Category: Anniversary

Nine Years and a Blog Tour

Nine years ago this month I published my first four books. And the subsequent adventure has been very interesting to say the least.

That I’m still writing and publishing is a testimony to perseverance and perhaps just doggone stubbornness. 

In the past 9 years I’ve witnessed many authors come and go. And some of them were super writers. Which makes me sad to think of all that talent going unused. But that is the way it goes, unfortunately.

I haven’t gotten rich. In fact, I’ve yet to rich $5000 in royalties from my books. Nevertheless, I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve written stories that have provided entertainment for the folks who read them.

And when the dark days come, and they do, the days when you wonder is it worth it, I read a few of the reviews I’ve gathered over the years and tell myself — yes, it’s worth it. Telling the stories that collect in my head is worth the work to make them available to others to also enjoy.

We writers have a tendency to work alone and for indie authors, at least most of us, I don’t think that’s a good thing.

After 9 years, I think working with an active group of likeminded writers is the key to success. You probably won’t get rich, but you will have the support to keep on going and the advantage of working together to promote each other — and that is a definite key to success.

Lone Star Blog Tour

I am very fortunate to be one of the charter members of the Underground Authors.

The group was started by the late Caleb Pirtle III. His initial vision was to get together a group of writers who were actively writing and publishing to cross promote each other’s work.

Now, we not only promote each other’s books, but we also write a multi-author crime series: the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.

Going on right now is a blog tour of the series hosted by Lone Star Literary Life. Here’s the link for you to check out the tour: https://www.lonestarliterary.com/content/magnolia-bluff-crime-chronicles-underground-authors

Going Forward

Next year, my intention is to launch a Kickstarter campaign, write the next Justinia Wright mystery, start a new series, and write some short stories.

Whether I do the above, or decide to do something else — I do know I’ll be writing.

Because as Harlan Ellison said, “Writers write.” It’s as simple as that. And I’m a writer.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

 

 

CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes 

 

 

Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries on Amazon!

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles on Amazon!

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Eight Years An Indie Author-Publisher

It is difficult to believe I published my first four books eight years ago. November 8, 2014.

It’s been a wild ride. I’ve watched excellent writers get discouraged and quit. I’ve watched mediocre writers become millionaires. I’ve watched good writers continue to endure, hoping for a break.

For myself, I have come to the realization this gig is basically a hobby. I’m not going to get rich and probably won’t be able to buy that Rolls Royce I’ve always wanted.

I can’t write fast enough to put out a book a month. And that’s pretty much a necessity, if you want to hit the big time and stay there in the indie world. 

I don’t have the money to launch massive ad campaigns, nor the know-how to fudge the system to get those coveted bestseller rankings. 

I don’t care to write in the genres that are hot, where the books simply fly off the shelves. They aren’t my cup of tea. I don’t like to read them, and therefore probably wouldn’t do a good job writing them even if I chose to do so. Then again, quality has nothing to do with marketing.

Given the above, I have been asked, “So why continue? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

The answer to the last question is NO. I do have other things that I can do — but nothing, for me, is better than telling stories.

The first question, why continue, is actually one I have been asking myself of late. Writing and publishing a book it is a lot of work, and it does cost money. Sometimes more than I make from the book.

So why do it?

I do it because I love storytelling.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I loved reading as a kid and I wanted to create stories and hopefully give others something of the enjoyment I had received from books.

When I was young, I didn’t write stories like many writers say they did. I told myself stories and sometimes acted them out in my play. Maybe that is why I have always been drawn to acting and drama. It’s probably why I focus on dialogue in my writing and tend to skimp on the description.

Whether vocal or written, storytelling is still storytelling. We tell stories to make us laugh, to make us cry, to encourage us, to give us hope, to allay our fears, and to realize our dreams. 

Storytelling does all that for not only the storyteller but also his audience.

So while I am not making much money at this gig, I am getting paid in something other than money.

Whenever I read a good review or tweet about one of my books I know that I have touched someone’s heart. I have given someone a bit of joy to help them make it through their day. And that makes me just a little bit richer.

But the indie publishing scene is changing. Many authors have decided to take even more control of their work. They are moving away from Amazon.

There is an increase in the number of writers moving away from being exclusive with Amazon, in order to offer their books to readers through a multitude of vendors.

