Anytime you embark on a new venture, there’s always a learning curve. Sometimes the curves are easy, winding pleasantly through uncharted territory while offering an opportunity to stop and enjoy the journey. Other times, you grip the wheel with white knuckled fingers while staring through glazed eyes at the hairpin curves and frantically pressing the brake pedal with both feet.

Last week I experienced a little of both.

I belong to a Yahoo group called Indie Romance Ink (IRI). If you’re an indie published writer or just aspiring to be, check out this incredible resource. I’ve learned so much from the loop. The participants are a joyful lot and willing to share their experience.

Many of the writers at IRI decided to build a website featuring the group’s authors and run a sale in conjunction with Amazon’s 99 cent Holiday Sale. (More on this next week.) I rushed to upload my book to Amazon so I could be included in the sale. Even though our site does not go "live" until December 1st, our volunteers are working furiously to build it now. They needed my buy link. I knew there were a few typos in the manuscript I uploaded but I reasoned I could fix them later. Before the book attracted public attention. Who’s going to buy an e-book from a debut author, especially if I do nothing to promote it? Okay, I made a few announcements, but I’ve not participated in any blog tours, or spent hours on FB and Twitter getting the word out.

Ahem. Lesson One. Do not publish a book through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) unless you are 100% ready.

Amazon does not notify readers of revised editions, nor do they make it easy for those readers to download the revised copy without buying it a second time. So there are a few unsuspecting people who purchased a less than perfect e-book and I have no way of knowing who they are so I can send a free, revised copy.

No matter, I told myself. They’ll read it, tell everyone it’s junk, and that will be the end of my Indie career. At least as far as Stone Cold Justice is concerned. I decided if the reviews were too bad, I’d just publish my next book, Blood Storm, under a pen name.

Ahem. Lesson Two. Do not underestimate your friend’s enthusiasm for promoting your work. Or assume you have lots of time to upload a revised copy of your book.

On Day 3, I finally figured out how to look at a report detailing my sales. I admit my daughter bought a copy because I wanted her to check the formatting on her e-reader. So I knew I wouldn’t see a zero but I didn't expect to find anything beyond a one. To my surprise there were double digits. Huh? Panicked by the realization people were actually purchasing my book, I rushed to upload the new version. But I forgot to include my acknowledgements. And my copyright. Two or three revisions later, I uploaded my final copy.

The numbers continued to climb. Reviews began to appear on Amazon. Three. All five stars. I’m awe struck. Are they reading MY book? Didn’t they see the mistakes? How can this be?

I’m pinching myself as I rush to carry the glow of success to Smashwords. If Kindle owners like my book, surely Nook and other digital e-reader owners will like it, as well.

Ahem. Lesson Three. Never count your chickens before they’re hatched.

It’s a challenge to format for Smashwords, and getting your book into their “premium” catalog i.e. Barnes & Noble, is not a twenty four hour process. I’ve not sold anything on SW, but I’m hoping when Stone Cold Justice appears at B&N that might change. Hopefully, I'll find out in a few days.

Ahem. I'm not sure I can survive Week Two.

Deb Sanders
http://DebSanders.wordpress.com
STONE COLD JUSTICE, now available in digital format at Amazon and Smashwords