As everyone who happens to read these blogs know, I have been using Bi-Monthly goals to keep me focused, motivated and productive. Now since November, I have been a little non-plussed, to be honest with you. With very little book sales and only a few friends coming to book shows, it has made me question what to do next or what changes I can make to reach a bigger audience. I am not planning on giving up, just looking for new steps to take.
While I am still researching the internet and watching YouTube videos on marketing, I don’t have any new answers…yet, but in the meantime, I thought I would look back and see just what I have done this year and if I am happy or not with 2018.
Works In Progress — Status as of January 2017
CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS AUDIOBOOK – This was still in the works, finalizing edits and mastering the audio quality. The final version was released and published on Audible.com on June 25. This was a fantastic first experience with audiobook production and I couldn’t be happier with the talent and skill my voice actress, Laura Richcreek-Morrison. She has been currently working on The Bleeding Crown! Voice actors like Laura and Charles Pendleton for my horror stories have taken my work to a whole new level!
THE BLEEDING CROWN – Four of my bi-monthly goals for January & February were to complete the 2nd waves of edit for the main body of work, complete the subplots for the manuscript (about 25,000 words), set up a marketing campaign (ads, etc) and start working on the book cover. All was finalized and the completed book was published on June 26th. (Side note: I didn’t realize June had been so full this year! ha). While sales have not been as plentiful, it has gotten a decent amount of 5 Star Reviews on Amazon. I personally cherish the book as my favorite child so far (Elude is close second though!). I have written almost 30,000 so far on the follow-up, Swimming In The Ashes (working title). That might be out by the end of 2019, but no guarantees.
IN FOUR DAYS AUDIOBOOK – In April, I connected with Charles Pendleton and we agreed to work together on my modern paranormal/horror story. He did a great job on it and we have seen some success with the sales on Audible. It was released in August. Charles is also already working with me on the Elude series so stay tuned for that!
ELUDE PT #1 & PT #2 – In January I was still working on the first wave of edits for Part One! As of August 31, it has been completed and published on Amazon and Kindle. Part Two was published on October 19th. I am working through the final Part Three and hope to have it published by February 2019.
THE HIDDEN – Released Chapter 7 on January 2nd. Just this month released Chapter 23. This series looks to be wrapping up in a couple months as a complete web saga. We, my father and I, will be working to get this put together and finalized for print within the upcoming year. I have been developing several book cover ideas to start with.
Now to see some stats on the site’s growth:
BLOG COUNTS:
- 2016 — 14 Monthly blogs completed
- 2017 — 37 Monthly blogs completed
- 2018 — 43 Monthly blogs completed (including this one)
NEW WEB SUBSCRIBERS:
- 2016 — 7
- 2017 — 17
- 2018 — 24
VISITORS & COUNTRIES VIEWED IN:
- 2016 — 204 & Countries — 8
- 2017 — 809 & Countries — 31
- 2018 — 895 & Countries — 39
4,239 Views in the three years!
TOP FIVE MOST VIEWED POSTS:
- Elude #1 with 72 views
- Steps on a New Path (Chapter One Blog for The Hidden) with 67 views
- Elude #2 with 47 views
- Audiobook Review of Stephen King’s “The Outsider” with 45 views
- Elude #3 with 43 views
New Additions to the Site were my Audible book reviews posts and my book giveaways which has been very successful.
So, overall a lot of work still hadn’t been published until the fall of this year — three books and two audiobook versions. I hope to have two more audiobook versions out and possibly two more novels. I have also had ideas percolating in the back of my mind for a new horror web saga for this site and a whole new trio of novels starting in Aberissc this time! What I am saying is that there is a lot more work to be done and coming. 🙂
I also had a chance to get out and meet a few of you that were local at the book-signings in October, November and December. That was a lot of fun and I do hope to continue this in the coming year. On January 19th, come see me at:
While I didn’t get everything done that I wanted to and I am still trying to find the right balance to get writing, work and fitness goals accomplished, I do see that the platform is actually growing. Also, I should be fully recovered from my back injuries from the accident in August by mid-2019, so that should also help with my fitness.
Thanks especially to all that do support me and have taken an interest in my work. I hope to keep bringing a smile to your face as you do mine!
The Official Website of Author Derek Barton 