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This week the Self-Publishing Roundtable welcomes romance author Zoe York. This show will air live at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST on Thursday, June 12th. We’ll embed the You tube feed into the show post just prior to the show going live.
We’ll be chatting with Zoe about a whole range of things during this segment, including the mega hit SEALs of Summer box-set she was a part of. We’ll dig into what strategies they used to sell 20,000 units of the box set in the first week, thus debuting at the top of the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists.
As always if you have any questions for Zoe leave them in the comments, and we’ll ask them on air.
Is this earlier than usual and have you guys had a daylight savings change or something? Just asking cause this now starts two hours earlier for me, means I’ll have to get up earlier tomorrow o.O
BatmanErica No Erica, typo in the post. 6 PST/9 EST. No idea what time in NZ? lol
BatmanErica Erica we push the time back two hours, to 9 pm EST just for you… okay, not really, but doesn’t that sound better than admitting I mistook a seven for a nine on the original post? 🙂
Thanks Trish McCallan and writerwade.
Howdy howdy howdy.
Who’s ready to SPRT?
Hey everyone! Looking forward to absorbing a whole lot of awesomeness.
I’m always ready
writerwade I’m VERY ready to SPRT.
BuddyGott writerwade ready!
I hope I’m in the right place …
Carl Sinclair No Google+ fandangos today, I take it?
Nina Pierce You surely are–welcome welcome. 🙂
RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade Me too! Highlight of my week.
Good evening everyone!
A moment of silence for the loss of two influential authors this week: Eric Hill (author of Spot) and Rik Mayall (writer/actor of Young Ones, etc)
Don’t mind me. I’m just gonna sneak over here and hang out in the corner.
michelleread RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade mine too. That and finally finishing a first draft 😀
BatmanErica Not familiar with Eric Hill but Rik Mayall was a comic genius. RIP to them both.
BatmanErica michelleread RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade congratulations!
BatmanErica michelleread RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade Congratz! You must feel like an entire weight just fell from your shoulders.
Here we go…
BatmanErica michelleread RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade What! Woot woot.
Carl Sinclair premature?
Is the video playing yet. I’m tired, so I may be missing something.
As usual
Suzan! Nice to see you
Carl Sinclair But they know from last week that we’re not going anywhere.
CateMorgan michelleread RolandDenzel BuddyGott writerwade just a small weight. Still gotta go back and add in a kidnapping and rescue >.<
S.M. Butler *Hands over the popcorn.* Mind if I join you?
Refresh – we are about 3 minutes in. The site didn’t load the video it seems.
We’ve just started.
michelleread Carl Sinclair Carl is busy doing last minute beard grooming.
Carl Sinclair it’s here now
BuddyGott michelleread Carl Sinclair Oh yes. Very important.
Evening all. Stupid computer decided to run updates so I’m late but it looks like I’m just in time 🙂
Hi John!
I’m glad I’m known for being braless….
michelleread Michelle in the house.
S.M. Butler I’m braless too, don’t worry.
Carl Sinclair michelleread :0)
S.M. Butler I’m laughing so hard right now!
Carl Sinclair SO GLAD I’m not the only one!
Molly McLain S.M. Butler I can pull my shirt up live if you need proof? You’ll recognise my abs from every romance cover in the top 100.
Carl Sinclair S.M. Butler It’s a manzier!
Howdy all
David Anson Hey David.
David Anson Howdy.
Good job on the new podcast!
BuddyGott David Anson Hey Buddy
I’ve estimated I need 40,000 words to make approximately 150 pages. Bookbub is funny o.O
I for one want to hear all about the lack of sales!!
PatrickStemp BuddyGott David Anson Hey Pat.
writerwade Thanks! It promises to be a fun time.
Hi BuddyGott PatrickStemp
Carl Sinclair You know, I really thought I was more well known for being pantsless. LIVE AND LEARN.
BatmanErica double
BuddyGott David Anson looking forward to watching the latest Buddy’s Writing Show with Darren Wearmouth. I hear I may have been mentioned, sadly, I missed it live.
Carl Sinclair Molly McLain S.M. Butler Ever since Carl said he was braless, I’ve had a hard time not picturing him actually wearing a bra. It’s kind of disturbing.
S.M. Butler Carl Sinclair I don’t wear pants either! Just tights.
BuddyGott Carl Sinclair Molly McLain S.M. Butler You want a signed copy of the photos?
