TGIF, WG2E-Land!
And what a fantabulous TGIF it is as The WG2E welcomes our first UK Indie Epub Author…
The author of the beyond terrific, Romantic Comedy Mystery I’m now reading and luuuuvvvin’…
THE FASHION POLICE (An Amber Fox Murder Mystery)
I met Sibel on the Kindle Boards and began to adore her quite quickly, and her books have the same sparkle and spunk she does.
So how did Sibel come to her “Writers Making Choices” decision to go the Indie Epub route?
Well…according to her, all it took was going …
“From 200 rejections to Amazon Top 200!”
A few years ago, after I wrote my debut romantic comedy novel, Fourteen Days Later, I queried hundreds of agents and publishers. I got too many rejections to even count! OK, small white lie, a while ago I did count them out of morbid curiosity, and it was a whopping two hundred!
When I’d tell friends or family that I’d had yet another rejection they’d say, “Never mind, better luck next time. I’m sure you’ll find a publisher soon.” But I could tell what they really meant was, “Wow, if she can’t get a PROPER PUBLISHER to take her on, her writing must be rubbish!”
At the time, I thought the same thing, and self-doubt was kicking in big time! But now I know this is sooooo untrue. There are a million reasons why fantastic authors don’t get a deal with a traditional publisher.
I did come close a couple of times to being traditionally published, but it never quite worked out. It was either, “one group of editors liked it but another didn’t”, or “the chicklit market is saturated”, or “we love it but…”
When I first looked into publishing independently, platforms like Amazon Kindle didn’t support international authors. So the way I saw it, I had two choices. Either I could write another book, hone my writing skills and learn all I could about my craft, and wait for an opportunity to come up, or I could let all the rejection letters get me down, think my writing career was over before it had begun, and stick my head in the oven! Since heat tends to turn my curls into a ball of frizz, it was no contest, really. I wrote my next novel, a chicklit mystery called The Fashion Police, and waited. Because I knew, I just knew, that I COULD do this. I could write novels that people wanted to read. If only I could get the chance.
In the meantime, I also entered several writing competitions. And while I was still getting the dreaded rejections, Fourteen Days Later was shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize 2008 and received a Highly Commended by The Yeovil Literary Prize 2009. And The Fashion Police was a runner up in the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition 2010 (and later nominated for the Best Novel with Romantic Elements 2010 by The Romance Reviews). Surely I was doing something right, wasn’t I? But I STILL couldn’t get a publisher!
Then last year, when Amazon opened up their doors to non-US authors, I uploaded Fourteen Days Later and The Fashion Police onto their Kindle store. I couldn’t believe it when I finally saw my books on sale. It was scary, rewarding, exciting, amazing – so many experiences rolled into one. But what if no one liked my novels? What if I had all bad reviews? What if all the two hundred rejections were right? What if, what if…?
I didn’t have a clue about marketing, formatting ebooks, or designing book covers. All the tech-speak sounded more like an itchy disease than book language: PRC, Mobi, GIMP, EPub. What did it all mean?
Time for a deep breath, Sibel. If you want to be an author, you have to repeat this mantra everyday… “I can do this. I can do this. I CAN do this.”
So I did. I had to learn as I went along, one baby step at a time. The first attempt at book covers I uploaded were made by cover creators from Lulu and Createspace, and they were pretty boring, to be honest. My latest covers have all been created from iStock photos, and I think they look pretty good (even if I say so myself!). But the big difference is that I’ve gained so much knowledge in the last year to make my projects better. I joined Kindleboards and started to learn a vast wealth of information about being an Indie Author, because knowledge is power! Places to market novels; how to format ebooks correctly, and where to look for good covers. I could go on and on.
Now I’m not saying that I’m a writing sensation, but so far, my novels have been doing pretty well. The first month with Fourteen Days Later and The Fashion Police, I sold 44 books (eek!). In January I released my third novel, a romantic comedy called My Perfect Wedding, and in February, with all three novels, I sold 4000 (not so eek!).
