I was asked a question about how sales are going with the availability of the PDF for download. Unfortunately, from time to time I'm slow to adopt what would seem to be obvious to many. In this instance, I've only today added a page to the PDF that tells potential buyers where to go to get the book. This is important because several articles that have been written have only led people back to the PDF. Additionally, once the PDF has been downloaded, there's the potential for the file to be shared, and anyone receiving it from a friend wouldn't know that they have to go to my website or Amazon.com to buy the book. Hopefully, I'll see more sales now that I've added that page. To date, the book has only sold about 200 copies, but I'm hopeful that I can get a contract worked out with the small press publisher I've been speaking with within the next week and we'll get it in bookstores.
Additionally, I've gotten a lot of recent local press mentions, including Chicago Parent today (the most recent offender that made me finally realize that I needed to include that new page in the book). Next week, a blurb about the book will appear on MasterCard's priceless.com website, so we'll see then how having exposure to 180,000+ users/month actually translates into click-throughs and sales. I've got low expectations but high hopes...
Feb 25, 2008 Rating
Father Daughter by: Lp
Congratulations Eric.
Sounds like you have found a nice little niche. Don't give up on it too quickly or get sucked into a woman's/feminist's view of this being a parent/child book. It is a father/daughter book. Stick to your positioning guns and I'm sure it will pay off in the long run. Or the 2nd book.
I've found that many women (our buyers) don't like to have male writers try to position their work - unless it includes all women in the general sense. What I'm also finding out after six years of positioning my music towards boys is that the new generation of mothers are now finally saying "it's about time someone did something for boys." Two reasons that I can see. 1) the professional noise level about boys falling behind is reaching critical mass 2) their own boys are likely in trouble.
The father/daughter relationship is equally unique and deserving of your distinct positioning. You never know, you could become an expert on the subject if you work at it.
After all, you are the father. No woman can claim that - no matter how hard they might try.
Feb 25, 2008 Rating
The great way you went about things by: Steve B.
Eric, what a great account.
I love that the book you wrote filled not only what you perceived as a void in the market, but a need of your own. I love that it spoke to a Daddy/Daughter relationship unlike those you tended to find in other children's books.
I'm fascinated that you essentially auditioned illustrators, and that you saw print-on-demand as simply a step on the road toward traditional publication.
But most importantly, I'm glad you realized and explain to everyone the unrealisticness (is that a word?) of the notion that just by posting the availability of your self published children's book on the internet people will buy it.
They won't. And your notion of providing a free electronic version (on the way to a paid hard-copy one) is intriguing. Could you please consider writing back (through the Comments section) and letting us know more about how that is working out? In other words, is the "experiment" resulting in real life website sales to people you don't know? Please tell!