Carl Sinclair I’m trying. I’m just not wordy enough >.<
Okay people lets hear you questions. We had dozens last week with matthew mather – you can do better! Hit me up.
BatmanErica Carl Sinclair add POV and more description. Boom.
Carl Sinclair I was trying to wait so I didn’t pepper the feed with newbie questions…..and also, she’s really starting out strong answering a lot of good questions before we ask them. I love her!
Carl Sinclair I know, but I hate description >.<
Carl Sinclair Sexy.
michelleread Carl Sinclair She’s an awesome guest.
BatmanErica Carl Sinclair Don’t hate it, it’s just work.
JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE
JayChastain Helloooooo!!!!!
BuddyGott michelleread Carl Sinclair All of our guests are. We have a new intro which will debut on the iTunes / edited video version for this episode too.
michelleread JayChastain HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO
G’morning 😀
michelleread Carl Sinclair yeah, but I also dislike reading description >.<
Haha, she showed them.
michelleread JayChastain Jay C – my man!
JayChastain Chastain…
Carl Sinclair JayChastain Sinclair…
BuddyGott michelleread JayChastain yay, 4+ hour after party!
JayChastain Carl Sinclair Well met…
Demelza Carlton Hey Demelza!
BatmanErica BuddyGott michelleread JayChastain 8 hours to make up for y’alls fail last week
You’re embarrassing her! Awesome.
BatmanErica michelleread Carl Sinclair Well your not the audience 😛
Carl Sinclair BatmanErica michelleread Ohhh. Very true. You have to write the sales copy.
michelleread Carl Sinclair BatmanErica I can do that. Nude.
Carl Sinclair michelleread BatmanErica Oh please do.
I missed … how did she use Bookbub with a multi-author boxed set for advertising?
Anyone had any luck advertising on FB?
Carl Sinclair JayChastain Well fed…
Well said….well explained I mean.
JayChastain Carl Sinclair Joose is not a food.
michelleread JayChastain Carl Sinclair is if you freeze it 😛
BatmanErica It worked great for me as far as gathering page likes, but I’ve been reading/hearing the translation to book sales is more or less nil. It may depend on how much money you’re spending, tho.
michelleread JayChastain Carl Sinclair Chastain thinks it is.
CateMorgan BatmanErica Do you have a dedicated author page or is it your personal page?
Carl Sinclair michelleread JayChastain It fills you up like food after a few. Therefore, using Texan logic, is food.
BatmanErica michelleread JayChastain Carl Sinclair Beer pops. I think I saw that on Pinterest.
48 people on here and no questions? Don’t lie to me folks.
CateMorgan is that advertising to the Amazon sales page or to your page?
BatmanErica CateMorgan To my author page.
I’m still not 100% on what she considers a novel from a length perspective. What’s the difference in words between a romance novel and a novella?
CateMorgan cool. Someone recommended direct to the sales page and was wondering if anyone had any more luck with that than to their author page.
Carl Sinclair I’d like to hear more about her starting point if there are no more questions. For example, from when she started and said she sold poorly, I’d love to hear more about that.
CateMorgan BatmanErica I’m finding less results the more I try to promote posts. The first reached 9000 in 2 days. The one I’m doing currently has reached 42 in 3 days.
michelleread Carl Sinclair That’s a very good question.
Is she only publishing on KDP, or distributing widely?
Nina Pierce CateMorgan BatmanErica Pfft. Weird.
BatmanErica CateMorgan That’s an interesting idea. I may have to look into that.
BatmanErica CateMorgan Erica do you have an author page on fb? I need to look you up…
Carl Sinclair How did she get a Bookbub ad with a multi-author boxed set? I didn’t think they accepted those for advertising.
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair will ask in a minute for you.
michelleread Nina Pierce CateMorgan BatmanErica Yeah … really bites. Not sure what happened.
Loving hearing these numbers after the box set. Sooooo…..who wants to be in a box set someday with me?
I do
Carl Sinclair Nina Pierce Thanks. I’m having a hard time finding a place to advertise for multi-author boxed sets.
Carl Sinclair And does she feel some of the advertisers took them because some or all of the authors already had a good track record with sales?
BuddyGott I just did a box set with another brand new author…..not impressed with results. We now have four reviews, several purchases (yay) but that died down quickly. Maybe I should have gone in with more people? Or with someone more well known than me? I feel bad for the other author that we’re not making bunches of money, but that bit doesn’t bum me out, because I know it’s a learning process and I’m not in a hurry. ALTHOUGH….the reviews for my book on the box set are crappy, and the ones who find my book on it’s own love it. What the heck?
thanks for answering!
