I just read a very interesting piece on Yahoo Finance (of all places) about successful indie romance authors. It's titled: "These romance writers ditched their publishers for ebooks and made millions." The piece focuses on a number of now indie authors who were first published traditionally: Bella Andre, Barbara Freethy and Courtney Milan. They are the indie answer to publishing's "Big 5" - Andre, Freethy and Milan are the indie "Big 3."
I wonder if they'd mind adding a member?
The piece points out the speed at which all three ladies turn out new books, which is something I truly, truly envy. They're able to do it, of course, because writing is their life and their livelihood. I'd devote myself to writing full time, gladly, and I've been hoping to do that for some time. But until my writing income outpaces my legal loot, I'll keep trudging to my office where I'm thankful my boss can tolerate having an insane duck lady churning out pleadings, memoranda, briefs, opinion letters and all sorts of other legal scribbling.
The income numbers for all three ladies are very impressive. You go, lady love-scribes. I hope to join you soon.
Yahoo's article points out that the "Big 3" all had a built-in fan base from their traditional publishing endeavors. It's a big, big, GIGANTIC advantage. Readers browsing the virtual bookshelves never looked at their work the way they look at mine. They never had a reader ask, "Mary Anne Graham - who's that?" And no reader ever looked at their work on a digital shelf and said, "Olivia Outlaw - catchy name, but I've never heard of her." So many people fear taking a risk on an unknown author when they can just as easily plunk down their cash for a known one that it makes it quacking hard for an insane duck lady to bridge the great divide between known and unknown.
It does make me proud to see romance readers described as a "voracious bunch." I agree with that description - as a reader and a writer of romance, I don't think you can EVER experience enough happy endings. Life is too full of the other kind so let's keep them out of our books. And I always love to hear talk about how "series sell." As Olivia Outlaw, I'm hard at work on my "Isle of Bliss" books that started with Ring and Ali's story in Sultan's Toy. I just started Max and Drake's story in Carnal Collateral: Book One - Devil's Deal. Once I finish it, I'm going to boogle back to my "Forever" series as Mary Anne Graham because I've got to write Vlad's story and after that, I'll either do Badgerton's story, Lily's brothers or -- Ian's tale. Fan's of my freebie, A Faerie Fated Forever, the first in the series, will recall that Nial and Heather named their first offspring, the next Laird to have to confront the "curse" - Ian.
So, yes, I'm tickled tangerine that romance readers love 'em some series tales. It makes it a wee bit easier for an unknown author to writer her way into become known. Once that divide is leaped, it's much easier to make enough from writing to quit the day job and write full time. And writing full time makes it much easier to write more and more and more....... I don't know that I'll ever challenge the "Big 3" but I'd surely love the opportunity to try.
And I like to image Bella, Barbara and Courtney cheering for me the same way I cheer for them. I think creators should spend more time supporting each other.
You know, come to think of it, Yahoo Finance isn't such a strange place for that article to have appeared after all - making love and making money have a lot in common, don't they? Think about it and holler back in the comments.
And think about trying some work by a "less unknown than she used to be" duck lady who believes that life and love are better over the top!!