Does giving away books equal more sales?

Honestly, I have no idea. I'm still very new to the self-publishing world (although I've been traditionally published for 4 years) and trying my best to figure everything out. Naturally, I want to earn a decent income. But, I also want to give readers something of value for their money. (On a side note, I still filed copyright. I mention this now because I've heard horror stories of people being ripped off. But, back to the subject.)

I believe in my writing. If I thought my stories were crap, I'd never try to sell them to anyone. Actually, if I thought they were crap, I'd be embarassed to even give them away. I wouldn't want my name on it.

That being said, I released my first self-published book Dec. 26, 2011, Frank and The Werewolf Tamer.

I was and still am thrilled about this new release. I set the price at $2.99. That is the minimum where I feel I can earn a decent royalty and survive and still give readers a good price. In its first week, Frank and The Werewolf Tamer sold a whoping 14 copies. I was crushed. I'd heard others say their sales started out slow, but this was depressing.

So, I decided to take advantage of the Kindle Select program I'd signed up for. By the way, I see no benefit to this program other than being able to offer your books as free for 5 days every 90 days. I may not re-enroll after 90 days. That's still up in the air.

Now, want to hear something really sad? Frank and The Werewolf Tamer has been downloaded over 600 times since yesterday morning.

I can't help but wonder if people are just not willing to pay for my work. Which is VERY depressing. Or if everyone is taking a chance on it because it's free.

My hope (and fondest wish) is that new readers will find me this way, love the book, and spread the word. Maybe by the time the promotion runs out, people will be willing to pay $2.99. Seriously, that's still cheap.

I've heard other people speculate that sales go up an average of 30% when a free book is offered. But, I don't think you can count on that. I believe that every situation is different. What works for one book (or author) may not work for another. However, in the on-going effort to pay my bills, I keep trying.

At the moment, I'm viewing this as in investment. That's advertisement that didn't cost me a thing and at least 600 people have heard my name.

If you've already experimented with free books and/or self-publishing, and you wouldn't mind, please share your results with us:) Comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Thou Shalt Do The Dance

I hope someone else has seen Evan Almighty and gets that joke. LOL So, why am I doing "the dance" today? Because Red is still climbing the charts at Fictionwise! Yes, I know I've talked a lot about it lately. That's because this is what's going on in my life right now and I am very excited about it.

I'm not putting it up here to brag. As a matter of fact, I keep talking about it because I'm mostly in shock. The part that isn't in shock is very moved. It's such an amazing feeling to know so many people are not only reading my book, but getting what I have to say. Since they get what I have to say, that means they get me.

Some people go their whole lives without every making that connection to another person. You know, having someone "get" them. To be able to write and to share my thoughts and feelings with the audience is like being able to share little bits and pieces of me. Because that's really what I'm doing.

I am humbled that anyone thought it worthy to even go into print. But to get this kind of response from readers takes my breath away. (That's why I'm having to type about it. LOL Okay, that was a bad joke.)

This is what I've always wanted to do with my life and now I have the chance. Not many people can say that. So, like I said, this isn't a brag. This is another thank you to my readers (because without you guys I wouldn't be here) and a thank you to God. (Because without him I wouldn't be here either.)

So, here are the latest stats on Red. (On Fictionwise)

#4 in the Romance Category

#3 NCP's list

#10 Recent Best Sellers