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair http://www.premiumboxsets.com is a place we learned of two weeks ago.
michelleread BuddyGott Michelle, what’s the name of your book?
michelleread CateMorgan I do, but I’m gonna set up a page for it instead.
Nina Pierce Boom! You were right.
michelleread Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair some places may charge more for multi-author, but I think most don’t 🙂
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair There we go. I know ENT (among others) take the multi author box sets.
Carl Sinclair So I’m sorry, where, besides ENT did she find advertising?
BuddyGott what genre?
Really great answer, Zoe–very enlightening. Thank you!
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair Basically any of the smaller lists will take the box sets.
If an author wants to release a holiday-themed short/novella/book, how close to the holiday do you recommend releasing? And do you offer it for a limited time only, or keep it live year round?
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair Don’t be sorry….this place moves quickly. I don’t remember her saying many others besides the two. I think I may have heard of a few smaller sites but I don’t remember. And don’t forget you can rewatch it as soon as its over! I always do.
Nina Pierce michelleread CateMorgan try the ad manager and selecting sending to website (the sale page on amazon or wherever) instead of a boost. Try and get your FB followers onto your mailing list as well, that way you won’t have to worry about boosts and FB posts not getting to everyone. Hope that helps 🙂
BuddyGott michelleread http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Book-Invisibles-Michelle-Read-ebook/dp/B008OCD17K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402623425&sr=8-1&keywords=mothers+michelle+read
tlhaddix Will get to you shortly.
BuddyGott michelleread HOLY MOLY! Didn’t mean for that to be there. It’s called Mothers.
BatmanErica BuddyGott Yes.
michelleread BuddyGott Look at you hijacking the comments : )
michelleread BuddyGott Just read the description on Amazon. Sounds good!
Carl Sinclair michelleread BuddyGott Sorry!!!!!
michelleread BuddyGott each pick a different dinosaur!
michelleread Carl Sinclair BuddyGott It’s fine : )
BatmanErica BuddyGott It’s in occult suspense and mystery I think.
BatmanErica Nina Pierce michelleread CateMorgan “Boost Post” is a likely a waste of money. It only boosts it to your own page fans. Ad Manager lets you promote to facebook users out in the wild
RolandDenzel have you done that yourself? Much luck?
BatmanErica RolandDenzel I have. Middling luck.
Carl Sinclair BatmanErica RolandDenzel I have for a local class that I taught, but not a book. It worked ok, but I did very specific targeting
RolandDenzel Carl Sinclair yeah I’d be doing specific targeting as well. I couldn’t find the place where it was recommended but they suggested targeting people that like authors similar to what you write and then let FB optimise it (whatever that means). They also suggested doing two different ones for $5 each that way you can see which one works best and then go with that one and decide whether or not to top it up with more $
BOOM! What up kids?!
xgranville the gang’s back together!
BatmanErica xgranville Yay! Long live the gang!
xgranville Dude. Fashionably late much?
BatmanErica xgranville BOOOMMMMMMM
CateMorgan xgranville I was recruited to stop the oncoming Purple People Eater attack. The future is safe.
Carl Sinclair tlhaddix I think it’s more of a north american thing cause winter wonderlands don’t really work in the southern hemisphere around xmas time 😛
xgranville CateMorgan Well done, sir. Well done indeed.
xgranville CateMorgan On behalf of the planet, thank you!
BatmanErica Carl Sinclair tlhaddix Thank you! Great answer, Zoe. 🙂
BuddyGott xgranville CateMorgan No thanks need, Sir Gott. I’m just a man. A man with a plan. A man with a plan named Dan.
tlhaddix I think you should leave it up, cause you’ll have those reviews and sales etc.
Fail – net down.
BatmanErica Makes sense, unless like Zoe says, it’s part of an anthology.
Email order husband!
BatmanErica Thats all good and well, but….how do you get him out of the computer?
and the plot idea is already percolating…
xgranville BatmanErica you don’t
BatmanErica Percolating? What do I look like, a Keurig?
xgranville you had nothing to do with the plot idea. I’m percolating >.<
xgranville BatmanErica No, a Keurig is slightly more cuddly than you.
Sorry for being a bum. Tylenol Extra Strength is an amazing thing though.
