November 2019

Hi there,

How's your November been? Are you all ready for the December holidays yet? Leave booked, Christmas shopping done?

It's been a whirlwind month, I think. In fact, with everything going on, I only managed to get through three books. How about you?

OK, take a breath. I've got a bit of very exciting news to share with you in this month's newsletter, so without further ado, let's let to it, shall we?

By the way, don't forget, as I mentioned last month, many of the links I share here will be affiliate links. Just so you know... because apparently I'm bound by law to tell you (although I don't understand why you would care). ;-)

A quick note about the sponsored links: I'm having some trouble with Admailr lately, where sometimes people will click on ads, and see a message in their browser that the page cannot be displayed. If that happens to you, won't you send me an email (just reply to this newsletter) with a screenshot of the ad you clicked on? I'll then pass it on to them, and hopefully they can get to the bottom of the problem.

Would You Like to Advertise in This Newsletter?

The "sponsored link" above is provided by a third-party advertising company called Admailr. They specialise in placing ads in people's email newsletters, and when people click on those ads, I earn a small commission.

Not everyone sees every ad. First, they're targeted to particular categories (I set mine up to show things relating to books and entertainment), and they're also personalised based on what Admailr believes each person's preferences and habits are.

But if you run a business, and you'd like to expand your reach, why not sign up as an Admailr Advertiser and create your first campaign? Who knows—you might see your ad in next month's newsletter. Wouldn't that be cool?

Billy's Zombie's Coming to Audio

If you follow me on social media, or you're set  to receive Occasional Extra Emails from me, you'll know doubt now that I was in studio with Paul Rotherham two weeks ago.

He was interviewing me about my author journey, but that's not the only reason we got together. In fact, the main reason we got together was to discuss the possibility of him narrating an audiobook for me.

... And he said yes! 

So I am happy to announce that, coming really soon, my first ever audiobook project will be released, and it'll be Paul Rotherham narrating my children's horror story, Billy's Zombie!

What's more, because I was able to find someone to narrate it privately, I didn't have to sacrifice my principles by signing an exclusive deal with the Devil that is Audible. Because we all know how I feel about the evil, unscrupulous business practices of Amazon and its offspring (if you don't know, click here to read my blog post about it from back in May).

Finances: October 2019

Unlike September, I actually hit profit in October, but that's only because I didn't have any advertising spend. I did run a promotion on Halloween, but the cost of that promotion was only reflected in November (So you'll see it in next month's newsletter).

Consequently, my only expense in October was the R19 I pay each month for my graham@grahamdowns.co.za email address.

I did have some people buy other authors' books from Amazon after clicking on my affiliate links, and I actually sold two paperbacks in October! It's very rare that I sell a paperback, and even though I make way less on those than I do on ebooks, it's worth celebrating the fact that somebody bought copies of both A Petition to Magic and Memoirs of a Guardian Angel in print. I'm not sure where from, because my distributor doesn't give that information (to be honest, I'm not even sure that the same person bought both), but I'm still chuffed.

Here are the figures. As always, I have converted them to South African Rands using the exchange rates at the time of this writing:

• Income:   R   48.81
  
• Expenses: R   19.00
• Profit:   R   29.81

Earn Commission from my Books

Many online retailers also offer affiliate programmes, where you can earn a commission for getting people to buy books there. I use Amazon's, Smashwords', and Loot's affiliate programmes, but there are others you can look into. 

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, just reply to this mail and ask me how.

Buy Someone an Ebook this Christmas

Did you know that both Amazon and Smashwords allow you to buy ebooks as gifts? Other retailers might too, so check your favourite store to see if it's an option.

So if you've got a reader in your life who might enjoy one of my books, and you haven't decided what to get them for Christmas, why not gift them one? In addition to giving them a great gift, you'll be giving me one, too!

Just go to your favourite retailer's site, find one of my books, and look for something that says "Give as a gift" or "Buy as a gift" or something. Then, follow the instructions.

If you don't want to give it to them too early, but you're afraid you'll forget, why not gift it to yourself (you'll be asked for the email address of the recipient), and then forward the email to your friend on Christmas morning?

Stingers is Getting a New Cover

This is the second piece of news I have for you this month. I'm not sure if you're aware, but an electronic publication called BookLife publishes a monthly electronic magazine targeted specifically at authors and publishers.

Well, in that magazine, each month, they have a feature called "Cover Redesign", where they take a book by an indie author with a less-than-stellar cover, and get the author to chat with a professional designer.

And next month, that author will Yours Truly!

That's right: Stingers, which originally had a cover I designed myself, and which I was never particularly happy with, if I'm honest, is getting a new cover.

 I can't share the new image with you yet, but I promise I'll send it to you as soon as I can (if you're set to receive Occasional Extra Emails), and you'll see it all over social media. And of course, I'll reveal it in next month's newsletter.

"There's dark, and there's twisted. Then there's Burning Roses... Sex magick rituals in nightclubs. Ancient demons in the mosh pit. Dozens of easter eggs, hilarious references to song lyrics and dead musicians, that had me snorting coffee out my nose. If this is how people lived in the 80s, I'm surprised anyone survived. But I'm glad they did. And that they came back to tell us how."
♠
John doesn’t give a f@©k. About anything except drinking, playing pool and headbanging to his favourite bands in Johannesburg’s metal clubs. Until a private investigator hires him to find a missing girl, and he stumbles into a twisted conspiracy of magickal forces battling to decide the fate of the human race. Who is the horned demon following him from one bar to the next? Why are shadowy cult members stalking his every move? Can he find the girl before they do? Has he fallen under her spell? Does she have her own twisted agenda? Can he hang onto his sanity? Even his life? Will any of this cut into his drinking time?
♠
Combining music, magick, mayhem & murder, this work of fiction is set against the real rock n roll underworld of 1980s Hillbrow, the heavy metal heart of Johannesburg. A humble tribute to the lost generation, to those of us who survived, and to the fallen heroes who live on in our hearts.

Month in Books

Only three books read in November. But one of them was the last The Dark Tower instalment. And it's a proper doorstop. Still, I'm glad to finally be finished; it's definitely Required Reading for any serious Stephen King fan, let me tell you.

Have you read any of these three books?

Click on a cover to read my review on Goodreads, and find out where you can get your hands on a copy.

Well, they must be a very good friend because you've just discovered a treasure trove of reading goodness!

First off, please thank your friend profusely for me. Then, go make sure you don't miss out on any more of these monthly newsletters. You'll also get one of my books free and an exclusive invitation to Graham's Super-secret Readers' Circle group on Facebook.

What are you waiting for? Click here to claim your free stuff. :-)

Yours in Reading,

Graham

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