Sucking It Up - But Not Holding My Breath

    Thanks to all of you who took advantage of the sale through Smashwords. I appreciate it.
    I must say that I do have conflicted feelings about placing the book on sale for 99 cents, when it normally downloads for $4.99. Sure, it gets it out there and into the hands of people (or rather, onto their e-readers, which is in their hands), but if I were to continue to sell it at such a reduced price, it would take me into the next millenium to recoup the costs of publication.
    And, what about the paperbacks? Normally retailing at $15.95, Amazon has it available for $9.77. By the time, the royalties pass through the hands of the book distributer, Amazon, and then the publisher, I receive a mere 20% of the already discouted rates. Again, gaining bragging rights will bring me into the next millenium.
    What's a writer to do?
    I am told by successful writers that only approximately 5% of published writers make more than $5,000 a year. That explains why so many writers have full-time jobs. I hope I don't sound defeatist or pessimistic. I am certainly hopeful, happy and proud to be able to call myself a published author.

    So, I will try to hold my breath in the hope that Hollywood offers to make it into a blockbuster, or, at the very least, a Hallmark movie-of-the-week. Because, the next millenium is a long way off and I really don't think I can hold my breath that long. Really.