A growing number of writers are focusing on selling from their websites and to the members of their Patreon channels.

Others are using Kickstarter to bring in needed funds and to reach new readers.

I myself I am moving more and more away from Amazon. I no longer directly search for books on Amazon. Because when I do — half of my search results are sponsored ads. And most have nothing to do with what I am searching for.

Now I search for books using Google. Although ads are on the increase with Google. If the ad situation on Google gets to be too much, I will have to start using my Brave browser instead.

As more and more authors realize the odds of readers finding their book among the 7+ million books on Amazon, they are going to start to search for other options, other avenues to get their books in front of potential readers.

And I am right there with them. Amazon hasn’t treated me badly. Quite the contrary. However, when I search for my own books and can’t find them in the first three pages of search results — then I know no one will find them doing a general search.

People don’t like to click and they don’t like to scroll. They want what they’re looking for right there in front of their face without having to bother scrolling or clicking. And if my book isn’t on page 1 of the search results — for all intents and purposes it doesn’t exist.

I am not sure what the new year will bring. I am not going to give up writing. But traditional publishing and the standard indie route (which isn’t all that different from traditional publishing) is simply too crowded. It takes money and savvy marketing to get a break and I have neither the cash nor the skills.

So I will be looking for new avenues to try to get my books before the eyes of potential readers. What they are, I don’t know. At least not yet. NFTs? Maybe. Kickstarter? Maybe. Push hard to collect fans on my mailing list? Maybe. YouTube? Maybe.

If you like my books, please spread the word. Because word-of-mouth is the best advertising. Thanks!

For now, you can find all of my books on Amazon.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

 

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

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7 Years and Counting

Sunday, 14 November, was my 7 year independent author-publisher anniversary. Time flies when you’re having fun. And I’ve been having lots of fun.

Publishing stories and books, seeing them in actual and virtual print, is the realization of a dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember.

These past 7 years I’ve met all manner of wonderful and delightful people. I’ve written well over 30 books and stories. Most I’ve published. Some are exclusive to the fans on my mailing list. (Hint, hint.)

Anniversaries, for me, are times to not only celebrate, but also to reflect on the past and contemplate the future.

When I look back to 14 November 2014, a lot has happened. 2015 saw the beginning of massive changes on the indie publishing scene.

The easy money and fame quickly became a thing of the past. Competition skyrocketed. There was the rise of the middlemen and the marketing gurus, with their get rich quick schemes.

Starry-eyed wannabe authors came and went. Some writers still talk about the book that’s coming out soon. And there are some who are indeed livin’ the dream — they struck gold. They quit the day job and get to tell stories for a living.

I confess I’ve never been money motivated. Money’s nice and makes living a whole heck of a lot easier. Nevertheless, there are things that are more important than money.

Seven years of doing this indie gig, I am not monetarily better off. It’s cost me more than the royalties I earned. But money isn’t everything.

Let me count my blessings:

      • I’m having fun.
      • I’m writing and publishing what I want to write and publish. There are no gatekeepers telling me NO.
      • There are people who like my stories. People who think my stories add value to their lives.
      • I’ve met writers whose books have added value to my life.
      • And did I say I’m having fun?

Before turning to fiction, I wrote poetry and had hundreds of poems published. People recognized my name. And that was a good feeling. People found value in my poems. So you see money isn’t everything.

So what’s on the docket for year 8 of my writing adventure? The answer’s pretty simple: more stories, more fun.

I’ll be writing new books and stories, with the focus on providing a good number of those to my mailing list. (Hint, hint.)

I’m looking at giving screenwriting a try. My first successful writing endeavor was a play. So I see screenwriting as something akin to going home.

Audiobooks and perhaps a YouTube channel are also in the works. After all, before I wrote anything I told myself stories. Going audio will be a definite homecoming.

Writing has brought me small triumphs and great joy. What can I say? This is a wonderful life.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

If you join my VIP Readers list, you’ll get the book Vampire House and other early cases of Justinia Wright, P.I. for free. Click or tap this link to BookFunnel.

If you join my VIP Horror Readers list, you’ll get The Feeder for free, which is a Pierce Mostyn Paranormal Investigation only available to my VIP readers. Click or tap this link to BookFunnel.

Enjoy!

