedia.net
Script pipeline
2018 07
Amazon ad
Bookworm
2018 08
Amazon ad
Free book postage
2018 09
Amazon ad
Book magnet
Chambanacon
Free book postage
Video creation
2018 010
Amazon ad
Facebook ads
Free book postage
2018 011
40Billion ads
Amazon ads
BookGrow ad
BookPromo.net
DWO Media
2018 012
Amazon ads
Book Cave
Postal fee for book
2019 01
Amazon ads
If you glance through this list you’ll see many failures, more than my few successes. Yet I, as an Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year.
Further, each book I wrote is actually three products: a print book, an ebook, and an audiobook. So right now I have nine books to sell, not just three. I plan to publish two books this year, which mean five more products by 2020.
So I took chances in offering many kinds of books in many kinds of channels.
How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The Third Tip
It’s simple: Get Out There!
Every year and almost every month I’ve had author appearances. I’ve had promotion campaigns on Twitter and Facebook. Try promoting other authors. I have. Also, I hold cover reveal parties where I conduct games and give away prizes. Then, I go to conventions every year.
Go to book store signings every year. I’ve also tried library appearances. Then I’ve taught classes. I’ve taken writing and business classes. People have interviewed me on radio, television, and over the internet.
My biggest lesson learned so far is, I could do twice as many appearances and sell twice as many books. But I’d have less time for writing.
What’s the balance? I don’t know. Do you? Reply with the answer and if I sell books because of it, I’ll give you a book.
