New series : Hitting the Amazon #1 Spot – A Killer Plan, or Lady Luck?

Part I : WHY AM I BLOGGING ABOUT THIS?

Since reaching the coveted number 1 spot in the Amazon charts, I have been asked on an almost hourly basis for tips by other indie authors. I have tried to respond to these, but it occurred to me that the best thing that I could do would be to create a whole series of blog posts on the subject, and try to get feedback from other authors too.

Can I start by saying that I am not an expert in any of the fields that will be discussed. I am an amateur in every sense of the word. So I will be talking about the process that I went through – without any guarantees and in the sure knowledge that there are people out there who know more than I do about each and every step in this journey. I will reiterate this every five minutes, so that nobody is under any illusions!

So was it a fluke, or was it careful planning?

An interview with Alan McDermott – Author of Gray Justice

I was delighted to be able to interview Alan McDermott, author of the fast-paced thriller Gray Justice. I read Alan’s book some time ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been receiving amazing reviews, and his responses to my interview questions give a real insight into his thinking.

Gray Justice is Alan’s debut novel, and tells the story of Tom Gray, an ex-soldier running a successful business until his world falls apart. His young son is killed by a joy rider and his wife, overcome with grief, takes her own life months later. When his son’s killer walks free from court, Gray decides that the current justice system needs an overhaul, and kidnaps five serial offenders. Parading them on the internet, he lets the people of Britain decide if they should live or die, and the government are powerless to stop him. Gray believes he has the perfect plan, right down to the last detail, but one man travels four thousand miles to prove him wrong in an explosive climax.

Marketing your ebook : what about a press release?

Yesterday I published my first ever press release. I thought I had something to shout about – but I had no idea how to go about it, and I wasn’t prepared. This seems to have been the story of my life with e-publishing!

This week, I am going to write a blog post on everything that I learned in 24 hours about how to write and distribute a press release without it costing a fortune (it cost me £15). And I will include what I should have already prepared – so that you can all get ready for good news, whether that be the launch of your first book, reaching the top in your category, or any other newsworthy item. You may not get picked up by the Times – but even a mention in a local paper is worth it whilst you build your brand.

So for now – the post following this on is my actual Press Release – and I’ll be back later in the week. If you’re interested, click the RSS feed on the left or the choose the follow by email option (a bit lower down on the left).

UPDATE

I have received a considerable number of emails and other requests for more information on the process that I went through to reach number one on Amazon. The press release is only part of it (and after I’d reached #1) – so I’m going to structure everything into a series of posts to explain what I did in the hope that it helps others. The press release blog post could well come a bit later. Hope that’s okay!

Indie Author Reaches Number 1 in Amazon with debut novel

Press Release

Rachel Abbott, independent author and publisher of the thriller “Only the Innocent”, today reached the coveted number one position in the Amazon Kindle charts with her debut novel with a zero marketing budget.  

“Only the Innocent” was launched for the Kindle and other e-readers on 18th November 2011. Author Rachel Abbott had completed her debut novel some twelve months previously and it had been sitting on a virtual shelf until Abbott decided to “have a go” at publishing for the Kindle. She had no agent, no sales platform, and no marketing budget – just the bare outlines of a website and any empty Twitter stream. Just three months and one day later, it is at number one in the Kindle charts on Amazon UK.

Review : Blood Money by Laura Rizio

A FAST PACED SUSPENSE

Overview

Nick Cerrato is a young lawyer, destined for the top in his field. He is ambitious, and is trying to emulate his mentor Joe Maglio who is renowned for his skills in the courtroom. But then Joe is found dead, and the police believe it to be suicide. This is only the beginning of a sequence of events that exposes murder, treachery and corruption which Nick has to deal with. His choices are difficult; his long desired career against his belief in justice.

An Interview with Jennifer B White

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Jennifer B White, author of Otherwise and Dead Asleep as part of her Blog Tour. A review of Otherwise can be found here.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born and bred in New England. I live in Massachusetts, when I’m not in Los Angeles working on movies. As well as penning novels, I’m a tagline writer and screenwriter. I’m the mother of three boys, ages 16, 13 and 7.  All of them were born in late October—the youngest on Halloween—which is somewhat fitting for a writer of supernatural novels.  I hold a B.A. in communications, and a Masters degree in psychology.

Otherwise is a book about the spirit world. What inspired you to write in this genre?

Growing up in my family, there was a certain amount of supernatural phenomena that was to be expected.  My father foretold his mother’s death on the day she passed away, and that night he witnessed her ghost. That somewhat sets the stage for some of the stories I write.

I’m fascinated by supernatural and paranormal experiences—thing that are outside scientific explanation. But, I’m not alone. A third of Americans say they believe in ghosts, according to a poll by the Associated Press and Ipsos. About 23 percent, also say they’ve actually seen a ghost, or believe they’ve been in [a ghost’s] presence.

Review: Otherwise by Jennifer B White

AN ENGAGING AND INTRIGUING TALE OF THE PARANORMAL

Overview

When 26 year old Delilah returns to the town she was brought up in, she discovers that some things never change. Her old grandmother is now dead, but the ramshackle cottage that she lived in is still full of all the junk that had accumulated over the years, and Delilah despairs of the task ahead of her in clearing the place out to make it habitable.

But strange things begin to happen to her, and gradually she becomes aware that this town has two sorts of inhabitants – the living, and the “otherwise”.  Within the town is one woman – living – who is able to speak to the spirits that are “otherwise”, and gradually during the telling of the story, lies and secrets from the past are revealed culminating in a dramatic and surprising climax.