Xenolith: Contemporary Fantasy - Page 12

ASparrow · 05-02-2010, 06:32 AM

Ironic (or fitting?). In that previous post, there is a typo in the word typo (type).

ASparrow · 05-05-2010, 08:28 PM

Xenolith is number 5 on the all-time "best-seller" list on Smashwords!

(Full Disclosure: most of my "sales" are from free coupons).

Including samples, It's approaching 2,000 downloads with about 20 reviews.
(One review per 100 downloads or 50 "sales").

Here's excerpts from the latest reviews:

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book"

"Well written with interesting characters. Characters you want to read about and care for. Great story!"

"Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read."

"Great, great book. I don't normally like fantasy and sci-fi, but this book blew me away. I'd actually categorize it as "Action/Adventure".

I love the multiple plot lines, the jumping around of the point of view, the snappy chapters ... every time I opened the book to read on it was like calling up good friends and heading out to an adventure."

(That last one makes me blush).

There's bad aspects too, but I'm feeling less self-flagellatory today than usual.

SneakySnake · 05-05-2010, 08:30 PM

Congratulations ASparrow

How's the sequel coming along?

ASparrow · 05-06-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

Congratulations ASparrow

How's the sequel coming along?

The sequel (Peregrin) is written at 105k words, but going through intensive edits. Hard to predict when exactly it will be ready. Some chapters have been a breeze to revise, dotting the i's, so to speak. Some (like the one I'm working on now) are a b*tch. Eighteen done so far (1/3). Poor Frank. I am so mean to him.

On another front, I'll be releasing a completely different novel this summer, called "Lethe." It's a fantasy about a dysfunctional afterlife for unfinished souls. Dan Tompkins, 22, murdered by a dead and distant relation from the afterlife, wants out and will do anything to get his life back.

This one will be ready for beta reads and copy-edits by mid-June.

ASparrow · 05-11-2010, 10:03 PM

Some background on XENOLITH and its author is appearing on the Indie Spotlight blog tomorrow (Wednesday):
http://www.theindiespotlight.com/

Hopefully, I don't come across as too weird.

ASparrow · 05-20-2010, 08:25 PM

Xenolith is the #8 most downloaded SciFi and Fantasy ebook on Smashwords and the overall #5 all-time bestseller.

Come see why. It won't cost you a penny, and it might change your opinion of the value of 'free.'

ASparrow · 05-29-2010, 08:42 PM

Just a heads up. I plan to release my new novel, LETHE, on July 1, and may reconsider my pricing strategy at that point.

(Note: this is not the sequel to Xenolith, which is still under revision, and probably won't be ready until late summer, early fall.

DixieGal · 05-29-2010, 09:58 PM

Is it still free? I want it. Thanks!

ASparrow · 05-30-2010, 05:28 AM

Yes, Xenolith is still free. Just enter $0.00 for the price, or you can sample 100% directly, which is quicker (requires fewer keystrokes).

Come July 1, though, I'm thinking of setting a price of either $0.99 or making both books completely free.

koland · 05-30-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASparrow

Yes, Xenolith is still free. Just enter $0.00 for the price, or you can sample 100% directly, which is quicker (requires fewer keystrokes).

But sampling only gets you the current version - using a zero sales price puts the book in your library and you can get any updates the author posts later or download another format after the price changes, etc.

ASparrow · 05-30-2010, 03:41 PM

That's strange. I took the beta version of Lethe off-line on Friday but I've had 2 additional downloads today to make a total of 24 for my 24-hour trial (Full release: July 1).

Maybe samples and full downloads each get counted? In that case, Xenolith might have gotten out to fewer readers than I originally thought (2,040).

ASparrow · 06-06-2010, 07:18 PM

Peregrin is 22/68 complete.

nomesque · 06-07-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASparrow

That's strange. I took the beta version of Lethe off-line on Friday but I've had 2 additional downloads today to make a total of 24 for my 24-hour trial (Full release: July 1).

Maybe samples and full downloads each get counted? In that case, Xenolith might have gotten out to fewer readers than I originally thought (2,040).

Both samples and full downloads are counted in the Downloads column - so if I download a sample, then buy it and download another copy, it'll probably count as 2 downloads.

Could be either someone who bought it downloading a copy, OR someone who's accessing the catalogue via a feed-site (where it hasn't yet been updated as 'unpublished') downloading a sample. Probably the former.

