Steve Jordan Books $1.50 each for "E-Book Week"

[Richard Herley]

jackhammer, thanks for asking. Steve's deal is good news for readers. Mine may be crazy -- you can download the books for nothing. Pay me for a book only if you enjoy it. I only want satisfied customers. The link's in my sig.

[awi]

just got the $ 10 bundle too. Didn't hear about Steve's books before but i am going to find out soon.

Just have to skip the next 3 beers in the bar next thursday.......

Great deal Steve!!

[AMacD]

I read the freebies and bought the $10 package. Steve Jordan has one hell of an imagination (this is good). I have read them all, and even at $2.50 a pop I expect to continue reading them all. I highly recommend the package for anyone who has a Kindle. Al in Benson, AZ

[Kane]

For my second post on Mobileread, I'd like to say hello to Steve Jordan. Based on my enjoyment of the story First Expedition (didn't realize it was connected to the other short story, or maybe I forgot) a couple of weeks ago, I just bought the full bundle. A fantastic bargain.

Thanks much.

[ChrisHandley]

Thank you so much for doing this.

I like toe idea but have trouble imagining how you could support a lifestyle by effectively giving away 10 books... unless millions are buying this way.. and maybe they are for all I know.

But I hope this approach works.

Thanks,

Chris

[Gaurnim]

I did buy the $10 bundle too, it's pretty interesting.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Guys,
I've been having an incredible response from this year's sale, and I say "Hi" and "Thank you" to everyone who has bought my novels or even said nice things about me!

Surprisingly enough, though I am selling my novels at a very low price, I am selling in an ever-increasing volume, as more and more people find out about me and check out my books. (Not millions yet... but I'm working on it!) So, though I'm not making much per book, I'm making more overall from increased sales. (Thanks again!)

This was always my intent... my Master Plan, as it were... to gain a reader base, and hopefully enough positive comments about my work, to be able to take it to the next level, whatever that may be. So far, so good.

I'm so glad you're all enjoying the books. Hopefully you'll enjoy the next one as much, and all the others behind them! (I tend to work on one book, while I plan my next 1-2 books out.)

[stustaff]

I think its just good business by Steve, in my case I would not of bought one of Steves books for $2.50... I havent heard of him and I cant pick up his book in a shop and read the first chapter so he loses those sort of sales that would normally get me 'into' an author.

Steve then gets $0 from me..

This way I hear about the offer.... figure that '10 books for 10 bucks'(great line you should use this ) is a great deal I bought them.

Steve gets $10 from me...

AND if I like them I will happily then pay $2.50 for a new book.

Steve then increases sales of his new book.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by stustaff

I think its just good business by Steve, in my case I would not of bought one of Steves books for $2.50... I havent heard of him and I cant pick up his book in a shop and read the first chapter so he loses those sort of sales that would normally get me 'into' an author.

Actually, if you'd heard of me before, and visited my site, you'd have discovered that I do have excerpts of the first 2 chapters of each of my novels online. So you might have bought one of my novels before the sale.

Just sayin'.

[Kokomo Lee]

Wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth, and say how much I am enjoying Steve's books. I purchased the "Hard Sci-Fi Bundle" for $5, and i am very impressed! :

I'm having a bit of trouble converting the .rtf files into .imp files, but I'm an eBookwise newbie, and hope to figure out the problem soon .

Well done Steve!

Sherri

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Actually, if you'd heard of me before, and visited my site, you'd have discovered that I do have excerpts of the first 2 chapters of each of my novels online. So you might have bought one of my novels before the sale.

Just sayin'.

Thanks steve but my feedback would be that I would never download a couple of chapters from an online seller! I would however read a chapter from a book physically in a shop.

I love your model and plans but my suggestion would be to have 1 whole book free at all times! get that book out there make sure there are clear notes at the front of the book and the back that list your other books and your website.

I would happily download a free book! and then if its good you have me hooked in then.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Thanks steve but my feedback would be that I would never download a couple of chapters from an online seller! I would however read a chapter from a book physically in a shop.

Hmm... interesting. So, you'd sit in a shop and read one or two chapters of a book that you may or may not buy, but you won't download and read one or two chapters at home? Is that because you don't like reading on your PC?

Originally Posted by stustaff

I love your model and plans but my suggestion would be to have 1 whole book free at all times! get that book out there make sure there are clear notes at the front of the book and the back that list your other books and your website.

I would happily download a free book! and then if its good you have me hooked in then.

That's why The Onuissance Cells and The First Expedition have always been available for free on the site... for people just like you to check out, risk-free. And they are in multiple e-book formats, so you can put it on your reader and read them wherever.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Hmm... interesting. So, you'd sit in a shop and read one or two chapters of a book that you may or may not buy, but you won't download and read one or two chapters at home? Is that because you don't like reading on your PC?



