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Post by crf78112 on Aug 11, 2015 17:33:07 GMT -6
Would love to see a series on Kindle, Smashwords or just send the Word file, missing the family.
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 11, 2015 19:34:05 GMT -6
Nice to be missed ;-)
I think a series would be two (maybe three) books made from what's been published here plus another volume that I haven't started yet :-(
Still doing the grunt work (spelling, grammar, continuity, etc.) to make the existing chapters into a (hopefully) readable product...
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by headlesshorseman on Dec 31, 2015 11:49:16 GMT -6
around 70000 words will get you around the same royalty payment whether the book is purchased or read for free (For the reader) through Kindle select.
I would like to see it published also.
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Post by papaof2 on Jan 7, 2016 17:26:25 GMT -6
I haven't forgotten the story. Just busy with this thing they call "the real world".
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by motherhen on Mar 18, 2016 16:44:32 GMT -6
Papaof2 thank you so much for this wonderful story! I enjoyed it from beginning to end, and would love to read any of your other works. You have a special gift for "fleshing out" human relations and motives. I really appreciated that. And it is not too technical-my 6 year old had a question about hydroelectric dams and I read him the sections of your book that were applicable. He understood it just fine ;-) My 17 year old son has asked that this story be his assigned reading for school. Due to the superior nature of your book, he now has a wholesome and very educational book that he is eager to read. As his Mother and teacher, I so appreciate that. Thank you! Blessings to you and yours
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Post by papaof2 on Mar 19, 2016 21:41:50 GMT -6
Thank you!
I never expected to have something I wrote be on a reading list for any school ;-)
I spent time today working on where to split the story if I make it multiple volumes. That choice is still unresolved. I'll be back on that in a day or two.
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Post by dallanta on Jul 10, 2016 18:21:13 GMT -6
I know I am a few years behind, lol. I am enjoying your story a lot. Thank you
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Post by mourningamerica on Jul 10, 2016 20:24:15 GMT -6
I recently re-read the story and discovered it's better "the second time around". I was able to appreciate description; character development; "lore and practical advice"; and so much more. I joined this board for the sole purpose of reading this story. This remains my favorite PAW story of all time because of its unique characters; family orientation; profound Christian values; extraordinary and compelling use of "precognition" themes in a manner consistent with Biblical experience--e.g. multiple women prophets in the Old Testament.
I urged the author to "get this to print quickly", but we all appreciate "this thing called life" tends to consume all of our scarce energies and resources. Yet I am honored to join with Pappa's other fans, admirers, and supporters here by praying for his well-being and happiness. He has enriched the genre and brought light and hope to many in our dark days.
Best wishes Pappaof2
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 14, 2016 12:32:03 GMT -6
Thank you, mourningamerica. I never expected what started as an idea for a short story about some non-traditional "heroes" to be so well received - or for it to just get longer and longer ;-)
I have another (long) story almost ready for posting. The new one is much darker in its events but it also has some strong people in it.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 30, 2016 17:35:32 GMT -6
Admin - I think it's time for this to move to Completed Stories.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 9, 2016 20:22:23 GMT -6
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Post by biggkidd on Sept 16, 2016 18:13:55 GMT -6
Thanks I just ordered a copy.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 16, 2016 21:49:23 GMT -6
Thanks I just ordered a copy. Thank you.
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Post by catspaw65 on Sept 17, 2016 1:30:41 GMT -6
Just got my copy, thanks.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 17, 2016 2:26:27 GMT -6
Just got my copy, thanks. Thank you. And a Thank You to whomever suggested my book to Pam's Pride Recommendations.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 30, 2016 16:12:21 GMT -6
It seems my readership is international ;-) This week books were purchased through Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia.
As of 6PM EDT on 30 September, 'An Accidental Family' was ranked #26,620 in the "Paid in Kindle Store" (i.e., not free) category and there are at least 1,800,000 books in that category. That puts the book in the top 2% for sales today. Not celebrating at the steakhouse yet, as total sales are just under 100 books in three weeks. However, an unknown and previously unpublished author having a book in the top 2% sounds like success to me ;-)
Thank you to those who encouraged me as I posted the story on this forum. Thank you to those who encouraged me to publish the story in book format. Thank you to those who've bought a copy.
