This week we welcome our friend and SPRT inspiration, Garrett Robinson.
Garrett personifies the self-published author. Since the beginning of his journey Garrett has attacked his craft, and put himself on the front lines of the indie community. Garrett is an open book and lends his insights freely. He has dozens of titles to his name and runs a very successful Youtube channel dedicated to his followers. We asked Garrett to discuss how to incorporate video into your author platform and his thoughts on the state of self-publishing. This promises to be a lively discussion, so join us Thursday night at 7 PST/10 EST.
Awesome books by Garrett Robinson:
I checked out this man out in prep for the show. It’ll probably be my first live episode as usually i listen on iTunes. His rankings don’t suggest he sells a lot of books? His YouTube channel only has a minimum amount of followers compared to the popular ones I listen too as well. I am Interested to see how he feels video can help an author though. Perhaps I’m missing something? I guess I’ll find out on the day.
While you’re waiting for the show to start, check out this blog post Garrett wrote for us back in August. Good advice! http://selfpublishingroundtable.com/the-next-step-in-transparent-art/
writerwade Was a good post. I remember it fondly.
Not what I expected you to look like! For some reason in my head I pictured Michelle as a blond! I pictured Xavier as a Mountie! Wade, you are just as I imagined.
Do you post a link to the show here?
Or is this just for chatting?
Robert Charles They will post a video link at the top of the page. It will be just before the show is to go live.
I have a question for Garrett.
How many people that found him first on YouTube, has he seen sign up for his fiction list, or buy, then contact him about his books?
Curious to see the crossover rates he is getting.
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Thank you Carl.
Evening
How’s everyone this fine evening?
MrJohnRead It’s all your fault!
writerwade MrJohnRead Probably so
*skids in* Where my SPRTs at? W00T!
MrJohnRead writerwade Evil genius. Change the card, Mr. Coyote haha.
Robert Charles Carl Sinclair It’s up now.
Robert Charles I don’t look like a Mountie?
CateMorgan Right here baby!
spurrrrt
Throw me an invite, I’ll pretty up my hair and play the part of Michelle.
matmorrisauthor So much better looking than me. I tried to get him to have John fill in….he knows the drill
michelleread matmorrisauthor I’ll smile and randomly laugh at the chatroom.
matmorrisauthor michelleread 😐 Who does that??
Xavier the hot new guitar player! Nice.
You’re gross, Wade.
I have a question for Garrett. Why did he stop doing his podcast right as I started watching it?
Please let matmorrisauthor on. Kthanksbye
In other news, my wife is hot.
MrJohnRead This is news? o.O
MrJohnRead *Blushes* My husband is easy on the eyes, as well..
ZachBohannon matmorrisauthor I wouldn’t even have to put pants on!
Hi guys. Where is your hot wife, MrJohnReed.
ALL HAIL SPP!!
matmorrisauthor ZachBohannon I never do
CateMorgan SPP really?
RChazzChute She’s hiding behind a veil of misbehaved kids and chores
Hello everyone.
Robert Charles I think that’s where most of started the podcast rounds for self-publishing.
michelleread matmorrisauthor ZachBohannon Where are my paaaaaaants
writerwade Preds and Hawks are tied…just FYI
Robert Charles Nice to meet you, Robert!
MrJohnRead michelleread matmorrisauthor ZachBohannon Found your pants, series is over.
Robert Charles Hello sir!
Robert Charles Hello Robert
ZachBohannon writerwade thanks!! heartbreak the other night
writerwade ZachBohannon Is that English?
michelleread writerwade ZachBohannon Why aren’t you on anyway?
Here’s a question for Garrett…is he ever going to do anything live online that airs BEFORE midnight EST? Besides this podcast? Also, it’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one who’s grades sucked in high school. Me, I was going to be in The Theatre. Declaiming, and such. 🙂
CateMorgan Robert Charles I have seen a couple of them. I prefer RSP.
People who read a lot of books knows the authors 🙂
He
Carl Sinclair He what?
Hey, everybody!
Evening all.
Darren Wearmouth I’ve read your book First Activation . Very good.
I thought he was going to tell us to write drunk.
RChazzChute That’s your department, sheriff.
Robert Charles Carl Sinclair I was about to say Hi everyone
Robert Charles Darren Wearmouth Don’t inflate his ego… 🙂
RChazzChute I was about to grab another beer in excitement. Now I have to grab one because I’m sad.
Robert Charles Darren Wearmouth Thank you, sir!
Darren Wearmouth Hey Darren
G’evening!
What movies have you made Garrett?
RChazzChute I thought that too.
He said it!!!
RChazzChute OPA!!!!
Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles Yeah don’t say positive things to him. He’s already a douche.
RChazzChute Isn’t this a given? O.O
Robert “That One Commenter” Chazz Chute
Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles 🙁
Is Michelel going to speak?
