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Annie lives in sunny Southern California with her beau and three furry babies. She was originally from the Midwest, having lived in Kansas City, Missouri for most of her life, where she was an attorney for 11 years. However, even while she was defending clients and going to court, she knew that the job wasn’t right. Because she always wanted to write. She was an avid reader and knew that there were stories in there somewhere, just waiting to come out. Finally, in 2013, she published her first three novels about Ryan and Iris – the Illusions series. Ryan is a hot rich guy and Iris is a slightly dizzy attorney with a failing practice. Nick was a secondary character in those novels – the sarcastic best friend who never met a hot woman that he didn’t want to bed. And usually succeeded in doing just that. Nick got his very own story in Broken, and, lo and behold, there was a decent guy under all that bluster after all! Two other novels about Nick are planned, and then a series of New Adult novels featuring Dalilah, who is the daughter of Iris and Ryan.
Annie has had a very successful year, selling 32,000 books in the last 12 months. To read more about Annie’s secrets to self publishing success, check out her kboards thread HERE.
Also, pick up one of Annie’s books HERE.
Who is here and waiting?
*skitters in to podcast* Made it!
writerwade Um…all three of us, it looks like
About to start in 15 minutes or so.
Ugh, ate WAY too much…I feel like tick about to pop. *oof*
Whew! For once I’m not late.
CateMorgan What was it? We had GIANT fajitas….
AJ Vale Crap. The one time you show up on time and we were holding off starting because we wanted to wait for you.
Tech difficulties: please stand by
kevinmichael3 So I did have time to go to the shop and hunt up those biscuits…oh, well. Next week, maybe
michelleread Itsh our birthday, Preshoussshhh…we had feastuses, we did…
Okay, so I can do Gollum SO MUCH BETTER in person than in text.
The hubs used to be a chef, and made all my favorite things. Lobster and shrimp scampi, pate, cheese board, and champagn-ya. Can’t even begin to describe the Epic Yum.
Holding true to SPRT protocol we are having technical difficulties and have lost our guest . . . again. //bang
CateMorgan michelleread Um….yes please?! My husband is very cheffy too. I do the baking. The end. Note to SPRT, please have CateMorgan on if only to do Gollum thank you 🙂
Soooo……how’s the weather out there. . . . 🙂
michelleread My Gollum is vaguely disturbing, as all good Gollum impressions should be.
Now, if you don’t mind, I will lay here and quietly digest until the podcast starts. Because I’m staring a cheesecake in the face, and it’s staring back.
Trish McCallan Dark clouds approaching, just to remind me it’s still winter…but I’m wearing a t-shirt, lol.
So we lost our guest, and then Google the old demon wouldn’t let her back in again…she is apparently NOT ALLOWED!!!
So we had to shut down the hangout and start again. Pray Google isn’t so demonic this time.
Name your favorite desert. Mine= mint oreo ice cream (Blizzard)
Google hangouts, for the fail
Demelza Carlton Trish McCallan Somehow I love the idea of having Christmas in high summer…but hubbs wouldn’t be able to countenance such a blasphemy.
We need someone who can do some magic tricks while we’re waiting :p
Trish McCallan The power of the podcast compels you! The power of the podcast compels you!
writerwade Chocolate covered strawberries. But only if I make them.
AJ Vale Hey watch this.
Hey everyone, we had to create a new hangout. Can all of you refresh this page? That will give you the new video in the post… the video that will actually work.
AJ Vale Did you see it? Magic.
CateMorgan Demelza Carlton Trish McCallan I’ve heard rumours about people having snow at Christmas…instead of seafood, plenty of ice-cold drinks and a swim. I’m not sure I’d be able to cope with that.
Howdy. I wasn’t going to stay up for this week, but sleep evades me. Streams not working for me though, been a problem?
5,4,3,2,1 refresh
ColinFBarnes Yess, we had to start a new hangout. Refreshing should fix the issue.
writerwade ‘s lower third – thumbs up.
Ah, it did 🙂
I would love to hear all about her building her fanbase from nothing, as someone interested in joining the genre.
And yay for being nervous! Tell her she’s doing great!
I agree with Kevin, I love how inspirational Annie’s story is.
Hi ZoeYorkWrites and RoxieRivera 🙂
Ohai michelleread I’m here 😀
Annie you talked on your Kindle post about how you don’t have to be Shakespeare, just entertaining. Can you elaborate on this more? Most new authors quit because they don’t think they are up to par with other authors. I think it’s important that new authors hear what you have to say about this.
