by brenna | Dec 26, 2014 | Uncategorized |
AT ANY PRICE (Gaming The System #1) by Brenna Aubrey
Prominent blogger Mia Strong cashes in on her online popularity by selling her virginity to the highest bidder. But when sexy millionaire CEO Adam Drake wins the prize, all bets are off in this sizzling contemporary romance with over 200 **FIVE STAR** reviews.
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Two Weeks in Geneva: Book One by Lydia Rowan
An unplanned work trip to Geneva, Switzerland puts Quinn Jeffries on a collision course with the rage-inducing, sinfully handsome Alexander Montague, and it might change both of their lives forever. Two Weeks in Geneva: Book One is the first part of a three-part serial.
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Tempted by the Pack [Blue Moon Brides] by Anne Marsh
For Rafer Breaux, life in the Louisiana Bayou is harsh, violent, and deeply sensual. The Cajun werewolf lives for his Pack and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his brothers safe, including hunt for a mate–because the longer a wolf lives without a mate, the harder it becomes for that wolf to shift back. When a blue moon finally rises and leads Rafer to his mate, Rafer will need every weapon in his sensual arsenal to tempt that one special woman into his arms and the heart of the Pack.
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Sweet Girl by Cristin Harber
She’s his best friend’s little sister. The definition of hands off. Cash has tried to ignore her for years. Those innocent eyes and her smile that screams kiss-me-if-you-dare… Instead, he’s looked at every pretty little thing who’s crossed his path, all to ignore the girl he seems destined to want.
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Scott’s Solace (Lightning Saga) by Lyn Brittan
When businessman Scott Ares finds his old friend from the farm with tattoos and a Harley, he can’t help but follow her home. Or rather, drag her into his. A standalone novella in the New Adult Paranormal Romance series, The Lightning Saga.
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Queen of Starlight (SheerSpace Book 1) by Jessa Slade
Transformed by empathic crystals into the perfect paramour, Benedetta Galil must save her fading world from raiders seeking to corrupt the crystals and conquer all of charted space. Mercenary sheership Captain Corso Deynah left oppression behind him on a burning planet and has no use for a sex slave, even one as seductive as Benedetta. But while he stubbornly resists her body, her fierce spirit tempts him, and he will risk everything—his ship, his seclusion, the very stars—to win not just her passion but her love.
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Opposing Sides (University Park Series) by CM Doporto
Lexi Thompson finds herself to be wed to the university’s star baseball Pitcher, Collin Norris. Collin’s damn hot, but his lack of spark has Lexi thinking twice before she says ‘I Do’. When she’s forced to tutor bad boy football quarterback, Raven Davenport, she discovers all the things she’s missing with Collin.
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New York (Allie’s War Early Years) by JC Andrijeski
Allie calls it her New York jinx. Already on this trip, obnoxious band groupies hang on her boyfriend, a stalker leaves her cryptic and creepy notes, she nearly gets arrested watching a Seer get tasered by cops. But when a religious cult targets Allie for an end of the world ritual, her visit goes from annoying to quite probably fatal.
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His Wicked Games (The Cunningham Family #1) by Ember Casey
Lily Frazer would do anything to save the Frazer Center for the Arts—even take on the infamous billionaire Calder Cunningham. As it turns out, the arrogant billionaire is willing to give her the money he promised, but there’s a catch: she must win it from him. And the games he has in mind aren’t exactly… innocent.
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Dream Vacation by Sidney Bristol
She’s ready to live a new life.
Naomi has turned her life around and to celebrate she’s taking a decadent, tropical vacation. There’s just one problem. A tropical storm has blown in and stranded her at a deserted resort. Alone.
He’s willing to travel half-way around the world for love.
Luc is about to crash his best friend’s vacation. There’s just one problem. They’ve never met before. Their online friendship is about to go physical, in every way possible. He’s not the man she first met when they began a virtual journey together, but he wants her to love the man he’s become.
Two people. One vacation. It’s time to live out all their passionate desires.
