An Author's Experience

2010-03-18T12:03:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a little while since I've updated. Things are going well enough. Getting ready to try some new book selling tactics. I've been working on Crystal Mage (book 2 of the Realm Series). Very happy with that. Hoping to publish before the end of 2010. Keep your fingers crossed! I'm now selling A Mystic Arrives as an e-book (pdf format) through my website at susanjbaldwin.net and I'm planning to set it up in Kindle format as well.

2009-12-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

Good news! It appears that I have sold another 4 books! Could it be that I am slowly making progress? Let's hope. I have also written 2 new articles. One on Hubpages and one on Bukisa. They are both Christmas related. Go to my the Links section of my website - susanjbaldwin.net - to get the direct links to each article.

2009-11-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. Had a very nice day and dinner with family. Sold 4 books. Signed my niece's book, which was purchased on Amazon. My sister is going to ask a writer friend of hers about agents and publishers. I'll take whatever help I can get.

2009-11-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

Did another sale and sign at a bazaar. HUGE bazaar! It was a one day event at Meeker Middle School to raise money for their student exchange program with New Zealand. Pretty cool, huh? I think so. I did sell 2 books and donated another for the raffle. Hope whoever got it enjoys it. Nancy and Jennifer, whom I met last weekend had a booth set up and let me use a bit of the their space. All in all -- a very good weekend!

2009-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Had a good weekend at the bazaar. Sold 4 books. Would always like to sell more, but I'm happy with the 4 I sold. Next Saturday, 11/21, I'll be going to Meeker Middle School for a one day sale. A very nice mother and daughter, Nancy and Jennifer, whom I met last weekend is letting me share there table. Looking forward to this.

2009-11-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Had a great weekend! Saturday was busy. First there was our 10-year-old niece's soccer game. Wow did it rain! The game was called at the half. Everyone was soaked! After drying off we all went to Chuck E Cheese for our nephew's birthday -- he turned 5. What a crazy place that is! But the kids have fun and it's a very safe place. Saturday night was my high school class (1976) get-together. It was at the Scoreboard tavern in Federal Way. That was fun as usual. Mr. Howell, one of our teacher back then, was there. He is looking well and appeared to be having a great time. Oh, and I sold 4 books too! Sunday, we went to my Mom's place in Olympia. Did a few chores and then went to Olive Garden for lunch.

2009-11-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

I'm on Facebook now! Don't know if that's good or bad, but I'm there! Go to Facebook.com and search I Am An Author to find my page. Leave a message on my Wall if you'd like!

2009-10-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well, there's not too much to say. Still trying to sell books. Frustrated but not giving up. I am still posting online articles and have added a page to my website (susanjbaldwin.net) for them. I'm going to do a sale and sign at a local holiday bazaar November 13 & 14. Excited about that.

2009-10-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm going to be at Resurrection Holiday Bazaar, (Tacoma, WA) November 13-14. This is my first real opportunity to get 'out there' with my book. Hopefully I'll do well.

Also, it's October. Keep your fingers crossed for the self-published authors contest I entered.

2009-08-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

My books are still selling slowly, but I continue to plug along with it. I feel I have a great story. I just need to get people to buy it.

My latest article can be found here http://www.bukisa.com/people/suzieb.

2009-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've written another article. I think I like writing these articles. I feel productive. Check out my latest at http://www.bukisa.com/people/suzieb.

2009-08-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

Things are still slow. I have started writing articles online. I've only posted one so far, and of course, it's about my book. However, I am going to begin writing another one today. If I'm lucky I'll be putting one article up a week.

You can check it out at http://www.bukisa.com/people/suzieb.

I'm working on the second book again. Drafts are so important to this process.

2009-07-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

I know it's been awhile since I updated. Sorry!

I have now sold 17 books. Wish it were more, but I'm still working on it. I'm thinking about going out to a local flea market to sell. I figure my husband and I can set up to sell other things as well to attract people, and then hopefully draw interest to my book table. Heaven knows we have enough "stuff" to sell!

I did an interview on a local radio station -- Brown's Point Radio. If you're interested in listening to it go to http://www.brownspointradio.com/frankspage.html. I am currently the 4th one down.

2009-05-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Not too much to say this time. Heard from the Seattle Times newspaper, but they don't do reviews either. I am thinking of possibly doing something at one of the malls. Maybe a kiosk for a weekend. Yes, I believe I'll look into that.

2009-05-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last couple of days contacting newspapers in Tacoma and Seattle about possible book reviews. No luck yet. The Tacoma News Tribune says they are not doing book reviews and the Capitol Hill Times says they only deal with local contributions (living in Tacoma is not local to Capitol Hill). I also contacted Tacoma Weekly, Weekly Volcano, Seattle Times, and The Village Voice, but haven't heard from them yet. I also sent an e-mail to the radio station KMPS. Thought it couldn't hurt to try.

2009-05-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I heard back from Fred Meyer. They won't let me do a book signing because I am not a fundraiser. Okay, so far there is a strike against me for being a POD author and another strike for not being a fundraiser. Sometimes a person just can't cut a break! I think the next step will be to check into some of the local coffee places--other than Starbuck's and Tulley's. Maybe they would be interested in giving me a chance. I did leave several books with a coffee shop in Federal Way. Hopefully, someone will take an interest and make a purchase. Frustrating? Oh yeah! Am I giving up? Never!

2009-05-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

I am an author who has recently published my first book. It is titled A Mystic Arrives and is the first book of the Realm series. So far, since February 2009, I have sold 11 books. I have given two as gifts and sent one to the self-published contest through Writer's Digest.
So far this has been an experience in patience. I have found that because I'm a POD (Print On Demand) Author the bookstores (i.e. Barnes & Noble and Borders) will not allow me to do book signings. I am currently looking into other avenues for possible signings. Marketing in general is an expensive endeavor to deal with, but I'm slowly finding inexpensive and even free places to advertise.
If you would like to learn a little about me and my book, please feel free to go to my website at http://susanjbaldwin.net.