BatmanErica michelleread Ohai! Kittens! Thank you for saving dinner for me 🙂
AJ Vale This is so great AJ
michelleread no worries. I had nacho toasted sandwiches for lunch yesterday 😀
I think doing multiple series in the same universe or interconnected worlds is SUPER smart! 😉
*slides in late*
Hi! 😀
Hey
S.M. Butler Fashionably
michelleread It’s how I roll. 😉
ColinFBarnes Hiiii. How’s it going?
S.M. Butler michelleread Hey guess what – – – – – yay school!
S.M. Butler Slacker. Where have you been?
michelleread OMFG I AM SO GODDAMNED EXCITED ABOUT SCHOOL STARTING!!!
25% read through rate with a $4.99 second book is awesome!! Cliffhangers for the win.
S.M. Butler and michelleread do happy mommy dances
jlward Writing, so I can make ALL THE MONEY. Or, more likely, stuffing my face with food.
That’s a super impressive sell-through rate from the permafree to Book 2, especially at $4.99 for book 2.
S.M. Butler Hi (waves)
michelleread S.M. Butler NO!!! School sucks
Good thanks, you?
writerwade *waves* How YOU doin’?
writerwade michelleread S.M. Butler Wrong. We shall come do stupid dances in your classroom. Then go to a mexican restaurant WHILE YOU ARE WORKING and drink drinky things.
writerwade michelleread MOMMIES LOVE SCHOOL. Teachers not so much. 😉
S.M. Butler writerwade Good thanks
ColinFBarnes Awesome. I have had caffeine and am ready to rock the writing… so naturally, I’m here instead of writing. 😉
More Q’s for our guest
RoxieRivera Says the lady that already does that! 😀
Does Annie use any other CTAs in her books?
writerwade Can she talk more about getting started? If no one asks anything else. I’m going to RWA next year and want to come out swinging.
Michelle do I need to explain the 69 reference?
Is Annie in prison? Just wondering about the partially white-washed brick wall.
writerwade *snort giggle*
writerwade No Wade! You do not. I’m good….and she blushes.
Darren Wearmouth The guards made us sign NDA’s prohibiting us from talking about that.
epic pricing strategy!
michelleread writerwade Wade, one should never ask a lady such a question.
Darren Wearmouth michelleread writerwade Thank you.
Darren Wearmouth michelleread writerwade Yeah. Have some fucking respect. 😉
Darren Wearmouth michelleread writerwade Really, Darren is giving me advice about appropriate speak? Really??
michelleread Yeah, totally!!!
S.M. Butler RoxieRivera 😉
writerwade Darren Wearmouth michelleread He who holds spoons in mouth like pro speaks wisdom.
michelleread writerwade Darren Wearmouth Exactly how many spoons are we talking? Cuz, that’s impressive.
Some people use a specific junk email to sign up to contests and stuff and may never see your emails. Organic growth of the mailing list is so much more effective.
I think you’re right to grow your mailing list organically so you aren’t mixing in folks who just want free books or gift cards. Plus, at some point, you’ll have to start paying for those extra names or purging your list.
RoxieRivera Good point.
S.M. Butler michelleread writerwade Darren Wearmouth I can also play the comb with a piece of paper.
RoxieRivera Roxie Rivera, the Top 100 bestseller list loves you.
kevinmichael3 RoxieRivera This week, the USA Today bestseller list loves her. 😀
kevinmichael3 RoxieRivera *Blushes* Yeah, I almost died this morning when Violet Vaughn told me that I’m holding 20% of the Top 50 spots on the multicultural list at Amazon.
S.M. Butler kevinmichael3 RoxieRivera *Blushing harder* 🙂
RoxieRivera I do the opposite of this. Me likey big list! I do have to pay monthly for the list, but as long as I include affiliate links, the revenue totally offsets the monthly carrying cost of the list.
Mimi Strong RoxieRivera I was going to tag you in this discussion because I know you have a totally different outlook! LOL
Mimi Strong RoxieRivera So, do you go through and clean out the non-participants/non-clickers at all?
RoxieRivera Mimi Strong A bunch of us just launched an anthology. I know how many sold off my monster mailing list, so it’s all good. The key is to not feel rejected when I send a new releast and a single-digit percentage buys it. hahahahah. Yes, the key is to just think of the list as quasi-interested people. 🙂 I don’t count them as “super duper fans.”