The other 2 bottles are in my office. It’s been a good day. Cheers.
Robert Charles I’m listening intently. Promise.
michelleread Robert Charles Speak up kid
Carl Sinclair michelleread Robert Charles I’m not speaking! I’m not here!
Darren Wearmouth Hello Darren
michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Where did you go?
michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles *waves hands* This is not the Michelle you are looking for.
I looked at your site. Very clean and nice. I see you also did editing. The package cost was 4500 dollars though? That seems quite high based on my research so far. Have you worked as an editor for a big publisher before?
Carl Sinclair michelleread Robert Charles I was never there.
CateMorgan michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles THANK you. Tea me, please, love.
Where is MICHELLE!
Carl Sinclair I’m sitting right here! Calm down!
michelleread CateMorgan Carl Sinclair Robert Charles *pours tea*
Carl Sinclair Who cares where I am….Darren Wearmouth is here!
Carl Sinclair She was here a second ago, and then I heard this whooshing sound…like a…TARDIS
michelleread Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth I first heard of Darren when you did an interview with him on this show Michelle.
xgranville Carl Sinclair I highly doubt she would leave without me.
CateMorgan michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Oh, what a lovely tea party!
xgranville Carl Sinclair My secret!!
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth I first heard about him when I interviewed him on SPRT back in the day. Great fulla
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth Oh dear! He’s so smart. And kind and helpful. That was a fun interview!
Robert Charles Is this serious?!
C’mon down! *Clink
michelleread Robert Charles Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth I just started reading your Critical series. I am writing my first scifi book at the moment.
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth Nice one Robert.
Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles Yes on his page it is there. I’ve been looking for an editor because I’m writing my first book. It seemed a lot, even when you add up all the pieces he offers. I’m not sure though as I’m only starting out. I don’t really know what things cost 🙂
michelleread You must make the clinking sound
ZachBohannon That’s me. I feel so proud. And Mom said I’d never amount to anything.
MrJohnRead michelleread Pinky out.
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair Darren Wearmouth Robert, give me a shout at dwearmou@gmail.com
matmorrisauthor RChazzChute Happy to enable you, sir.
Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair Thank you. I will.
xgranville RChazzChute I don’t write drunk. That’s so bad for you. Write stoned.
RChazzChute xgranville I recall you saying you write in a reclined position with alcohol nearby haha. Maybe I dreamt it.
I liked fantasy when I was 10 years old.
Robert Charles Some dark fantasy is good. Gotta love those magic systems!
Robert Charles Darren Wearmouth It’s a ridiculous price. I know a few experienced contacts who charge 10% of that.
Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles Can I maybe get some info off you? I will email you as you said.
Robert Charles Darren Wearmouth Yep. No worries.
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Magic systems. Do you like riding dragons too Carl? 🙂
Robert Charles Carl Sinclair Haha I would if I could mate.
MrJohnRead michelleread I got a dead guy!
michelleread MrJohnRead I got a rock
Darren Wearmouth Robert Charles http://garrettbrobinson.com/look-like-a-bestseller/ The $4500 price includes more than editing. His edit cost is 2k. Too steep for me nonetheless.
Isn’t select better than free books now?
Robert Charles I’ve certainly been very happy with the power of select on my book Robert. It’s brought in more money than we would have on the other stores.
Robert Charles Let’s find out!
xgranville michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles *plays violin*
xgranville Robert Charles For any newbie, like us, I would go all in. Forty percent of my sales are select.
Michelle!
CateMorgan xgranville michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Yay!
YAY!!
Robert Charles Well hello Michelle!
Knock it the fuck off guys
MrJohnRead F’KOFF!
MrJohnRead John Read!!!
RChazzChute ZachBohannon Oh Robert! I’ll get you a participation trophy!
Robert Charles Like Carl Sinclair and Darren Wearmouth are saying, you should go Select if you are starting out. It’s been huge for me as well. You’ll grab a ton of readers. Later on you can reassess your position and move all or certain titles onto other platforms.
Darren Wearmouth xgranville Robert Charles 40%! That sounds good.
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Hello there! Long time, no talk. For reals.
What is the dream engines?
Robert Charles Hello Robert!
Robert Charles SPP book.
Robert Charles Good question.
I totally wish I could have gone to Austin this year. Here’s hoping for next year!
Robert Charles Another cool thing is, if you sell a book for $0.99, you’ll actually make more than that on a borrow. For instance, I sell book one in my zombie series for $0.99, but when it’s borrowed on KU, I make around $1.40. I’ve gotten a great response out of selling that book for $0.99 and having it in Select.
michelleread Robert Charles A novel by Johnny B Truant and Sean Platt. Other authors have been invited to write books within the world of the first novel.
