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Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:32 am
by zappey1
Good news this morning. The store that hosted the signing offered to carry my book. Still have to work out the details but it is a great match.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 6:52 pm
by zappey1
First local store agreed to stock my book! Another store ( the one i did the signing at) said they would then have ghosted me for a week. So maybe ill get another one soon?

The store that put it in store is a comic store. I think it will do well in there. I guess ill see.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2022 4:51 pm
by zappey1
Little update!

Had my 2nd book signing I sold 11 copies. I'm officially in the Green! The comic store also needed more copies so I dropped off a few more copies. I should be getting a payment from them next month.

I have another signing next month and farmer's markets coming up in a few months. The local fair wants me to share a both with other authors there this summer.

As I have been reading passages out loud I want to edit SO BAD! Just to get the reading flow better. But I guess that is part of writing to always want to keep editing. I want to start volume 2 in about 2 months. I'm going to do all the art myself I think so I can actually make money before selling 100 copies first.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:51 pm
by zappey1
The second local store agreed to stock my book! They also give a much better cut of the money than the comic store (they take 20% as opposed to 40%).

Funny story I was actually going down to a different store I had an appointment with the owner but got mixed up :lol: (blond moment)

The right store liked the book but wanted me to exclusive to their store (the appointment store). I was not opposed but asked how many they thought they would sell in a month? She said 3 to 5 :shock:

Why would I be exclusive to a store that would only sell 3 to 5 copies a month? And she did not want me to do book signings. Like WTF I sold 12 on Sunday at the book signing.

So I went to the other store and talked to them. They agreed to stock the copies I had for the other store.

I did leave 1 free copy for the 1st store so they could read it and told her if she changed her mind to reach out. I think the style of that store was a better fit.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:32 am
by zappey1
I completed the first draft for the first story in the second book. Would you lurkers be interested in reading it? I will say I have been disappointed in the amount of feed back I have received in the past on the rough drafts. Please let me know what you think works. What needs elaboration or clarification. Writing can be strange as in your head it makes perfect sense but when others read it it can be confusing for them.

As far as promoting goes. I don't think I'm going to have a third book signing this month. I have to many things to do. I think I will bump it back to the end of next month. This week I'm going to try to work on a google website. I heard this can help with google search results. I can also submit the book to Barnes and Noble as my Amazon exclusive deal has or is coming to a close soon.

I'm not sure how this works. I think it is the same as Amazon but fingers crossed maybe it could work into a stocking deal.

If I get some responses on interest on the new rough draft I will post the google link. It is several pages long.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:45 am
by zappey1
Alright here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11c5 ... sp=sharing

I have actually been working on it a little more in a word document. I'm going to submit it for a writing contest at the end of the month. I entered in some of my illustrations into the contest already. I am concerned that the contest is a Scifi/ fantasy contest. I'm not sure what to qualify this under? Horror fantasy maybe?

You never know unless you try right. I have a book signing set up at the comic store the last Saturday of the month. The book is selling decently there (5 copies in a month). I'm excited but he want to sell them from the register which only nets me about $5 per copy.

I don't think the other store has sold any. But I am not sure as they have terrible hours and every time I go to check they are closed! I went Saturday at 1 and they weren't open.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 1:25 pm
by Inverstone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_Cthulhu
I would like to see more time spent on atmospheric setting and build up in your stories if you're considering the m to be horror/sci.fi.-ish.
This story (which I'm pretty sure you're already familiar with) demonstrates what I mean.
Less "tell me" more "show me" perhaps? Sounds like you're being pretty successful at sales so far so take it with a grain of salt if you read/re-read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_Cthulhu
Contests judge a lot on how well you set up plot, setting, characterization and the overall binding atmosphere of their combined ingredients. (a twist ending etc. frosting on the cake)... maybe consider whether or not first person narrative is the best choice on all/most stories or not.

Fun seeing your progress. Don't know why more folks here aren't responding or giving feedback considering the "what are you reading now" threads with the majority being Fantasy genre based.

If you'r not already familiar with this podcast:
https://deadrobotssociety.com/page/89/
it's fun to see the process and misery that a couple (or more) of Sci Fi writers go through and they cover a lot of the business stuff from Amazon to readings and sales. They seem to be mostly Sci Fi Military authors (and their voices irritate me for some reason-probably because they don't sound "macho" like their characters but lots of good stuff for self published authors there.

Hope some of this helps and sounds as supportive as it means to be...

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 7:55 am
by zappey1
Inverstone wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 1:25 pm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_Cthulhu
I would like to see more time spent on atmospheric setting and build up in your stories if you're considering the m to be horror/sci.fi.-ish.
This story (which I'm pretty sure you're already familiar with) demonstrates what I mean.
Less "tell me" more "show me" perhaps? Sounds like you're being pretty successful at sales so far so take it with a grain of salt if you read/re-read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_Cthulhu
Contests judge a lot on how well you set up plot, setting, characterization and the overall binding atmosphere of their combined ingredients. (a twist ending etc. frosting on the cake)... maybe consider whether or not first person narrative is the best choice on all/most stories or not.

