As some of you may know from past posts, I put my first two books up on Amazon and Smashwords on December 31, 2011. The first eight months were not very impressive, as I believe I sold about forty eBooks during that time. Then I did the giveaway of The Deep Dark Well, to the tune of over 4,000 copies. Two months later I published Exodus: Empires at War: Book 1, and it started selling well. How well? Over a hundred copies in October, 872 in November, 1,976 in December and 3,088 in January. I released Exodus Book 2 in December, 2011, and sold 1,440 copies that first month. In January of 2012 I sold a total of 8,560 eBooks, and that was when I decided I would do this thing full time in the near future. By the middle of March, 2012 I quit my job and I was suddenly my own boss. So, four years after putting up those first two books, I have sold over 151,000 Ebooks, 1,500 paperbacks, and 4,300 audiobooks, for a grand total of almost 157,000 copies. Six of the Exodus books have hit number 1 in Space Opera or Military Scifi on Amazon.UK, and top 10 on Amazon.US, with one reaching number 2. My total Amazon reviews total over 2,200, with an overall average across all books of 4.6 stars. On Goodreads I have over 2,300 ratings, with a 4.09 star average (4.18 for the Exodus series). We won’t get into money, except to say that I am making a very comfortable midlist (old midlist that is to say) income. So, everything is going well. I would like to do even better. I think most writers would. With the averages of my ratings on Amazon and Goodreads I think I can attract a bigger audience. The trick is actually doing it.
On New Year’s Day I posted that I was going to try for 3K words a day. Then I came down with bronchitis, and have been lucky to average 2K. But I believe the 3K average will come when I’m feeling better. That comes out to about 1.095 million words for the year, or just about nine of the 120,000 word novels I tend to write. It will probably be more like 7 books, and the rest in short stories, blogs, whatever. I have other series in mind, things I would like to work on, but first I need to finish what I started. So, future plans?
Exodus is still the primary focus. I am up to book 9 of the main storyline now. Some have commented that it’s already too long and needs to be finished. The majority opinion is that I can’t do too many books, but I have to disagree with that as well. I am planning a total of twenty books in the main series. Exodus was envisioned as a long series about a grand scale war. Some have said it appears to be World War 2 in space, which it kind of is, but not completely. Being an epic war, I wanted it to have a grand sweep, with successes and failures, advances and retreats, all the things that make up a grand war. While technology advances on both sides, there are no miraculous superweapons that win it overnight. Twenty should get me there, and there will be at least three books in the main storyline in the coming year, with the first release planned for March. Machine War, the side series, is also doing well, though not in the same league as the main storyline. One of the reasons for releasing that series while the main one still progressing was to have continuity between the two lines, without one already having given away the game of the other. There will be at least one book in Machine War released in 2016, and a total of six in the series. I will also put out a book or two of Tales of the Empire, with the first due for release in about two weeks. I like these short story and novelette collections because not only are they fun to write, they are good practice for writing short fiction. There will be some Tales of the Empire standalone novels as well, covering the history of the Empire. I will also write book 5 of the Refuge series, closing in on the finish. I expect 6 books will complete it. This was a series I had great hopes for, but it just isn’t doing it. Maybe some time in the future I can restart it.
In two weeks I will be releasing the first book of the second Deep Dark Well trilogy. I wrote this book back in 2011, prior to releasing my first self pubbed work. I love the storyline, and it opens up an entirely new Universe with endless possibilities. I will probably release a book a year until the trilogy is finished, then see what happens. I have two short stories for invitation only anthologies I need to submit by January 31st, and another two for additional invitation only anthologies in May. And at least one, maybe two, novel submissions for traditional publishers. Now, several popular traditionally published authors have asked me why I would want a publishing contract. The answer is to get more readers. I would like to lock in a series with preferably Baen, do a book a year for them, maybe two, and spend the rest of the time putting out self pubbed. I think I can make it work to the mutual advantage of the publisher and myself.
