Advice Needed

[R. C.]

After many re-edits and too many marketing attempts, seven years later, it is time for a big swing.

Readers who have commented tell me the story that begins the series is engaging, tense, twisting, and a few other adjectives. Traction into book two and beyond is non-existent.

The "big swing" has several components.

I will combine the opening trilogy into a single tome.  Simplify the story, and create "value in page count" offering.

Professional cover, new title, new blurb.

New pen-name. The wife says no to a new pen name. A writer friend says yes. Research is 50-50.

Is this a good idea and should I consider a new pen name?

R.C.

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

Also, also, the genre is a blend of thriller/sci-fi. It is the story of how creating a pandemic, to kill billions, re-ignites dormant super powers and leads to renewed alien contact.





 

[TimothyEllis]

I will combine the opening trilogy into a single tome.  Simplify the story, and create "value in page count" offering.

Professional cover, new title, new blurb.

New pen-name. The wife says no to a new pen name. A writer friend says yes. Research is 50-50.

Is this a good idea and should I consider a new pen name?

It is the story of how creating a pandemic, to kill billions, re-ignites dormant super powers and leads to renewed alien contact.

I don't think it's worth the effort.

If it was me, I'd take the original ideas and concept, and write a completely new story.

Come up with new characters, new setting, and a completely different start, and then run from there.

If you wanted to, you could use the original as an urban legend, or a myth, or just history everyone forgot. You might then get some people go back to it. Or even use it as a book series one of the main characters is reading which happens to be on the same theme.

But this time you write a genuine trilogy, making sure you have 3 single book arcs inside a genuine 3 book long arc, and make very sure that the reader is hooked at the end of books 1 and 2 and will want the next book.

Write all 3 first, then rapid release them with all 3 on pre-order at the same time.

Leave a few dangling minor things in the 3rd book to carry on into book 4 if they sell well enough.

[Cabbages and kings]

After many re-edits and too many marketing attempts, seven years later, it is time for a big swing.

Readers who have commented tell me the story that begins the series is engaging, tense, twisting, and a few other adjectives. Traction into book two and beyond is non-existent.

The "big swing" has several components.

I will combine the opening trilogy into a single tome.  Simplify the story, and create "value in page count" offering.

Professional cover, new title, new blurb.

New pen-name. The wife says no to a new pen name. A writer friend says yes. Research is 50-50.

Is this a good idea and should I consider a new pen name?

R.C.

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

Also, also, the genre is a blend of thriller/sci-fi. It is the story of how creating a pandemic, to kill billions, re-ignites dormant super powers and leads to renewed alien contact.

Thanks for telling us that 'Zon wants you to unpublish/archive the original books if you make a combined version.

Maybe take the books out of wide publication, price the combined book higher than normal and put it in Kindle Select.

Or find out why the other books aren't selling, by getting feedback from beta readers.

[Post-Doctorate D]

I'm going to vote no too.

New covers and new blurbs, maybe.

But combining the books into a big one?  No.  And doing so under a new pen name?  No.

Focus on writing new books instead.  New trilogy, new series, whatever.

[R. C.]

...

Thanks for telling us that 'Zon wants you to unpublish/archive the original books if you make a combined version.

Maybe take the books out of wide publication, price the combined book higher than normal and put it in Kindle Select.

Or find out why the other books aren't selling, by getting feedback from beta readers.

I thought about Kindle Select as an option.  Not sure yet, but maybe K-Select then wide with the re-brand/re-release.

Beta readers have given, generally, good feedback.  I think the problem lies in the genre-bending aspect of the story line.  The story begins as a thriller, begins to feel fantasy (superpowers), then evolves into a full-blown space opera.

R.C.

[Post-Doctorate D]

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

So does Amazon no longer allow box sets?

[R. C.]

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

So does Amazon no longer allow box sets?

As far as I know, 'Zon allows "create series bundles" or "multi-work books" but it is not really a "box set". Basically, you have to do what I am proposing. Put all the manuscripts in a single book and label it a "box set.

From their help:

-----

Multi-work books
If you're publishing multiple stories as one book, ensure the contents of your book are accurately reflected both in the title field and on the cover, by including terms such as "Boxed Set," "Bundle," "Collection," "Compilation," or "Series." Stories that are part of a series must be in sequential order within a book and collections of individual stories must have all stories listed in the metadata.

Collections of works and numbered series may include content you've previously published in your catalog. However, in order to provide an optimal customer experience, the same content may not be excessively reutilized across multiple books. We consider "excessive" any amount of content repetition that would create a poor shopping or reading experience.

-----

R.C.

[Crystal]

I'm not sure that bundling and recovering a book is a big swing.

There are exceptions, but, for the most part, box sets don't sell as well as individual books. There are readers who love box sets. And readers who already love your books may pick up a box set. But, generally, new readers don't want to start a new author with a box set IME.

