This Is The Last Check-In For This First Round In ROW80! But don't worry, the next round begins on 02 April, 2012.
Signing up is easy, and you'll find loads of support and encouragement within 'A Round Of Words In 80 Days' ranks. If you're a writer, you should consider joining!
Here's how I'm wrapping up the round...
* Two ARC copies of The Third Fate went out last night for review! I'm super excited/nauseous. Ha!
* One final proof read, okay...maybe two (I cannot help myself) and The Third Fate will publish at Smashwords and Amazon. I'll have to wait for the kick off of Round 2 of 2012 to announce!
* I will break after publishing for a week or two. Then, it's time to get down to business on my next WIP, a historical. Those stacks of research and brand-new notebooks are calling my name! I'm so excited to start!
* Here's where I could use some ROW help! For my first two books, I set the price very low purposefully. Being a new author with no name to speak of, I wanted to offer readers a inexpensive way to take a chance on a new author. I'm still about keeping prices low. But I've read a few articles that suggest setting your books' prices too low can actually harm sales and reputation - the premise being that when readers see an ultra-low price, they immediately question quality. This has been weighing heavily in my thoughts as I prepare to publish. My sister, who now refers to herself as my 'manager' ha!, thinks $2.99 - $3.99 for a novel is an appropriate price. Not too high, not too low. Still below average for better known authors. How does pricing affect your purchase habits? Do you love seeing that $1.99 price and snap it up? Or, does a super-low price tag make you wary?
* Developing relationships with fellow writers has been one of my goals since beginning ROW80 last year. The last two rounds have been so fruitful in that department. I've gotten to know a few authors better and opened up myself.
Enjoy the break, fellow ROW's! I hope to see you all in April! Happy Writing...
~ Nadja
Oooooooh, yay on the ARC and good luck with the new book! I'll look forward to the announcement in Round 2, as well....as if I needed another reason to want it to be April 2nd already!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the pricing goes, I prefer spending $3.99 or less for my ebooks...anything more and I think I'd rather spend it on an actual physical copy. I love snapping up books, though, especially if they're at just $.99 or $1.99, and I never find myself thinking, 'oh, this books is so cheap, it must not be very good.' I usually think that the author is just new and trying to appeal with competitive prices, which my very weak budget appreciates greatly.
Then again, I download free books like they're oxygen, and I read practically anything. I go much more on synopsis than anything else...if the synopsis for the book is well-written and interesting, that's a much more determining factor in my getting it than price. Sometimes I'll check out reviews, too, but very rarely does that sway me unless it's a pricier book.
I say just go with the price you feel it deserves. I always love a $1.99 book, but $2.99 can be a nice little boost for you, too, and I don't think it's too high to sway readers so long as the quality matches the price.
Thanks so much for the feedback! My budget loves the $3.99 and below category as well. And I love finding a bargain. Price has never affected my thoughts either (unless they're too high) - hence the low prices on my first two books. I suppose I'm always ready to pat myself on the back for finding 'A-Good-Deal'...rather than think anything bad, ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for the next round, too!
Woo hoo! You've packed in a lot for this round and done fantastic!! Love the title - Her Dark Baron - hope you continue to fall in love with it :)
ReplyDeleteSee you in the next round!
Thanks, Marie...Her Dark Baron was so much fun to write. I have a real 'soft-spot' for that little novella. Ha!
Deletecongrats on an awesome round! i think bumping up a price to a new book to about 2.99 sounds reasonable... when i'm looking at e-books, i love to scan anything below $5.
ReplyDeleteGreat job this round and I am looking forward to your announcement in round 2 about The Third Fate! As for prices, I don't equate price with quality, nor do I let reviews sway my purchases. For the buyer in me, 2.99-3.99 sounds more than reasonable; the description is what generally catches my eye more than anything. The only thing that makes me pause (when buying an e-book) is when I see one for like $15 bucks or something. At that price, I'd rather just go buy the actual book itself!
ReplyDeleteMe, too! I feel anything over $10.00 is too much for an ebook. Even for best-selling authors. But, that's just me. When the price is that high, I either buy the actual book or head to the library - and usually, I head to the library. :}
DeleteNadja -
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I'm a fan of the $2.99 price mark. Not so low that I'm concerned about quality, but low enough that I don't think twice about spending it.
Best of luck on the new release!
Kelsey
Good luck on publishing The Third Fate! :)
ReplyDeleteThere's been all kinds of debates about whether or not .99 makes something seem cheap. Some people say yes, some people say no. I snatch up .99 works all the time, but I always read the sample first, regardless of how much I pay. Here's what I'm planning to do. I'm going to keep my .99 back list like it is. I have two novellas that are 1.99 and plan to keep them at that price. Future novellas will be 1.99 and novels will be 2.99. I love selling at .99, but if I'm going to try to make a living at this, I can't continue to do that. I don't think 1.99 or 2.99 is too much to ask.
I really like the $0.99 price for novellas, but I think it's too low for a novel. And you make a great point! When one is trying to make a living, $0.99 isn't going to cut it. Writing a book, revising, editing, hiring a cover designer, formatting...it's a great deal of work, and we invest a lot of time.
