February was a very good month for me.
First of all, I wrote 129,787 words. That’s pretty good and I’m quite pleased with that.
When it comes to my websites, I put up 40 blog posts. About 67% of those posts are on the Montana blog.
I got a lot more blog traffic this month, and I’ll discuss that. I also did well with eBook sales, something else we’ll talk about.
There’s a lot more so hang on and get ready for a look at a self-published author’s daily routine.
First of all, I wrote 129,787 words. That’s pretty good and I’m quite pleased with that.
When it comes to my websites, I put up 40 blog posts. About 67% of those posts are on the Montana blog.
I got a lot more blog traffic this month, and I’ll discuss that. I also did well with eBook sales, something else we’ll talk about.
There’s a lot more so hang on and get ready for a look at a self-published author’s daily routine.
eBook Sales
February was a very good month, as was January.
In January I sold 183 books on Amazon alone and in February I sold 196.
With the other retailers I sold 263 books this month.
I’m very happy with that. For comparison, I sold the following in these months and years:
So I’m doing well. I’m gaining ground and traction and I hope that continues.
I’m not sure why I’m so luck to be selling more books. I guess I’ve gotten better as a writer, more confident perhaps.
Maybe it’s positive thinking or the power of the universe or God or something.
Whatever it is, I’m quite thankful and I’ll continue to put out books that you like to read (not so much those that you don’t (although they’ll probably sneak out from time to time)).
In January I sold 183 books on Amazon alone and in February I sold 196.
With the other retailers I sold 263 books this month.
I’m very happy with that. For comparison, I sold the following in these months and years:
- February 2013: 34 sales
- February 2014: 108 sales
- February 2015: 85 sales
So I’m doing well. I’m gaining ground and traction and I hope that continues.
I’m not sure why I’m so luck to be selling more books. I guess I’ve gotten better as a writer, more confident perhaps.
Maybe it’s positive thinking or the power of the universe or God or something.
Whatever it is, I’m quite thankful and I’ll continue to put out books that you like to read (not so much those that you don’t (although they’ll probably sneak out from time to time)).
Blog Traffic
Wow, what the hell happened this month?
My website traffic here on Big Sky Words exploded around February 22 and then shot up even more a couple days later.
Here, take a look at both my Weebly analytics and Google Analytics:
My website traffic here on Big Sky Words exploded around February 22 and then shot up even more a couple days later.
Here, take a look at both my Weebly analytics and Google Analytics:
For Weebly, you can tell that most of this is because of social from Facebook.
The real drivers were twofold:
- First, the American Lands Council article I put up last October and which just got real popular in Washington State.
- Then, the medical marijuana article I wrote where I went to the store and got reactions.
- Besides that, I really got a huge boost on the night of the Oscars as people were looking into the film The Revenant and those historical characters and places.
So it was an amazing end of the month in terms of website traffic.
Is that sustainable?
I’m not sure. I think the 800 visitors might be, and even up to 1,000.
The Oscars flash in the pan isn’t, however, even if I experienced the same last year with Michael Keaton.
What is sustainable is my ability to fill the media’s shoes.
Local media is suffering and I’m filling that role. Besides that, I’m not quite sure how to account for this boost.
I’m very luck and I’ll just have to be thankful and continue on as best I can, hoping to meet the increased expectations…whatever they are.
New Releases
On February 9 I put out the 5th book in the Mountain Man Series, Colter’s Revenge.
The book did really well, getting 49 sales for the month, 7 of them in the UK.
I’m quite happy with that because it tells me a few things:
I’ve had some success before. Back in late-2013 and early-2014 my Jongurian novels were doing really well.
Those dropped off a cliff after some bad reviews came in and the income went away.
Yeah, those books were selling 20 copies a month for awhile.
This past month they sold 1.
So you have to be ready for the crests and troughs that will come as you ride the waves of self-publishing, or really, any market that doesn’t depend on people’s needs but their wants.
So I’m happy I have this success now and I have to be thankful for that.
The book did really well, getting 49 sales for the month, 7 of them in the UK.
