Jeffrey Whittam - Sons Of Africa

[Matbow]

You know Jeff the main question that I ask myself is how do readers manage to discover your book on amazon.com - Amazon has so many ebooks available it is mesmorizing to say the least to make a choice,often ( about once a week ) I go shopping for a book and the selections are mind boggling.Now I find it easy to pick out a book and I admit I am very swayed by there 5 star rating system,but that is not the point - how in gods name do you get exposure when there are hundreds if not thousands of authors trying to sell there book.

I have an idea for you to consider,I know nothing about how it all works but this is the best suggestion I can come up with - can you discount your book for a few months to get the exposure you need - I have found a lot of really decent reads for 99 cents - in fact I noticed that Lisa Gardener discounted one of her books to 99 cents and I am sure it renewed the publics interest in her many works.I also now see her book is back up to regular price.By no means am I saying your book is overpriced in fact I found it to be a good bargain,but my concern is the thousands of amazon book buyers who search the website to buy a book every day do not come across Sons Of Africa - I am sure that every Wilbur Smith genre book reader would read your book if they knew it exsisted - you get my meaning I am sure.


The quality of your book is 100% - but I want to see you make it to the bestsellers list - you need exposure more than anything else

your Canadian buddy and #1 fan

Interesting idea John, it would definitely increase demand but unless thousands were sold I don't really think it would be that beneficial for Jeff just yet. When I think it would work is when Jeff has a catalog of other books available - the 99c deal can entice a reader into reading the first of Jeff's books and then they go on to buy his others at full price . Case in point - I have Amazon prime so I am eligible for the Kindle Lenders library (1 free book a month from a selection) - I borrowed "Hunger Games", got hooked and ended up buying the following 2 books in the series.

[johnrogers]

Matbow

That is exactly the point - My 99 cent deals at Amazon have introduced me to new authors and have caused me to purchase more of there books.If it was not for the 99 cent deal I would never have discovered the author - I would really like Jeff to make a name for himself,I really really would.By the way I have read the hunger games triology and was introduced to it at a 99 cent price tag at amazon,now look how popular the hunger games have become

Your point is well made,Jeff has only one novel published so perhaps with the intro of his next book would be the correct time to discount Sons Of Africa - but exposure to the reading public is what must be done - thousands of people cruise amazon everyday and never see Sons Of Africa

[bayside]

Hi Jeff,
I, too, backed off from the liberal barrage that poured in from a simple statement I made to you about Greece. Nevertheless, I was pleased to see from your reply to john R's question that your book is selling several a day. I have a suggestion for you, also: go to www.smashwords.com and look at what they have to offer. They charge absolutely nothing for their services. Almost too good to be true. Getting publicity out there for a book is difficult, to say the least. I've had moderarate success with ENEMIES OF THEIR OWN BLOOD in print form on Amazon, and have just submitted it for Kindle. Prior to this, I put it on
Smashwords and listed it at $2.99. Sales have been brisk. They are also listing it on Barnes & Noble. In addition, they offer e-formatting thru independent contractors for $50, and offer free ISBN numbers.
Sadly to say, however, Clint Eastwood has not shown up at my front door clamoring to buy the book rights. Rats! Disappointment after disappointment. I still have hopes for Kevin Costner.

PS. For those of you who might have already purchased my book in print form, I sincerely apologize for the errors that slipped by from my oversight and my overworked wife's editing -- we went thru it at least three times and we still missed them. Being too close to the work takes away the objectivity. The errors were so stark in print form we picked them up and have corrected them in the e-book format. I'm working on another book at the moment, but it will be less about historical authenticity and more about Western Adventure, replete with lost Spanish gold mines, Apaches, and the beauty of the desert Southwest.

[tedd]

John you sure have raised an argument with that comment!!

A few years ago I read some points made by Bryce Courtney who said that he had been trying to persuade his publishers and booksellers to reduce the price of his books and they would not only sell a lot more but would increase their profits and also enlarge the reading public - I think he was right - and indeed you see many of the major Department Stores selling bestsellers at very discounted prices while the specialised bookshops are closing down.
I remember WS coming to Perth for a signing (to which I went) at the top recognised bookseller's shop where his most recent book was being promoted and the price was around $45. Right next door a Dept Store had the same book displayed out front for $24. Guess where the queue was? So I bought my book at the Dept Store and went next door to get it signed - a very unhappy bookshop staff!! That Australia-wide bookseller existed for nearly 100 years and has now gone to the wall!! Best-seller authors now make huge sales through Dept stores at discounted prices.
But what can/should Jeff do? As he says - he is not well-known - and that's the problem. Surely it would be better if he was to bring out his new book Empress Gold and then discount the first one although I think that the prices charged by Amazon are low enough - I wouldn't like to write a book of the stature of Jeff's book and have to pull down the prices from their existing level - it wouldn't to my mind be fair compensation for the effort required to produce the book.

[jeffw]

Thanks guys for all your advice!! Wish I knew a thousand more like you!
Have taken on board what you said about price reduction, and again agree that the time to do this would be shortly after the publication of Empress Gold. Shortly will be going for some pro. reviewing and advertising. Looking at other web sites this seems to be the way to go. In the mean time must check my inbox to see if I've raised enough from the sale of my third kidney to pay for a print run!!!
God bless you all. Stick around, cherish your support.