Thank you to my wife who's currently reading the published version - and making notes. There will be a revised version at some point but it will be a free update.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 7, 2016 0:19:05 GMT -6
Replying to myself here. An anonymous "Amazon Customer" posted a long and very positive review on Amazon on Wednesday. You can read it here: www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVU5ILAThank you to "Amazon Customer", as Wednesday and Thursday were the best sales days yet for "An Accidental Family".
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 7, 2016 13:06:23 GMT -6
For anyone who might be contemplating publishing, you may find the following information interesting.
There's a section of each book's page that gives its ranking in overall sales and in whatever categories the author chose to list the book in. "An Accidental Family" looks like this
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,216 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #116 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian #161 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian #626 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure
The Best Sellers Rank (BSR), where smaller is better because you want to be #1, is key to determining a percentage rank. The highest BSR number I remember seeing is 1,740,000 so that's what I've used to guesstimate where my book currently is in the top ?? per cent of sales. The BSR number is updated hourly and is based on total sales, month-to-date sales and the sales in the past XX hours (plus whatever fudge factors Amazon uses).
My calculations are simplified to BSR / (biggest number I've seen). In this case, we have 8216 / 1740000 = 0.0047 or 0.5%. A couple of searches on Amazon today turned up the following:
4,804,602 results for Kindle Store : Kindle eBooks
105,949 results for Kindle Store : "kindle books free"
A little subtraction gives us the number of paid books in the Kindle Store:
4,698,653 total paid
If you use that number to determine where a book is in the top ?? per cent, the percentage gets smaller:
8216 / 4698653 = 0.0017 or about the top 0.2% for the current measurement period. Remember that the BSR is recomputed hourly, so a day with 1 or 2 sales rapidly drops a book's rank.
No, I haven't heard from any publishing company yet ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 10, 2016 19:18:41 GMT -6
Replying to myself again ;-)
First, a big "Thank You" to all who encouraged me during the creation of this story.
At the current hour (9PM EDT) the ratings for "An Accidental Family" look like this:
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,060 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #89 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian #111 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Dystopian #447 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure
My book is in the top 500 of a VERY large category (Action & Adventure) that has more than 156,000 books.
And in the top 100 of a smaller category (Science Fiction > Dystopian) that has more than 15,000 books
I did have another author tell me that I'm not charging enough for the book ;-) I'll consider that when the revised second edition is ready in a couple of weeks. If I can work things out with an artist I contacted today, there will be a new cover that better represents the story.
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Post by mourningamerica on Oct 10, 2016 20:39:16 GMT -6
I found it on Amazon by accident, and I left the longer review using my generic "Amazon Customer"--Amazon and I have some disputes at times and I wipe out my reviews periodically when they censor me. Your price is, truly, "laughable", and you need to increase it at some point.
NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE SEE IF ALL YOUR FANS WHO HAVE READ THIS FOR FREE HERE WILL SUPPORT YOUR ART IN "THE REAL WORLD". You should have a host of five star reviews up already.
Please establish an Amazon wish list or make your email known to us so that we can send an Amazon gift card. I started the "gift" process here, but canceled when I recalled how my bank account was hacked a couple of months back. I trust Amazon's handling of money; even if I dislike their biases as to reviews and comments.
Addendum:
I asked my wife to write a review, and she has done so...with some help. Really papaof2, $1? What were you thinking? Could you please at least raise this to $2.99 by this week-end? I mean...800+ pages of supremely evocative, moving, heart wrenching fiction for under a buck? Please, raise your price. "Good" writers are churning out 300 page PAW stories @ $10/each...and doing 10 or 12 of them. They're "good stories", but they aren't as good. One "fine author" (and I mean that) has produced, to date, 42 installment pieces selling for $2.99 each--do the math.
AND, YES, THIS DESERVES AT LEAST PAPERBACK PUBLICATION. Get more sales and reviews and then have someone look around for you. And for heaven's sake, please take good care of yourself.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 11, 2016 0:17:18 GMT -6
Thank you, mourningamerica.
I priced the book low because I only expected to sell maybe a couple dozen copies to people who had read the story here and asked for a Kindle version. I have to wonder who the buyers are, as Sunday and Monday sales were 43 and 44, respectively, and the total sales passed 300 Monday. That sales level puts the book in or near the top 0.5% of Kindle ebook sales for Sunday and Monday. I'm amazed at the reception the book has received.