BatmanErica xgranville So you look like a Keurig?
kevinmichael3 They make feel like Godzilla. Every step I take, I’m destroying Tokyo.
xgranville how dare you sir! You have already seen what I look like and you now compare my beauty to a Keurig?!?!
53 live viewers here. 25 on Youtube. Nearly 100 live viewers!
Carl Sinclair I’m on here and watching live on Youtube so your total is off by one 😛
Carl Sinclair It’s your charm Sinclair
BuddyGott xgranville BatmanErica You two cuddle? Noted.
kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair No, that can’t be it.
michelleread I don’t, they do –> BuddyGott xgranville
While you’re at it… if you’re new to the show head on over to the YouTube video and please consider giving the show a THUMBS UP and Subscribing to our channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RN5Qa7b4DA#t=2774
kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair Just imagine how many more viewers you’d get if you took your shirt off. #RhysDaviesftw
kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair How’s the man flu?
BatmanErica michelleread BuddyGott xgranville Don’t hate me because I’m cuddly, ladies.
kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair Just kidding there. Carl oozes charm. Makes the rest of us look bad.
BuddyGott kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair It’s true. Just ask Carl.
Took all day, but I’m up to about 50% Midget wrestler joke strength right now.
Carl Sinclair BuddyGott kevinmichael3 Looks like you guys aren’t skipping a beat. If anything, you’re doing even better tonight.
I’m really loving Zoe’s energy. 🙂
CateMorgan she’s passionate 🙂
CateMorgan me too
BatmanErica CateMorgan And she’s so, so positive. 🙂
tlhaddix CateMorgan makes a change, doesn’t it? 🙂
michelleread CateMorgan She’s great!
Wait, she’s writing books set in Canada? As a Canadian this worries me. It’s like setting a book in Narnia, but with cigarettes and maple syrup.
xgranville Best description of Canada ever. Aye.
xgranville And strangely fascinating food…
BatmanErica tlhaddix CateMorgan A tremendous change. Inspiring versus disheartening.
xgranville Us Canadians are positioned to take over the world.
BuddyGott michelleread CateMorgan Very much so! She’s very distracting… she’s interrupting my workout, over here by being cute and all
PatrickStemp xgranville The Stemp!
PatrickStemp xgranville Well, you certainly have the land mass. And who’s gonna want to invade in winter? It’d be like Russia all over again.
PatrickStemp xgranville Michael J Fox will lead the charge….if we’re patient.
When did Zoe begin her newsletter? (Like how many books did she have out when she began her newsletter?) And how often does she put her newsletters out?
PatrickStemp xgranville Fine. Just don’t have your Celine Dion sing the New World Anthem.
BuddyGott PatrickStemp xgranville she’s their secret weapon in the war!
BuddyGott PatrickStemp xgranville She’s not ours! I reject your claim! She’s in Vegas and there she shall stay!
CateMorgan PatrickStemp xgranville Canada: The Nice Russia.
xgranville PatrickStemp Personally, I’m banking on Nathan Fillion. You’d convert every Browncoat in the world. No one–but NO ONE–would mess with you.
PatrickStemp BuddyGott xgranville We’ll send her back to you and throw in Wayne Newton as a bonus!
PatrickStemp BuddyGott xgranville I doubt her nose will make it past the border.
CateMorgan xgranville PatrickStemp I’d get behind Nathan in a land war. Shiny!
GOING TO GET FOOD. I’LL BE BACK FOR THE PARTAY
xgranville PatrickStemp BuddyGott Her nose will go on…..
BuddyGott xgranville PatrickStemp HORRIFYING!
I’m not coming unless you’re naked Jay
BuddyGott PatrickStemp xgranville Keep Wayne. We’ll take Keifer Sutherland. You keep Beiber.
kevinmichael3 Hah! Coming.
kevinmichael3 I’ll need eye and mind bleach >.<
Who would be interested in an after-party tonight?
Carl Sinclair memememememememmemememememememmemememmememe please 🙂
Carl Sinclair me. i’m not live worth, but i can hide in the shadows
BatmanErica kevinmichael3 If Jay is naked, I want to borrow some of Kevin’s Tylenols
Aside from reading voraciously, how does she keep her finger on the pulse of Romance and publishing?
BuddyGott BatmanErica kevinmichael3 GODZILLA!
