As mentioned in my previous post, it’s difficult for me to do a quarterly report when everything is in flux due to coronavirus. This year I’ve had the following happen, making a quarterly report difficult
- Every con or festival I was attending has been canceled or pushed back to 2021
- Many of my anthology appearances have been put on hold
- Several anthologies went out of print earlier than expected due to dropping sales or coronavirus
- Many of my print releases have been put on hold/delayed
I do want to remind you the title of this post is SUCCESS STORIES meaning we’re discussing the GOOD that’s happened in 2020
Here’s the list!
Lucifer’s Lost Love: A Chaos Fusion novelette peaks at number two in new releases
Prior to this release, META- peaked at number three and The Paradox Complex peaked at number 9. Not only did Lucifer’s Lost Love peak at number two, this is also my first book to crack the top 100 in best seller! I have appeared in anthologies that have done this but Lucifer’s Lost Love is my first book to achieve this status! It peaked at #40 in one category and #72 in another!
Big Lick Comic Con, my only event of 2020. Also, my most successful event to date!
Due to COVID, all of my events for 2020 have been canceled or pushed back to 2021. One reason this irritates me is because my last event, Big Lick Comic Con 2020 was my most successful event to date! I more than made my money back, I sold out of several books, and I even managed to donate a decent amount to a charity.
This event also saw a first for me. I sold out of three books! I also sold the last of my copies I had of Evil Lurks and I left with only one hardcover copy of Storming Area 51. Not only that, I released a sampler book a few weeks prior as I already knew my 2020 plans included multiple digital releases. The number of people buying the sampler book was incredible!
While not a writing success story, if you know me, you know I’m a huge Batman fan. This image below is all I need
Playing Games becomes my second release to crack the Top 100!
In February, I released a standalone short story for the kindle titled “Playing Games”. This became my second release of the year to crack the Top 100 in best sellers and the top 10 in new releases!
Shout out to Terri Wilson for editing and providing the cover for “Playing Games”
Having an editor and an illustrator for all 2020 releases!
Originally, “Playing Games” was going to appear in a contemporary romance anthology. After sending it, I was told my story wasn’t romantic enough and I would no longer be appearing in the anthology. Given I had already began promoting the anthology, I knew “Playing Games” still needed to be released. I posted an open call on my personal Facebook page asking for an editor and an illustrator/cover designer for “Playing Games” and the second Chaos Fusion novelette, Cindy’s Choice. I asked for these on a Thursday. By Friday night I had an editor and an illustrator/cover designer for all my planned 2020 releases! Given a few years ago I had difficulties finding other to work with me, knowing the number of people wanting to work with me now is an incredible feeling!
Cindy’s Choice becomes my first number one!
In May I released the second Chaos Fusion novelette, Cindy’s Choice! The result was not only my third release in a row to crack the Top 100, it was also my first number one!
Since not everyone noticed the number one orange ribbon when I showed this, I did another screenshot showing Cindy’s Choice at number one!
This is also my highest charting book in best sellers! This book peaked at number 7 in best sellers!
Who’s Who of Emerging Writers peaks at number one!
This is a unique anthology I’m in compared to others. I do not have a short story, poem, essay, etc. This is a reference book featuring my bio and select bibliography.
Above is the cover to the book Who’s Who of Emerging Writers 2020 and below is the number one status in two different countries!
The first image is it being a number one new release in United States, the second image is the book peaking at number one in Best Sellers in France!
Passing 100 subscribers on YouTube, then passing 500 two weeks later!
I was told getting my first 100 subscribers on YouTube is the most difficult! I will also admit I wasn’t posting frequently either and that caused difficulties in gaining subscribers. However, after six months I passed 100 subscribers!
Above is the screenshot of the email I received from YouTube congratulating me for passing 100 subscribers! Two weeks later I received another email from YouTube congratulating me for passing 500 subscribers!
I’m currently a little over 600 subscribers and I have a few videos with 1,000+ views! I’ve been posting more frequently and I’m now posting more than just book trailers!
DEMONIC BITES becomes my fourth consecutive release to crack the Top 100!
Because the third novelette in the Chaos Fusion series is still being edited, I decided to release a different title to tide everyone over. I made the decision to release the short stories that will appear in my fifth novella, Tales from the Forbidden Forest under a different banner. This banner being Demonic Bites, my first short story collection in eight years!
With Cindy’s Choice becoming a number one, I wanted to repeat that success with Demonic Bites. Sadly that did not happen. Amazon took longer to upload this release and I didn’t take into account I was releasing a book the same time as Dean Koontz and John Grisham, two of the biggest living authors. The genre Demonic Bites had the highest peak was suspense which is why I was in a category with these two heavyweights. Sadly, I did not get number one. There is some good news though! Demonic Bites peaked at number 40 in best sellers, my fourth consecutive release to become a best seller and it peaked at number four in new releases! Given Koontz and Grisham held the top two spots, I can’t complain.
This is everything that’s happened SO FAR! There are more things coming this year that I know are just as great and a few are even greater than my current achievements this year!
This is the part where I would say thank you and I am thankful for everyone that’s had a hand in my success. However, I want to end this one on a different note. I know a lot of people feel uncertain about everything with the state of the world right now. I know as quarantine was getting to me at one point as well. If you have a goal or an idea you want to go for, I say you need to go for it NOW! This year is looking to be my most successful year as a writer thus far! I’ve had four consecutive releases become best sellers with one of them becoming a number one!
I started up a YouTube channel as a way to further promote my writing as well as my friends. My goal was to have 100-200 by the end of the year and I’m already over 600 with a few of my videos have over 1,000 views! I’m in talks with a music producer to provide background music for my videos to avoid copyright claims.
Not only are my own books seeing success but I’m also still writing for anthologies. Between my own releases and anthology appearances I’ve been a part of 24 publications in 2020 with more coming!
Not only have I managed to do this, I’ve done all of this while still working a day job as I’m considered essential! I’ve gained followers, subscribers, likes, and I’m making money! If you want to pursue a goal, NOW is the time to start!
Writer434 