S.M. Butler Mimi Strong RoxieRivera I don’t recommend purging people unless the monthly carrying cost is truly a detriment to your business platform. I did a test segment using Mailchimp, where I sent an email to people saying they were about to be removed, since they seemed to not be interested. I got a bunch of panicked responses from people who sounded hurt and confused. Lesson learned.
Facebook ads….good question jlward
RoxieRivera I think there are ways to do both though. I wouldn’t do a contest to get names, because those people just want free stuff. However, on my website, however on my landing page, which people find through a link at the back of my books, so it means they liked the book enough to reach the end and want to check me out, I mention that if people sign up for my mailing list they’ll get free novellas and a chance at monthly prizes. I think this encourages people who do like you, but don’t plan on signing up because they plan on just checking back, to sign up.
Mimi Strong S.M. Butler RoxieRivera Ah, okay. That’s cool. 🙂 I know some people clear out those. I haven’t needed to, because my list isn’t that big, but I wondered.
Mimi Strong S.M. Butler RoxieRivera Oh, Mimi! You’re making Mama rethink her business plan. My N2 new release newsletter had a 70%+ open rate and I had a huge, huge surge that kept me at #40-50 on the Top 100 on Amazon last week. So there are lots of quality leads on that list–but maybe I need to grow bigger. Like Romance Hulk style…
S.M. Butler Mimi Strong RoxieRivera Of course if you’re dealing with millions of emails, purging becomes a good business decision. But if we’re talking about saving $20/month and potentially cutting off one or two of your solid gold true fans, hell no. The mailchimp %% are NOT ACCURATE, due to various security settings on browers and phones etc.
michelleread jlward I try.
jlward michelleread try harder
Mimi Strong S.M. Butler RoxieRivera I’d considered sending out a “I haven’t heard from you in a while” type email, but I’m chickenshit and hadn’t done it yet.
RoxieRivera Mimi Strong S.M. Butler I like to keep things tidy. It bugs me in an OCD way to have unopened emails (not that I have OCD, but it bugs me in that twitchy way), but I just tell myself to chill out and focus that energy on eating a vegetable every other day.
S.M. Butler Mimi Strong RoxieRivera Baby… bathwater… $20/month… aggravating people… not worth it IMHO.
Mimi Strong S.M. Butler RoxieRivera *continues her chickenshit ways*
S.M. Butler Mimi Strong RoxieRivera LOL
RoxieRivera Mimi Strong I’ve had multiple people ask me to be in their bundles this week. *sniff* they just wuv me for my mailing list.
re: mailing list stuff http://kb.mailchimp.com/article/about-spam-filters/ <– the stuff in the table is informative
writerwade jlward michelleread Maybe you should try once.
RoxieRivera Oh, good point. I don’t do contest entries. Forgot about that. I don’t even do rafflecopter or any of that nonsense anymore anyway.
Thanks Trish McCallan :)!
jlward writerwade michelleread That’s the John I know and love. Always so sweet and kind.
“Don’t give the fans any barrier to entry.” Excellent!
writerwade jlward michelleread I try. :o)
jlward writerwade michelleread Boys boys boys – you are both lovely…..
michelleread jlward writerwade “Lovely” wasn’t QUITE the word I’d have used…
Mimi Strong RoxieRivera Yeah. I think there are phases to building your mailing list. Like, in the early days, you want really quality subscribers because you want to be able to send that newsletter, get a bump in sales and increase your visibility via the algos, bestseller lists, etc. But I think as you get bigger and you start hitting a certain level of sales it makes sense to do things your way or even experiment with contests, Rafflecopter, etc.
IDK. I’ve been thinking a lot about how some of the things that work for me now (like the way I’m currently experimenting with FB ads via Power Editor, my cheap ass funnels, boxed sets, etc) probably isn’t good advice for someone with one or two or three new books.
michelleread It’s important that you understand the context of that statement had to do with building an audience of readers… not gentlemen callers.
“Wing it.” It’s a bat pun.
jlward michelleread omg okay…..thank you so much for clearing that up!!
RoxieRivera Mimi Strong Your funnels totally work on me. #romancewriterpickuplines
michelleread jlward Given your earlier conversation with Darren Wearmouth and writerwade , I thought it might be good to specify.
S.M. Butler michelleread jlward writerwade hmmm… what word?
Can I get any of you c**** a drink?
*hugs iBooks*
jlward michelleread Darren Wearmouth writerwade Annnnnnnnd she blushes again. Guess who’s not coming to the afterparty?!