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Dangerous Proximity (Bad Judgment #1) by Leigh James
New lawyer Nicole is always on the right side of the law, until hot billionaire Broden Walker becomes her client. Then people start trying to kill them and Walker starts trying to charm the pants off her. From then on, all bets are off and any rule can and will be broken…
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Curse of the Alpha: Episodes 1 & 2 by Tasha Black
Ainsley Connor is on a mission to get back to the penthouses of Manhattan before the full moon. Will the pack manage to stake their claim on her before it’s too late?
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Crave by Violet Vaughn
Casey Cassidy moves to Colorado to become a ski instructor and find a man that wants children. Blaine is everything she thought she wanted, but their relationship lacks passion. When her ex shows up must she choose between true love and a family?
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Claimed by the Elven King: Part One by Cristina Rayne
For Emily Ford, being awakened in the dead of night by what seems to be the very shadows in her bedroom come to life is the least of her worries as she is spirited away to become the new wife of an elven king for the purpose of bearing his heirs. But can a human ever really win the heart of an elf or have a place within the elven court?
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Balanced on the Blade’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the sorcerers who were purged during an uprising centuries before. The soldiers guarding the mine where she awakens still fear magic and have a policy of killing anyone suspected of using it. The base commander, Colonel Ridgewalker Zirkander, charms her with his wit and easy smile, but if he finds out who and what she truly is, his duty will force him to kill her.
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Anja’s Star by Lyn Brittan
Rule 1: Don’t lose a pirate’s spaceship. Rule 2: If you break the first rule, run…and bring the pirate’s hottie son with you.
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Shopping for a Billionaire 1 by Julia Kent
When mystery shopper Shannon Jacoby meets billionaire Declan McCormick with her hand down a toilet in the men’s room of one of his stores, it’s love at first flush in this hilarious new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent.
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Influential Magic by Deanna Chase
Welcome to the Crescent City, the home of Willow Rhoswen, faery and magical baker extraordinaire. While fighting for her life, Willow is caught between two gorgeous men as she navigates the corruption of a powerful vampire organization and her own supernatural government agency.
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Haunted on Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun, Book 1) by Deanna Chase
When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn’t count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and having feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade, to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it’s up to Jade and Kane to use their unique abilities to save her.
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Then We Kissed (Bliss Harbor) by Juliet Spenser
When curvy, no-nonsense bakery owner Charlotte Heatley wakes up with regrets over a fun, drunken night with US Army Captain Bradley Ryder, all she wants is to avoid him and deliver a cake to her client’s wedding reception. But when a mixup puts the cake and reception in danger, Charlotte has to act quickly. It’s not long before she realizes that sometimes you have to get everything wrong before you can get the most important things right, especially when it comes to love and cake.
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Rae Falling: A Romance, (Episode 1 of Billionaires in Disguise: Rae) by Blair Babylon
One wild quickie with a sexy stranger will change Rae’s life forever. Will the secretive Wulf turn out to be her Prince Charming or the Devil who tempts her to ruin?
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Falling Hard, a Romance (Billionaires in Disguise: Lizzy, #1) by Blair Babylon
At high-class party, Lizzy meets Theo, a handsome, bright lawyer who wants to take things slowly, and Mannix, an ex-pro-football player with a taste for the disturbing. Romantic and suspenseful, Falling Hard sizzles with sex and explores the power of love to heal the deepest wounds.
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Dazzled by Silver (prequel to Layers Trilogy) by Lacey Silks
He’s not ready to commit. She’s looking for a fling. Will their no strings attached motto stand in the way of finding true love?
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Vengeful in Love (Billionaires in Love Book 1) by Nadia Lee
Billionaire tycoon Alex Damon plans to seduce Natalie Hall as part of his plot for revenge against her family. But as he pursues his cruel game, Natalie’s kindness starts to win him over. What choice will he make if he comes to love the woman whose family he intends to ruin?
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Taken: The Alpha’s Captive BBW/Werewolf Romance #1 by V. M. Black
Running for his life, he takes her along for the ride…. Werewolf Levi Harris has a habit of going off half-cocked and getting into trouble. But Levi himself might just prove the greatest danger of all….
