Category: Jack Steel/Alex Sight News

Marketing books, and trying to write

Hey, if you want STEEL FORCE or GUARDIAN, THE CHOICE at 99c, this is the week to get them! After the weekend they revert back to $2.99.

One of the things that many readers may not realize is that trying to self-publish successfully requires almost a full-time job in marketing. This week I’m marketing the YA fantasy, last week the Jack Steel Thrillers. It’s exhausting running FB, AMS, and Bookbub ads, and countless other things that have to be in place for this. However, there is an upside!

This week I will run my first BookBub featured deal, sending STEEL FORCE FREE to 3.3 million thriller readers. The average downloads average 37,000, so you can see huge spikes in sales, reviews, and your email list. Actually, Bookbub is the ‘holy grail’ of promotions, and they only accept 20% of the writers that apply, especially if your books are only on Amazon–since they prefer that you are also on Itunes, B&Noble, and KOBO. I’m not, because that all requires more marketing time and dollars than I have right now. They pick the best of the best. I’ve known some writers who applied 21x before they were accepted. I’ve applied a dozen times before acceptance. But it’s worth it!

Bookbub can make your career as a writer. Get 20K downloads and perhaps sell 5K books if you have a series, or the beginnings of one. I only have two Jack Steel books, so it’s not a full-blown series yet. But Bookbub may ensure it will be. I’m excited about this, and also the great reviews from readers who email me personally. That is always gratifying.

You’ve noticed I haven’t talked about writing! That’s because I haven’t done any for nearly a month of advertising. I’m working on the 3rd Jack Steel book, a non-fiction stress reduction book (good for writers who stress!), and getting ready to reread the 3rd Magical Beasts book. In late Feb 2020, I plan to launch the next thriller (Book 1 in the Alex Sight series, Kill Sight) and the 3rd fantasy, already written and needs minor edits.

All of this is exciting, and difficult because I work full-time as well. Not complaining, just sayin’. What keeps me motivated are the books themselves, the readers, and the thing I envision at the end of all this: Movie Deal. 🙂 Truthfully, I love to write, and love movies, so it would be a good match. And I think my books would make great movies! Doesn’t every writer?

October Releases are In!

STEEL ASSASSIN (Jack Steel #2) and GUARDIAN, THE QUEST (Magical Beasts #2) are available for Kindle Pre-Order, releases Oct 26th and Nov 2nd respectively! Great reader reviews thus far!

Steel Force won Finalist for Men’s Adventure and Thriller Categories.

Guardian The Choice WINNER of YA Outstanding Fiction 2019!  Excited for all the books and good news, and continually grateful for the help of readers, family, and professionals who make this journey much easier than if I had to go it alone.

1 Week to Launch!

Very excited to see how STEEL FORCE does on launch next Wed-Sat–when it will be discounted to 99c. Have high hopes and expectations. Guardian, The Choice also discounted through the same period.

So far reviews have been outstanding for STEEL FORCE, so it just needs visibility. I’m still looking for reviews for Guardian, The Choice, but should see them come in over the weekend. Trying to launch two books at the same time with different genres drives home the point of why publishers like writers to remain in one genre, which most do anyhow. It’s just too much work to market to YA fantasy and thrillers at the same time.

That said, I loved writing the Guardian series, 3 books mostly done, the last one 3/4 done, and thus will finish the series at least. Had a major producer interested several months ago and will go back to him with Guardian, The Choice once it’s published and hopefully selling decently. Will also approach producers with STEEL FORCE. I think I have something original here.

I’ve begun the new Jack Steel book, STEEL JUSTICE, 12% through it, and getting plot straight. Every book is different for me to write, sometimes it all comes out fast, sometimes I have to muddle around for a bit to get things right before it flows. And I always have to feel that the theme and character arcs are worth looking at.

Okay, heat wave in MN, 105 heat index, swimming great for tolerating that. Stay cool!

More Jack Steel, Alex Sight, Magical Beasts

I already have the 2nd Jack Steel novel finished (STEEL ASSASSIN), with the first Alex Sight book (KILL SIGHT) completed too, and am thinking I will release these in early Fall–Sept-Nov.

Meanwhile I’m slowly coming up with the next plot for the next Jack Steel thriller, and the next Alex Sight book.

For Magical Beasts I’m editing the 2nd book now, and the 3rd is largely written; it just needs a rewrite. The final book in that series is 3/4 finished. Again I’m planning on launching these future books in early Fall. 12 hour days on writing, marketing, and loose ends.

It should all slow down a little after Aug. 1, and then I go for a 3-day sail and welcomed adventure in the Apostles, Lake Superior.

For now swimming in the lake or St. Croix River on hot days or long walks on the cooler ones keep me balanced and happy.

STEEL FORCE & MAGICAL BEASTS Launching Soon–Week of July 22nd!

STEEL FORCE launches in three weeks! The week of July 22nd.

Early reviews on the first Jack Steel novel have been exceptional so I’m stoked!

GUARDIAN, THE CHOICE–the 1st book in the MAGICAL BEASTS YA fantasy series, will also launch the week of the July 22nd–and again early reviews have been wonderful!

Marketing, which is the writer’s necessary bane these days, is moving along well too. I’m also happy to have a lot of readers joining the Advanced Thriller Review Group, and the Advanced Magical Beasts Review Group.