If you want to revamp the series, revamp the trilogy format. Edits, new blurbs, new covers, big free push on book one.

If the book is good but not commercial, well, that is just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

If the book has commercial potential, edit it to bring out the commercial potential.

Otherwise, I agree with Tim. Your time is better spent on a project you intentionally write to market.

[alhawke]

Sure you can do a boxed set (this isn't a rebuttal to Crystal, we released our posts at nearly same time). Why not? Unless there's a KU rule against it due to redundant material. I do well selling my boxed set and my 1st book. But they've both been marketed a lot. Some authors take older books, unpublished them individually, and bunch them all together in collections/boxed sets only. This is an option if you're rebranding. It'd be cheaper if you change covers and write new content.

As far as your brand, I wouldn't judge the market based on this summer. This is the worse sales time ever for me. I'm doing lots of stuff to keep up ads marketing, promos, because I'm screwy and obsessed, but you'd be better off not judging your sales until September.

Your best book cover is your newest. Keep going with that. Professional awesome covers.

If you have it in you, write new stuff. You can change your pen name if you'd like, but it doesn't sound like you damaged your brand. In other words, I don't think readers are going to not pick a new book from you based on your author name. You just need to get that next hit (or repackaged old one). The author name isn't important for a "big swing", the content and marketing of it is.

Good luck. You're trying so hard. You deserve better success.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Which book(s) are we talking about here?

[Cabbages and kings]

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

So does Amazon no longer allow box sets?

As far as I know, 'Zon allows "create series bundles" or "multi-work books" but it is not really a "box set". Basically, you have to do what I am proposing. Put all the manuscripts in a single book and label it a "box set.

From their help:

-----

Multi-work books
If you're publishing multiple stories as one book, ensure the contents of your book are accurately reflected both in the title field and on the cover, by including terms such as "Boxed Set," "Bundle," "Collection," "Compilation," or "Series." Stories that are part of a series must be in sequential order within a book and collections of individual stories must have all stories listed in the metadata.

Collections of works and numbered series may include content you've previously published in your catalog. However, in order to provide an optimal customer experience, the same content may not be excessively reutilized across multiple books. We consider "excessive" any amount of content repetition that would create a poor shopping or reading experience.

-----

R.C.

So you can't have a box set published and the original 3 books published?

[Jeff Tanyard]

So you can't have a box set published and the original 3 books published?

Yes, you can.  Amazon's policy is intended to prevent the "book stuffing" shenanigans of years ago, not honest box sets.

[idontknowyet]

Okay here's my thoughts...

You said people aren't reading through from book one to two. Which to mean means you aren't meeting their expectations with book 1 so they don't want to read the rest of your series. Repackaging/rebranding won't help that.

You're either targeting the wrong market (which i've done and had a read through % of .15 not 15% .15%. When i hit the right group my read through for ten books toggles between 65-85%). You might simply need to work on figuring out your marketing.

I have recovered both my boxed sets and my individual series both helped with initial sales, but had zero impact on read through. Huge effects on initial sales totally worth the money to get covers that are hitting the current market.

But read through is the issue you mentioned not initial sales. I would take a pause and figure out what it is about your books that is stopping people from reading through. Sometimes its something small an easy fix, but other times it might just be easier to start again with a new understanding of your genre and your writing style.

I'm going to throw out another option here that you might not have thought of... How about a complete genre change? Many times I've read about authors stagnating for years writing in one genre and getting absolutely nowhere. They change genres and find almost immediate success. I see it over and over and over again in 20books and other groups. Your writing style might be better suited to a different genre.  Just a thought.

[idontknowyet]

Also, 'Zon told me I have to pull down/archive the three books if I publish a combined version.

So does Amazon no longer allow box sets?

As far as I know, 'Zon allows "create series bundles" or "multi-work books" but it is not really a "box set". Basically, you have to do what I am proposing. Put all the manuscripts in a single book and label it a "box set.

From their help:

-----

Multi-work books
If you're publishing multiple stories as one book, ensure the contents of your book are accurately reflected both in the title field and on the cover, by including terms such as "Boxed Set," "Bundle," "Collection," "Compilation," or "Series." Stories that are part of a series must be in sequential order within a book and collections of individual stories must have all stories listed in the metadata.

Collections of works and numbered series may include content you've previously published in your catalog. However, in order to provide an optimal customer experience, the same content may not be excessively reutilized across multiple books. We consider "excessive" any amount of content repetition that would create a poor shopping or reading experience.

-----

R.C.

I have 6 boxed sets labelled and up on zon with zero issue. I mark them as boxed sets and list each of the books contained in them. One is currently on preorder

[LilyBLily]

Get several good beta reads. Or get a manuscript evaluation. Or two. Really dig into why there is no traction. These people, if picked correctly, have the chops to tell you what is wrong. I stress find beta readers or ms. evaluators with good track records. They're out there, and they can help you. So can a developmental editor, if you can afford one.

