"The Sword and the Dragon" by M.R. Mathias a 700+pg epic fantasy w/100k word preview

[BillSmithBooks]

M. R.:

I understand that some people have a philosophical objection to paying $8-12 for an ebook, but in this case I think you are more than meeting them half-way: There is a 100K word sample for people to try and enjoy at no cost or obligation -- that is certainly more than enough to let a reader know if this is something they will enjoy.

IMO, I wouldn't bother to get defensive about your price, don't waste time arguing or debating -- price is always an issue where people are going to have wildly different opinions. Just gently remind them of the 100,000 word "sample" -- longer than most entire novels -- and leave it at that.

I plan to check out your project when I get the chance.

Best of luck!

-- Bill Smith
BillSmithBooks.com
Author of the Outlaw Galaxy series.

[M. R. Mathias]

Originally Posted by lene1949

I don't think it's so much my finances - more so the fact that you as an unknown author charges more for your first book than Ken Follett charges for his hugely popular novel Pillars of the Earth. His book is also bigger at 1767KB and 1100 pages, and has nearly 1600 reviews, of which 1096 gave 5 stars.

I have read quite a bit of your sample - I think it's very good, and I would really love to read your book, just not for that price (even with the Smashwords coupon)

Be patient, the first ful length installment of my Dragoneers Saga 'The Royal Dragoneers' is going live in Oct. I will lower the price on this one then but not until it gets closer to christmas. I can not compete with Ken follet all I can say is this: I do not have a team of editors, marketers, and distributers to help me sell 1,000 copies a month like he does, but I still got bills to pay. It I did i would sell for less.

[M. R. Mathias]

Originally Posted by BillSmithBooks

M. R.:

I understand that some people have a philosophical objection to paying $8-12 for an ebook, but in this case I think you are more than meeting them half-way: There is a 100K word sample for people to try and enjoy at no cost or obligation -- that is certainly more than enough to let a reader know if this is something they will enjoy.

IMO, I wouldn't bother to get defensive about your price, don't waste time arguing or debating -- price is always an issue where people are going to have wildly different opinions. Just gently remind them of the 100,000 word "sample" -- longer than most entire novels -- and leave it at that.

I plan to check out your project when I get the chance.

Best of luck!

-- Bill Smith
BillSmithBooks.com
Author of the Outlaw Galaxy series.

Thanks Bill I'll be looking into The Outlaw Galaxy series just he name sounds interesting!

[Worldwalker]

Something to consider: You say you would sell the book for less if it sold more copies. Is it possible that it would sell more copies if you sold it for less? Apparently that has been the case with other books.

I'm not buying anything right now (the TBR list has gotten out of hand, so I need to read it down to a manageable size) so I'm not much of a test market. But it's something you might want to look into.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by M. R. Mathias

The Smashwords coupon code to get it for the Amazon price is: PG93B


Get the 100,000 word preview at this
Smashwords link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/22793

Just a point of interest, the coupon is not working or has expired.

Worldwalker is probably right though, lowering the price somewhat might generate more sales for you

Needless to say, looks a good read.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by M. R. Mathias

The Smashwords coupon code to get it for the Amazon price is: PG93B

Just tried the code and it doesn't work. I guess I'll just wait until you just lower the price.

[M. R. Mathias]

I only made the code for 1 day Ill go remake it and post it here: WF78A

this is for $8.88 until Oct. 1st

[rhadin]

Just bought it with the coupon. When did you lower the standard price to $9.88 from $11.88. I missed that drop.

[M. R. Mathias]

I dont know why I did it. I just did.

[Gwen Morse]

Bought this at Amazon, I'm enjoying it tremendously.

Also, while it doesn't matter to me (as such) because I automatically got the lower price at Amazon, it's good to see you responded to feedback by lowering the price at Smashwords.

[M. R. Mathias]

Thanks Gwen, I hope you enjoy it.

[M. R. Mathias]

Originally Posted by lene1949

I don't think it's so much my finances - more so the fact that you as an unknown author charges more for your first book than Ken Follett charges for his hugely popular novel Pillars of the Earth. His book is also bigger at 1767KB and 1100 pages, and has nearly 1600 reviews, of which 1096 gave 5 stars.

I have read quite a bit of your sample - I think it's very good, and I would really love to read your book, just not for that price (even with the Smashwords coupon)

Thats because Ken Follett didn't write his books in a prison cell with an inkpen... I did. That makes it a very rare book. How many 700,000 word epics do you imagine get written in prison cells? See? Im about to raise the price. So if you want to get it for less that 10 bucks you better hurry. You don't want to be the person who didnt read that wicked fantasy that the jerk convict wrote, do you? I didn't think so.

[Anteater]

Just bought it from Smashwords - description and reviews look good, probably won't get around to reading it for a while though.

[M. R. Mathias]

Thank you. I hope you enjoy it.

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by M. R. Mathias

Thats because Ken Follett didn't write his books in a prison cell with an inkpen... I did. That makes it a very rare book. How many 700,000 word epics do you imagine get written in prison cells? See? Im about to raise the price. So if you want to get it for less that 10 bucks you better hurry. You don't want to be the person who didnt read that wicked fantasy that the jerk convict wrote, do you? I didn't think so.

Maybe you'll get on this list one day..