Carl Sinclair Me, of course, and maybe I’ll be not too shy to speak. BUT, please include the new people before me if they want to be there, so they can see the awesome.
tlhaddix Oooooh. Great question.
Nina Pierce I’m gonna ask people on my newsletter if they want an ARC of my next book. Glad to know Zoe says she does this so I feel like I’m doing the right thing 🙂
Carl Sinclair I’ll jump in for a bit. Test the waters, as they say.
Carl Sinclair I’d like in, please! Been awhile!
@Carl Sinclair hmmm….
BuddyGott Carl Sinclair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=araU0fZj6oQ
Nina Pierce The afterparty is a NON live hangout with us and our guest (plus listeners)
Carl Sinclair Nina Pierce it’s private, not public.
Carl Sinclair Nina Pierce Not recorded.
michelleread BuddyGott Having done 3 boxed sets that had mega huge sales (all were NYT bestsellers) I’ve learned that you really, really need to pick your group of authors very carefully. You need two or three authors with large newsletters, FB audiences, etc to sort of carry that boxed set the first couple of days. Also themed boxed sets seem to work best.
Zoe and I were both in the SEALs of Summer set which promised readers yummy, delicious Navy SEAL romances and delivered. I did another boxed set that was alpha males and motorcycles and a third that focused on desires. My two cents…
Carl Sinclair I’d like to go…if there’s space, but if not, I’ll live 😀
michelleread tlhaddix Thanks again! 🙂
You can prune mailchimp lists by interaction rates
she said ‘cull,’ which an excellent word for it
Zoe talking about back and front matter and newsletter links makes me all tingly and excited! 😉
RoxieRivera Haha : )
RolandDenzel I imagine her galloping about in a robe and scythe, culling as politely as possible.
gotta run, my friends! Great, great, great episode this week. …and carl.
RolandDenzel See ya, Roland!
Carl Sinclair Nina Pierce just a “live chat” that’s not video?
By time you have 2000 good fans, you’ll want even more fans. You will be able to send certain messages JUST to early adopters OR to those with high interaction rates. You can segment the mailings
Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair you can turn off your cam, but the rest of us don’t mind sharing our ugly mugs with each other 🙂
RolandDenzel maybe they should have you on the show to just talk about mailchimp / mailing lists.
BatmanErica Nina Pierce Carl Sinclair Hey! You said the last time you weren’t interested in looking at my Grandfather’s collection of ugly mugs! They’re antiques!
Why is John so quiet and woeful-looking? Still having tech problems?
Carl Sinclair RoxieRivera You put me, Zoe, M Malone and Brenna Aubrey in a room and we’re going to go geektastic about back and front matter placement for optimum newsletter signups, affiliate reports, etc. Because we’re sexy nerds like that. 😉
BatmanErica RolandDenzel LOL! Maybe I’ll say no until my next book is ready to launch. 😉
http://selfpublishingroundtable.com/interview-with-book-cover-designer-littera-designs/
CateMorgan Do I look woeful? I was going for thoughtful.
CateMorgan I think he’s just quietly working on his plans to take over the world.
Now it’s REALLY goodbye! Bye…
BuddyGott CateMorgan He is being forced to judge a flash fiction contest.
BuddyGott CateMorgan Actually, I was just sad that I haven’t been on Buddy’s Writing Show.
jlward CateMorgan Every time the camera switches you have some serious frowny-face action going on. It’s kind of classic.
RoxieRivera Carl Sinclair Hey that’s sexy stuff there. <3
CateMorgan jlward Actually, it’s me reading comments here.
jlward CateMorgan lol!
Carl Sinclair Nina Pierce Braless is good, but not gmail or google +. So thanks for the invite, but not tonight. 😀
All her sekrits shall be ours!
Okay the invites should be out.
jlward BuddyGott CateMorgan Funny you mentioned that. Been thinking of asking you on to talk about writing groups and SPRT.
S.M. Butler RoxieRivera Carl Sinclair want into the after party
RoxieRivera Carl Sinclair I can’t wait to see this.
The SPRT After Party crew for 6-12-2014
Carl Sinclair I’m going to go after party by myself and hopefully a spot will open up…Zoe was so great and made for a GREAT episode!
michelleread Carl Sinclair I’m going to leave to let you in.
Carl Sinclair michelleread No no you’re the brains! They want you, they need you, and all that.
Carl Sinclair I love this! It was great hanging out with all of you. 🙂
BuddyGott Carl Sinclair So nice to meet you Buddy :)!