February 2026 Amazon Results
Ah February. A month where I wrote 65k words for Sophies story and decided to go all in on my audios. So. February was quieter than January. I didn’t pay for any Ads on Bookbub or FB. I just let the advertising side go because I don’t think it was having much benefit. Plus I was curious to see how my sales did without any kind of paid marketing.
I worked hard. I wrote those words and I get it done. Sophie’s story is so different to Rosie’s, but so it should be. No one wants to the read the same thing over and over again. It did cost me. I have been second guessing myself and unsure if I managed to pull off the desired effect. My editor will tell me at least….
Because I did end up having a decent January, I decided to pay for Book 3 audio - The Secret Proposal. One of the main driving factors for that decision is that my leading lady Celia Stone is pregnant, and the whole book is on a lactation kink….. And I didn’t want to weird her out when bubs arrives so it pushed me to do it earlier then I was considering. Yesterday I actually sat down to gather the character information to cast the narrators and gee, I cannot believe I am going to make people read these words out loud….
Back to book 1 & 2. These have been recorded now. I should receive the beta copies in my hands around 22nd March. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to stomach listening to them. I am afraid. Very afraid. Not in my narrators talent, they’re all increidle, as Dorje put it, I have a dream cast of Aussie Actors. I’m afraid for the second hand embarressment of making all these awesome actors read out my porn on page……
Anyways, I did finish Sophies Book. I reached 92k words and I’m proud of them. It is still my hope to launch Sophie’s story with an audio for the first time. I have my preferences for narrators, I am just waiting for my producer to see if they’ll do it. I have everything crossed that we can secure the narrators by the end of this month to start recording in April. Not sure how likely that is actually going to work out given my draft wont be finished with the editor until the end of the month but ah well, we shall see.
I do have this quirky idea to make Sophies book a bit fun. You have no idea how hard I am finding it not telling anyone. And worse, not asking the narrator I’d like to help me pull it off. Forcing myself to have patience until after I hear back from my editor about the story, and find out the final price of the first three audio books and listen to all my first two. I know this month is going to fly by and will be busy consumed with editing and beta listening. I just have to hang on in there and not get carried away. That would be embarressing and I have to keep reminding myself of that.
I did have a meeting with Podium but decided not to pursue their kind offer, mainly due to the fact they couldn’t offer me duet being a new indie author. If i’m going to bring my stories to life on audio, I want to do my best for them. I’m so greatful I’m in a postition where I can pay for them. I haven’t spent a penny on myself (unless we count paying off our holiday from Dec 2024) every single penny I have earn’t, i’ve put into the audio’s in the hope I can make them something special. If by some miracle I can pull off these audios, then I might treat myself.
In other news, I spoke with Hambright PR and have signed with them for the back launch and release of my audio for The Secret Club at the end of April, pending that the Audiobook is on Audible and good to go by then.
Ok, so here is Febraury’s final results:
Orders: 465 (60 were free Novellas)
KENP: 1,808,710
Amazon Reviews: 953 (4.3) - Based on Book One: The Secret Club in the US
Amazon Followers: 897
Goodreads Reviews: 2,348
Goodreads Followers: 79
Preorders Book #4: 80
February achievement: Writing Sophie’s story.
Febraury lesson: What comes up must come down. At the beginning of this authoring journey I read that the best marketing is bringing out a new book. As my sales and page reads taper off, I know that good things don’t last. Whatever happens over the next few months, I know not to take it for granted. My wish is to make the money back thats I’ve invested in. I pray every night that my audios turn out ok. I do have all hopes pinned on them, I can’t help it.