Happy New year - 2011 recap and 2012 preview

Hey guys - Happy New year!

First I want to thank everyone for all the support this year. wow 2011 was such a roller coaster ride - some ups and some downs.

I started the year with chronic vertigo, in acquisitions, down in book rejection, parted with my wonderful agent, gave up on writing, decided to put out Untraceable, then ended the year with wonderful new blogger friends (all of you), no vertigo, and wonderful sales for Untraceable (the book everyone told me would not sell). All backed by my wonderful family and friends who never wavered on their support for me and who were all healthy and happy.

Honestly? I could cry just talking about it all.

As promised, I wanted to update you on my sales since you all have taken this journey with me. I owe a lot of Untraceable's to you guys - all my blogger buddies who have supported me so openly and actively. So, as I promised I will share personal details. Let me say this is very hard for me to post b/c 1) I have no idea what is good or bad in this industry. I just know I'm doing beyond what I expected for me so that is all I can do. 2) I might be totally embarrassing myself if they aren't that great. and 3) what if everyone assumed or thought i would sell more? Oh well, this is great for me so I am focusing on that. Esp considering last year this time, I had sold none :)

So are you ready for my numbers??

Today - I am ranking #75 in children action and adventure and at about 1,500 in overall ebooks. Very good for someone small time like me.


Total sold = approximately 2,700 copies!

• Smashwords - 44
• B&N - 150
• Amazon - 2257* (without amazon promotion 1000 copies = 1257)
• paperback - 100 (as you can see this is a small percentage of my sales.

*Let me say that Amazon did run a special promotion on my book and put it for free for 2 days (while still paying me my royalty on 99 cents) and it really bumped my numbers. During that time - there were about 1000 downloads. It got my in top ranking and kept me there once price returned to normal. Since then it has been about 100 in sales a day. So in all fairness - this was not my doing. I had only sold about 600 prior to that promotion and 600 since. I have no idea why they chose me for this.

So again -  if you don't count that 1,000 they got me - I only sold about 1,000 to 1,200 copies on Amazon for the month - still beyond my wildest expectations.

My Kindle Nation ad I told you about (that I purchased before my book came out for 170$) ran for 3 days the week before Christmas and was very successful. Enough to where I made back more than I put in my money. I think I sold about 150 copies that day plus it kept me in top 5,000 ebooks so if you are wondering - it is definitely worth the investment! So, I say do it.

2012 Untraceable Updates


I have several ads scheduled for Jan and Feb on pixel of ink ($170), bargain books for nook (free), frugal ereader (50$) and digital reader (free) = total of $210. My price is returning to its normal price at 3.99 this week so it will take me about 80 books to make that money back which I HOPE I can sell in Jan :)

• I am on Untraceable book tour with the awesome Teen Book scene in January (yay) and with wonderful Katie at Mundie Moms the beginning of Feb. I never turn down a blog visit so feel free to email me if you would like me to visit your blog ;) (shelli@srjohannes.com)

• My special edition of Untraceable - which will have the original ending - is scheduled for March.

• Uncontrollable is scheduled for summer 2012. I will give you a hint. This time Grace encounters the endangered red wolves being reintroduced in North Carolina.

• I am also working on a new project for late next fall.

On The Bright Side - my tween angel book is coming Jan 31st

• The book is currently in copy edits. 
• If you have a blog that focuses on MG or tween, please sign up here :) I would be honored to visit on your blog.
• The cover for the book was shot this weekend with Vania at VLC Photo - and it is amazon.
• The huge cover reveal on Mon, Jan 16th. (yay!)

Indelibles Launch

I started a marketing/support group (similar to the Tenners) that consists of about 25 AMAZING Indie Authors. We will be officially launching on Monday, Jan 9th with fun giveaways. We will be having a "Blogger chat" on Jan 11th and a writer/author chat on 18th to answer questions on self and indie pubbing. So put those dates on your calendar and join us for a Q&A and giveaways. More info next Monday on 9th.

IN HIS EYES Anthology - scheduled for Feb 14th

This is a Valentine anthology from authors in the Indelibles. The anthology is a awesome collection of short stories - which are all from the POV of HOT male characters.(who can deny that??) My story will include Mo and his perspective on Grace. So check it out!

RT Convention - scheduled in April

I will be selling and signing books at the RT Convention in Chicago in April so come and see me if you live close by. :) More deets as it gets closer.

Blog Updates

• I am redesigning my web site - so stay tuned. 
• I am also adding Tween Tuesdays where I will talk about tween books and tween marketing along with my tween book journey.
• I will still be doing Bookanista posts on Thursdays and any IndieViews with Indie authors on Fridays.
• Also - I will have a surprise post once every month (and you won't know when) - Blogger Appreciation Day - one day a month where I will feature a wonderful blogger who has support ed me and give away prices to you all - just to say thanks for your support.

The topics will not happen every week but these will be the daily themes. I promise I will do as much as I can. One HUGE pet peeve of mine is when authors/writers work hard to get a blog following, have bloggers help them launch a book, and then come back and say "they are too busy" to blog. THAT IS NOT ME AT ALL! So I will do as much as I possibly can to keep a special connection with all of you. No matter what is happening! 

So, tell me - what are your plans for this year? Personal or writing wise? Any special events coming up for you?

I'm having a New Years Revolution!

I was sitting up last night, trying to write but instead procrastinating by thinking of resolutions. I realized I make the same ones every year and have for #$ years.

This year,it's time for another New Year's Revolution. That means, no more annual promises to make.

So...here are all the promises I promise to break this year.

1) No more eating chocolate. (Yeah right. This year I'm going to eat 2 a day! Maybe even 3.)

2) Lose 5 pounds. (This year I think I'm going to try and 2 lbs. Oops - CHECK!)

