Even though you’re an indie published author, you’ve also released your titles on Audible. Do you have any advice or easy how-tos for others that might be interested in doing the same? Walk us through what an author needs.
The decision to make my books available on audio was probably one of the best I’ve made. I did a lot of research between Findaway Voices and ACX, which is Amazon’s platform. Financially they were both very similar, but the process at ACX turned out to be a better experience for me, so that’s the route I chose. Although ACX has changed some promotional benefits recently, so we’ll have to see how that plays out. But all in all, I’m very happy with them.
Frankly, I really enjoy the process of turning the print version of my books into audio. As a listener, I’m pretty sensitive to the voices used in audio books so the most important aspect to me was finding the right voice artist to represent the characters. I think I narrowed it down to three from the samples available to me through ACX and requested an audition from those three. It was clear when I started working with Rebecca Gallagher that she was the right person to breathe life into the Blood Secrets series.
As far as what you need going into it, I’d say the first thing is a little bit of cash. Good voice artists aren’t cheap, and you do get what you pay for in many cases. However, both platforms offer a royalty split option, which is a great way to get into audio without too much upfront investment. The second thing you’ll need is a firm understanding of your characters and how you want them to come across to the audience. Be ready to answer questions about who they are on the inside. Think of it as an actor creating a character for the stage or screen and be ready to help your actor dig deep to create the most believable characters possible.
Finally, don’t be afraid to make suggestions and ask for changes – it is your story after all – so don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t hit you quite right. But after venturing into audio with Blood Secrets I can tell you this, I’m absolutely a fan and there’s definitely a market for it. If you can do it – do it.
Since you’re now a pro with TWO books out in the wild, what have you found to be ‘sweet spots’ for marketing your works and building your fan base?
Pro? (Scans the room wondering who you’re referring to.) Ha! Marketing is the bane of my existence. When Inherent Truth was released I did a virtual book tour and that actually turned out quite well. However, I switched companies for Inherent Lies and that was a flop, so my suggestion would be to make sure you choose a tour company wisely.
Social media is still king, and I use Facebook and Instagram pretty regularly, so I had a group of people who might be interested there. I used the month leading up to launch to get my name out there and try to pique interest with teasers and fun engagement posts. I think it helps to give readers a taste of what to expect and I get good results with teasers. They’re fun to create whether leading up to a launch or just for the sake of sharing.
As far as ads go, I’ll leave that up to other authors to chat about. I’ve had a bit of luck with Facebook ads, but I tend to lose money with Amazon ads, so I have a lot to learn in that department.
My favorite way to connect with readers is through my newsletter. I feel a little more free to explore content there. In general, I share fun author news and day in the life kind of stuff. It’s also a place for me to recommend books, share promotions and host giveaways for readers. I’m still trying to find my sea legs in terms of content, but I’m always open to suggestions and I’ve been working hard to find a balance that my subscribers enjoy.
Blood Secrets is the name of your series. So far, you have three books planned. When it comes to crafting a series, what will determine for you how far / how long the series will last, audience love and interest or your own love for sticking with and writing the series?
This is a great question and one I’ve pondered myself. I used to think it would all depend on how well the series was received by readers. But more recently I’ve realized that as an author I need to have a vested interest. All my books start with character, so unless that character is whispering in my ear, begging me to tell their story, I think I’d have a hard time churning out a 90,000 word novel. And yes, Inherent Fate is the culmination of Liv and Ridge’s story arc, but I’ve been hearing some whispers from some other Blood Secrets characters, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Writing Romantic Suspense is a crazy-delicate balance of two characters wanting to be together, yet as the author, you’re constantly keeping them apart (well, mostly). Can you offer any insights for writers on how you do this so well? What makes it work, lets the reader believe, and keeps the plot moving forward?
I think it’s a combination of things really, but in a word, it all comes down to pacing. The push and pull arises from a character’s motivation which drives action that results in reaction. And the whole cycle starts again. It’s an ebb and flow. But to keep the fire there, I think it’s important that the relationship be intrinsically tied to one of those three elements – motivation, action, or reaction – at every point in the story. The reader needs to be invested in what the characters are fighting for. I think characterization plays a big role in this as well. We want a couple worth rooting for, right? So give us a combination of motivation and reaction that endears them to us in some way. As a reader I don’t have to agree with every decision they make; personally, I don’t want to. I like surprises. But I do have to believe the couple would fulfill each other in some way, not just physically, but emotionally as well. And although Ridge and Liv make some questionable decisions over the course of the series, they really are perfect for each other in spite of those flaws.
Releasing a book during the throes of a global pandemic had to be interesting. Can you share your experience? Surprises you encountered? Changes in expectations?
Oh, wow. It’s been an experience, that’s for sure. Let’s just say I’m glad it wasn’t my debut that released during this time. Authors are a generous lot. And many big names have discounted books, created freebies, and run massive giveaways all to help alleviate some of the strain of a stay-at-home order. But it certainly does have an impact on authors, like me, who are still working on building a fan base. I discounted Inherent Truth for a few weeks, but that was really all I could afford to do. It’s a tightrope balance for smaller authors, just like it is for small businesses right now. I’d love to be able to give my books away like some authors have done, but it’s just not something I can manage right now.
On the flip side, of course, I think people may be downloading a lot of free books, but I’m not sure they’re actually reading them, so there’s always that caveat. I’m terribly guilty of this myself. I’ll get to them eventually once I work my way through my TBR pile, but I’m pretty sure they won’t get read during this quarantine time. So, I think it’s a toss-up in terms of whether it’s a worthwhile risk. None of us have experienced anything quite like this, so I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to approach releasing a book right now. But I do think the key is to be in it for the long haul and not focus too much on immediate gratification in the form of sales or rank.
What’s next, as far as upcoming releases and the next installment of the series? Will a teaser of Book 3 be available soon? Any other titles we can expect?
I’m so glad you asked! Originally, Inherent Fate, book 3 of the Blood Secrets series was supposed to launch the last week of June, however, with the emotional strain our current situation is taking on all of us, that looks unlikely. It’s with my editor now, but she’s running interference with her kids who are, of course, working on schoolwork from home, which has put her behind schedule, which forces me to slide my plan back, too. It all turns into a big collapsing line of dominoes.
I am hopeful I’ll be able to release Inherent Fate sometime in July, but until I get my editor’s notes I’m not ready to put a date on it. I know I left my readers with a bit of a cliffhanger, so just know, I’m working as hard as I can to make sure the third installment is everything it needs to be.
Beyond Blood Secrets, I’m planning to release my first standalone psychological thriller in October. It’s currently titled Fractals and explores some of the repercussions of the Midwest opioid epidemic on a high school student and her teacher. It’s a project that’s near and dear to me and I can’t wait to share it.
In the meantime, I love connecting with people through my Facebook group and my newsletter. I’ll be sharing snippets of my work and life in general in both places, so I hope to see some of you there.
For more information about Alicia and the Blood Secrets series, visit the following websites:
Newsletter https://www.aliciaanthonybooks.com/newsletter/
Website https://www.aliciaanthonybooks.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AliciaAnthonyBooks
Facebook Reader Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/AliciaAnthonyReaderGroup
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aliciaanthonybooks/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19532930.Alicia_Anthony
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alicia-anthony
Amazon https://amzn.to/2S2DzN1