Getting congratulations but no sales
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43077)
Staten Island, New York
November 5, 2017 11:34am CST
I love it when people congratulate me on a new book of mine, when I tell them about it, and even wish me luck, success, or something to that effect. I hate it though when they tell me all that, but then don't bother to get a copy.
You'd think at least all the friends and family would support me and get a copy but that doesn't happen... That's a bit sad, but nothing I can do about it. I can't force someone to get the book if they don't want to.
Now I'd rather have someone not get a book I publish, than get it and just toss it aside without reading it. But at the same time a sale means money in my pocket. So, any sale is a good thing for me financially. And it also increases the number of copies sold.
6 people like this
6 responses
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
5 Nov 17
Do you write under your own name or a pseudonym? Who's your publisher?
3 people like this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Nov 17
@BarBaraPrz So, officially I was Yelena Kovadlo but I made my author name Lena Kovadlo, as I use that name on social media. My last name changed, since I got married, but I keep the same author name.
I publish the books myself and use Lulu for that (lulu.com). Most of my books are poetry and/or lyric related, but I do have one novel.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Nov 17
@BarBaraPrz There are authors who will write under a pseudonym and they will change that name according to the genre they write. Say, if they write YA and also write romance novels, they will have one pseudonym for the YA and another for the romance novels. I never understood why people do that. Any ideas?
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Nov 17
I have ten books. One is a novel about a girl's life after graduating high school, which I understand is not something many may not want to read about. The rest are poetry and/or lyric books.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Nov 17
There are artists who get people/fans to fund their albums. Wonder how well this works...
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74569)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 Nov 17
@TheHorse Our band made CDs and we made probably around $100, big deal huh?
1 person likes this
@just4him (306343)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Nov 17
I agree. I hear that a lot too. I hope you start feeling money in your pocket with sales.
@just4him (306343)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Nov 17
@lovebuglena That wasn't a typo. As an author myself, I'm very careful about typos.
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Nov 17
@just4him Sorry. I must be out of it. When I read your comment my mind switched the words around and I read it as "feeling your pocket with money" so that's why I thought "feeling" was a typo.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Nov 17
When I first read your comment and saw "feeling money" I thought to myself I would sure love to feel those hundred dollar bills in my hands... 
but then I realized it was a typo. I do want more sales though and lots of them!
but then I realized it was a typo. I do want more sales though and lots of them!1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74569)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 Nov 17
Most people on My Lot are quite pinched for funds, they don't have extra money to spend. I'd love to buy a book my friend wrote, but we're watching every dollar and dime, so we can purchase groceries! We can't afford anything else:(
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Nov 17
If someone can't afford it that's fine. But when people can afford it but are just being cheap that's a whole different story.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74569)
• East Tawas, Michigan
6 Nov 17
@lovebuglena Yes, I agree with you about this. I'd be hurt, if I wrote a book and my friends didn't at least read it.
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Nov 17
It sure is! And I think I am not the only author that goes through this.
3 people like this
@TheInvisibleMan (17603)
•
5 Nov 17
@lovebuglena You're not alone... Be sure about that.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (205776)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Nov 17
@lovebuglena Oh, you are not! I have FAMILY that have never bothered to listen (for free!) to my music on YouTube.
3 people like this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
6 Nov 17
Good luck with selling your book. I'm sorry not a lot have purchased it, that you'd like to have done so.
I can't speak about selling books as I've only had poems and other odds and ends published. If I were ever lucky enough to get a book published, I wouldn't charge friends for buying it or expect them too. I'd gift them copies. Why? Because they support in other ways and it would be a thank you for being there. There are other ways to support people and I just don't hand over money to everyone. I just don't have it, you know?
I love how my husband works hard to pay our bills. Its not easy, but we have what we need and when I do have extra to give back to people I try to help as many as I can. if that makes sense?
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Nov 17
I can't just hand out my books to a lot of people. I don't work.
Also, I don't expect anyone to get my books but I want them to. One way to show support to someone who is an author is to buy his/her book. And who to better support an author than friends and family?
Most of my books are poetry and/or lyric ones by the way...
1 person likes this