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Life Blood [Cora’s Choice Billionaire Vampire Romance] by V. M. Black
In a world in which vampires are born, not made, Cora Shaw will do anything to live, and Dorian Thorne demands the ultimate price.
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Hot Package (A Hostile Operations Team Novella Book 3) by Lynn Raye Harris
A HOT Christmas tale! When public relations expert Olivia Reese stumbles onto evidence of a dangerous conspiracy right before Christmas, there’s only one man she can call for help. Billy “The Kid” Blake is a member of an elite military unit—the Hostile Operations Team—and he’s Olivia’s former lover. Can these two work together to thwart a plot against the Pentagon without getting involved again?
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The Sweetest Seduction (The Kelly Brothers, Book 1) by Crista McHugh
Adam has spent years trying to convince world famous chef Amadeus Schlittler to open a restaurant in Chicago, but he wants the prime location held by Lia. Business has always come first… until sparks fly when Adam meets her. When things get hot outside the kitchen, though, they’re both in danger of getting burned.
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Hot Pursuit (Hostile Operations Team Book 1) by Lynn Raye Harris
The bestselling first novel in an explosive military Black Ops series! When Matt Girard returns home for a brief visit, he doesn’t expect to encounter the girl whose heart he broke ten years ago. But someone wants Evie Baker dead, and Matt will use everything he knows to keep her safe. Even if it means he has to sacrifice all he believes in to do it…
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Insight by Jamie Magee
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A Viking’s Peace by Zoe York
Thrown together in an intergalactic diplomatic mission, Reinn and Ashleigh know they must fight the burning attraction between them. But this Viking has finally found his mate in the beautiful Earth officer, and nothing else matters.
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Home for the Howlidays by Chloe Cole
Nicklaus Maslov left Stone Creek, Montana, in his rear–view mirror three years ago and never planned to go back. His pack’s ways are antiquated, and the girl he loves will never be his. But when his father, the pack’s alpha, sends him an urgent message, he can’t deny the protective instinct drawing him back to his hometown, or the lure of the one that got away.
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Rain on Me by Eden Connor
If every heart’s a package someone else has tied in knots, how did bondage unravel mine?
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Once Upon a Fiery Christmas (Return to Avalore series) by Elianne Adams
Convinced Sebastian is her fated mate, Chantelle is ready to have the Elders make it official, but he keeps pushing her away. Until he is named, Sebastian must keep Chantelle at arm’s length. Loving her is easy, but loving her if he’s not the one could be deadly.
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Guardian Wolf (Black Mesa Wolves) by J.K. Harper
Wolf shifter Lily Bardou lost her status as a Guardian for the Black Mesa Pack—until sexy Kieran Rendall prowls into her life, very willing to help her release the past and unlock her caged passions.
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King of Prey (King of Prey Book One) by Mandy M. Roth
In a place where realms combine and portals open passages to the unknown, a prophecy speaks of fertility being restored to his people through the taking of King Kabril’s mate.
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The Pack Rules 1: Chosen by the Alpha by Michele Bardsley
To honor the town pact made with the Shadow Pack werewolves, Belle will become a shifter bride. But she never expects to be chosen by the alpha.
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Soul of the Alpha by Renee George
A curvy woman with a killer curse and the alpha werewolf who must have her… even if it costs his life.
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A Capella (Dominant Cord Intermezzo – 1) by Sadie Haller
After receiving upsetting news, assault survivor, Mac Wallis, hides her distress from her Dom because she is worried she is just one new piece of emotional baggage away from being dumped. When Finn Taylor returns home unexpectedly for a surprise play session and discovers his submissive has been keeping secrets, he spends the day showing her how much she means to him.
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Festive Seduction (The Holiday Engagement Series) by Sidney Bristol
Kinky bells, kinky bells, kink all the way!
A playful evening spent with her Dominant was all Jade expected from a snowed-in Christmas Eve. After a year of turmoil, she’s ready for pleasure. But Philip has more in store for his submissive than Christmas light bondage. He’ll push past her limits, and ask for everything.
