#WWWblogs 1 week to go with #KDPSelect – My thoughts & why I’m renewing #indieauthor #indie

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

The first 3 months

It’s been an interesting 3 months using KDP Select for the first time. So far the biggest impact has been having my book enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. The page numbers read has increased each month from 0 in Aug, 768 in September and 786 in October. The figures are modest, but they are still readers, that’s what matters most to me!

I’m always so happy when I check the daily report to see the line on the graph has moved up. Thank you unknown readers, whoever you are.

I’ve yet to see an increase in reviews or sales through KDP Select, but I’ll take this success and continue to be positive about it – after all I sold nothing through Smashwords and the various retailers after the pre-order buzz for Visions of Zarua.

So based on the small success of Kindle Unlimited, I’m going to renew for another 3 months. At least I no longer feel as if my book is completely lost amongst the thousands.

5 day free promo or Kindle Countdown deals?

The next question is shall I run a 5 day free promo or go with kindle countdown deals again? People seem to have mixed opinions on what works best. I suppose it depends on the outcome you require. I want to encourage readers to read and review my book, I’m not so interested in hitting Amazon’s best seller lists for free book downloads. That would be great of course, but my genre is too big to get near those rankings.

With the Countdown Deals at least I understand how things work this time around. I’ll make sure I run the UK & US deals starting on the same day! Thanks Terry Tyler for pointing that one out!

Amazon Ads

I’m also going to promote the Kindle Countdown deal this time, which I plan to do via Amazon Ads: Sponsored Product and Product Display Ad for the sale period and maybe a few days after as well.

My current Amazon Ads have cost me quite a bit with only one sale coming out of 64 clicks! I don’t understand why so many people have clicked on the Ad (which shows the book cover, tag line, cost and star rating) and not followed through. Maybe some of them have gone on to read it via Kindle Unlimited. I have asked Amazon if there is more data available regarding these clicks, and will let you know if I hear back from them.

Hopefully combining the Ad’s with the Countdown Deals will see a better return.

Other book sales sites

I want to try other sites that promote book sales, can anyone recommend any that aren’t too expensive?

***

I hope you’ve found my 3 month experiment with KDP Select helpful.

My other posts were 1 month in with KDP Select and 2nd KDP update

What are your thoughts and experiences on the scheme? If you have any tips to share, I’d love to hear them!

And of course, if you have read Visions of Zarua, would you consider leaving a review? Just a short one, letting other readers know what you think and what you liked / didn’t like.

#GoodReads #giveaway – Visions of Zarua #fantasybook #epicfantasy

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

There’s still time to enter the Worldwide giveaway for Visions of Zarua, a standalone epic fantasy. The winner will be picked on 16th November to celebrate the 1st anniversary of publication.

Here’s a taste of some recent reviews…

A gripping fantasy with a strong premise and endearing characters, 16 July 2016

Wonderful 3-dimensional characters in an epic fantasy, 12 July 2016

brilliantly written fantasy, finished it and wanted more!, 7 July 2016

Click the link to enter Goodreads giveaway.

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.
Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate.
Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer.
The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

***

Read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

I’m also offering ebook review copies in exchange for honest reviews. Please get in touch if you’re interested.

Indie Interview: Suzanne Rogerson #indieauthor of #epicfantasy Visions of Zarua

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I’m really pleased to share my interview over on Rebecca’s ‘Read A Lot’ blog.

***

Since I’ve missed a whole week, I got right on to getting this interview uploaded for you. Suzanne Rogerson kindly agreed to take part in the Q&A, and there are even some graphics with qu…

Source: Indie Interview: Suzanne Rogerson

Visions of Zarua 1st anniversary #Goodreads #Giveaway #epicfantasy

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since Vision of Zarua was published and I want to celebrate by running a worldwide giveaway.

The winner will be picked on 16th Nov, an exact year after the ebook went live.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Visions of Zarua

by Suzanne Rogerson

Giveaway ends November 16, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Visions of Zarua is still enrolled in kindle unlimited, click here if you want to read it for free.

And if you are a book reviewer who is interested in reviewing, please use the contact me page.

Good luck to everyone who enters, and keep a look out for other giveaways I’ll be running over the next few months.