In March I reduced my prices to $3.99 and £2.99 and sold 6317 books. Being a non US author, one of the main problems I have is dealing with the thirty percent US tax taken from sales, exchange rate fluctuations from being paid in US Dollars, and bank charges to pay in US Dollar cheques.
All my novels are consistently in the Amazon top 100 genre categories for humour, contemporary romance, comedy, and romantic suspense. And the highest sales ranking on Amazon are as follows:
Amazon US Amazon UK
Fourteen Days Later 553 136
My Perfect Wedding 715 145
The Fashion Police 1546 1197
Considering there are over 550,000 Kindle books on Amazon, that’s not bad! My second Amber Fox mystery, Be Careful What You Wish For, will be out in the next few weeks, so hopefully that will boost sales further.
Now I know it’s not as great as some fab Indies like Karen Cantwell and Beth Orsoff, but I’m pretty pleased so far. And I’m certain that I’ve had more success as an Indie than I would if I’d been traditionally published. One of the huge benefits is that I have total control over my work. I can decide what I want to write. If I want to dabble in chicklit Martian steampunk, then so be it (not sure about that one yet!). I can choose which covers to use, how many books I write a year, and how to market and promote myself.
OK, so the downside is that in order to make people aware of my novels, I do have to spend a lot of time on marketing or networking that could be spent writing, but I’ve met some fantastic authors and fans while I’ve been doing it, so that more than outweighs any negatives for me. And if I was trad-pubbed, would they even allocate a marketing budget for a new author? I seriously doubt it these days. I have more drive to create awareness of my books and brand than anyone else ever could. I can also give it the personal touch that I think readers want.
The main thing is you have to participate in your author/reader communities – writing blog posts, interacting with others on social media sites about a wide range of topics (not just constantly plugging your own books). If you’re a genuine person who takes the time to help others out, you’re going to attract good things back.
But be careful not to spread yourself too thin. Concentrate on a few sites where your posts are quality, rather than quantity. First and foremost, though, you have to write a good book with a good blurb and good cover. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising!
So it just goes to prove that success is really only a state of mind. If you believe that you can achieve something, then you can…but maybe not always in the way that you first thought. I read a quote recently went something like this… “The reason why most people fail is because they give up before they’re about to succeed.” I think this is soooo true. You can get bogged down by negativity and self-doubt to the point where you believe you’re never going to achieve your goals.
But this is one lesson I’ve learned in the last couple of years…You can do anything you want to in life. It may mean you have to go a different route than you originally planned, but if you’re determined enough and believe in yourself, you can overcome any obstacles.
So do you want your manuscript sitting unloved in a dusty drawer somewhere, or do you want readers? Thanks to the ebook revolution, the choice is now yours.
Here’s a few of my tips on reaching your goals.
*** Make sure your goals are achievable. If your goal is to swim on the moon, the chances are pretty high that it’s not going to happen. We need to be realistic in goal-making because if our goals are unattainable, and we fail, we become disheartened and negative. Try starting small and working up to bigger goals because small successes breed larger ones. Be patient. We’re not living in a race, and progress takes time.
*** Everything we try to accomplish in life takes time and effort. We can’t expect our goals and success to happen just because we want it to (I know, I’ve been there, big time!). We need to plan for it. Write an action plan and stick to it. Dedicate time daily to achieving your goals. We need to be specific and choose goals that we really want. If it’s not important enough to you, then you won’t put in the effort to make it happen. But at the same time we need to make sure we don’t put ourselves under too much pressure. Comparing yourself to someone else might not necessarily be a good thing. Take your time to make sure your project is as perfect as it can be before you unleash it on the world.
*** Don’t obsess about your failures. We all make mistakes, but we need to turn the negative into a positive and learn from them. Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world, which means that we aren’t perfect either. Achieving our goals in life means recognizing our mistakes and adapting to move forward.
*** Have a plan B. Achieving your goals is all about being prepared. If the unexpected happens, you need to re-evaluate your initial plan and adapt it accordingly. Don’t think that a detour from your original plan is necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes hidden opportunities are the ones that bring us the most success, and it’s not until later that we recognize the opportunity for what it truly was. That’s why we need to make the most of ALL opportunities that come our way.
