The House in Wales has been out now since March 29th, and it's going great guns, seriously. Priced at a lowly 79 pence, it isn't making me any money, but it is pushing my name out there, and that's the idea. Not six weeks into its release and it has twenty reviews already, some books can go six years without seeing twenty reviews so you can imagine how chuffed I am.
So thank you, every last one of you, who
has written a review.
On the other hand, on the other side of the
pond, it's not doing too well. I have no idea why, but it simply hasn't caught
on over there. This saddens me a tad as I like the idea of some dude in, say, LA.,
reading about my home town. Wouldn't it be great to inspire someone on a
different continent to think about where your home town is, where your family
and past lie? I think it would, (but I've often been told I think too much so
we'll leave it there).
However, that isn't me being deviously
greedy because, well as for money making, it isn't; and if the truth be known
it won't in the near future either. It'd be folly to expect massive profits
without the clout of a large publishing house to back your work, paying for promotion,
reviews from other big authors, distribution to the large book chains blah, blah,
blah. We did try Facebook advertising, and I'd be interested to know if anyone
saw my book on their page as there was no major impact that I saw, but that's
about it in regards to promotion.
That said, there are, of course, subtle
market differences with each genre that affect sales in general.
For example, romance ALWAYS sells. The fairer sex read a lot more than their brutish other halves and hunky, shining knights on white chargers or dark eyed vampires with six packs you could wash your grollies on, will always be a hit with the more imaginative 50% of the world. I take nothing away from the very talented ladies I know who write such literature, but I do envy their automatic fan base :-)
Crime is another that sells well. Gumshoe detectives, (whatever they are?), ghastly murders and the workings of the law enforcement agencies can inspire a spark of interest in even the dampest of minds, (Everton and Man United supporters etc etc.) and if you can come up with a good title, an interesting premise and credible dialogue you're on a winner. Of course, you have to be able to write as well ;-)
No, seriously, these two genres, although
not guaranteed to generate sales, have a large fan base anyway and the couple
of people I know who write in these veins are above average writers and are
doing nicely.
Horror, on the other hand, is in the middle
ground.
It isn't as desired as romance or crime, but it isn't as despised as that pariah dog of the library, poetry, either. Horror is the poor relation, along with fantasy and military history; the working class cousin who demands a beer at a cheese and wine party, or listens to football scores at a wedding, (Hey, that's me!!).
So Reg, I hear you asking, why don't you
write something with an automatic fan base?
My Mam asked that very same question.
"Oh good grief Rich!" My Mam is
the only person I know who calls me Richard. "Vampires and Nazis? Why not
write something nice? Romance sells, you want to be a writer, write something
that sells."
I had no answer for her, well not one that
I could articulate without looking like a petulant 12 year old, ("You just
don't understand, do you?" he said, throwing his teddy in the corner and
stomping off to his room.).
It's a good question, I suppose. However,
the fact is, that just isn't me. I don't think I could look at myself in the
mirror if I, (here it comes, that old cliché), "sold out". I want to
write what I want to write, and romance isn't it, Gumshoe crime stories either,
though I would like to know what a Gumshoe is?
I dabbled with a few romantic scenes in
both books, but an out and out, full on, weepy love fest is just not on.
And that's the best with these guys, (Taylor Street). Yes we're not massive, yes we're not raking it in. However, we are free and I like the atmosphere.
Casual but dedicated to the joint cause,
which is how it should be in my eyes.
So where was I again?
Ah, yes, The House in Wales is
doing well, I'm very happy and thanks all for the reviews. Oh, and America...
yes, America. Not good. Ah well, nil desperandum, right kids?
Right Reg.
Take it easy peeps.
Reg.