Exclusivity - the grand question July 12, 2015 14:55

Hugh Howey, the lord and saviour of all us independent publishers, recently posed a very valid question regarding Amazon exclusivity:

"I could reach twenty million readers in the state of New York or one million around the globe. Which is the right call?"

And so, I have a question for my readers - where do you purchase the majority of your ebooks? For those of you using readers other than the Kindle - have you experimented with the Kindle reading app to read Amazon exclusives on your device? Or do you steer clear of Kindle titles altogether?

And of course, a question for my fellow authors - how many of your titles, if any, do you have enrolled in the KDP Select program? Do you see comparable sales from any other platforms on those titles that are non-exclusive? What are your feelings on exclusivity in general?

I'll be spending the next few weeks watching my sales very carefully, to see how things have changed since I completely removed myself from Amazon exclusivity. If I don't find a fanbase on the new platforms I'm experimenting with, I may very well return to the Kindle Select Program. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Owls! December 3, 2014 18:46

Andrew bought adorable owl decals for all the mirrors in the house! Between the sub-zero temperatures, the snow, and the general lack of daylight, I hate winter. The only part I can stand is decorating my house =)

This week has been mostly dedicated to my current novel-in-process, the second installment of a series I'm writing called The Witches of Armour Hill. The first novel is currently being serialized on WattPad - anyone interested can find the first sixteen chapters here. When the serialization of this unedited draft is complete, AlyssaCooper.ca will be the first place to find the final, polished ebook and paperback =)

I've got so much to get ready before then. There is a quarter of the book still to be serialized, and I'd like to have a set of at least five character portraits finished by then - right now, I've only got my main character done. I'll also be finishing up a few cover concepts, so that I can hold a public vote to decide the final cover art, and maybe starting a Kickstarter campaign to cover my upcoming editing costs.

There's just so much to look forward to!

Dream Come True December 2, 2014 11:55

Last night, I dreamed that I was living in the house from my most recent work-in-progress, The Witches of Armour Hill. An old Victorian mansion, this place has housed a witch coven for so many generations that their magic has leaked into the walls. I was wandering around the second floor (which is my mind, is the second floor of my grandmother's creepy old house, slightly expanded), in the dark, and the house was completely empty. I didn't even realize where I was until after I woke up.

I think I may be getting a little too involved in my story.

***

Thanks to everyone who has checked out my store so far! I know the shelves are a little sparse for now, but I plan to add my ebooks to the catalogue this week. Soon, you'll be able to purchase PDF, .mobi, and possibly .epub versions (I'll get back to you on that one) of all my titles, direct from my website =)

If you're a traditional reader, remember that paperbacks and chap books purchased from me directly are always signed, and are always shipped out with little goodies to go with them, like bookmarks or postcards.

Thanks so much for the support and encouragement I've been seeing from all my fans - I love you to bits, and you all deserve the world.

Welcome! November 29, 2014 13:42

Hey everyone, and welcome to the opening of my very first Spotify store! Now, let's get the introductions out of the way...

My name is Alyssa Cooper - I was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario, but I'm currently living in Kingston with my personal library and a collection of vintage typewriters. I've always been fascinated with the darker side of fiction, and I've been writing stories as long as I can remember. Right now, I'm the author of two novels, two collections, and a handful of short stories - all of which will soon be found on Shopify - and I've just finished writing book one of what will be my very first series.

Currently, my store is stocked with the paperback editions of books already widely available - keep an eyes on this space for the release of collectable postcards, bookmarks, and chapbook editions of my short stories that can't be found anywhere else. Take a look around - hope you enjoy your stay =)