Beyond the Words: Recent Comments

Comment on State of the Snake, January 2, 2012

Dolly — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:19:38 GMT

Jamie,

You know what I like the best about you? You make informed decisions, because you try stuff. You've done fabulous in the last year, and many of us have wondered how the hell you found the time (by working yourself to death, I guess). But nonetheless, the tangible results you've achieved in one year are astounding. That shows one thing: you've done it once. You can do it again. If you want to. So now with that knowledge, you can enjoy however kind of writing life you want.

And about the day job thing, I am totally with you. I have no intention of living in "romantic" poverty so I can write all day, because there is nothing romantic about poverty. Writing full time would be great, but only if it brings a certain level of income.

So good luck with this year, and while you may not post on this blog, I hope to continue witnessing your journey on MANY of your other blogs :-)

Comment on State of the Snake, January 2, 2012

Ardee Eichelmann — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:23:22 GMT

Jamie, it sounds like you have made a lot of really positive decisions for yourself. I applaud your work and decision to have a life as well as write and publish. I wish you well and hope that 2012 is good to your business. You have a lot of fire and determination. That will take you a long way. Cordially, Ardee-ann

Comment on KDP Select – Thanks, but no thanks.

Brooklyn Ann — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:06:41 GMT

YES! HELL, YES! That is all.

Comment on KDP Select – Thanks, but no thanks.

Jamie DeBree — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:24:07 GMT

Thanks, Ardee-ann. :-)

Dolly, I agree. And the problem is that the authors chasing the ability to give their work away are really just chasing sales rank and bestseller lists, when neither of those *really* matters when it comes to just making a profit writing. I suppose if you're after a trad. pub deal, then that would be important, but since that's not what I want, I'm just as happy to sell a few books each month at a higher price (plus some at a lower price for less words) and keep building a bigger backlist. The readers who are willing to pay a bit more are often people who will actually *read* the book...much of the time, free books just languish after they're downloaded - you're absolutely right in that readers put more stock in something they paid even a little more for.

I do give away free stories - but just the drafts via my serials. I feel like a story I took the time to clean up and polish and get a nice cover for should cost *something*, at least.

Too many writers are just desperate to have those high rankings, I think.

Comment on KDP Select – Thanks, but no thanks.

Dolly — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:31:18 GMT

I have nothing against free books. I like them very much as a reader. However, at the rate indie authors keep offering free books, it devalues them. We are just about getting to the stage where indie authors are not all considered people-not-good-enough-to-go-through-traditional-publishing. That stigma I think is lifted for the most part. But when people do keep offering their books for free, that makes a reader wonder, why? I know a guy who often downloads free Indie books from Amazon, and then when he finishes them, for the most part his response is: "Well it was all right. But you can't expect much from a free book."

Comment on KDP Select – Thanks, but no thanks.

Ardee Eichelmann — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:21:04 GMT

Jamie, you go girl. I am proud of you for not being a lemming and for thinking things out. You are very logical and sensible. You have great business savvy. Thanks for sharing this great blog post.

Ardee-ann

Comment on Opening the Doors…Just a Crack

Jamie D. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:38:50 GMT

Thanks Dolly.

Comment on Opening the Doors…Just a Crack

Dolly — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:10:18 GMT

It's fantastic what you have set up. And you are right. It is fun when you are the one making the rules! All my best wishes to BSB success.

Comment on Revisiting the Business Plan

Dolly — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:37:29 GMT

As always your planning right on the mark. Changing plans or direction is not a problem, as long as one realigns the plan then to stay on track. You've done remarkable in one year, so perhaps full-time in another 4 years just might happen. Fingers crossed!

Comment on Release Day Hoopla…or Not?

Jamie D. — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:08:19 GMT

I don't really view it as any different - my announcements go out on the blog for my pen name, which then goes out to twitter/facebook just like my other book announcements. There are book review sites that review erotica (some of the romance reviewers also review erotica as well), so really, it's just like any other book release.