Saturday, January 03, 2009

Back To Work

Are we ready to get back into the daily grind? Or does that officially start Monday, January 5th? Actually, since I was facing deadline on one project and past deadline on another, I've been writing my fingers to the bone. I handed one in and my editor wants to contract it. Woohoo! I'm still busily trying to finish the other. I just received my royalty statement from one of my publishers. Since this reflected a sales period when I had a new book released, I really thought, at least hoped, I'd earn more. Needless to say, I'm disappointed. Disappointment aside, my business side wants to analyze this. Fellow authors, please chime in with opinions. I'd like feedback. I have a lot of thoughts on this, so let me know if I'm warm or cold or if there's no telling. The economy's down. People are tightening their belts. Perhaps book sales are down in general because of this? Since this was for November, people were Christmas shopping for others and not buying as much for themselves. I doubt many people buy erotic romance for other people. Perhaps I didn't promote enough. Perhaps it doesn't work to write to market - this was an M/M Christmas romance. I thought M/M was hot and would sell well. However, this M/M sold on a consistent basis with most of my other books. Oh well. Perhaps my expectations were too high. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

7 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

Ashley, three of your books are rising on my TBB list; in fact, by February I'll be buying them. Hang in there!

My sales were down in November also; you're not alone!

Regina Carlysle said...

Haven't gotten a check yet, Ash, so I don't know what's up on my end yet. I've always heard people read more when it's cold outside so I have to think the economy is digging in it's heels.Hmm. Could there be just too many m/m's out there these days? Like you, I've heard they are big sellers but they are everywhere these days. Maybe the trend is bottoming out. Maybe try another genre? I don't know.

Huge congrats on the contract. Wonderful way to start the New Year.

Sandra Cox said...

Congrats on the contract. Sorry sales weren't what you hoped but I've got to believe xmas and the recession have played a part.

Unknown said...

My personal opinion - take it or leave it - I think too many people are trying to write MM and I think there is a glut of it on the market - yeah, sure - howl me down - whatever. Write what you want to write and not what others are doing. Write another American Beauty.

Cindy Spencer Pape said...

frankly, I think everyone suffered in November. Here's hoping for an upswing in December.

Unknown said...

Boy would I love to write another American Beauty. I'm trying. Purrfect Justice, American Beauty's prequel did pretty good, too. The book I originally wrote as American Beauty's sequel morphed into a sweet romance and was just contracted with The Wild Rose Press. I don't have a release date yet. Does this count? :)

I hope the readers will think so.

Meanwhile, I wish all my books would be as successful as American Beauty. I'm working on it. :)

DJ Kirkby said...

I've yet to get any royalties for my books so can't comment on this. I am struggling with the reality of going back to work today though :(

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