I’m quite happy with that because it tells me a few things:
- First, people like this series and they’re reading on from the first book all the way to now.
- Next, people are waiting for the next volumes to come out and they’ll buy ‘em when they do.
- Then, people are willing to pay $4.99 for a 200-page new release on Amazon, and other retailers (the book got 3 sales through D2D).
- Finally, I have a level of sustainable income from this 5-volume series, though how long that’ll last is unclear.
I’ve had some success before. Back in late-2013 and early-2014 my Jongurian novels were doing really well.
Those dropped off a cliff after some bad reviews came in and the income went away.
Yeah, those books were selling 20 copies a month for awhile.
This past month they sold 1.
So you have to be ready for the crests and troughs that will come as you ride the waves of self-publishing, or really, any market that doesn’t depend on people’s needs but their wants.
So I’m happy I have this success now and I have to be thankful for that.
Charitable Giving
Something I like to do to show my thankfulness to the universe or God or whatever is by giving to charity.
I’m very cheap in this.
Yep, I write checks for $10.
This fulfills many of my anal-retentive needs:
Finally, it’s fun and makes me feel good.
So I like doing the charitable giving and these charities got $10 each this month:
I hope the $10 they got from me helps ‘em out.
As you can see, I check their ratings to make sure they give most of my money to their cause.
I can’t find all of them – especially the really local organizations – but I try.
Remember, I made about $19,000 last year. It’s not a whole lot but it’s more than many.
I can afford to give $10 here and there.
Maybe you can afford it too.
I’m very cheap in this.
Yep, I write checks for $10.
This fulfills many of my anal-retentive needs:
- First, I can use the new 2016 stamps that I like to buy (I always put bills in the mail now, often with a note to whomever opens them).
- Then, because of the low donation amount, I can give to several charities and not just one.
- Next, I’m able to use up some miscellaneous animal and Marvel superhero stickers, which I like to stick on the back of the envelope.
Finally, it’s fun and makes me feel good.
So I like doing the charitable giving and these charities got $10 each this month:
- Catholic Relief Services (92% to their cause);
- Orbis (93%);
- Paws for Purple Hearts;
- Missoula Food Bank;
- Direct Relief (99%);
- Watson’s Children’s Shelter.
I hope the $10 they got from me helps ‘em out.
As you can see, I check their ratings to make sure they give most of my money to their cause.
I can’t find all of them – especially the really local organizations – but I try.
Remember, I made about $19,000 last year. It’s not a whole lot but it’s more than many.
I can afford to give $10 here and there.
Maybe you can afford it too.
Looking Forward to March
So what’s on the agenda for this month, March? Well…here’s what my calendar looks like so far:
I very well might finish up my next Colter novel, Colter’s Escape, and put that out this month.
It depends on how much I get going on it. Oftentimes you can pump out 5,000 words a day on the last few days as you finish ‘em up.
I might do that with this one. As always, if you’re on my email list you’ll hear first and get the book for $0.99 too.
Well, that’s it.
March is starting.
Today is Super Tuesday and we’ll probably know our presidential nominees soon after.
Should be an interesting month. Thanks for reading about it here!
- March 6: My 2 Tarot books go wide again (all retailers)
- March 8: Release Paranormal Montana
- March 14: Filing deadline for political office in Montana
- March 16: 6 of my business/ESL books go wide
- March 19: Sell Your Book goes wide
- March 19: Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner in Helena
- March 22: I’ll finish my Montana government book
- March 23: Jury duty, 8:30 AM
- March 27: Easter in Helena
- March 31: Tour Your Book goes wide
I very well might finish up my next Colter novel, Colter’s Escape, and put that out this month.
It depends on how much I get going on it. Oftentimes you can pump out 5,000 words a day on the last few days as you finish ‘em up.
I might do that with this one. As always, if you’re on my email list you’ll hear first and get the book for $0.99 too.
Well, that’s it.
March is starting.
Today is Super Tuesday and we’ll probably know our presidential nominees soon after.
Should be an interesting month. Thanks for reading about it here!
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