Carl Sinclair I’d like one, too, please 😀
michelleread jlward Darren Wearmouth writerwade S.M. Butler? She always goes to the afterparty.
Yes! So totally agree to going direct on Apple. I had the same experience when we switched over to direct in January. A huge, HUGE explosion in sales and $.
michelleread How you doin?
Whimsical Witch and the Vamp Carl Sinclair
Want afterparty? Let me know here.
kevinmichael3 Me please
kevinmichael3 Yes please
Carl Sinclair I have raspberry vodka…
kevinmichael3 me please! 😀
Carl Sinclair has indeed returned.
Carl Sinclair yes
I’d like to join the after party, please.
kevinmichael3 Yes please.
SPRT listeners/watchers are totally awesome! (80’s reference intentional)
RoxieRivera Mimi Strong Quantity is a quality of its own…hahahahaha. I had fewer than 12 subscribers my first year. yep.
Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 double yes please.
Afterpartaaah Crew
Colin, Demelza, Erica, John, Kevin, Michelle, Mimi, Trish, Wade, Zoe and Carl.
kevinmichael3 @CarlSinclair I’ll take after party invite when there is room please.
kevinmichael3 Carl Sinclair
Carl Sinclair Damn. I shoulda jumped in. 😛
Carl Sinclair you guys still partying?
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair We should make our own “not the cool kids” hangout, Brenna.
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair +1
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I’m totally procrastinating instead of working on the book, btw
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE, AUBREY. 😛
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I need someone to whip me into shape. LOL
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair You know, the sad part is that I’m totes procrastinating too, but it’s in the form of bossing other writers around to write more. You’re like, #3 or #4 tonight. 😛
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair LOL you’re good at that! 🙂
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair You know, you have to play to your strengths. 😀
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair You should charge for that!
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I know, right? Bossy Pants: $10/hr. Stretchy Bossy Pants: $50/hr. Slim Fit Bossy Pants: $100/hr. LOLOL
S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair HAHAHHA awesome!
BrennaAubrey S.M. Butler Carl Sinclair Wow cool kids have conversations after the show?! You’ve both inspired me to get to work. In like….uh…..five minutes.
michelleread BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I can put my Bossy Pants on for YOU TOO MICHELLE.
S.M. Butler michelleread BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair No sans pants and bras
writerwade S.M. Butler michelleread BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair No sans is a double negative Wade. He means yes pants and yes bra.
S.M. Butler Boss away! I need to be told to do it! Otherwise I’ll just go to sleep!
michelleread writerwade S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I knew you would catch that Michelle.
writerwade michelleread S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair Cause I’m nerdy and lame? K 😐 I’ll take it.
michelleread Then drop and give me 500… words! 😛
S.M. Butler michelleread Yes ma’am! (Do they have to make sense o.0) And also may I eat cookies while I write them?!
writerwade S.M. Butler michelleread BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair Look, if I have to wear pants, they might as well be Bossy Pants.
michelleread S.M. Butler Did someone say cookies?
michelleread Cookies are OKAY. And preferably, the words should be in some kind of coherent order.
writerwade michelleread S.M. Butler Chocolate chip. Not cooked all the way. And Wade why are you not back in the after party?
Also, Suzan, fine. Fine fine fine.
michelleread writerwade YES. Someone who appreciates the whole half-baked cookie!
michelleread writerwade S.M. Butler Fam is asleep and I would wake them. Bad idea 🙂
writerwade michelleread I wish mine would go to sleep. Stupid teenager stays up all night.
S.M. Butler writerwade michelleread Yeah, I can make my 12 year old go to bed. I wonder how long that will last.
writerwade S.M. Butler michelleread hi Wade!
writerwade michelleread About another year… well… maybe two.
BrennaAubrey Hi Brenna, how’s it going?
michelleread Did you write 500 words yet? I’m pretty sure I probably need to yell BrennaAubrey too…
S.M. Butler michelleread BrennaAubrey Ummmmmm. I just made the bed. Now going to put hubby in it, get a snack, and sit down.
michelleread S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey Is it cookies? I think you should have cookies. Someone should have them and I can’t right now.
writerwade BrennaAubrey Meh, it’s almost September. Does that answer your question? LOL!
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair Sorry Aubrey, I wasn’t checking my emails.
S.M. Butler michelleread BrennaAubrey 500 words. Done. Like a boss.
michelleread S.M. Butler BrennaAubrey YAY!!! I’M SO PROUD.