CateMorgan I hear they have tea in Austin. I was going to go to RWA this year in NY but I is too cheap!!
CateMorgan I’ll go when Dave does.
Carl Sinclair Yanno, I live in Redacted myself. Maybe he’ll fit in my trunk?
I’m the only author allowed on Instagram. And matmorrisauthor
@michelleread Always wanted to go to NY!
ZachBohannon matmorrisauthor 😐
ZachBohannon matmorrisauthor Why don’t you two make out already. Then let me in your cool kids club!
Instagram is a place to sell books? I’m learning so much!
CateMorgan Carl Sinclair *Stifles giggle
ZachBohannon matmorrisauthor Seriously… we rock that IG nonsense…
Robert Charles And a place to show off salads.
Robert Charles Any social venue could lead to sales if your marketing is done right.
xgranville Robert Charles True
ZachBohannon Robert Charles Wouldn’t you make more at a higher price though?
Can Garrett go into his writing process a bit? Please?
xgranville Robert Charles I personally wouldn’t think a lot of readers are looking to buy books on Instagram though. Or places like Twitter. Probably more effective to buy some targeted ads.
Robert Charles ZachBohannon There are just a small handful of ways to go, really. They’re all a bit different. But if you rewatch all the old shows, the same themes on how to do it keep getting repeated.
It’s just a different way of tackling it.
IRobert Charles ZachBohannon I could charge $4.99 for my books, but if I’m not selling any books, then it really doesn’t matter, does it?
xgranville Robert Charles You might get some, for sure. I wouldn’t focus a lot of time there though.
Carl Sinclair xgranville Robert Charles Yeah exactly. I wouldn’t go Instagram, but who knows some authors may actually see sales on it. No idea, personally.
Carl Sinclair xgranville Robert Charles No no, to build relationships. I’d buy anything at all from DGS because of her Facebook feed!
michelleread Carl Sinclair xgranville Robert Charles DGS?
CateMorgan I typed it into the chat! Now they can’t fire me.
Robert Charles ZachBohannon It all depends what your goal is. My goal has been to get as many readers as possible on my work and to get people on my mailing list. It’s a long-term goal. And, honestly, I made good money doing it because I moved a ton of units. I put book one at $2.99 for just over a week, and yes I made a little more money, but my overall units sold dropped about 40-60% depending on the day and I lost list sign ups because I wasn’t getting as many readers.
My 2nd book is up for pre-order at $2.99 and it moving a lot of units.
michelleread Robert Charles ZachBohannon Exactly.
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair xgranville Ooh ooh, watch the episode with Denis Grover Swank. She was a wealth of knowledge.
michelleread Robert Charles Carl Sinclair xgranville Ah. I have seen her books around.
ZachBohannon matmorrisauthor Interesting. I’m the only author allowed on Friendster. I also have an exclusive contract with smoke signals and telepathy.
Robert Charles michelleread Carl Sinclair xgranville She’s busy eating baked beans in England at the moment.
ACK! Garrett’s in 3D!
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles michelleread xgranville INORITE?!
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles michelleread xgranville My oldest and I had an entire lesson on a proper English breakfast this morning because of her and Heather.
I know garrett brought up BookBub for his literary book. How has he found it on his other books? Is it really as good as people say?
ZachBohannon Robert Charles You’re doing great, chief!
Robert Charles I can’t speak for anyone else, but I was happy with the results for my book.
Carl Sinclair Robert Charles SC is still going strong?
Darren Wearmouth ZachBohannon Robert Charles You’re my hero, Darren. You just need to get away from that Carl Sinclair fella
michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles Yes.
Any more questions for Garrett?
Oh just kidding, never mind.
michelleread thanks for the show
Robert Charles michelleread Thanks for coming!
When he said “I wake up in the morning”…..I started almost singing Four Non Blondes out loud!
If you guys want in on the AFTER PARTY send us a comment!
@Wade, check out lightbox. Looks like you’re making a blackmail video. 🙂
RChazzChute We’re…we’re not?
(I say this with love as the recipient of many dark blackmail videos.)
Well, skipping next week’s episode…
Can you post the link to the after party please?
xgranville i have baby up sorry
RChazzChute I’m in.
Darren Wearmouth RChazzChute well in that case for 5 min
RChazzChute Yes I’ll have Xavier post it here
Darren Wearmouth RChazzChute https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/hoaevent/AP36tYemcgxQo1gZJal__8-F3tVHKG30F8j7TtSaLxQXpFZSWRKmDQ
RChazzChute What is the after party?
ZachBohannon Me too
michelleread Carl Sinclair Robert Charles xgranville It is also an Australian breakfast. Just our sausages aren’t as good.
Oh man, I am very sad I didn’t get to watch this live. 🙁 Garrett is on my favorite people list.