*** Don’t stop believing in yourself. Positive thoughts and action have an impact not just on ourselves, but on the world around us. If people feel positive around you, they’re more likely to support and encourage you. Positive energy will bring good luck and opportunity your way, making it much easier to achieve success.
*** Be yourself. Being comfortable in your own skin makes others comfortable with you, too. If people feel relaxed and happy in your company, they will be more inclined to help you achieve your goals. Always treat others as you expect to be treated yourself. Remember that no one is above or below you. The only time we should be above someone is when we’re bending down to pick them up. Be honest and share yourself with others. If you are a genuine person who gets involved by helping out others, you will be more likely to achieve personal success.
I’d like to thank everyone who have bought my novels, and also give a big thanks to everyone who has selflessly given advice or help to me since I started my indie journey.
Wishing everyone massive success with their writing goals!
*******
Wow…now that’s one fabulous “Writers Making Choices” journey! Thanks sooo much for sharing with us, Sibel!
I know, I, for one, can’t wait for your next Amber Fox Murder Mystery
For all the scoop on Sibel’s books, check out her website and or twitter and facebook too!
In the mean time, it’s your turn, WG2E-Land: Sibel will be here all day today so let her know what you’re thinkin’ and wonderin’ about…
Sibel, having met you through facebook, I can relate to the fact you are a warm and kind person, will added sparkle.
I think your advice is very sound. I agree totally about believing in yourself, for if you don’t who will? And yes you can give me a swift kick and remind me I said that next time I hit that low point
All the best Sibel for all your books! You are indeed someone who deserves your success, not only are you a great writer, but a great friend too.
Aw, Kristina, you’re making me blush now!
Thanks so much for your lovely thoughts. You’re so right about believing in yourself. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that and let setbacks get to you, but we just have to turn the negatives into positives and work on Plan B!
And don’t worry, I’m taking notes for any future butt-kicking!
Sibel, this couldn’t have happened to a nicer person! Congrats to you!
Ooh, more blushing! Thanks so much, Donna!
I’ve so far only had a chance to sample Sibel’s books so far, but I know that once I finally find time to start reading again she’s close to the top of my TBR list. A truly fantastic, funny author, and great person.
You’re a star, Linda. So glad you could stop by. And thanks for your lovely words
Thanks so much for having me on WG2E! It’s sooooo fab to let people know that anything is possible if you take a chance!
Good Morning!!!
We’re the ones thanking you for being here, Sibel!
You took a chance on the most important thing in life…yourself! If you don’t believe in and love yourself, you can’t give that to others unconditionally.
And you’re givin’ us all sooo much with yourself and your fabulous books!
I’m sooo honored to be able to say you’re my first UK Author Friend and one fantabulous person and writer too!!!
You rock, Girlfriend!!!
Right back at ya, DD! We all rock! And we shouldn’t ever forget that
A great story Sibel. It’s always great when we’re capable of proving people wrong, in your case the agents.
I agree the hardest part of this whole process is getting the word out about our books.
Looking at your sales figures I think you’re doing an exceptional job.
Long may your success continue.
Thanks, Mel! Agents and publishers are NOT always right (even an agent told me that!), and it’s so nice to finally prove yourself.
I agree, the marketing and promoting side of being an Indie is tough sometimes. Having enough time in the day to try and spread the word about your books AND have enough time to write. I need a clone! But, if you were trad-pubbed, would the publisher do this for you? I seriously doubt it – especially for a new author – so you’d really be in the same situation then with having to spend time trying to raise awareness. But the plus side is you’re in total control, and you get to interact with some fab readers and authors.
Great story, and one that resonates, I’m sure, with many independent publishers. May you continue your trajectory with even more sales in April!
Thanks, Harper! Nice of you to drop in and comment
Do you have any tips for us on crossing over between the Amazon USA and Amazon UK Reader Worlds?