The process of writing and publishing a novel has been more of an "adventure" than a "money-making venture" so income wasn't a consideration in setting the initial price. I've promised my wife dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse as our celebration of my successful first novel, so perhaps I should raise the price ;-)
I've completed the corrections for the second edition and the artist has promised delivery of the cover art on Friday. If everything does come together, the second edition will be published over the weekend - that might be a good time to raise the price.
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Post by mourningamerica on Oct 11, 2016 11:23:00 GMT -6
RAISE THE PRICE
* It's not "one" book, it's really three. * There is only one potentially valuable "new release" in this genre for the past 60 days and the next 30. There is a thirst for informative PAW fiction. Meet the need. * Those who read it, like it--a lot, and KNOW they have received more than they paid for. Unfortunately, not all of them are willing to write even a simple review. * Deity wants you to be supported in your art. D@mn hard times are coming...soon...here...and they will stay will us for a while. Your book gives encouragement, counsel, motivation, and instruction to survive the coming crises with our families and loved ones sheltered and comforted. Without hope and courage our nation dies. * In your author's note, explain you raised the price to pay for professional proofing, cover art [this is NOT a book about horses; although the superb sub-title explains that very, very well], and to support your next work in progress. $5.99 is something to think about, and yes, that's more than I suggested earlier.
Pray and act.
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CRIED FOR "MOAR" FOR MONTHS ON END? Why aren't there 30-40-50+ "five star" reviews? Why aren't there scores of "likes" for the five star reviews now seen? (These aren't questions for you, but for others here. Through illness, home crises, surgery, and a score of other challenges, YOU KEPT GOING. Now, we see who are the honorable supporters and true fans. Make a clear warning here within the next day or so: "I'm raising the price on _____, so if you want the book for $0.99, buy it now")
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 12, 2016 12:58:32 GMT -6
I will be raising the price when the second edition is released - timing is dependent on my cover artist but probably this weekend. This will be a revision, so the changes will be free to the initial purchasers (and should be an automatic download). Depending on which of the Kindle marketing plans I decide to use (there are several) I could be required to take down the free version here - Amazon will do the marketing for 90 days but only if there's no free competition. Considering the sales so far, I think they'll want to help promote this book.
It seems the story has at least some level of universal appeal, as the book has been purchased by readers in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia.
After a very good weekend (43 sales Sunday) and a brief rank around #5,200, it's back around #6,300 (and it drops about 100 points each hour that doesn't see a sale) - but that rating is in a field of 4.7 million paid titles in the Kindle store. The rank is computed each hour for all the books on Amazon and is some combination of total sales, month to date sales and previous XX hours sales. Those numbers put "An Accidental Family" in the top 1/4 of 1% by sales today (do the math: 6300 / 4698653 ). If you extrapolate the math a bit, any book with a rank number less than 46,986 is in the top 1%. I expect the sales level will fall when the price goes up, but it's been nice to be in a position where another Kindle author is curious about how I market my book. Sorry, but he can't use the very effective word-of-mouth advertising that my loyal fans provide.
Again, "Thank you" to all who encouraged me along the way, including those who provide and maintain the forum so there was a place to share the initial version of the story.
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Post by mourningamerica on Oct 12, 2016 20:47:34 GMT -6
I suggest you remove it from here and get Amazon's help. You have been more than generous. I remain ashamed that there are only seven (7) reviews so far--and two of those were from my wife and I. A SHORT, POSITIVE REVIEW DOES NOT TAKE MORE THAN A MINUTE. There's a saying, "Where's the love?" I only joined this board to read and commend your work. The fans at survivalistboards.com would be more supportive. [And, yes, I wrote a book review there praising your novel.]
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 12, 2016 21:37:38 GMT -6
Thank you for the review on SB and it seems to have been effective. Over a dozen more people have become owners of "An Accidental Family" since you posted that review.
The cover artist has emailed me that the cover will be finished as promised. I asked him for his proper name (instead of the handle he uses at Fiverr.com) so I can credit him in the book. Considering that he's working from my (very bad) sketch plus a text description, a cover that's even close to what I see in my mind's eye would mean he worked a miracle - or read my mind ;-)
Back to making one last pass through the Word document before it goes to publication...
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