How to sell on Amazon

This week someone asked me how I make such good sales on Amazon.
"What is your secret?" they asked.


So I've tried to write it in a nutshell what I do - it covers all genres and is free!


Just use what Amazon has given you...

There are three main platforms that Amazon gives you and these have to be treated as tools to selling your book.

1. Your front cover. This has to stand out among thousands of other books. It's the first thing you've got to 'hook' your customers. It needs to be clear, with big bold type, colourful, but not over complicated and lastly not have too much information on. ie; just the title and authors name.

2. Your description. This should be treated like a sales flyer and needs just as much thought as your cover. You have a brief opportunity to catch the interest of the customer. Use teasers and questions - but not too many!

3. The look inside feature. In a children's book only the cover, inside page and one or two pages of the story will be seen, so make these stand out. Make sure they're not cluttered with irrelevent information, but something that wants the reader to carry on, and buy your book!

These are the three main ingredients that I try to put into action, even though I have a blog and chat on a couple of forums, I'm usually swapping notes with other authors, so not many sales come through that.

Also it's a good idea to write in a definable genre. Having other information about your other businesses inside your book can detract and make you sound a bit of a 'jack-of-all-trades'. People will take you more seriously as an author if you are genre specific.

Good luck in the future with your writing and selling,

Paula 
www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

Do you take children's picture book authors seriously?

Now there's a question - do you take picture book authors seriously?
I'm inclined to think some people feel it's easy to write and illustrate a picture book.
    "How easy to write only a few dozen to a hundred words, instead of thousands", someone recently stated to me.
I answered, it's more difficult than it may first seem. A children's picture book needs the same basic elements an adults book needs;
   -  a main character with whom the reader can identify with.
   -  a plot with interest that gives the main character a struggle that needs resolving, along with being a  problem or difficulty a very young one could understand.
   -  a completely satisfying conclusion that brings the story to an ending, maybe with a twist.
   -  enough action and depth to bring page turning excitement throughout.
   -  written in a way that has impact when it's read aloud to younger ones.
   -  illustrations that capture the imagination, are varied and add to the story, or even tell part of the story.

All these elements should join seamlessly together and produce cries of read it again. Only then will you know you have a good picture book.
Oh! and you have to do this in only a few dozen to a hundred words!

So what are your thoughts on writing or reading children's picture books?
Are children's picture book authors to be taken seriously?
 Paula

Get my new picture book FREE!

 My children's picture ebook "Little Chicks First Day!" is on free for one day.

On 22nd January 2012 you can download it onto your Kindle, Kindle for PC, ipad or iphone completely the free!

Let me know what you think of the artwork. If you like it, hit 'like' or give me a review. Thanks.

Paula xxx

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Chicks-Childrens-Picture-ebook/dp/B005KMQXKE

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

What makes a good children's picture book?

One thing I've learned through writing and selling is, children just seem to love rhyming books.

Out of 6 picture ebooks I have on Amazon, the two rhyming ones outsell the others by around 3 times!
I think really young ones can pick up on the rhythm, and enjoy the musical feel of a rhyming book. 

Put with simple ideas, thet children can easily relate to, and clear colourful illustrations help make a good picture book.
What do you think makes a good picture book? 

Paula xxx

Here are my two rhyming ones

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hairy-Spider-Childrens-Picture-ebook/dp/B005HFHI26
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slippy-Slimy-Childrens-Picture-ebook/dp/B006AV1W9Q

FREE! FREE! FREE!

FREE! FREE! FREE!

My new ebook from the teenage fantasy 'The Message' is going to be free to download from Amazon on the 14th January 2012.

Download it for free on Kindle, or Kindle for PC, or on your smartphone or ipad.

If you like it, please give me a review and a like.
Let me know if you like the artwork, the idea of the book and the storyline.
Do you identify with the characters?

Thanks in advance

Paula xxx

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Message-Discernment-McBride-fantasy-ebook/dp/B006UMHPTQ

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

At last my new ebook for teenagers! 'The Message'

At last, at last, it's ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please have a look at my newest teenage/young adult novel.

The trilogy is called 'The Message', with book 1 called 'Discernment'.

I've had so much fun doing the cover art and the extra pictures and maps inside.

It has character profiles too.

You can see quite a lot on the free sample 'look inside' feature on Amazon.

I'd love to hear what you think of the cover art.

Paula xxx

Here's the link; 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Message-Discernment-McBride-fantasy-ebook/dp/B006UMHPTQ

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk 

 

 

 

My new website is ready!

My web site is totally ready!
I'm really pleased with it and have put tonnes of pictures in my galleries.
Now I'm all fired up to do some more painting and writing so I can keep adding to it!
Check it out for me and tell me what you think.
I called it 'tothewillowgarden' because of a huge willow tree I have in my garden.
Is it easy to use?
Are the paintings easy to see?
I'd really appreciate your comments.
Thanks in advance!
Paula

www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

Hi! I've worked out how to upload pictures!
The first three here are of some of my water-colours. I love to paint birds, especially those I see in my garden in the countryside of Wiltshire.
Also, I've put two of my front covers from a couple of my books that are selling really well, as ebooks.
I've had some great reviews and some lovely comments on my illustrations, which is fantastic!
Makes it all worthwhile.