I’m in need of a little help from my online friends, please. If anyone can spare me a couple of minutes of their time and a few clicks on their Internet enabled device I will most grateful.
I’ve spent the last couple of days taking stock of my self-publishing statistics, reviewing my sales figures among other things. What they tell me is that if I don’t shift a few more books I’m going to have to find a real job…soon. (Honestly, what they charge for good champagne and caviar in this country is criminal.)
I have a plan. Part of it involves the Acer Sansom novels. To some degree this plan worked with the R&M Files. I’m want to make Dirty Business (The First Acer Sansom Novel) permanently free, just like Rope Enough (The First Romney and Marsh File) is permanently free. This, I hope, will kick start sales figures of the Acer series that have dwindled in recent months to barely a trickle. All that blood, sweat and tears going unread. (sad face).
Experience has told me that there ain’t nothing like a free download to generate some interest. The only way that Amazon will permanently list a book priced at ‘free’ is if they are notified by readers that a book Amazon is charging for is available for free somewhere else. As I understand it Amazon don’t always price match but they often do and if one wants one’s book priced at free with them the only way to go is as follows.
I’ve listed Dirty Business with Smashwords, a significant player in the e-book retailer and distribution market. With Smashwords there is an option to set the price for a book at ‘free’. Now Amazon need to be made aware, through customer feedback in some numbers, that a book they are charging for is free elsewhere.
I’m putting links at the bottom of the page that I hope some of my online friends will have the time to click: Smashword’s link for Dirty Business and links for Dirty Business on Amazon UK and US depending on where your, dear reader, account is linked to. Just under the product details on the Amazon pages are the sales rank figures and just under those is a link in blue ‘tell us about a lower price’. If you click on that a box will open into which you can paste the Smashwords’ url link for Dirty Business. There are also two boxes that need to be filled out regarding price and shipping cost of the book available cheaper elsewhere. These just need filling with 0.00 and 0.00. and then click on submit. Job done.
How do I feel about the prospect of giving away another of my books for nothing? Not as bad as you might expect. If it helps shift a few others in the series and, almost as important for me, gets Acer being read and appreciated then as far as I’m concerned that’s a sacrifice I’m happy to make. I don’t think there is much room for principles or sentimentality in self-publishing these days and I didn’t write these books to be ‘not-read’. A struggling writer’s got to do what a struggling writer’s got to do.
So, if you want me to keep writing instead of going out to work all day, please help. That would work for me. A couple of minutes of your time and maybe, just maybe I will soon be able to afford that deposit on the Range Rover. (Surely, gruel for the family table? ed.) Thanks in advance all. No need to feedback that you’ve done it, if you do. That way I can pretend to myself that every single one of my loyal and supportive readers took time out to give me a helping hand. :-)))))
Oliver Tidy 
Just done it on both Amazons. Good luck (just finished the new Acer while I was on holiday – a good read
Brilliant. Thanks a lot, Mark. And glad you enjoyed the latest. 🙂
Oliver – Hi,
Have done as requested reluctantly as I think that there is something very wrong in you not being rewarded for your efforts.
Given some of the dross that gets published I cannot understand why your fantastic work has not been recognised. Personally Acer is not my favourite read, I much prefer Romney and Marsh & Booker and Cash but that aside I sincerely hope your strategy works. Just don’t give up on Tom and friends-please.
Regards
Les Brown
Thanks very much, Les. Much appreciated. I hear what you’re saying but there are just so many books out there for readers to choose from that the edge must always be looked for.
All the best.
Tried but can’t find URL no. on Smashwords…sorry
🙂 Just for you, Jacky. Thanks if you can. Copy and paste into Amazon should do it. 🙂
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/673913
Done! Happy to do it as I’m waiting for more of your work!
Thank you very much. Sincerely appreciated. 🙂
Done it Oliver. Get writing new books now – my patience is getting thin and my tether stretched to its utmost! 😀
Haha…will do. 🙂 Thanks very much. 🙂
Done, Oliver. Best of luck, x
Thanks very much, Val 🙂
Further thinking suggests – swallow hard and get cracking on another R&M. We won’t mind that you said you weren’t going to and it gives you a guaranteed readership – win/win. 😀
Glad to hear you are back in Turkey with NO TV. I was getting worried by your absence from here and social media – was about to email to check you were ok when you suddenly popped up on here
🙂 Just as soon as i’ve finished my TBW (to be written) pile or if I become so destitute that I need to sell out my principles and write for money 😦
It’s good to be back and at my desk. I have missed it. 🙂
Done eventually,,will help anyway I can
Thanks, David. Much appreciated. 🙂
Hi Oliver,
I have happy submitted a report to Amazon 🙂 (A good report of course). I wish that you continue to write and I looked forward to more works – especially on the R&M. I have been following you since the beginning using Twitter @CrazyFruitHead/@_Dr_Daniel – let us know if we can be any more help (outside of buying your books).
Dan
Many thanks, Dan. Much appreciated as is your ongoing support of my writing. Best wishes 🙂
All done, Oliver. You’ll find it gives a massive boost to your other titles. Mine was free in the States for well over a year before it became free in the UK – no idea why, but since it’s happened, my following titles have done very well. Good luck, mate.
Just did it on both UK & USA sites. Good Luck.
Andy
Many thanks, Andy, for your time and trouble. Much appreciated. 🙂
Happy to help so done.
Thank you very much. Sincerely appreciated 🙂
Done 🙂
Hope it works out.
Thanks, Drea. Much appreciated. 🙂
From: L M Brown [mailto:les.brown37@ntlworld.com] Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 1:57 PM To: ‘olivertidy’ Subject: RE: [New post] A Little help from my friends? 🙂
Oliver – Hi,
Have done as requested reluctantly as I think that there is something very wrong in you not being rewarded for your efforts.
Given some of the dross that gets published I cannot understand why your fantastic work has not been recognised. Personally Acer is not my favourite read, I much prefer Romney and Marsh & Booker and Cash but that aside I sincerely hope your strategy works. Just don’t give up on Tom and friends-please.
Regards
Les Brown
Hi Les,
Many thanks for your time and trouble to help out with that. Much appreciated.
Self-publishing is a tough business to succeed in. There is so much competition. But, to be honest with you, all the time I have readers getting in touch to let me know they’re enjoying the reads I’m quite happy.
Thanks again and I haven’t given up on them yet. 🙂 Let’s just say they’re on holiday.
Best wishes