Crazy days. I am currently writing a new novel, The Changelings. I am working on Chapter Eight, which means I am still developing the characters, building the world, and advancing the plot.

At the same time, I have been doing final edits and touch-ups with Faded Grace, which is a whole world unto itself as a stand-alone novel, or at least I thought that it was until an entirely new plot line fell into my lap the other day, which looks like that book will have a baby or two. So, my mind has been cooking some of those things on the back burner. Yes, I have started a new legal pad, taking notes on ever-expanding ideas about that world.

Then comes the publication part of Faded Grace. The math part. I like math, always have. To make the publication of any book feasible, you must consider costs, timelines, expenses, schedules, availability, errors, returns, launch parties, and discounts. There has never been a time in history when it is easier to get published than right now, and there has never been a time more difficult to get noticed, with about 11,000 books being published per day.

On Amazon, if you do not receive 50 reviews, they will not recommend your book. Math.

If you do not offer Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc, a 55% discount, they will not sell your book. Math.

If you do not guarantee returns, these retailers will not sell the book. Of course, if you accept returns, they charge you return shipping, so the only viable option for indie authors is to take returns but have them destroy the book. Anger.

Printing costs run about 8 bucks for a 300-page book, plus shipping. More math.

Not to mention Websites, travel, and book-fair entry fees, etc.

When all of the mathematical soup is stirred up, Indie authors make about 3 bucks on a book sold online. Math.

Then the IRS wants about 40%. Anger.

It is a good thing that I love to write. It’s the only reason that it all adds up.

Now you know why authors love reviews and are astonished when we sell a book. Read on!

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