It’s been 3 WEEKS since I published WILD HEARTS on Amazon, and what an amazing and surreal 24 days it’s been! I have been so overwhelmed with gratitude because of all the support I’ve received from friends, family, and friends-of-friends! Whether or not WILD HEARTS fits into many of these people’s typical book genre preferences, SO MANY people have taken the leap in purchasing my book and giving it a shot… and as the person who wrote the story, I truly couldn’t be more thankful.
While the Kindle version hit Amazon first, it was the paperback that really made this whole experience seem real. Looking back now, I can’t believe I had actually contemplated not publishing a paperback version at all. Holding it in my hands, seeing my name on the cover, my words in print… THIS is what I’ve been dreaming of! My sweet husband ordered several copies, and when they arrived at our house last week, I was bowled over by the effect they had on me. It felt incredible to pick up my own book, to flip through it, to know that I wrote it and it was a real book. (Side note: Why did it take me so many years to take this plunge? I could have felt all of this a long time ago!)
Honestly though, with all the excitement and pride comes a little bit of a sense of “Now what do I do”? My website/blog is out there, my author social media accounts are established, I have a Goodreads presence, and my book is available. As of this morning, I have FINALLY learned how to track sales on Amazon (and it’s embarrassingly easy). NOW WHAT? How do I get my book into the hands of more readers? Do I need to take classes on self-promotion, indie-author marketing, etc.? When/should I start writing a monthly e-newsletter (though my following at this point is still so small)? What else should I be doing?
In short, how do I make this as successful as it can be?
These are entirely new waters for me to navigate, and so I’ve been doing what I can to keep my social media updated, blog weekly (look at me go!), and (can you believe it) SIGN BOOKS for people who want autographed copies! Currently, I’m exploring new opportunities to get WILD HEARTS more visibility – book bloggers/reviewers, increased social media presence, giveaway promotions, and even the incredibly exciting opportunity to have my book sold in a local shop! (More on that to come soon, I hope.)
The world of indie writing/publishing contains a LOT of new territory for me to explore, but these past three weeks have been full and thrilling, to say the least. Every time I see a new rating or review on Amazon or Goodreads, or hear from someone who just finished the book, my smile is so big that my cheeks hurt. I’m still pinching myself that people are reading the words I wrote, getting to know the characters I created, and (hopefully) finding themselves drawn into the world I built. This feeling is just as good – and the motivation to keep going just as powerful – as I always knew it would be.
THANK YOU again for making WILD HEARTS’ first few weeks such a fabulous ride. If you’ve already read it, please consider leaving a rating or review at Amazon or Goodreads. Follow/connect with me on Facebook and Instagram. Spread the word to those you know who might be interested in the story. And certainly let me know what you’ve thought of it… it means the world to me!
WILD HEARTS reader reviews:
“I felt completely immersed in the setting and each scene was set to a tee – the scents, sights, sounds – really evocative in putting you in the book. Can’t wait to see what’s next from this author!“
“If you love horses, romance, and… MURDER, then Wild Hearts is the book for YOU!”
STEPHANIE KLINE 