I'm still toiling away at my new novel. It's been so long since I posted a story that I compensate by doing blogs. The new novel is so worth it though.
Anyway, my success as a self-publishing author grows and I hope others will join me. I sold over 1000 copies of God Bless the Child this month (that's not bad) and 1500 books total and that little check I will get is going to buy me a nice dress. But I wanted to share something I put in other blogs but it might have gotten lost.
We have several authors here who post stories on the site and publish on Amazon. First, I make the appeal to them to make their books available on this site as well for free. I know we all want to make a little money, but there are benefits to building a fan base and, if you're like me, sites like this one helped you get started in the first place.
But, there in order to reward authors for posting feature works on the site, I ask something from the reader. Amazon is driven by numbers. Sales are only a part of the ranking system, but reviews are the other. As long as you purchased anything, I mean anything, a pack of pens even, on Amazon, they let you leave a review on books, whether you purchase them or not. There are a lot of reasons to leave a review for stories you've read. 1. Show support of the author 2. Encourage others to buy or not buy 3. considering the story is trans, there will be a few who give it one stars because of bigotry, you can counteract that effect. 4. I would appreciate it.
I have 12 books on Amazon. 11 of currently available on this site and 1 was available for years and will soon return. Some of these stories have hardly any reviews (The Test Taker has zero) The Dress Punishment has 3 etc. I have a few in double digits, but with the readership here I should have 100s of reviews.
If you want better trans stories, professional quality, thought provoking, then you need to let the world know that trans fiction is a viable option. Amazon doesn't even have a genre from transgender fiction yet, but if there was a large in flux of interest, that would change.
I thank you. Also here is proof of my 1000 sales this month.... wouldn't you like to have 1000. I'm willing to help any author get there and I want give advice like I got from Jennifer Boyland (She told me to get on Oprah)
Comments
Amazon.com - Please note...
Anyone can add user-defined tags to stories and Amazon will track them, although vulgar and hateful tags are regularly deleted.
One can also contribute to their "X-Ray" feature, which is made up of user-defined content.
Both of these things make stories easier to find and reference.
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Stories here
All of mine remain here for free, as well as selling on Amazon as "Sussex Border Stories" (in the main). This is the place I started, so I don't see it as polite to jump ship. Or properly grateful.
I'm glad
That's what I'm trying to get all authors from here to do. Those who have published elsewhere and those who are mulling it over. I would hate to see a scenario where all writers who think it is commercially viable to be professional to leave the site. I love posting here (minus a few negative people who just don't get it) and I love posting stories, I like the friendliness, I like comments, I like kudos, and I like knowing that my work will be accepted for what it is.
Outside of here, you get some interesting feedback that isn't always positive and some that are transphobic. When I get someone who writes a review with an issue about trans in a book, I go to old comments on stories here. Since I've been lost in this new work, I know how much I miss posting the short stories. But, the site needs to offer something to those who have works that can sell, that's why I made the suggestion. I look at the trans stories available and there is a lack of reviews. A few of mine are in the 20s because I am more mainstream and I've asked (some may say pestered) for them because I realize the importance. Of course, my goals may be different than others with my writing.
I hope things go well with your books. I have them bookmarked.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life