Just a quick note that the price for the e-book of “Imprinted” has dropped to $1.99.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled internetting.
“Imprinted,” my Magic ex Libris novelette, has been out for about a month. This was something of an experiment — my first original self-published tie-in title. Thus far, I think the experiment has been going well. Reviews are pretty positive, and the first month’s sales have been good enough to make me think I should to this again.
I figured people would primarily buy the ebook, and the numbers bear that out with a total of 775 sales so far. But to my surprise and delight, 101 people opted for the print version. That’s much more than I expected, and tells me it’s worth taking the time to create a print edition to go with the ebook.
My only frustration on the print side was that CreateSpace couldn’t get me copies in time for me to take them to ConFusion.
Almost all of the sales have come from Amazon, which was pretty much what I expected. Here’s the breakdown on sales channels. (iBooks is bundled into the Smashwords sales.)
Total income, before taxes, is just over $1,800.
Back when I started this project, I was torn between pricing the ebook at $2.99 or $1.99. The big difference is in how royalties are calculated. Years ago, Amazon began offering 70% royalties if your ebook was priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Everyone else more or less followed suit.
What this means is that the current price of $2.99 earns me roughly two bucks per sale. Pricing the same ebook at $1.99 means the royalties drop to 35%, or roughly seventy cents per sale. In other words, cutting the price by 1/3 would cut my royalties by 2/3. A lot of people said they’d happily pay the higher price to support me. (THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!)
I decided I’d start with $2.99, and after a month or so, I’d drop the price to $1.99. I’ll be making that price cut early next week. So if you’re feeling generous and want to give me that larger royalty bump, you’ve got a few more days. If you prefer to save a buck — which I totally understand and respect — check back next week.
Here are the sales links:
This has been Five Minutes of Self-Publishing Business Navel-Gazing. (Not to be confused with Naval-Glazing.)
As many of you already know, the next chapter in the Magic ex Libris saga is out today. “Imprinted” is a 15,000-word novelette set after the events of Revisionary. It’s told from the perspective of Jeneta Aboderin, the first person in history to perform libriomancy using e-books.
If you remember Jeneta’s project proposal from Revisionary, you’ll have a good idea where this story starts 🙂
I’d love to do more of this kind of thing. There are plenty more stories to tell in this universe, and other characters I’d like to explore. In part, it will depend on how well this one does. (Yes, that was a hint. No, it was not subtle. “Subtle” has never been one of my strong suits.)
Huge thanks to everyone who signal-boosted this one. It’s available electronically at the following links for $2.99:
A print edition is available via Amazon. I feel bad about charging $5.99 for the print edition, but I can’t really price it cheaper, given the self-publishing options there. And I wanted to at least make the option available.
You might notice there’s no link to Barnes & Noble yet. I’ve noticed this too. I’m not happy about it. All of the files and information are there, but have been stuck in processing limbo. I’ll update as soon as the book escapes.
If you feel $2.99 is a bit much for a 15,000-word story (which is totally reasonable), I’m planning to reduce the price to $1.99 in a month or so. But a lot of people had told me $2.99 was a fair price and they’d be happy to pay it. Since it’s the difference between about $2 in royalties vs. about $0.50 per copy, I figured I’d start at the $2.99 price point.
I like Jeneta’s character a lot, and I love the reveal in this story. I can’t wait to see what you all think of it.
#
PS, As long as you’re out shopping for books, here are some other cool releases today!
For anyone who wants a preview of the first 500 words or so of “Imprinted” before it comes out tomorrow…
#
Several people had asked about a print edition of Imprinted, the Magic ex Libris novelette coming out in January. (Conveniently available for pre-order in electronic format from Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, and Google Play.) I know there won’t be huge demand for a higher-priced paperback of a 15,000 word story, but I figured, what the heck. So I spent the weekend working on typesetting and formatting, along with this:
It looks like the paperback will be priced around $5.99. I might be able to knock that down a little, but I’ve only got so much room for print-on-demand. (I’ll also try to get some author copies to sell at conventions, and I might be able to sell those a little more cheaply as well.)
I’m waiting for files to get approved, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to do a pre-order link for the paperback, but if so, I’ll share that link as soon as it becomes available.
Thanks to everyone who’s expressed their excitement over this story. I can’t wait for you to read it. Especially the ending 😉
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and enthusiasm on “Imprinted.” I’m looking at a tentative release date of January 9, 2018. I’m planning to confirm this and start getting preorder links posted over the next month or two.
A lot of you said you’d be happy to pay $2.99 for this 15,000-word novelette. From your comments, it’s a combination of loving the Magic ex Libris stories, and wanting me to get those nice 70% royalties that you don’t get with anything under $2.99. Others thought $2.99 was a little steep.
What I’m thinking about doing is launching the book at $2.99. Then, after it’s been out for a month or two, I’ll drop the price to $1.99. That way folks have a little more choice about what they’re willing to pay.
A few people said they’d prefer a print edition, and I’m looking into that. I wouldn’t expect a lot of sales here, and we’d be talking about a pretty slim volume, but it’s gotten easier to set up print-on-demand, so I should be able to make that option available.
Finally, here’s the synopsis I’ve put together. What do you think?
#
Jeneta’s magic could give us the stars…or destroy everyone around her.
Seventeen-year-old libriomancer Jeneta Aboderin is a prodigy, determined to move on from the horrors she’s faced and use her power to create a better future. To show the world that magic isn’t a threat to be feared, but a tool of hope. After eight months, she’s ready to present the Venture, a magically-created ship capable of reaching Mars within hours. It will mark a new phase of human exploration and discovery.
But at a crucial moment, her spell is wrested from her control and twisted against her. Whoever sabotaged her magic then begins to strike down those around her. The attacker haunts her thoughts and dreams, reviving Jeneta’s past traumas. And the most powerful magic-users at New Millennium are unable to help.
How do you stop an enemy who strikes from within your own mind?
This 15,000-word novelette is set eight months after the events of Revisionary.
Some of you might remember me talking about a 15,000-word novelette I was working on between wrapping up Terminal Alliance and starting on Terminal Uprising.
That novelette is called “Imprinted,” and it’s the next Magic ex Libris story.
It’s about Jeneta Aboderin, and it’s set roughly eight months after the events of Revisionary.
I haven’t set a publication date yet. There’s a bit of work left to get everything ready, and with Terminal Alliance coming out in November, I’m guessing it will be available in January or February.
I also haven’t set a price. $2.99 would be ideal, because that’s where ebook royalty rates jump from 35% to 70%. What do you think? Does $2.99 seem fair for a 15,000-word story, or should I bump it down to $1.99 and take the royalties hit?
Finally, as long as you’re here, what do you think of the not-quite-finalized cover?
