It’s Halloween! The day has finally arrived for trick-or-treating, scary ghost stories, and for me…the Final Day the Snow eBook is FREE! One month has gone by in two ways for me, which are unorthodox. In one fashion the month flew by, November is Tomorrow, and I always revel in fall to winter-though in Texas it’s really just unbearably hot, constantly. Yet, in another, it seemed to crawl by. Most likely because every day I was in review of downloads and looking to see if any new reviews and/or ratings have been posted. Can’t say much in that way, but the number of downloads has been exciting. For an indie author with no marketing team/consultant hired, learning the marketing experience curve (there have been a lot of bumps in the road), and figuring out which method/path is best for publishing overall I feel all the wiser. Experience has the impact, I gather.

Still, so much more ahead, and today I will hit 50K words, and I’m getting close to being done with the first Half of the book! While I have not applied any edits, I did figure out yesterday-whilst driving to my family’s house for dinner-how to fix the beginning of the book. There are certain pieces I’m not entirely happy with, but the flow certainly cleaned up. Once I finish that first half, then I will set out to make the edits as they are all centered there, for the time being. Truly, this story has taken me on its ride, and I continue to hope and pray that it will prove to impress my readers.

I am 35K words into Blizzard, with a possibility for this book to be closer to 80K words once I finish. This realization comes on the heels of as I write, the story has taken me into its currents. My hope is that this is a good sign, a more robust story that introduces the readers in the history that ties into the present/future. Yet, with this robust story means more details that tie multiple characters and show how they become who the reader knows them to be from the first book, and as the author I worry whether or not reader’s will embrace this larger volume. It grows, the story that must be shared. Do I wrangle in this monster as it consumes me and my writing, or do I let it continue to evolve and allow its natural progression?

While social media, specifically Twitter, rather frustrates me it has allowed me to see (when shared) that I am not alone in these types of struggles. I cannot say that utilizing Twitter has helped with any book sales/free D/L’s, it has allowed me to connect on seeing other writer’s hardships and pet peeves, though I also cannot say that people are always as communicative as I had previously hoped. Those thoughts aside, because my point of this was…I have never had a story really take hold of me as this one has, and I have such uncertainty of whether or not this will be received positively or negatively. The struggle is real, my friends and fans! (I can say fans, because some of my readers have identified as such-completely leaving me in a humbled blush and feeling the utmost of flattery).

Here it is!  October is the month that you can get your eBook copy of Snow for FREE starting October 4th!

It is currently under review for the price to be adjusted to the “Free” status on all formats-Amazon included (may need some work…but I will make it happen)!

Be sure to check listed Vendors tomorrow to get your copy <3!

Barnes & Noble
Apple/iCloud
Amazon
Kobo
Smashwords
Inktera
OverDrive
Scribd
Odilo

While I would almost say I am getting ahead of myself, I will say I am not.  I’m still in the process of writing the second book of the trilogy for the Black Ice series, Blizzard, however I’m trying to plan out now the best marketing strategy and best method for publishing. Though I am still working on how to get the first book Further out there-I have a plan that will take effect later today, wait for that blog post, it’s big!(for me, at least!)-I have considered the first path I have taken.  I do not at all regret the path I have chosen, I have learned so much in a very short amount of time.  That being said…there was always another route which I avoided due to how taking that path would restrict my ability to provide my book to multiple vendors.

I am waffling between using KDP Select, which would provide me a better opportunity for some free marketing through Amazon/Kindle-this is no small thing to consider, or continue down the path of not choosing KDP Select, but keeping my options open as I have where I can publish through Amazon, CreateSpace.com, and Smashwords.com-which Smashwords.com is the biggest door opener I’ve seen yet.  Now, the downside to having the ability to place my book with multiple vendors, and foregoing KDP Select, is that on Amazon I have found I cannot list the book for FREE without completely removing the eBook from Amazon.

So here is the review of my options below.
KDP Select Pros:

• Better marketing opportunities
  • Ability to reach more readers who utilize Amazon/Kindle
• Still utilizes CreateSpace.com for paperback copies
• Easier management of records/tracking/payment

KDP Select Cons:

• Can Only use KDP Select-no other platforms/vendors possible
  • This limits my ability to reach As many readers as I could to Only those using Amazon/Kindle

Multiple Vendors Pros:

• Opportunity to reach out to more readers across multiple platforms/vendors
  • Ex: Apple/iCloud, Barnes & Noble, Libraries, etc.
• Can utilize different marketing campaigns-helps to determine best options moving forward
• Lower fees than KDP Select depending on levels

Multiple Vendors Cons:

• Can be more difficult to manage multiple distribution points
• Reporting is not as easily managed for records/tracking/payments
• Some vendors charge too high above the listed price

I’ve reached out on Twitter to see what other authors may have discovered.  If they participate, which I hope many will, I will be able to better plan my marketing strategy as well.