What a Week It’s Been!

I’m cross-posting this to both my blogs, so I apologize in advance if you subscribe to my book blog as well as this one.

I wanted to catch you all up with what’s been happening with my novel Nothing Really Bad Will Happen. As of Tuesday, March 12, my book has been live on Amazon.com! The evening before the book launch, my wonderful family organized a Zoom call. It was so sweet! Scott made me a drink so I could join in the toast. Dean and Shellye made a poster of the book cover to put in my office. The grandkids signed a card, and all chipped in for the most special tote bag I will ever own, created by our youngest daughter, Meghan. (Made By Meg Gift Shop)

Tuesday, book launch day, I spent the day with my friend Doreen and we had lunch with Meghan. Later, while granddaughter Paisley attended her after-school program, we took grandson Logan out for a snack. He told me he put my book on his Amazon birthday wish list!! When I said I’d rewrite the book for him when he gets to 3rd grade, he replied, “That’s great. But don’t put in so many pages.” Out of the mouths of babes!!

We tried to keep busy all day, but I still managed to check the Amazon page about 415 times! What a thrill it was to see I was #1 in New Releases for Holocaust Biographies! Of course, that really just reflected that it was a brand new release, but that’s okay. It was still fun to see!

As people posted on Facebook that they had ordered, I lamented the fact that I hadn’t correctly understood how Amazon ships authors’ copies. I had ordered 20 on March 5th, figuring they’d get to me in plenty of time to give to my local family members and friends by launch day. After all, I had received my proof copies in two days. It didn’t work out that way.

I did some research and realized that Amazon pushes the author orders to the bottom of the list, preferring to push out the more profitable customer orders first. Okay, that makes sense. But I also learned something else that I would have known if I read Amazon’s small print! Amazon locks your book five days before publication. That meant I couldn’t even order more author copies until the book launched. So much for sending books to my out-of-town siblings! Thank goodness, I at least ordered 20 and could send those when they finally arrive!

I also figured out something else. My author copies were printed in Middletown, Delaware. My proof copies and the full-price copies sent to friends here have been printed in North Haven, a town just 27 miles from me here in Woodbury, CT. My theory is that is how Amazon keeps it straight—certain printers are reserved for the authors’ copies.

It is now Friday evening. I received my box of books this afternoon!!

Knowing the initial flurry is over, I am forcing myself to refrain from checking my KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) every hour. I know sales will slow from here on out, maybe spiking when I do events. Oh! I also learned about how sales are counted. (Again – I would have known this if I read all the words on the Amazon site. But there were sooooo many…) Ebooks sales are counted when the credit card is processed. Print books are counted when they ship! It’s really interesting to see the graphics as well.

For the past few days, sales have been about 1/3 eBook and 2/3 paperback. I suspect it will probably track that way. I loved seeing where my books were purchased. I know the Canada numbers include my fantastic Daily Writing Sprint pals, but it also includes my father’s second wife (who figures in the book!) She read the book in two days and really liked it! That meant the world to me! I’m pretty sure I know who the 2% OTHER are , but the Germany order is currently a mystery. My writing friend in Switzerland? Maybe it’s my long-lost cousin??

Before I close, I have to share what my daughter Caitlin texted me. She is a voracious and very discerning reader, and I was very nervous to hear what she thought.

I’m still suffering from “Imposter Syndrome,” defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills, but I’m working on it. Comments like Caitlin’s go a long way, but I’m waiting to hear what people who don’t know me think. Maybe then I’ll be more comfortable saying “I’m a Writer!”