I’ve finally started selling in the UK but need to know where all your readers hang…
Do you know, I don’ t know what the specific answer is to that one! A lot of fab authors are doing well in the US but not in the UK, and I’m not sure why. It could be because the ebook revolution is still fairly new to the UK. I can’t see it going anywhere else but up, though, in the future.
I don’t know if you’re aware of a UK Kindle forum: http://www.kuforum.co.uk/kindleusersforum/
And there’ are also a couple of new Kindle UK Facebook pages: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_161999147188165&ap=1
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazon-Kindle-Lovers-UK/110437492371496
These might help to spread the word.
I’m not sure why some authors are doing better than others in the UK. Maybe it’s because the ebook revolution is only just taking off over there. There are a few forums and FB groups in the UK now…
http://www.kuforum.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_161999147188165&ap=1
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazon-Kindle-Lovers-UK/110437492371496
Sibel,
I’m so happy for you. I enjoy your work. Your interview touched on the extra challenges in marketing and payment that come with being a UK author. My hat is off to all of you.
Good luck!
Thanks so much, Barbara. So glad you enjoy my work. Coming from a talented humor writer, that’s a fabulicious compliment. Yes, being a non US author does have it’s drawbacks. Hopefully, in time, Amazon and other distributors will realize this and make some changes. Royalty payments from Amazon.co.uk are paid to US authors either by check or bank transfer in either US Dollars or Sterling. Unfortunately, payments from Amazon.com are only paid to foreign authors by check and only in dollars.
DD… I got the grumpy face icon again. How can I upload a happy face? Or my face?
And what happened to your eyes? Hmm…have you been on the cocktails again?
That would be my excuse twenty-four seven, Sibel. LOL!
Your damn fine, new book cover is now making me salivate. And Happy Hour is a long time from now here in the States. I haven’t even had my breakfast yet, and I’ve already got martinis on the brain.
Hopefully not blood thirsty! Woo hoo ha ha ha ha! Definitely cocktail time tonight methinks!
I got my photo avatar on here (like when posting on any blog) by always being logged into my Blogger account and Google account while commenting everywhere. And then choosing to comment using one of those accounts.
Let’s see if our resident techno guru, Misa, knows anything on that too…Misa?
Excellent post, Sibel. Everything you said is SO true. And I know that mantra well – “I can do this, I can do this . . .” Even after doing this for nearly a year, I have to keep telling myself that – every day!
Not only are you a fantastic writer, you are an excellent promoter. I imagine your success has only just begun!
Thanks, Karen. Yep, it is hard sometimes to keep remembering it.
Promoting is the hard part, especially if you’re not used to trying to “sell” youself (not in the hooker sense, of course, although no offence to hookers!), and I’m only just getting into it in the last few months. I think this has had a big impact on sales. I did a radio interview a while ago and was called a role model! I thought I’d misheard first of all (they obviously haven’t looked at my Facebook pics!). Then I spoke to someone the other day who called me an entrepreneur! If I told that to my old school teachers, they’d crack up! But the point is that I think everything you do in life, and all the experiences you have, are leading you to this point in time where you can use everything you’ve learned to guide you.
And as I said in my blog, one thing I’ve found is that the indie author community is soooo helpful to each other. If someone finds a promo opportunity, they tend to pass it on. Sharing the lurrrve is what it’s all about
You are truly an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your journey.
Wishing you all the best!!
Thanks so muc, Melissa
Sibel.
Having read 1 1/2 of your books with the other two in my TBR folder, I am officially a fan.
Before reading your books, part of me choosing to read them was the fact you were active on the KUF board, not just as an author promoting their work, but as a person too.
I hope you get all the success in the world as you are a great author and everyone needs to read your books
Thanks for stopping by, Joo. Your lovely comment has made my day! This makes writing worthwhile and rewarding, when you get lovely feedback from readers! And it’s one of the nice things about being an Indie…taking the time to hang out and interact with other readers and book lovers. So glad I’ve won you over as an official “fan”!
Wonderful post by a talented and wonderful person. Thank you, Sibel. I agree that promoting is the hard part. The bad thing about it is I love to be online interacting with readers and other authors, but it’s so easy to get out of balance between writing time and promotion time. You said it right when you said believe in yourself and put in time and effort. For real estate it’s location, location, location. For writing success it’s persistence, persistence, persistence.
