OFFICIAL AUTHOR WEBSITE
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I will be doing a dual-genre/dual-book release with fellow author Y. Correa. My Novella, Floor Four (Horror) and Y.’s MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis (Interracial Paranormal Romance) will be released Tuesday, May 21st!
Two totally different genres and two totally different stories all in one day!
Both titles will be available in eBook format and in print.
Floor Four by A. Lopez, Jr.
The old, abandoned Saint Vincent Hospital is said to be haunted by the ghost of David Henry Coleman, the notorious serial killer, known as The Mangler. Coleman died on the fourth floor after being shot by police. For the three Jr. High boys, their curiosity gets the best of them as they explore the old hospital, despite ‘Old Man’ Jake’s warning. No one knew of Jake’s dark connection to the killer and the hospital. And now, on the anniversary of The Mangler’s death, a group of high school kids are planning a private party on the haunted fourth floor. Jake must keep everyone out and protect them from the true evil that lurks on Floor Four.
MarcoAntonio & Amarllis by Y. Correa
I was interviewed at Author, Y. Correa’s website, Fate Books. Plenty of questions and insight to what makes me tick. Thanks go out to Fate Books and Y. Correa for the interview and the time!
To be exclusive or not to be?
That’s a question that has been floating around the self-publishing world for some time now. Many blogs and articles have been written on this front. It seems that every few months, either because of technology – or just because of the powers-that-be move forward with a new idea – things change and a new way of thinking must be incorporated into the self-publisher’s mind. The question for authors who do not have a traditional publishing deal, is deciding which way to go – exclusive or non-exclusive.
I’ve been writing for three years and self-published my first book in November of 2011. A year later, I put up my second piece of work. From late 2011 until now, 18 months have passed, and I have calculated my sales over that time. Although it is a short period of time, it is enough of a sample-size for me to conquer the question mentioned above, as it pertains to my sales.
Amazon is king for just about every author’s sales, and for some, it grabs a much higher percentage than the other ebook stores, and sometimes more than the others combined. Amazon’s KDP Select is enticing to many because of the various perks that are included with it, along with five days where you can put your book up for free. KDP Select is the big arm that Amazon has extended to authors. It’s hard to blame any author for giving it a spin in their strategy to generate more recognition and or sales for their book. Author, Joe Konrath has blogged about this many times. To each his own, and more power to you if you make it work for you. After all, we are all in it because we love to write. Getting your work recognized is what comes next.
In calculating my sales, I looked at percentages. It better represents an overview of where my books are being bought, and gives a clear view of what my future strategy may be. The numbers break down like this…
Over the past 18 months, Amazon leads my sales at 36%. Following them at second and third in my sales are Barnes and Noble with 25% and Apple with 22%. That adds up to 83% of my total sales. The Big 3 are holding their own in my sales. The last two rounding out my total sales are Sony with 10% and Kobo with 7%. While those numbers are a little lower, my foreign sales have come mainly through Kobo. (Apple comes in right behind them) Kobo’s reach outside the US is significant and getting stronger. Plus, they have just released their new HD reader, Aura. Only time will tell if that picks up their business, and if it affects their percentage within my sales.
As a side-note, my last few sales have come from Kobo and Apple, and those particular sales have been outside of the US. At any rate, the numbers are the numbers and it bears out the fact that it’s a pretty even “selling field” for me.
What does it all mean? My sales, in the overall scheme of things, really don’t mean anything to anyone but me. But, it did answer my question – to be exclusive or not to be?
Answer: I’ll remain in a monogamous relationship with all of the ebook retailers . . . for now, anyway!
Details Coming Soon!
Starting Out
2013 has arrived and already is moving into its second week. I wanted to start 2013 with a Giveaway on Goodreads for Episode #1 of Night Dreams. 761 souls signed up for a chance to win 3 copies, and I appreciate everyone for their interest and their time, to sign up. The 3 paperback copies have been mailed out today, and I hope to hear back from the winners at some point after reading it.
Short-Range Goals
If you write and take it seriously, then you know goals have to be set. They have to be not only set, but those goals (self-imposed deadlines) have to be reached. Reached, if you want to make progress in your projects, books, and goals. My first goal this year is to finish my novella Floor Four. If you are a self-publisher, then you know just writing and finishing the story is not the end of it. 1st draft, 2nd draft … editing, beta-readers, and formatting (ebook & print). It’s a non-stop process that many of you know well.
After that is done I will put the finishing touches on Episode #2 of Night Dreams – Andrea’s Demon. I’m setting my short-range goals in 2-month blocks. So every two months I will have completed 1/6 of my overall (yearly) goal.
For me, that is how 2013 will start. Along with the previously mentioned projects, there are plenty of leftovers from 2012 to be finished. (I guess my goals for 2012 didn’t all get done as planned!)
It’s never-ending, but you really gotta love what you do to continue the fight.
~ALJ~
I hope the Holidays are going well for everyone. Through the Goodreads Giveaway Program, I am doing my third giveaway since joining. This one is for the 1st episode in my Night Dreams series. The Beginning is the title of the first installment. 3 copies are available. Episode #1 runs at just over 24,000 words and centers around a Dream Psychologist’s secret gift to listen to his patient’s nightmares and enter their dreams, thus finding the way for them deal with their increasing horror and inevitable death. His gift gives him the ability to change the outcome by living/dreaming it as them. For more info on the giveaway, click here .
Thank you, and Good Luck!
~ALJ~
With Thanksgiving coming and going before we knew it, December is here and moving fast. From a writing perspective, setting goals and self-imposed deadlines, and keeping them, is a task, with everything else going on during the holidays. For me, getting the print copy of Night Dreams-E1 The Beginning, proofed and edited (formatting), has taken the biggest amount of time. Hoping to get that out to family and friends for Christmas. Goodreads and WordPress giveaways to follow soon after…stay tuned.
I am also finishing up my novella Floor Four (part of Purgatory-13 Tales of the Macabre). It is coming along nicely and will easily be over 20,000 words when all is said and done. Details on that to follow soon.
So, with my plate full going into the end-of-the-year rush, I’ll be keeping busy, and looking forward to hearing how your writing, and or reading, is going?
~ALJ~ (illustration by Anthony Russo)
Horror Fiction Lives Here… 