*Previously published as part of the Holiday Spice anthology. It has been expanded and renamed for re-publication. Approximately 8,000 words.*
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What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York
Kyle and Laney shared a perfect summer 12 years ago, and have never moved past their breakup. Now she’s back for the holidays and they have a chance to work out things out and move on with their lives. But moving on doesn’t make sense when you’ve finally reconnected with the only person you’ve ever truly loved.
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The Maid and the Billionaire Prince (He Wanted Me Pregnant!) by Victoria Wessex
Sparks fly when headstrong hotel maid Annabelle runs into fiercely traditional Prince Taros. Confounded and entranced by a woman who knows her own mind, the prince is soon determined to have Annabelle in his bed…and carrying his child.
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Trust by Viola Rivard
On the run from the law, Taylor Michaels finds refuge among a secluded werewolf pack and in the arms of its two alphas, twin brothers Alder and Hale.
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Love and Blarney by Zara Keane
A second chance romance at Blarney Castle. Love, laughter, and a Happily Ever After—Irish style!
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Can’t Hold Back (River Bend, #1.5) by Molly McLain
Newlyweds Dan and Maddie Hudson intend to enjoy every sexy second of their Cabo honeymoon. Only Maddie has desires she hasn’t yet shared with her new husband. Will Dan embrace this unexpected twist in their marriage—or will he regret walking down the aisle altogether?
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Burns So Bad (When SEALs Come Home) by Anne Marsh
Home from the front lines, former SEAL Rio Donovan has a new mission: fighting fire as a smoke jumper. Kissing a fellow smoke jumper would be career suicide and Gia Jackson has worked too hard and too long to earn her spot on the jump team to jeopardize it all now for a man. The love-em-and-leave-em boys of summer aren’t her type and she’s hiding a few secrets of her own, but, when her chute tangles with Rio’s on a jump, he’s thrown into her arms.
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Suffer (Slave to the Coven Series) by Kim Faulks
I own women. It’s the chase that gets me, that look in their eyes when they surrender.
Until Sarah.
She won’t give in and I won’t give up… until she is mine, even if she has to suffer.
But in her eyes I don’t see surrender. I see something darker, something dangerous and there’s a twinge in my gut that tells me I might’ve just picked the wrong woman.
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by brenna | Dec 7, 2014 | Uncategorized |
One year ago I made two very risky decisions. First, I decided to turn down multiple offers on my manuscript from traditional publishers and publish it myself instead. Second, I openly blogged about that decision and the subsequent short-term results.
To say my life has changed in the past year is an understatement. I’m now considering what I thought would be out of my reach for many years—becoming a full time writer and supporting my family on that income alone. Had I chosen to traditionally publish this trilogy, this would not be true, not this year, at least. Perhaps in the long term.
It seems like a dream—an overnight sensation decades in the making. For years and years I wrote only for my own enjoyment, to explore worlds, characters and stories and share those with my friends. It took me a long time to realize that people outside of my inner circle might enjoy the stories too. And they have. All gratitude to my readers. Without them, none of this would be possible.
Below is a screenshot from an email of one of the offers from a Big 5 publisher. There is no identifying information here, but I thought it would be interesting to include this, especially the bonus structure based on the sales they expected the book to make in its first year.
Book one would have been published last month sometime. Books two and three would have been published in 2015, so I would still be waiting on this money below. And it’s unsure how close I could have come to this bonus structure had I gone the traditional route.
And as a way to compare, here are my actual sales numbers for the first year, across three books, the same trilogy I would have sold to a Big 5 publisher in other circumstances.
My Stats For The First Year As A Self-Published Author:
Date I hit the gross $120,000 advance amount: October 29 (3rd day of sales for Book 3)
Total Number of Books sold from 12/5/13 to 12/4/14: 80,313
Total Number of copies of At Any Price (released officially 12/9/13) sold: 50,011
Total Number of copies of At Any Turn (released 4/30/14) sold: 19,871
Total Number of copies of At Any Moment (released 10/27/14) sold: 10,431
**Note: These numbers are for individual ebook sales only and do not include boxed sets or print copies.
Some Things I’ve learned About The Biz
- The 99 cent price point is a powerful tool and can be used judiciously to push your other books. I’m not convinced that it is worthwhile or productive to launch a new book at 99 cents, though I see authors do it all the time.