[E-Hoog]

Hi Jeff,

Just want to wish you good luck and a lot of fun writing your next book .

[jeffw]

Thanks Tom - you have a great Christmas and let's see what little gems wait for us in the new year.

[jeffw]

Hi all - sorting the preliminaries out for releasing Sons of Africa in paperback. Looks stunning - brings it to life. Will keep you informed.
My best to everyone.

[johnrogers]

Jeff

Number one fan is waiting in the weeds - frothing at the mouth - coming unglued - howling at the moon - dreaming of the day - counting the moments - waiting with baited breath - piggy eyes bulging at the seams ( ha ha just made that one up ) - no kidding Jeff I am counting the moments to read it.

No joke - I really like what you write - it is awesome

[jeffw]

That was good John! Made me sit up and read - well bloody done!!

[tedd]

[quote="jeffw"]Hi all - sorting the preliminaries out for releasing Sons of Africa in paperback. Looks stunning - brings it to life. Will keep you informed.

Great Jeff - my copy will have to be signed of course - looking forward to reading it again but with the book in my hands (instead of on the screen)
Hope your new book Empress Gold is progressing well - Ted

[jeffw]

Hi John - good to talk again - I agree, Sons of Africa isn't getting the exposure, without a publishing company behind me, gets a little difficult, but must persevere. Indie Publishing as it is called is a game of patience, word of mouth and a lot of luck is what pushes a book - but it has to be well written as well as entrtaining or all the PR work in the world will do nothing for it. Interest IS growing and I'm sure a paperback version will boost sales. Once Empress Gold is out, then I'll discount Sons of Africa, maybe even as a freebie for a while to draw in some interest. Trying to decide which is the better size for a paperback - 8"x5" or 9"x6"? The latter seems tobe the way things are going. Same size as the hardback version, better quality paper and binding etc. Comfortable to hold also. Your thoughts on this would be good.
You take care,

[tedd]

Hi Jeff - just some thoughts on the format of your book.
Beverley Harper had struggles getting her first book into the market place. "Storms Over Africa" appeared in 7x4.5" pocket book size, and when she became accepted and established subsequent books were published in the 9x6 format. I don't think any of her works went into hardbacks. Maybe you should start with the smaller size - it will be a lot cheaper and is still very acceptable particularly to the non-collector reader. All the best Ted

[jeffw]

Thanks for the info Ted - putting the paperback on hold for now - the printing costs are prohibitive - Print on demand people take your money and run - full of promise with small results. Will build on ebook publishing, epubbing is really taking off - lots of new electronic book stores. Done some research on the 9x6 format. Only used over here for promotion at reduced prices to attract buyers to a particular author.
You take care and stick around, we'll get there eventually!!

[johnrogers]

Well Jeff

I can see you got your thinking cap on about marketing your book,how to bring it to the masses and get exposure is the thing you must do.All the ideas on how have great merit,expanding your ebook to other ebook sites is perhaps the best idea yet.I would suggest Jeff you chat with Bayside who is a new author himself,you can reach him via email via this forum or if you want I have his email address.I am sure you two could compare notes,Bayside has published in paper and hardcover,and I belive he is setting up his ebook thru Amazon.I really think you two should rub your nougins together and come up with some fresh ideas.

I think this is the next step in your quest Jeff,there are many ways and avenues to attain your goals,and I know you will accomplish what you set out to do,and I heed your word's "patience is the key" - but I also believe your hard work to market the book is probally as important as the book itself.

Remember what you mother and father told you when you were a little boy - hard work pays off - I believe that with all my heart Jeff.

I am here to help you any way I can

#1

[jeffw]

Thanks John - done loads of research on selling an Ebook, the boffins, like Joe Konrath in the States, swears that the only way is through good writing, good luck, patience and keep writing whilst others are promoting. Google Joe Konrath and read his blog. Great guy, one of the world's top sellers. Indie publishing as it is called is a game of "the more books you have out there on Amazon, the more your chances of success." In other words; writers write. There aint no other way. Have a look at his blog, this guy's good, and interesting. Let me know what you think.
You take care.

[johnrogers]

Jeff

Got a question for you - why would an author write a book and use a pen name ?

Example - Steven King uses Richard Bachman

#1

[jeffw]

Hi John - either to change genre or re-list the book under a pen name to increase sales. Change your name and book cover and hopefully, up go the sales figures. Kick starts interest in the book. Sort of 'makes it new and catchy again'. Women chic-lit writers do this a lot, also gives their readers more than one writer to look forward to - variety.
you take care, hope I haven't confused.

[tedd]

I think many authors have done this but offhand I can think of Agatha Christie aka Mary Westmacott(under this name she wrote romantic novels), and Alistair Maclean aka Ian Stuart (he stuck to the same genre under both names but did it to prove to himself that his books didn't just sell because they had the name Maclean on them)
I'm sure I know other instances but can't bring them to mind just now.

[tedd]

Jeff - have you read Colin Saunders "GonareZhou"? - published 2006/7 - a good interesting read which you would like although it's somewhat self-promoting. It's not an easy book to find but an occasional pb comes to light. Sala gahle shamwari