I have more series in mind for the future. I love the Exodus series, and it has done very well, but it also shows a lot of the things early on that I didn’t know. I hope to avoid the same mistakes in the future. Still, there will be another Exodus series, starting with the contact with the Ca’cadasans and the flight of humanity, up to the establishment of the Empire. I have several space opera series in mind, a standalone sublight warfare novel, possibly an urban fantasy, some alternate history, and a solar system warfare series. And maybe some military post-apocalyptic stuff. I’m not sure when I’ll do these other projects, or even if I will survive long enough to get all of this out. What I do know is I won’t run out of stuff to do.
Doug: I suspect that I share my views with many of your devoted fans. As much as I enjoy the Exodus series I can understand your need to see a conclusion which allows you more freedom to work on other projects. They sound exciting and I am sure will fullfill the readership’s hunger for excellent story lines, excitement, and a sound writing style. If you can successfully negotiate a contract with a publisher that allows you to self publish at the same time then my concern eases. The cost to the reader for you’re books has increased dramatically in the past year, along with other good sci-fi authors. If the cost does not stabilize and continues to escalate many readers will be forced to decide who they can afford to follow. The established author with a suite of stories in the works or a newbie who may not yet have the same smooth, polished style but has created a story that demands you keep reading and whose work may, initially, only be 50% of the cost . Not to say that as you become better and continue to attract new readers you should not make a very comfortable living. That is something that should come with the effort and quality you put forth. But if ebooks approach more than 50% of a paperback’s cost I for one will be forced to decide where to spend what disposable income is available. If the rise in prices is caused by a middleman then I would suggest you consider another outlet, let us know and we will find you.
Actually, I haven’t raised the price of my books in two years. They are still $4.99 in America, and will remain at that price for the foreseeable future. Now, if you order from a country that has VAT, then I can do nothing about the added expense.
Doug do not stop because writing the Exodus books I really think they are your mainstay. How many books did David Weber do in the Harrington series? Your series reminds me of his great writing skills!!
Keep them going and I will keep buying them. I really like the idea of 20 books.
Thanks, and I have some more years of writing before I can even contemplate ending the main storyline, much less the other subplots.
Doug, I really like and enjoy the exodus series. I read the first refuge and may read the rest if another series I’m reading ends, but exodus is where its at for me. I really liked the exploration command spinoff, I’m hoping thats in your tales of the empire category. Can’t wait for the next installment of the exodus empires universe!
Doug,
I have to say, stumbling upon the Exodus series entire through reading someone else mention it in a blog: one of the best finds reading-wise for me in a long while. I really enjoy the world you have put together, and have snapped up every one of the books in the Exodus Universe.
While I could read Exodus indefinitely, i like the idea of capping it out at 20; while allowing yourself the latitude to explore in that world with the Tales and Machine War.
Best of luck in 2016, and best wishes for a speedy recovery on the Bronchitis, go grab yourself some Amoxicillin!
Thanks. I will also be doing a series about the start of the Empire, so there will be some more of the Universe there.
Doug, I’m kind of like an addict waiting for his next ”fix'” in anticipation of your next novels. You are by far my favorite author now, usurping the legendary David Weber.
I kind of hope you find a why to avoid the total destruction of the Cacas even though, by our standards, they are despicable in every way possible.
It’s going to take a great deal of ingenuity to carry the Exodus series 11 more books without becoming stale but I’m sure you can do it. Looking forward to Exodus 10 in March; be well and keep them coming.
Doug,
I realize that I am late to this party but having just finished book 2 of the Machine War I just wanted to stop by and let you know that the Exodus series is still my favorite and Machine War book 2 kept that trend going for me.
I hope that one day you can find a ship big enough to use the Dreadnought term for. For some reason I love that term and its the one thing I am missing from your books.
I have yet to read the Tales from the Empire book but that is next on my list.
I look forward the continuation of the story and am also looking forward to the early days of the Empire.