ASparrow · 06-09-2010, 02:21 PM

There's a new review posted that mentions "epub" formatting issues that I hadn't realized before. Has anyone else had a problem viewing Xenolith in epub?

(Otherwise, they seemed to enjoy it).

Moe The Cat · 06-09-2010, 08:03 PM

No problems with the EPUB here ... However, that reviewer seems to be saying that the table of contents doesn't work. The table of contents is listed at the beginning of the book, but it doesn't link to the different chapters, so it's difficult to jump to a specific chapter. Perhaps the ebook software he was using on his phone loads chapters individually, to speed up the load process. With no working table of contents, his software considers the book to be one big file and loads the whole thing each time he opens it.

05-30-2010, 05:28 AM	#174
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Yes, Xenolith is still free. Just enter $0.00 for the price, or you can sample 100% directly, which is quicker (requires fewer keystrokes). Come July 1, though, I'm thinking of setting a price of either $0.99 or making both books completely free. Last edited by ASparrow; 05-30-2010 at 09:10 AM.

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05-02-2010, 06:32 AM	#166
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Ironic (or fitting?). In that previous post, there is a typo in the word typo (type).

05-05-2010, 08:28 PM	#167
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Xenolith is number 5 on the all-time "best-seller" list on Smashwords! (Full Disclosure: most of my "sales" are from free coupons). Including samples, It's approaching 2,000 downloads with about 20 reviews. (One review per 100 downloads or 50 "sales"). Here's excerpts from the latest reviews: "I thoroughly enjoyed this book" "Well written with interesting characters. Characters you want to read about and care for. Great story!" "Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read." "Great, great book. I don't normally like fantasy and sci-fi, but this book blew me away. I'd actually categorize it as "Action/Adventure". I love the multiple plot lines, the jumping around of the point of view, the snappy chapters ... every time I opened the book to read on it was like calling up good friends and heading out to an adventure." (That last one makes me blush). There's bad aspects too, but I'm feeling less self-flagellatory today than usual.

05-05-2010, 08:30 PM	#168
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Congratulations ASparrow How's the sequel coming along?

05-11-2010, 10:03 PM	#170
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Some background on XENOLITH and its author is appearing on the Indie Spotlight blog tomorrow (Wednesday): http://www.theindiespotlight.com/ Hopefully, I don't come across as too weird.

05-20-2010, 08:25 PM	#171
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Xenolith is the #8 most downloaded SciFi and Fantasy ebook on Smashwords and the overall #5 all-time bestseller. Come see why. It won't cost you a penny, and it might change your opinion of the value of 'free.'

05-29-2010, 08:42 PM	#172
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Just a heads up. I plan to release my new novel, LETHE, on July 1, and may reconsider my pricing strategy at that point. (Note: this is not the sequel to Xenolith, which is still under revision, and probably won't be ready until late summer, early fall.

05-29-2010, 09:58 PM	#173
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Is it still free? I want it. Thanks!

05-30-2010, 03:41 PM	#176
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	That's strange. I took the beta version of Lethe off-line on Friday but I've had 2 additional downloads today to make a total of 24 for my 24-hour trial (Full release: July 1). Maybe samples and full downloads each get counted? In that case, Xenolith might have gotten out to fewer readers than I originally thought (2,040).

06-06-2010, 07:18 PM	#177
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	Peregrin is 22/68 complete.

06-09-2010, 02:21 PM	#179
ASparrow Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 600000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston Device: Palm TX	There's a new review posted that mentions "epub" formatting issues that I hadn't realized before. Has anyone else had a problem viewing Xenolith in epub? (Otherwise, they seemed to enjoy it).

06-09-2010, 08:03 PM	#180
Moe The Cat Bear Melt Posts: 919 Karma: 5433051 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Device: Google Pixel 6, Moto G9 Power (both with Fbreader) & Kindle PW2	No problems with the EPUB here ... However, that reviewer seems to be saying that the table of contents doesn't work. The table of contents is listed at the beginning of the book, but it doesn't link to the different chapters, so it's difficult to jump to a specific chapter. Perhaps the ebook software he was using on his phone loads chapters individually, to speed up the load process. With no working table of contents, his software considers the book to be one big file and loads the whole thing each time he opens it.