- Chasing rank is futile and this seems to be a big motivator for authors to go super cheap on their books. Again, rank is not the end-all be all of visibility. Whether you’re at 200 or 1,000, as long as you are showing up on the Hot New Release lists and even the top 100 in your category, your sales will be good. Spiking high for a brief amount of time is not going to help you maintain visibility in the long run.
- You need to have ice water in your veins and be willing to set aside emotions to look at your work as a business in a rational, calm way. Avoid impulsive, drastic moves based on the heat of the moment.
- Set up your strategy ahead of time using the aforementioned calm rationality. Stick with it even when your palms get sweaty and you get a little nervous. But also…be prepared to be flexible.
- Set up a long term plan and avoid making overarching decisions (such as distribution) based on getting short term gains over the long term benefits.
- Learn from other authors: Watch what they do and the results they get and don’t be afraid to ask why they are doing something a certain way. But, avoid the danger of comparing yourself to them.
- It takes time to get traction at the non-Amazon vendors. Be patient and try to connect with those vendors by setting up marketing plans for your new releases. It took me months to get traction on iBooks but now that I have it, it is so worth it!
- Always tweak and fine tune your process to make it better. Never settle for status quo.
- Take advantage of cross promotion opportunities (e.g. multi-author box sets, themed multiple author promotions on sales, multi-author parties on social media, etc.)
- Be adventurous and willing to fail if it doesn’t work out.
- Always be introspective and evaluate what isn’t working, even if it’s craft. Especially if it’s craft.
- Something I heard at NINC really got me thinking. An editor from a traditional house made the comment, “I know you authors just really want to be read.” To that, astonished authors in the audience replied, “No, we want to be paid to be read.” Do not swallow the line that you should be in this just to be read. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be paid and wanting to earn a living at doing what you love.
- You do not need anyone’s validation but that of the readers. (And the vast majority of readers do not care how a book is published).
- Authors could see their colleagues as allies rather than competition. There is strength in teaming up, sharing information and collaborating!
- Work your hardest to put out the best quality product that you can. It will pay off in the long term.
- Keep your eye on the long tail. A book may have a less than spectacular launch but that doesn’t mean it’s failed because the first 30 days are lackluster. For example, my 2nd book sold many more copies in the month right before launching book 3 than it ever did in its launch month, 4 months earlier.
- You learn new stuff—about craft, about marketing, about publicity—with every book you put out.
- Just because another author did something that worked well for them does not mean it will work well for you. You could emulate another author in every way and have a completely different result. Things that work/don’t work for another author may not have the same results for you!
- There is no formula for success, so you aren’t going to necessarily succeed by mapping out someone else’s career.
- Don’t be afraid of higher price points. Sometimes they have different results than you think they will.
- Nothing can prepare you for sudden notoriety—and it’s not always a good thing.
- There is no good response to random or unfair judgments leveled against you by the Internets. It’s just best not to respond at all and have a good long drink with some close friends while you rant in private.
- Second book syndrome: It exists! Sometimes the writing of a second book can be fettered by the success of the first book. It’s not always easy to meet the readers’ expectations once you’ve set them with the first book and sometimes being adventurous in that area will get you angry readers (My second book was all from my hero’s point of view, which was a risky decision, and I broke up the couple. The third book featured some very controversial subject matter. Most readers responded well but some of the early readers of the first book resented the direction I took with the series. I still feel good about where it went but there’s no way you can do something like that without disappointing someone).
- Everyone has to make the best choices for themselves and their career.
It’s been an amazing, life-changing year and I’ve learned so much. The most important thing I’ve learned is how quickly things change and how much I need to keep on learning. Given this “hindsight is 20/20” look at the decision I’ve made, it’s clear that it was the right one for me. Thanks to all of those of you who believed in me and in this decision. You’ve been a wonderful support throughout this journey! And without the help of the indie community, I could never have had this amount of success.
To celebrate this achievement, At Any Price will be free for the first time ever, for a short time starting on December 9, exactly one year from its official release date.
Edit: The book is now free everywhere!
