After 5 years' attempting to sell my books, I've reached a crisis of confidence. My books aren't selling, the marketing I've tried hasn't worked, my books are turning up on pirate and torrent sites, suggesting that they're being noticed... but I'm losing my shirt!
I was finally pushed over the edge on Easter, when I received a Google alert that led to one of my books on a website I've never heard of, offering it for free to paid members.
The ebook market is, in my opinion, trashed. It's left me frustrated, distrusting, pessimistic and apathetic. I've lost all confidence that I can get this venture to turn around for me. I've actually got a finished book that I don't know what to do with, because I don't believe it will make me a dime. I'm this close to just deleting it and saving me the aggravation.
Nevertheless, my plight has caught the interest of a few good MR members (and some who are, let's say,
not so sympathetic), and resulted in various and sundry bits of advice meant to show me a way out of the tunnel. (I am choosing to ignore the advice designed to lead me headlong into an oncoming train... but only
just.)
In the interest of general edification (not to mention, getting the initial subthread out of the
piracy thread to which I so wrongly attached it), I'd like to move the conversation here. I appreciate the efforts others have gone to, to try to help me out of my present malaise. I still haven't decided whether or not it makes sense for me to continue this ebook experiment gone wrong. But I am willing to discuss it.
I think I'll also quote a bit from the other thread, just to avoid treading on the same ground as in the past.