Thursday, July 2, 2015

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Part of a Book Bundle? by Melissa Keir

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Part of a Book Bundle?



Book bundles or anthologies are one of the hottest best-selling books right now. It’s a great way to get to know new-to-you authors and expand your sales base. I’m currently in four book bundles and love them!

Book bundles are sets of books set among a theme or by the same author. It’s a wonderful way to group stories. They can be full-length novels or shorter novellas. Some of the bundles contain brand new stories while others feature re-releases of an author’s popular work. They range from three to twelve stories and are usually priced at $0.99.

The hardest part isn’t writing your story. The hardest part is giving ALL members of the bundle, equal say. They have to agree on the blurb, the cover, and the promotions. The more members, the more challenging it is. And then, what happens if there is a disagreement? What happens if someone doesn’t do their share or is late in submitting their story?

This is why it’s important to plan for these things up front. Seriously, it’s happened. Even in one group, a person dropped out of the bundle and we had to reformat without them. In another group, the people couldn’t agree on the cover. Sometimes a problem can turn into a big deal and shut down the whole bundle or end a friendship. Many authors are using a book bundle service which allows for someone else to manage the money and handle the problems. This is a good idea but it does cost you a percent of your sales. You have to weigh the value.


As you can see there’s a lot more to a book bundle than just jumping in and writing your story. It’s best to talk these things through first and set a plan, then you can enjoy the fruits of your work without the stress or problems. 



Crashing Into Love:
Lost meets Romancing the Stone--action adventure, a dash of mystery, and romance to die for.

Seven planes lift off…seven planes crash…seven stories of struggle, passion and love in the barren Canadian Wilderness, the coast of England, or the steamy heat of a tropical island. Romance hangs in the balance between survival and death.

Brace for Impact by Daryl Devoré.
What could be simpler than a routine plane trip from Toronto, Canada to Caracas, Venezuela for rookie flight attendant, Lori, and sexy R.C.M.P. officer, Guy Lapierre? But Fate had other intentions.

Crashing into You by Lisa Kumar
When Ashlee Trent meets handsome businessman Kaiden West on a plane to Australia, he eases her fears even as he sets her heart ablaze. But after their plane crashes into the ocean and they wash ashore, will the secrets surrounding him send their budding relationship into a nosedive?

Crashing Through Time by Jenna Jaxon
The most dangerous thing about time travel is knowledge of the past: does she save him and change history, or let the tragic events play out and lose the love of her life?
More than hearts can be broken when you crash through time. 

Love Comes Crashing In by Brenda Dyer
Best friends find love in each other's arms, but can that love survive reality?

Falling Hard by D'Ann Lindun
He craves solitude to forget what a woman did to him. She needs one last chance before her career ends. Can a plane crash in the Canadian Rockies show them what really matters?

A Splash of Romance by Deb Julienne
Who knew a plane crash would lead to romance? Hannah Parks is a trauma nurse on her way to a symposium at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. She just started her bucket list and a plane crash definitely isn't on it.  Oliver Lawson's divorce is final and he's looking to start over. A tropical island, a gorgeous woman. Romance is one thing, getting there as a result of a crash landing...who knew? 

BUY LINKS:

About Melissa Keir:
For my wedding in Vegas, my books and computer came with me but there wasn't enough room for my wedding shoes. It’s all about priorities! As an avid reader, I was probably born with a book in hand. Luckily my mom was also an avid reader, so it was easy to "borrow" her books when my books were finished.
I was reading from an early age about dashing men on horseback riding to the rescue of strong willed and capable women who didn't really need rescuing. I came to expect that women in fairy tales should have fought their own battles. When I was older, I found Margaret Atwood and realized that women could re-tell history in their own way and I experimented with changing those basic fairy tales.
Fortunately for me, my husband allows me the opportunity to be myself (spend my salary on books) and still takes care of the really important things for me like killing spiders and opening jars. As an elementary teacher, teaching children about the many worlds inside of books is a gift that I’m lucky enough to do for a living. Teaching the next generation to love reading is a lot of fun! Reading the right book can make a new world come alive!
Currently living in the suburbs of Ann Arbor, Michigan with my darling husband, way-too-grown-up children and spoiled dogs, I enjoy getting away through a book to escape the harsh winters or summer road construction.


I’d love to hear from you!

8 comments:

  1. Great advice, Melissa. All good points to ponder.

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    1. Thank you Margo. To be honest, my book bundles have been better sellers than my single titles. People seem to really want them these days.

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  2. Excellent advice. And I can see how these...issues can and do pop up.

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    1. That's why it's wonderful when you can get in a bundle with people you trust. Just imagine the money worries alone!

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  3. I know my daughter has often had trouble whenever she's had to work with a group. If everyone in the group doesn't do his or her part, it usually falls on one or two people to pull everything together.

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    1. Maris... That's so true. It happens all the time. It can lead to hurt feelings. That's why it's important to talk about things ahead of time and to sometimes let things go that really aren't that important.

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  4. I've participated in a couple of group box sets/anthologies. I agree the more people the harder it is for a group consensus. We had one back out of an anthology and about had another out of a box set. All the people have to be able to compromise. It is a good way to get more exposure. Good luck with your box sets!

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