Fun seeing your progress. Don't know why more folks here aren't responding or giving feedback considering the "what are you reading now" threads with the majority being Fantasy genre based.

If you'r not already familiar with this podcast:
https://deadrobotssociety.com/page/89/
it's fun to see the process and misery that a couple (or more) of Sci Fi writers go through and they cover a lot of the business stuff from Amazon to readings and sales. They seem to be mostly Sci Fi Military authors (and their voices irritate me for some reason-probably because they don't sound "macho" like their characters but lots of good stuff for self published authors there.

Hope some of this helps and sounds as supportive as it means to be...
Thanks for the feedback. I already submitted so it is too late to implement it this time. The contest is quarterly so I can try next time. I got a few more ideas up my sleeve.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 3:17 pm
by Inverstone
Cool. Fingers crossed for a win. Writing= progressive overload + non-linear progression. Only the strong survive! Let us know how it goes. Cheers.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 11:11 pm
by zappey1
Inverstone wrote: Fri Apr 08, 2022 3:17 pm Cool. Fingers crossed for a win. Writing= progressive overload + non-linear progression. Only the strong survive! Let us know how it goes. Cheers.
Bro do you think that story is too close to CoC? Certainly inspired by but have you compared LOTR to HP?

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 7:57 pm
by zappey1
Finished my third book signing! 22 copies sold in 3 hours. Some actual fans came out to lend some support so that was nice.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 2:47 pm
by zappey1
It looks like I did not win the contest although I have not received the official notice yet. I do have some other exciting book news. 2 Youtubers want to Collab and will plug the book on their channels!

The one I'm most excited about is this channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatLurksBeneath

He said he gets up to 250k views a day! If that is true hopefully that will result in some book sales.

The other YT channel is:
https://www.youtube.com/c/PrettyGrittyTours

I think they may want to do an investigation with me? That would be cool. Either way fingers crossed either one would help with promotion. I also have a new story written. Is anyone interested in reading it? AND GIVING FEED BACK? It is still in the early phases but I would be curious what people think.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 12:05 pm
by lehman906
zappey1 wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 2:47 pm It looks like I did not win the contest although I have not received the official notice yet. I do have some other exciting book news. 2 Youtubers want to Collab and will plug the book on their channels!

The one I'm most excited about is this channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatLurksBeneath

He said he gets up to 250k views a day! If that is true hopefully that will result in some book sales.

The other YT channel is:
https://www.youtube.com/c/PrettyGrittyTours

I think they may want to do an investigation with me? That would be cool. Either way fingers crossed either one would help with promotion. I also have a new story written. Is anyone interested in reading it? AND GIVING FEED BACK? It is still in the early phases but I would be curious what people think.
I'm interested. I'm about to end the school year, so sitting at my kids' swim practices/meets gives me a lot more time to read.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 5:03 pm
by zappey1
The Youtuber made the video based on my 1st book!
https://youtu.be/uwuUAOms9A8

I'm going to make another script for him this week.
@lehman906 here is the link for my latest writing. It is all true. I had some requests to write some non embellished stories. Feedback on this all accurate format would be appreciated:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BSr ... sp=sharing

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2022 11:08 am
by DCR
@zappey1, I just came across this thread, as I very rarely check this portion of the boards. I had been wondering where you’d gone (although I also rarely check the off topic board, so perhaps you’re active there).

I don’t have the time to review work in progress, but I just ordered a hard copy of your first book off Amazon, and am looking forward to its arrival.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 7:39 am
by DCR
@zappey1, the book arrived this morning. This is super cool.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:35 pm
by zappey1
DCR wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 7:39 am @zappey1, the book arrived this morning. This is super cool.
Hey thanks for the support! I almost have the second book done! I hired an artist to do the art but the writing is done just some editing left. I hope to have it done around Halloween. Book sales have been pretty solid. The YT exposure helped out a lot with sales. I have a book signing locally on the 10th with maybe a podcast interview then also,


I got burnt out on some of the negativity in the other threads.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2022 6:47 am
by DCR
zappey1 wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:35 pm I got burnt out on some of the negativity in the other threads.
I spend the large majority of my time here in the Training and Programming section. Would be cool to have your input there.

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 6:25 pm
by zappey1
WLB finally released part two of the investigation I did for him:
https://youtu.be/RkOEF4MhGHI

Re: Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 2:55 pm
by zappey1
I also appeared as a guest on my first Podcast last week. It is called Around the Reel:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a ... 1522819874
I gues they are one of the highest ranked Podcasts in the PNW. It went very well and they want to have me on as a guest again and maybe come on some investigation for content for their YT channel. They make documentaries so it might prove interesting to have a camera guy go with me.

Also if any of you guys have bought and read the book if you can leave a review on Amazon it would help out.

I have a second Podcast on October 1st with a smaller caster. I'm still struggling to get my website launched. I have a meeting with the guy tonight. I also have been struggling to keep my artist on schedule. I still hope to have the second book out by the end of October!