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Six Years

The Cover for Justinia Wright #8

Six years ago this month, November 2014, I self-published 4 books: The Morning Star, Festival of Death, The Moscow Affair, and Do One Thing for Me.

I set sail on the sea of the independent author-publisher, and I have not looked back.

Being an indie is tough — because I, the author, am also the publisher and have to do all the business and marketing end of things, as well as write the stories.

Nevertheless, I would rather sell my soul than become a slave to a publishing house — large or small. I love the freedom of being my own man. And IMO, freedom is what it’s all about.

During these past six years, I’ve seen indie authors come and go. I’ve seen indie authors start with nothing and become bestsellers. And those folks give me hope: if they can do it, so can I.

Over the past 6 years, I’ve published 3 series totaling  22 books; and 7 miscellaneous novels, novellas, and short stories. I’ve had 2 short stories and an article appear in anthologies, and a short story published in an zine.

In addition to the above, I publish a weekly blog and occasionally write exclusive stories for my mailing lists.

For me, writing and publishing is a full-time job, and it’s the best job I’ve had in my nearly 7 decades on this planet. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life from this point forward.

And if all goes well, I’ll get to celebrate year 6 with the publication of To Right a Wrong; the eighth book in the Justinia Wright Private Investigator series. 

And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate, because Tina and Harry are my favorite children. I love writing the wise-cracking humor, the sibling rivalry, the thrilling chase scenes and shootouts, the commentary on life in the Minneapple, and the hunger-producing meal descriptions.

So raise a glass of your favorite libation with me in celebration of living life your way and living your dream.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading! 

(And you can find all of my books on Amazon!)

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Five Years

November 2014. Five years ago. I published my first 4 books on Amazon. They were:

The following month, December, I published 2 more books:

And I was on my way.

Going the independent author/publisher route is a tough road to travel, because I’m it. I’m a one-man shop. A one-man band. I’m both the writer and the publisher — and have the headaches of both.

However, were I to make the choice today, knowing what I know now, I’d make the same decision. I’d be an independent operator.

Why be independent when being indie means more work? Because it’s all about the freedom. I am the captain of my ship. As Captain Jack Sparrow said, his love for the Black Pearl wasn’t about the ship — it was about freedom.

As an indie, I get to write the stories I want to write. Whether they end up selling or not. 

I can publish whenever I want. There’s no publisher telling me how often I can publish. I’m my own boss. 

There’s no publisher telling me what to do — or they won’t publish my book. Or they’ll stop publishing my books.

And I keep all of my rights and options and most of the money.

The writing life’s for me, and because I’m retired I have no competition from family, or the day job — and no pressure to produce so I can ditch that crappy day job.

And what’s more, after 5 years I finally have a teeny-tiny, eensy-weensy band of fans. Imagine that! Me, a balding, overweight, old guy with fans! How cool is that!

It’s my dream to some day make enough money from writing so I can buy a Rolls Royce. Although I’ll “settle” for a Bentley or an Alfa Romeo. 🙂 That’s the dream.

The reality is that I drive a new Ford Fiesta and have a 1989 Ford Crown Victoria. I live in a small townhouse with my wife and cat, which is just the right size for us. My health is reasonably good, and I fly first class when I visit my sister. Life-Is-Good.

Oh, and I actually do make some money selling books! Life-Is-Very-Good.

It is my intention to write books until I die. And if I discovered I only had a month or two to live, with Isaac Asimov, I’d just have to write a little faster.

Marcus Aurelius wrote “Life is opinion.” Life is what you think it is. It’s all in your ‘tude. Don’t sweat the small stuff — because it’s all small stuff.

For many, many years I was not a happy camper. Then I took old Marc’s advice to heart. I swept out the crap, and got down to enjoying what I have. And being thankful for what I have.

I believe I’ve been gifted with the ability to write. That doesn’t mean I’m the best storyteller out there, because I’m not. There are plenty of my fellow indie writers who I admire, and, yes, envy. Because they are so good.

But as noted above, I do have fans. And that is such a good feeling. To know that someone out there is actually waiting for my next book to come out, well, that’s a doggone good feeling. And I’m going to give him or her the best I can give.

Now it’s on to year six. I’m excited to see what the future will bring — and even if it’s just more of the same, I don’t care. Because, life is good.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

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Four Years

November marks my four year anniversary as an independent author-publisher. And they’ve been four super wonderful years. I’m very much looking forward to year 5.