It's true that sometimes covers are terrible and marketing strategy is ineffective, but if people read Book One and don't go on to Book Two, marketing is not your issue.

Once you have the information, think carefully about whether you want to spend the effort on revising. Writing a whole new series sounds more like forward motion for a creative person.

[R. C.]

.... So can a developmental editor, if you can afford one. ...

I have used to developmental editors, after recommending changes,  the conclusion they came back with was marketing is the problem. 

...

You're either targeting the wrong market...

... start again with a new understanding of your genre and your writing style.

... Your writing style might be better suited to a different genre.  Just a thought.

Genre and style are definitely issues to overcome.  As I said earlier, the story is genre-bending and hard to classify. A spy thriller, turns almost fantasy, which leads to sci-fi.   Three distinct audiences but that is what came out of my head.

My style has improved dramatically and is now much simpler and easier to read.

What I struggle get away from, what I can't yet give up, I think, and people tell me, the story is good. 

The rewrite of 1 and 2 is complete, three will complete soon. New covers are being created.  In a couple of months, re-release with fanfare.  Three books and a box set in K-Select for 90 days then wide for the holidays.

After that, who knows.  Maybe one of my scripts will hit... Maybe the graphic novel will take off...  But giving up on 13 books seems like failure...


R.C.

[TimothyEllis]

Genre and style are definitely issues to overcome.  As I said earlier, the story is genre-bending and hard to classify. A spy thriller, turns almost fantasy, which leads to sci-fi.   Three distinct audiences but that is what came out of my head.

But giving up on 13 books seems like failure...

A couple of things come to mind.

You could re-release rewrites as a second edition, making it clear in the author notes that the stories have been substantially rewritten. Then either upload over the top,  or unpublish the originals and replace with new books.

The genre changing is not really a big issue. Just the unexpected change is. What the first book needs in the sample is examples of all 3 genres, so the reader knows the book is going to cover all 3.

That means having some sort of interludes of space opera and fantasy showing up in the first 10%. Even if its a media report of a space ship and one of the characters commenting they really want to go to space one day. Just insert something in there that demonstrates that space is coming. Likewise the fantasy. Insert something as a forewarning.

You might put some readers off in the sample, but there are plenty of SO readers who like their fantasy and thriller as well.

Your problem is most likely that the people who mainly start are thriller readers, and then it morphs past their expectations.

What you want is to get it before Space Opera readers, who like some thriller in their SO. Then when it morphs, they're in their comfort zone.

To do that, the cover has to scream SO, not thriller, and the blurb has to show that SO and fantasy are coming.

Also, what categories did you choose? If the book is in Thriller cats, then try putting it in SO and Epic Fantasy instead.

SO readers are probably much more forgiving of genre hop than thriller ones are.

[Lorri Moulton]

I found this on your Amazon page:

The Carina Chronicles - The history of how humans became an interstellar species

Summitate (Books 1-3) - A plot to end six billion people led to a change in the human condition.
I found this on your Amazon page:

Carina (Books 4-9) - There are two things to know before traveling into space. One, humans are fragile. The other is a hard lesson.

Aalborinn (Books 10-12) - A young woman continues the prophecy started by her father. Is she destined to save humans?

Gossemer Crystals (Book 13) - It is 147 years after the end of the ethereal slavers. The crew is pushed into a mission of survival. The captain thinks the assignment is a reward for working hard. Some gifts that come with pain and fear.

Is this the one you're planning to make into one book?  Summitate (Books 1-3) - A plot to end six billion people led to a change in the human condition.  And are they Biomass, Dominion, and Connections in your book list?

I think you have an interesting concept, but readers need a clear path (and branding) to show consistency in a series.  Or a group of interconnected series. 

Whatever you decide, best of luck going forward!

[R. C.]

...
Is this the one you're planning to make into one book?  Summitate (Books 1-3) - A plot to end six billion people led to a change in the human condition.  And are they Biomass, Dominion, and Connections in your book list?

I think you have an interesting concept, but readers need a clear path (and branding) to show consistency in a series.  Or a group of interconnected series. 

Whatever you decide, best of luck going forward!

Thank you. Biomass, Dominion and Connections are the trilogy that begins the Space Opera (SO).  I think Tim's advice hits the mark.  Rebranding with covers and blurbs that scream SO.  Biomass is going to be renamed Coldstar, which is the "cure" to kill six billion but also evokes the SO theme.  I have not settled on new names for the others, maybe the art will inspire me.

Thanks again to all.

R.C.

Follow on... This just appeared on Smashwords.  "Love those books when I am reading and can't stop it. Couldn't wait to find out how the story goes. This book is one of those."  Improved marketing and corrected targeting has to be the trigger...