By the way, what’s this?: chicklit Martian steampunk
That’s my idea. The chicklit Martian, anyway. I’m still debating about the steampunk.
Thanks, LC! Yep, it is hard trying to find a balance. As a writer you want to be concentrating on…well, writing! But I really enjoy getting involved with other readers and writers. Someone needs to invent a 48 hour day!
Hey, don’t nick my Martian Steampunk idea! OK, I’ll compromise, you can do with chicklit punk if I can do the Martian steam
Sibel, that is an inspiring story indeed! All those rejections boil down to squat in the end because you stuck to your guns and keep doing what you know you should be doing in your heart. May you continue to enjoy success with your writing.
Thanks, Jenny. This is the thing, isn’t it? Agents and publishers aren’t always right. With the ebook revolution it’s time for the readers to decide what they want to read
Sibel, I love how upbeat you are about the whole process. It definitely shows through in the posts that you make, and in this interview itself. It’s amazing how negative people can get about writing careers when things aren’t working for them, but from what I’ve seen, it looks like you always kept your head above water and just let yourself become successful.
Congratulations on that, and congratulations on the success that you are achieving.
Thanks, Duane. I try! (Lots of people say I’m very trying!) It is sooo easy to let things get you down – especially in the beginning when you’re just trying to break out and get your work noticed. The way I see it, I can only rely on myself to do that. Everyone has their down days where things aren’t going right or stuff gets on top of them, but if you want to get to wherever your goal is, you just have to take a moment, take a few deep breaths and get back out there. No one else will do it for you
Sibel,
Congrats on your success! Re: family and friends who say, “Well, gee, this isn’t an overnight success, so maybe you should try something else,” I’ve been there, done that.
I enjoy your thoughtful posts on Kindleboards.
Suzanne Adair
Thanks for stopping by, Suzanne! I know – some of mine still do it! Still, maybe JK Rowling’s family said the same thing to her when she got rejected
What a wonderful article. Thanks for the great motivational tips. I’m halfway through your new book and lurrvvvvin it so far.
Traci
Oh, fab, Traci! Thanks so much
Sibel, you give me hope. I have just about as many rejections. This year I’ll be going Indie and am very excited about…
Hey, that’s exciting! Wishing you lots of success, LA.
Ohhh… now I totally want to read some chicklit Martian steampunk!!!!
Thanks for sharing. What a wonderfully inspirational story.
Ha ha!
Love your tips, Sibel, thanks for sharing! And congratulations on your success. I agree, it’s easy to spread yourself too thin (I’m an expert at that), so knowing that so you don’t do it is essential. Thanks for being on WG2E!
Thanks for having me – I’m having fun! Very true – I think I’m turning into a workaholic (never thought I’d say that!).
Hey, Sibel. That’s a great post and your character shines through. Hugs and kisses.
Ruby
Thanks for stopping by, Ruby! Hugs back
Hi Sibel!
Met you through KB and had to stop by. Now I’m glad I did. I can relate to your “good” rejections. You know, the ones that tell you how much they love your book, but…
As Allure I write erotic and romance, but as a different pen name, I write YA and I have an agent. Every editor so far (about 25 I think we’re up to now) has rejected the manuscript, but most of the rejections are “love it but…” “I’ve only just now heard of teens doing this, so I’m not sure there’s a market” “your story appeals to adults and young adults and I don’t think that would work out” LOL WHAT?
With those frustrating rejections in my head, it really felt great to read your story and be inspired by your deserved success.
Truly, thank you for sharing. I’m a fan of who you are, and I’m sure I’ll be a fan of the books as well.
Oh, and by the way, your tips are gold!
All my best to you,
AyVee
And…why does my avatar look constipated? ::Le sigh::
I’ve got some prunes if you want them!
Thanks, Ayvee! So the moral of the story is you have to keep trying! I read quote recently that said something like…” the reason why most people fail is because they give up just before they’re about succeed”. I think this is probably true in a lot of cases. We just need to be determined and keep saying to ourselves that we CAN do anything we want to!
