May Amazon Results
May, what can I say? A month of new friends, finessing (and still learning) advertising activities, editing book two: The Secret Job and starting book three: The Secret Proposal in the Clarendon Playmates Kink Series.
I’ll start with advertising. I think i’ve got my spend vs reward on track with my bookbub ads (yay) essentially spending $20-25 a day and making $40-60. I have also learned about the world of TikTok Ads and put $5-$10 on a one day post twice over the weekend. And I’ve been dabbling in Threads but actually get a lot more out of that in terms of learning from other authors then I put in. I did have one post go wild. I also learnt that you should be careful when you reply to people because your comment may then get seen by thousands of people… so make sure its a good one!! I learnt from Threads that boosted Ads on Instagram is a thing, so giving that shot with $5 a day.
My new friends. Whilst it’s really only two, and one mainly, but to have that person in your corner who just ‘gets it’ and bounce ideas off and just share each others journeys, it makes a big difference. Discussing with someone on the same journey as me, whilst very different books and paths, it makes it a lot less lonely and solo. So much better with a friend is my feedback!
Ok, onto the writing. I completed all the edits for my editor for The Secret Job and then she had May to read the book through one more time. Whilst I had that down time, I started The Secret Proposal and am currently living out my MMF and bi awakening fantasy. You gotta love the freedom a pen name can give you. I am literally writing out my own personal fantasies and living my best life.
Time. I admit the one thing I don’t quite have enough of is time. I try and exercise, work, shop, cook, take the kids to activities, walk the dog, have a personal life and get enough sleep and time with my husband. I literally scrap one -two hours an evening on average to write. Sometimes it’s painful because I worry I should be with my family or my friends. Then I tell myself that writers have to carve out this time otherwise it’ll never happen. Then I often think this is the way I like it. I like writing a few hours a day, its what I enjoy and its enough. I wouldn’t enjoy it as much if I had to do it full time. I like a full life doing many different things in my day. Wiriting is one of them and it balances me out. It’s just disappointing when I can’t get to it or have to miss a day. But that is life and I have to get over it. Sometimes I manage to carve out 4-5 hours over a weekend and thats very satisfying.
May results:
Orders: 212
KENP: 286,496
Amazon Reviews: 120 (4.5%)
Amazon Followers: 187
Goodreads Reviews: 100 (4.33%)
Goodreads Followers: 12
Preorders Book #2: 81
Preorders Book #3: 31
I admit, I have little wobbles. Should I be paying to advertise? Is my book really any good? Am I kidding myself of ever being a successful author when I know I am not a literally genius. Then I have to talk myself down from the wobble and remind myself I actually really enjoy writing, I love writing my fantasy stories, I love the hope and optimism writing brings, I just love it. And if it doesn’t happen, it’s not my reason why. But if I stick to it, just writing what I personally would like to read, maybe I’ll eventually find my people and that is enough.
So with that, I will keep on keeping on taking one day at a time.
Ruby x