DeleteI like your pricing plan, Lauralynn. It's very similiar to what I'm considering. :}
Wow! Thanks for all the great feedback. It's interesting to read all your thoughts. Before a month or so ago, it's not a topic I thought about much. Now...well, now is a different story. Ha!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to say. I've heard opinions all over the place. I think $2.99 is reasonable for a lesser known author. I'll look at anything under five bucks. But that's my tipping point.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. I've been mulling prices over for a while too. I'm going to raise the price of my Frugal Way books after the next ones come out. Maybe it'll give me a better idea of what the market will bear.
That's what I'm thinking. I'll see what the market will tolerate. And I agree...raising the prices a bit on your older Frugal Way books as the next ones come out seems a smart move. I like the idea of highlighting the newest, too.
DeleteRemember to look at pricing as an altogether "system" for you, the author. That is, your books do not exist in a vacuum. Having a sale on one can boost the others, and so on. They don't all have to be the same price across the board (obviously).
ReplyDeleteThus, I like to stay flexible in my pricing, though I simply need more books so I can play around. $2.99 seems a great starting point for novels (from new authors like us). Anything under $5 seems a good deal to me. I don't flinch at buying traditional books under $10 (though generally I'm not "taking chances" at that level. They've been recommended to me by avid genre readers.)
You know what's really fun and cool? Holiday sales! :-D
Yes...holiday sales are great!
ReplyDeleteForming my 'system' is a new endeavor, one that I've spent a great deal of time considering in the last few weeks. All this feedback has been helpful. I know how I feel about ebook/new author/novel/novella prices, but I'm one person. It's great to gather the thoughts of other readers and writers and then stew awhile. Thanks for adding to the 'pot'. Ha!
I LOVE the cover for The Third Fate, Nadja! Absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've downloaded my fair share of $.99 and $1.99 books, I've definitely purchased ones that are upwards of $5 (although those $5 books are usually 2nd and 3rd books in a series that I know I like, and where the 1st book was a little less expensive). I've heard that $2.99 is the "sweet spot" as far as pricing for novels is concerned (I think Roni Loren might have mentioned that in a past blog post? I can't remember off the top of my head), and as a reader, I find it to be a reasonable price.
Anyway, great work this round, Nadja!
Thanks for the cover-love! My designer is a very talented gem! I'm laughing out loud at the 'sweet-spot' in reference to $2.99. I think that's correct, too.
DeleteI agree with Lena--I LOVE the cover of the Third Fate! I also will definitely pay 2.99 for a novel from a writer whose work I know. I go by descriptions more than reviews or price, although word of mouth from like-minded friends is very important, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to the Third Fate, and your upcoming historical (yay!) I apologize I haven't made it by recently--I did think of you as I drove through New Jersey on our way here--thinking I may have been in the wrong state, but was probably at the correct latitude.
Also, you mentioned to me a character check that might help me on my female lead. I've searched unsuccessfully (me, a librarian!). Could you email me the link? I'm at lapidaryprose (at) gmail (dot) com. I would appreciate it if it's no bother!
Thanks so much for the cover love! Glad you're all settled now. I'll send you the link to that chart.
DeleteI've never been brave enough to send out ARCs to reviewers. I guess I'm a big fat coward. So kudos to you for taking the chance!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the sweet spot for pricing is. I just price books at what I'd be willing to pay for a newb and also try to take into consideration how much my time is worth. I poured HOURS into Aeris. Compis was pretty fast. I might charge as much as a dollar more for Aeris, but I haven't decided yet. :)
Believe me...I'm a Nervous-Nettie. Ha! But I'm glad I did it. Wish me luck...or something. lol.
DeleteI agree. We have to consider the hard work that goes into our writing, too. It's such a big decision.
What a wonderful cover. You've had a productive round.
ReplyDeleteI buy many books full price(7-15 depending on genre), but when I do I'm cautious. But I snatch up books that are 2.99 and lower (I'm always checking ereaderIQ for deals).
My beta readers are doing fine. The last two will have their feedback ready in the beginning of April, just in time for the next round.
Good luck with the beta feedback! I'm anxious to get a 'sneak-peek' at what you've written. Maybe an unveiling in round 2?
DeleteSounds like you are putting in some good thinking into this. Good luck with your price changes and pricing policy. Makes lots of sense. I haven't bought much in the way of ebooks yet since I don't have an e-reader. I'm a fan of physical copies. But since I don't have room for all the books I want, even if I could afford to buy them all, e-books help on space. $2.99 sounds like a good price point to me. It's about what I could spend at Half Price Books for a paperback in good condition, something I'm willing to pay even for an unknown author, and as an e-book, it'll only take up digital space, which is very nice for books that I read less frequently but still want to own.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see you, Jaleh! And I have the same problem. My husband bought me a Kindle and begged, 'Please don't bring home any more books!' Ha! My e-reader has neatened up the place..lol.
DeleteAmazing progress again this round, Nadja! Excited about your release of The Third Fate, and the cover is gorgeous. I'm working on interview questions and will send them your way soon! Can't wait to see you on my blog promoting your new book!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited - thanks for inviting me! My cover is such a hit, it's awesome. I love the colors and the little design elements Elaina Lee added in.
ReplyDeleteAhem...aren't you gearing up for a new release, too?
Nadja, The pricing dilemma is something that you need to be comfortable with. What do you feel your work is worth, What would you pay, what will the market bare, and what do you need to make to continue writing, are all questions you have to answer for yourself. Some day I hope to have those thoughts of my own...some day I will be asking myself the same things, I will. good luck finding the point where you walk away feeling you got the best of the deal, and your customer walks away feeling they got the best of the deal...sweet spot!
ReplyDeleteWander