Thank you for sharing, Sibel. I have seen your posts on KB and always appreciated your helpfulness. I totally agree with your encouragement to keep telling yourself, “I can do this.” It is truly something I have to tell myself several times a day.
I just wanted to wish you all the best on the sale of your books and look forward to your new one “Be Careful What You Wish For”.
All the best!!!
Debra
Thanks so much, Debra! We’re all in this together, and I believe in treating everyone else how you’d like to be treated. Helpfulness costs nothing!
Great post, Sibel! I can’t wait to read the next Amber Fox mystery!!!
I’ve been hearing the “chick lit is dead!” mantra for years, but you know what? That’s what the publishers say. The readers don’t realize it. There may not be as many rabid chick lit readers as there were in the late 90s and early 2000s, but they’re still there, and they still want it.
Totally agree. Some people don’t like the term “chicklit” but I love it. It’s fun, sassy, kick-ass, sweet, sassy, fashion, sad, funny…just like life! It’s alive and well and living in a bookstore near you!
P.S. Stop sticking your tongue out at me!
Totally agree. And I think it’s more of the attitude than the themes, too. You don’t see as many books officially being touted as “chicklit” but the chicklit voice and mentality is starting to creep into all kinds of books and genres. I love it!
Thank you for sharing your story, Sibel. It’s always great to hear indie success stories!
Many years ago, one of my short stories was accepted by a well-known publisher of anthologies. At the last minute, I’m talking weeks before the book was to be released, the publisher decided the book was too long and cut several stories from it. Mine was one of those pulled. I was CRUSHED. Then I got angry. I said aloud, “I don’t WANT to have a story in someone else’s popular book. I’ll write my OWN popular book!” Best thing that ever happened to me.
Write on!
Absolutely! The gift of rejection!
Congratulations! It’s not how often you fall down. It’s how often you get back up!
I know, ending with prepositions . . .
All the best!
Helen
Thanks, Helen! You’re absolutely right. And if we learn in the process, all the better!
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m so glad that you kept with it until things finally started to take off. You are right that there is an important lesson in that.
Thanks, Matthew. I totally agree. Just like my quote above…
What a fantabulous day today at The WG2E!!!
Welcome to all the new “voices” here in our cuss and discuss comment thread!
And thanks sooo much again, Sibel, for such superfab inspiration!!!
Not sure what time it is in the UK or Cyprus…but you’re all welcome to continue your comments.
We’re always here for you at The WG2E…
I was in bed then! We’re 2 hours ahead of UK! Now you’re probably in bed! Wake up!
Great post, Sibel. Your journey to indie publishing sounds long and painful but sometimes we have to go through all that pain to see the signs pointing us along this path. I for one am so glad I went indie. I’m having a ball meeting like-minded people like Sibel and D.D.
Good luck with your new book. I bet it’ll be as popular as the others.
Thanks so much, CJ! I haven’t looked back on the Indie route, either, so it’s all good stuff. And you’re right, it’s sooo nice to meet fab like-minded people. We can all give each other the support and encouragement to get us through
What an awesome, inspiring post, Sibel! Best wishes to you for all of your future endeavors! Your books are fantastic!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Jeanne!
Sibel forgot to mention that she’s a rock star. She’s led the way for many an indie author, helping them navigate the dark alleys out into the light of day. Good stuff!
Thanks, Mark! I’ve also been known to do karaoke!
Sorry I showed up late, Sibel. Had to sneak in the back door. Great journey you’re having. Now I have to move to England so I can follow in your footsteps.
The best to you.
Ha ha! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. If you like cold weather and grey skies, it should be just the ticket!
Sibel
I’ve seen you on kindleboards a lot so I thought I’d say hi and check out your post here. Seeing you go from 200 rejections to such rousing success helps keep writers like me motivated. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Michael!
I realize I’m chiming in late here, but I just wanted to say Congratulations Sibel! (And thanks for the shout out).
You’re very welcome, Beth!