3) Write 1000 words a day. (Whatever, I'll never make it anyway. Why set myself up for failure. Just to prove it - today I'm going to write ZERO words tomorrow.)

4) Going zen about the writing process. (Nah, I'd rather freak out when I can. It shows that I'm not dead inside.)

5) No more damn cussing. (Shit, my potty mouth is here to stay - sorry!)

6) Look my best everyday. (I'm not even going to dignify this one with a response.)

7) Saving money. (Impossible, I don't have any.)

8) Getting healthy. (I'm thinking cheetos count - a balanced meal with protein dairy, fat and carbs.)

9) Reading adult literature and poetic essays. (No way I'm giving up on my MG and YA. Just makes it hard to connect with friends who are reading Sarah Palin's biography and JayZ's book.)

10) Go totally green. (I try so hard but I tend to only make it to a bright lime-green.)

11)Chill out on social networking. (Hi my name is Shelli. I am a social network alcoholic and LOVE IT!)

12) Get out more and lead an exciting life. (Forget it, I'm boring and fine with it. Give me TV, my bed, pizza, and a book any day. Lucky for me hubby feels the same :)

13) Dress for success. (What? Give up Target, jeans, and Uggs? Give me my brand Mossimo any day?)

14) Watch less trash TV........ (Yeah right. I'm going to add another show just to rebel.Maybe even TMZ reruns)

15) Be a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter. (Nah, I think I already do a pretty good job. Who needs perfection?)

16) Stop repeating myself over and over and over and over again to my kids. (This is not going to happen any time soon.)

17) Watch more news. (Why? When it's so depressing?)

18) Cook more. (ie Get new microwave, learn to use a crock pot, and get a frozen box cutter. (the boxes are killing my nails.)

19) Did I say write more? (I write as much as I can.)

20) Call family and friends more. (I say to them - get on Facebook you losers!)

Happy New year!

What about you? What is your revolution for this year? What resolutions do you plan on breaking?

My 2009 Word of the Year!

Marketing Tip on Search Engine Optimization

• Make sure that there are keywords in 3 places: META tags, page title, and contents of your page.
• Get your content information on popular related websites and listed with vendors.
• Improving your website ranking on search engines should be a goal for all authors. Chances are the title of your website may not be search friendly.

My 2009 Word of the Year!

Breathe!

2008 was kind of a weird year for me. A year of change. A year of anxiety. A year of passion. A year of ups and downs.

My hubby was recuperating from major back surgery. He had to go to Germany for 6 weeks, when my son was 6 months old, and have 2 discs replaced. It has been a long recovery, financially, physically, and mentally.

In addition, my dog died. Which I am sure happens a lot. But it was the first death I have experienced close to e since my grandmother dies when I was 13ish. So it scared me. It scared me about losing those people close to me.

My parents. My hubby. My kids. My other dog.

We decided not to have any more kids. Which sounds normal but it was a very sad process for me to come to terms with. Not that I was positive I wanted another one, but just the chance or possibility was enough for me.

2008 was also the year I finished my YA novel as well as a few other projects. In 2007, My first MG Fantasy made it all the way to 2 Acquisitions meetings with 2 editors (I didn't try for agents). I was so frustrated with the process and getting so close, I became discouraged and stopped writing for a long time. Until I met Jessica Dehart and joined our critique group. It was then that I pushed forward and finished my YA book as well as wrote a Nonfiction book that made it to the top 2 in Acquisitions with American Girl. (Again, so close!)

I also began subbing my YA book to a carefully-selected agents (Stay tuned.)

Finally, I ended 2008 with 3 months of sickness including this dang inner ear infection that won't go away. One whose only side effect was a massive case of Vertigo. This ear infection has prevented me from doing a lot. Yoga, enjoying the holidays, writing, and more. Its been frustrating and given me a lot of time to lay and think about where I am in my life. And where I want to be.

I am one to believe that energy manifests itself in our bodies and spirit.

Therefore, I've decided I am in my head too much.

So this year is about healing, about hope, about being grateful, about living in the moment, about having faith in the process.

This year is simply about breathing.

I find even though I am a yoga girl, sometimes I hold my breath especially when I write.

So I need to breathe more.

Not the shallow chest breathing that we tend to do automatically.

I'm talking about the deep, meaningful breaths “belly breaths.”

Did you know that deep, rhythmic breathing expands your diaphragm which stimulates your lymphatic system and massages your organs.? This helps get rid itself of toxins and leaves more room for your body to take in oxygen which keeps your cells alive.

A bit scientific.

But interesting.

After not feeling my best lately and knowing I'm getting older, I realize I take my body for granted. I don't' feed my body the same way I try so hard to feed my soul with writing or whatever else makes me happy and content.

I realize I don't spend one moment of silence with myself the way I used to when I was single. before kids.

I'm always busy.

Busy working, writing, running around with kids, cooking dinner, playdates, doing laundry, cleaning, doing dishes, paying bills, driving, eating, drinking.

There does not seem to be one moment in the day where I just breathe. Meditate. Sit still.

That is one of my 2009 New Years Resolutions.

To breathe.

Sounds easy, right?

There's a saying: "I write for the same reason I breathe -- because if I didn't, I would die."

Last year, my word was write.

I'm writing more.

This year, I just need to breath.

For "every breathe I take" helps me live a little more.

(PS Stings hot! Can i get a woot woot!)

Friday Inspiration

Still fighting this crazy ear infection. How does an adult get an ear infection that lingers for 2 months? I'm off to the ENT next week. Til then, I just get to feel drunk all the time. Not so fun anymore after 60 days. SIGH.

For now, here is an inspiration video (thanks HipWritermama!) to bring in your New Year!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.