How Self-Published Author Sold 800,000 Books

In a recent question and answer session with GoodbooksToday, author Theresa Ragan (Taming Mad Max), a New York Times and USA Today best-selling self-published author reveals some of the secrets to her many successes.

GoodbooksToday.com: Several of your books reached the Amazon Top 100 Best Seller List. How much do you believe your use of social media has factored into your impressive book sales?

T.Ragan: As of October, 2013, I have sold 800,000 ebooks. I believe 6 out of 10 of my books have hit the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller list. I think social media helps get the word out when I put a book on sale, but I give most of the credit for great sales to the time I spent learning my craft. I wrote for twenty years before ever releasing a book. For a book to reach the Top 100 Bestseller list, it has to have staying power, which to me means having the right book at the right time. Of course, luck is involved too.

GoodbooksToday.com: Do you have any advice for writers who are discouraged by lack of sales?

T.Ragan: My advise to writers lacking sales is to make writing a priority over promoting and marketing. I would suggest releasing three books before putting in a lot of promotional effort. That way, if you have a sale or give one book away for free to get new readers, you’ll be doing it for a reason – to get people interested enough to give your other books a try.

After I released six books, I spent three months trying everything The bad news is that because I did so many things at once, I m not really sure what worked and what didn’t. I made free video book trailers using Windows Movie Maker and put those on Amazon and YouTube. I blogged every week about my publishing journey, I blogged on any website that would have me, I said yes to all interviews, I spoke at conferences and on panels, I joined Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook. I sent an email every day to online reviewers asking them if they were interested in reading one of my books if I sent them a digital copy. I did blog tours and contests/giveaways. I found places like blog talk radio to interview me and I made a free website using Blogger. Once I made some money, I advertised on any site I could find where you could pay $15 to have your book on the sidebar for a month. I suggest getting three books out there and then trying everything you can to get exposure, which ultimately could turn into book sales.

See related article “Five Mistakes Authors Make That Keep Readers Away..”

GoodbooksToday.com: What current books are you working on?

T.Ragan: I am writing and negotiating the sales of Book 4, 5, and 6 of my Lizzy Gardner series. All thriller/mystery. Book 4 is due on December 15th.

GoodbooksToday.com: If you had to choose just one type of social media, which one would you select and why?

T.Ragan: This is difficult to choose just one, but for me, an author’s website is the most important tool. Although my website was built in a day and didn’t cost me a dime, I do provide lots of information for those writers or readers who are interested in learning more about me. Whenever I find a new author whose books I love, the first thing I do is search the Internet for their website. I want to know when they started writing and what other books they might have available. If they include other interesting tidbits about their writing process or their personal lives, all the better.

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WIDE AWAKE by Shelly Crane

Featured Book Review: WIDE AWAKE
Shelly Crane (Author)
( 150+ Reviews )

WIDE AWAKEMany would jump at the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and live their lives all over again. How refreshing it would be to be given a second chance to become a new and better person. But what happens when you lose all memory of your former life and you wake up a completely different individual? This is exactly what happens to Emma, the main character, when she is struck by a car and falls into a coma. When she awakens after several weeks, she does not recognize anyone – her parents, her boyfriend Andy, all of her friends, the cheer leading squad she was on or any of her teachers. And not only that, she seems to have taken on a new – and better personality.

Despite the positive changes within her, the people she knows and loves find it difficult to accept this new and improved Emma. That is, everyone but Mason, her assistant therapist in the hospital and her new love interest. This story tells of her struggles with her parents to understand a “new” daughter, the difficulties of finding herself in the strange and totally different world she finds herself in, and the changes in her perceptions of life itself. Secrets are imbedded within the minds of some of those she has been involved with and all is laid bare by the end of this enchanting and never dull story of a girl who re-creates herself and changes the lives of those around her. The author, Shelly Crane, strikes just the right chord by telling this account in first person.

We have access to the innermost thoughts of the main character and this guides us on her journey in finding and accepting the transformed person she has become. While her new boyfriend, Mason, seems almost too caring and definitely too good to be true, most of us can think of people in our lives who spend their entire existence just taking care of others out of the kindness of their hearts. By the end of this book, we realize that this is more than a love story.

It is a tale of a girl on the path to redemption and also a mystery of how all of these events culminated. The ending is a surprise and explains many of the earlier occurrences, thoughts, statements and actions in the story. Everything comes together in the last portion of this book and we can all assume that Emma and Mason lived happily ever after. This is an enlightening tale that readers will love – refreshing and entertaining as it reinstates the powers of love and transformation. – GoodbooksToday.com Reviews

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WIDE AWAKE
Shelly Crane (Author)
ISBN: 978-1483912646

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GBT Featured Book Review: Shadow Pack by Marc Daniel

GBT Featured Book Review: Shadow Pack
Marc Daniel (Author)
( 11+ Reviews )


Chief Deputy Mark Sullivan is found dead in his home, another cop killed in a string of murders. However, this one was different, the other victims were killed execution style, Deputy Chief Sullivan looked like he had been attacked by animals.

Lieutenant Steve Harrington was called to investigate and after surveying the crime scene he knew he needed a different kind of expert, so he called his old friend Michael Biorn. Shortly after arriving on the scene, Michael immediately knows something is off, but finds he cannot share what he knows to those investigating and soon finds his own life is at stake. Calling on the help of a few special friends, Michael soon discovers the truth is much worse than even he initially thought. Shadow Pack delivers an energetic read with many twists and turns. The multiple story lines are interesting and have been interwoven well, giving the reader an exciting mystery. The chapters are shorter than most novels, however this style of writing kept the momentum strong, making Shadow Pack a page-turner right from the beginning. Protagonist Michael Biorn’s back-story was expertly placed throughout the book with the author having developed a strong, likeable character.

Author Marc Daniel generates a healthy dose of conflict; internal turmoil and a little bit of romance all cumulating into a well-rounded novel. Although the writing is more reminiscent of that for young adults, mystery lovers of all ages will find this story to be a satisfying read with well-developed characters.

Shadow Pack was a provocative read making it impossible to put down. The author would do well to continue the story of Michael Biorn as he is sure to find his audience will demand more. – GoodbooksToday.com Reviews

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Shadow Pack
Marc Daniel (Author)
ASIN: B00DWL9G2C

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Super Shred: The Big Results Diet: 4 Weeks 20 Pounds Lose It Faster!

Super Shred: The Big Results Diet: 4 Weeks 20 Pounds Lose It Faster!
Ian K. Smith M.D (Author)
( 2+ Reviews )


The diet that works faster and forever!

SUPER SHRED

Using the same principles—meal spacing, snacking, meal replacement and diet confusion—that made his SHRED a major #1 bestseller—Dr. Ian has developed what dieters told him they needed: a quick-acting plan that is safe and easy to follow at home, at work, or on the road.

SUPER SHRED

It’s a program with four week-long cycles:

–Foundation, when you’ll eat four meals and three snacks a day, start shedding pounds and set yourself up for success

–Accelerate, when you’ll kick it up and speed up weight loss

–Shape, the toughest week in the program, and the one that will get your body back by keeping it guessing

–Tenacious, a final sprint that cements your improved eating habits and melts off those last stubborn pounds

The SHRED system never leaves you hungry. It’s a completely new way to lose weight, stay slender, and feel fantastic about your body, mind and spirit!

Includes more than 50 all-new recipes for meal replacing smoothies and soups!

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Super Shred: The Big Results Diet: 4 Weeks 20 Pounds Lose It Faster!
Ian K. Smith M.D (Author)
ASIN: B00DFFMYXI

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