I wrote this post. Go on, you can check it out. I'll still be here.
So...done? Basically, it was a post about how I dream of hitting the bestselling lists one day. Weeeeeeell...it happened.
A few weeks ago, the bestselling of USA Today came out and the boxed set I'm in - The Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance Boxed Set - and we debuted at #57. Second week was our highest at #50 and third week (last week) we were still in it at #95.
Two weeks ago, we also made it to the NYT bestsellers list. Not just for ebooks but for the COMBINED PAPERBACK AND EBOOK bestselling list! We were #22 in that list and we've made it to the NYT's bestselling list for ebook (fiction) for 2 weeks. :)
Now, before you think that we cheated, simply because there are 9 of us in one book...consider this. As of 11/18/2013, Amazon's Kindle store shows---
It's December 5 now and...
and...5,837 results for "romance collection". In the span of 2 weeks or so, over 200 books (most of them presumably bundles, too) have been uploaded to Amazon!
My point is, it's understandable to think that boxed sets are a sure and easy ticket to bestselling lists, but it's NOT. You're probably thinking that by pricing a boxed set at $.99 is enough to get into NYT or USA Today, but no. That's not it either. If it were, then all $.99 bundles on Amazon's Kindle store would have been bestsellers, too. But they're not.
So...what made our boxed set different?
I'd like to say that we have the best collection of stories, but I KNOW it's not that. I mean, sheesh - you can take a look at our one-star reviews and you'll see how some readers absolutely think we do not have the best collection of stories there is.
To be honest, I really DON'T KNOW what makes our boxed set different from the other multi-author bundles out there. I'm just really, really happy that we made it as high as #11 on Amazon and #8 on Barnes & Noble.
What I do know, however, is that
So, with all that in mind I just want to give a shout out to thank my co-authors - Selena Kitt, Tawny Taylor, Ava Lore, Anna Antonia, Nelle L'Amour, Amy Aday and Dez Burke. I know my dream of hitting the bestselling lists wouldn't have been possible without them.
I also want to thank the other authors who helped me promote the bundle. The one thing I love about today's writing industry is that EVERYONE IS HELPING EACH OTHER. So my next shoutout is for the ladies behind the Unraveled Boxed Set, Shifter Romance Boxed Set, Romance Super Bundle, Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set, In Harm's Way, Love in a Small Town, Young Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set, and Western Kisses.
Also, there are a couple of authors who did not have boxed sets but still promoted ours - R.E. Butler, Liliana Rhodes, Arabella Quinn, Julia Kent, Pepper Winters, Arianne Richmonde, K.T. Fisher, Mina V. Esguerra, Adriana Hunter, Krista Lakes and Cassandra Zara, Pamela Richter and Maddie James. :) But sssh...we are not going to tag them. I'm kinda shy! lol.
Lastly, I owe a lot to The Passionate Proofreader and CT Cover Creations - they've been with me since almost day one.
And of course, I always think that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD. I know that we wouldn't have made it to these lists without His help. So again, Thank You God. ;) You're the best!
So...done? Basically, it was a post about how I dream of hitting the bestselling lists one day. Weeeeeeell...it happened.
A few weeks ago, the bestselling of USA Today came out and the boxed set I'm in - The Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance Boxed Set - and we debuted at #57. Second week was our highest at #50 and third week (last week) we were still in it at #95.
Two weeks ago, we also made it to the NYT bestsellers list. Not just for ebooks but for the COMBINED PAPERBACK AND EBOOK bestselling list! We were #22 in that list and we've made it to the NYT's bestselling list for ebook (fiction) for 2 weeks. :)
Now, before you think that we cheated, simply because there are 9 of us in one book...consider this. As of 11/18/2013, Amazon's Kindle store shows---
- 763 results for "romance bundle"
- 857 results for "romance boxed set"
- 1239 results for "romance set"
- 3631 results for "romance trilogy"
It's December 5 now and...
- 799 results for "romance bundle"
- 919 results for "romance boxed set"
- 1,314 results for "romance set"
- 3,683 results for "romance trilogy"
and...5,837 results for "romance collection". In the span of 2 weeks or so, over 200 books (most of them presumably bundles, too) have been uploaded to Amazon!
My point is, it's understandable to think that boxed sets are a sure and easy ticket to bestselling lists, but it's NOT. You're probably thinking that by pricing a boxed set at $.99 is enough to get into NYT or USA Today, but no. That's not it either. If it were, then all $.99 bundles on Amazon's Kindle store would have been bestsellers, too. But they're not.
So...what made our boxed set different?
I'd like to say that we have the best collection of stories, but I KNOW it's not that. I mean, sheesh - you can take a look at our one-star reviews and you'll see how some readers absolutely think we do not have the best collection of stories there is.
To be honest, I really DON'T KNOW what makes our boxed set different from the other multi-author bundles out there. I'm just really, really happy that we made it as high as #11 on Amazon and #8 on Barnes & Noble.
What I do know, however, is that
- I would never trade this experience for anything else. I learned so much from my co-authors and that knowledge - that experience - is priceless.
- It's important to have a plan. A boxed set won't take off all on its own.
- You enjoy working with your co-authors. For almost three weeks, my co-authors and I were emailing each other like crazy, updating each other about rankings and marketing stuff. Imagine having to do all those with someone you hate! Not good!
- There has to be an element of trust. After all, there's the financial aspect to consider. If you don't trust each other about money matters, then I don't see how your plans for a boxed set would get off the ground.
So, with all that in mind I just want to give a shout out to thank my co-authors - Selena Kitt, Tawny Taylor, Ava Lore, Anna Antonia, Nelle L'Amour, Amy Aday and Dez Burke. I know my dream of hitting the bestselling lists wouldn't have been possible without them.
I also want to thank the other authors who helped me promote the bundle. The one thing I love about today's writing industry is that EVERYONE IS HELPING EACH OTHER. So my next shoutout is for the ladies behind the Unraveled Boxed Set, Shifter Romance Boxed Set, Romance Super Bundle, Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set, In Harm's Way, Love in a Small Town, Young Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set, and Western Kisses.
Also, there are a couple of authors who did not have boxed sets but still promoted ours - R.E. Butler, Liliana Rhodes, Arabella Quinn, Julia Kent, Pepper Winters, Arianne Richmonde, K.T. Fisher, Mina V. Esguerra, Adriana Hunter, Krista Lakes and Cassandra Zara, Pamela Richter and Maddie James. :) But sssh...we are not going to tag them. I'm kinda shy! lol.
Lastly, I owe a lot to The Passionate Proofreader and CT Cover Creations - they've been with me since almost day one.
And of course, I always think that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD. I know that we wouldn't have made it to these lists without His help. So again, Thank You God. ;) You're the best!