I’ve published 28 books, with number 29 coming out by year’s end. If I’d gone the traditional publishing route, I might still be looking for an agent. Screw traditional publishing. It’s the indie life for me!

Now I’d love to write that I just bought that Rolls Royce I’ve always dreamed of owning with my royalties from this year. Unfortunately, my desire has greatly outpaced my earnings.

Am I disappointed? I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t. But I’m only disappointed a teeny-weeny bit. Why? Because I have 28 books, soon to be 29, available for people to enjoy. I’m making some money. And people, at least some people, like my stories. Plus I’m doing what I always wanted to do and loving it. What more can one ask for?

I’ve learned a lot these past four years and I’m hoping the next four years will at least allow me to buy a Ford Focus. 🙂

While all that sounds optimistic, fundamentally I’m a pragmatist. In the end, what works is what counts. I’ve read dozens of books, articles, and blogposts by writers as to what works and what doesn’t. I don’t focus on the fads or the gimmicks or the golden parachutes. I look at what truly works.

For indie writers, there is one refrain that has been constantly sounded by virtually all the successful writers — and it’s simple: write fast, write in series, publish often, and build a mailing list. Those 4 things are what virtually all successful indie authors have done and are doing.  Sure there are exceptions. But they are the exceptions.

If you are an indie writer and aren’t writing fast, aren’t writing one or more series, if you aren’t publishing often, and you aren’t building a mailing list — then you will almost certainly fail. It doesn’t matter how good your writing is. Indie readers want lots of books, because they tend to be voracious readers, and they want them in series. It’s that simple.

Self-publishing today is easy and gaining in respectability. And I’m glad. For anyone who wants to write and publish a book, now that person can. There are no longer any gatekeepers stopping people. We can tell the world whatever is on our hearts and minds. We can tell the world all the stories we want to. And that is a good thing.

Marketing, however, remains the bugaboo — for both indies and the big corporate publishers.

Finding one’s audience is the real challenge for any artist or entertainer who hopes to make a living producing art. And fiction writers are both artist and entertainer. And this is where a mailing list can help the writer. Because a mailing list is really a list of those who like your work, or are at least interested. You won’t get that from Amazon or Apple or Barnes and Noble. They keep the email addresses to themselves.

Marketing in some form is essential to getting our name and our work out in front of potential readers and buyers. A mailing list is simply a voluntarily captive audience, as it were. There are other forms of marketing, and they should be used. But you writers, don’t neglect the mailing list.

For the curious, I’ve earned the following royalties for my efforts:

2014 (2 months) $113.48

2015   $233.87

2016   $231.04

2017   $212.53

2018 (through October) $280.53

Those earnings came from the sale of 513 books, 35 borrows, and 23,202 page reads.

As you can see, I’m no mega-star. No bestseller. No award winner. But I’m not ashamed of those numbers. Thus far I’ve achieved all that with but 4 weeks of paid advertising done at the beginning of this year. The bulk of my sales and page reads came from free advertising venues.

My fan base is tiny. And I do mean tiny. But it’s a start and I continue to be excited and encouraged with every sale and page read.

For the coming year I’m going to focus on the indie formula for success. I plan on writing lots, at least 1,000 finished words a day and hopefully I can push that to 2,000 or 2,500 on a consistent basis.

The old pulp formula, which is now the indie formula, is alive and well. Publishing 3 books in 3 months proved it to me. It’s what has given me my best year ever. I had sustained sales for 4 months after the third book was published. If I’d had more ready to go… Who knows, I might have been a bestseller.

I’m also going to work on building my mailing list. I’m a believer in the 1,000 fan theory. Which is this: all an artist needs is 1,000 super fans (those folks who will buy whatever you put out — books, recordings, cups, sweatshirts, etc.) to make a living from his art.

To find those fans, I’ll be using such avenues as Prolific Works and BookFunnel: giving away a free copy of a story in exchange for an email. The process is slow and tedious. Many unsubscribe right away. Many drop off in the first few months, and many never open an email. I’ll cull from the list those who are unresponsive. Leaving the folks who are hopefully interested in my books.

I love writing. I love being retired so I have the freedom to write all day if I choose. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life is grand.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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