Amazon.com #giveaway for Visions of Zarua #epicfantasy

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I’m trying out another Amazon US Giveaway. The only requirement is to follow me as a author. Click the link, and good luck!

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/c83bdd2d706e21c5

#Kindle countdown deal continues – Visions of Zarua £1.99 #epicfantasy

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

This is the last day of my UK Kindle Countdown deal, so if you missed Visions of Zarua for 99p, you can still pick it up for £1.99 today.

Why not read a sample here

Or you can go direct to the Amazon page and see what others having been saying about my debut fantasy Amazon UK. There are more reviews on Amazon US and the book’s goodreads page.

I’ll keep this post short and sweet, but later I’ll be posting about my experience so far with KDP Select.

As ever please help me spread the word. And if you have read Visions of Zarua would you consider leaving a short review? These reviews are the best selling tool any author can have, so I appreciate your time helping me reach more readers.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

#Kindle Countdown Deal: Visions of Zarua 99p today only! #epicfantasy #fantasy

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

My first ever Kindle Countdown deal is live today in the UK. Why not pick up this standalone epic fantasy for 99p.

Average Customer Review: 14 customer reviews

Visions of Zarua | dark sorcery with slithering secrets, 8 April 2016

Highly recommend for fantasy, magic and mystery fans!, 27 May 2016

brilliantly written fantasy, finished it and wanted more!, 7 July 2016

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

99p today only at Amazon UK

Please share and help me spread the word.

#Tuesdaybookblog – Visions of Zarua KDP Countdown Deal #epicfantasy #kindle

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

News Update

I’m running my first promotion since joining KDP Select. On Thursday 9th September, Visions of Zarua will be £0.99 in the UK. As part of the Kindle Countdown deal, it will then be £1.99 on 10th until returning to its usual price of £2.99 on 11th September.

It’s also available for free if you are a kindle unlimited subscriber.

Why not take a chance on this standalone epic fantasy that’s currently shortlisted in the Creative National Writing Competition 2016.

Here’s what a few reviewers have been saying;

Thrilling and dark fantasy novel that really keeps you gripped from beginning to end!, 27 Jan. 2016

brilliantly written fantasy, finished it and wanted more!, 7 July 2016

Wonderful 3-dimensional characters in an epic fantasy, 12 July 2016

A gripping fantasy with a strong premise and endearing characters, 16 July 2016

See all the reviews on Amazon UK

Blurb

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

***

This is an experiment and I’m interested to see if the KDP Select countdown deals have any impact on sales. Please help me spread the word.

I’ll blog about the results once I’ve finished working through the latest draft of The Lost Sentinel, my next book planned to be published late 2016 / early 2017.

#Tuesdaybookblog – Visions of Zarua is available via #KindleUnlimited #fantasy

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

When I first published Visions of Zarua I wanted to reach as many book markets as possible. So I published with Kindle and Smashwords (which covers markets like Kobo, iTunes, Nook).

However in the months since publication I’ve only sold half a dozen copies through these platforms via Smashwords. Even running various sales, and a half price sale throughout July has not helped. Kindle has produced much better results so I decided to unpublish with Smashwords and try out KDP Select.

Amazon UK Kindle Unlimited

It’s just gone live this morning, so I’ll give a progress report in a few months on how this is working. I’m really hoping it will boost sales and that having access to extra marketing opportunities will allow me to step back from my own efforts and finish my next book – I’m miles behind schedule for publishing this year!

I’m also looking at the option of an audiobook. It would be a very expensive audiobook to buy, but not for readers who are monthly subscribers to audible etc. I’ll update on this as I go along.

Maybe these new platforms will lead to bigger and better things. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

In other news;

Visions of Zarua is still in the running for Mark Lawrence’s #SPFBO 2 (self published fantasy blog off). Some of the reviewers have already whittled down their list to a few, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in my group of 30 authors.

As September draws closer, I’m eagerly awaiting the results of the Creative National Writing competition. Visions of Zarua has been shortlisted and several prizes will be awarded. I have everything crossed hoping it gets placed amongst the winners.

***

I think I have just about exhausted all the marketing opportunities for indie authors – goodreads giveaways, blog tours etc. As much as I want to let go and focus on other projects, it’s hard to see Visions of Zarua disappear amongst the millions of other books available. Does anyone out there have any other marketing suggestions? Are there any avenues I’ve missed?