Encouragement and Advice 
for Newly Published Authors

I've seen it happen over and over again. An enthusiastic new author is eager and exuberant to introduce his or her newly published book to the world, but the world shrugs and doesn't give it the attention it deserves. Only family and friends seem the least bit impressed. He or she takes a step back, regroups, studies marketing advice, and proceeds with more determination. Not much changes.

Every writer's experience is different, and a very few do find instant success with the first book. However, many more have less than expected sales. In fact, many give up after sluggish sales with the first or second book, but they shouldn't - not if they're writing for the right reasons.

It's much more common for sales to increase over time as a fan base grows along with the number of books sold. It took me about three years to get to the point where I was making decent royalties each month. Remember Aesop's fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare" and keep doggedly plugging along. If you've honed your writing skills and tell a good story, persistence and patience will pay off. 

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