That's why The Onuissance Cells and The First Expedition have always been available for free on the site... for people just like you to check out, risk-free. And they are in multiple e-book formats, so you can put it on your reader and read them wherever.

In answer to your first question, yeh I know not totally logical but still how it is. I think its actually more a case of getting the buy in to read that first chapter, in a book store there is the colourful cover and the blurb on the back which gets me first I would then if the author was new to me read a chapter or so and see what I think.

Ebooks and the download process dont seem to me to be as 'vivid' 'real' 'engaging' as print books thats nothing to do with the actual quality of the content but more the quality of the products appearance.

As an example really looking forward to your books now, but based on the cover I may never have picked it up in the first place even if that was in a bookstore, if i compare one of your covers with say a stephen Baxter book I think as a product they arent on an equal playing field.

e.g
or

compared with

They are a good distance apart for ME I dont want to appear to be harsh or unfair to whoever designed it but I cant see that on a shelf yet.(also its much better than I could do)

However in the interest of constructive criticism thats how I feel I do appreciate however that Baxters cover has to outdo other books next to it on a shelf and yours just have to look appealing in their isolation, however your books could be better presented.

Also the summaries of the books.

again to stay with a theme if i compare the two books synopsis' (sp?) then Time comes across more proffesionally to be specific look at the first lines of the two

"Glen Jansen is seeking to improve his work and prospects when he purchases bleeding edge personal computer technology." - ok fair enough but not really a story I would read! someguy wants to improve his lot so buys a new computer...

"The year is 2010. We have survived! So far." - ok wow 2010 ok faur enough we have survived... Survived what? why the exclamation on that whats happend? I want to know more its a great hook.

look at them in full.

Encephalopath

"Glen Jansen is seeking to improve his work and prospects when he purchases bleeding edge personal computer technology. But when the tech gives him unexpected access to strange parts of the net, and seemingly to other people's very thoughts, he finds himself on the run from the government, the mob, and a bunch of ersatz terrorist/patriots, all while trying to find out who's really controlling the country's networks! *"

Time - Stephen Baxter

The year is 2010. We have survived! So far. Cornelius Taine of Eschatology, Inc., mathematical genius, predicts that in just 200 years our species will be wiped out. Even evacuation from Earth will not save us from extinction. Reid Malenfant, entrepreneur, has Big Dumb Boosters ready to fly from the California desert, to be piloted by an enhanced squid named Sheena 5. When Taine offers Malenfant the ultimate dream of saving the species, Sheena's mission is diverted to investigate Earth's recently discovered - and very remote - second moon. What Sheena 5 discovers there is nothing less than a revelation: the secret reason for our existence visible at last beneath the rippled surface of Time's river. Malenfant and Taine must follow Sheena! But they are pursued by an enraged US Air and Space Force, and a mighty battle in space may cut short their hopes for the ultimate transformation of mankind

And in summary my idea is for you to design your web page with the books on like this...
Take away the left table and have a bookshelf and when a book is clicked on it gives the synopsis on the right hand side and a link to read the first chapter there and then, It really makes the reader think 'book!' and it also replicates that physical book buying buzz better



I wandered all over the place there I hope its taken in the constructive manner it was meant

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Stustaff,
No offense taken, your points are all well-received. FYI, I design and create the covers of my novels (your comments bring to mind why I am currently working as a writer and web developer, and not an artist!), and I write the synopses and blurbs.

Personally, the over-the-top blurbs you selected ("We have survived! So far.") have always seemed overly-melodramatic to me, and I try not to sound so cliche in my writing... also, that blurb is just too long and involved to me, I stopped reading it after the fifth sentence... but I can see how others might be attracted to a book they might otherwise have overlooked. Maybe I'll try that on my site sometime, and see if it boosts sales!

Regarding the covers, to each his own (I would not have been attracted to the Resplendent cover, but maybe the SpaceTime cover. Refer to comment in 1st paragraph). Hey... I like my covers!

Finally, regarding the site design: The concept of making my site resemble books on a shelf is not lost on me... but at the same time, it's not a look I wanted to replicate. I don't see my novels as "pretending to be printed books," or "books without paper," they are simply novels, in electronic form.

E-books deserve their own identity, and I designed the site with that in mind. It may not attract those who can only see books as printed products, or e-books as "Pinocchios (I want to be a real book someday)," but to those who appreciate the unique and independent nature of e-books, I believe the site works fine. IOW, no bookshelf icons for me... e-books don't need bookshelves.

Of course, I'm always looking for ways to improve the SJB, and any tips and critiques are helpful. As it is, the design hasn't changed much in the past 2 years, and if a change is in order, you never know which way I might go...

[kaas]

bought steves 10$ package and paidfor all of richards books. I will gladly support authors on trust and who knows, maybe i will like the books
cheers,
kaas