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The Numbers Game

Once again it’s time to share the numbers here on My View.  As many of you know, I’m selling my own novels and short stories in what is known as Self-Publishing.  In order to further educate my fellow writers about this process, I periodically offer my sales numbers.  This is not meant to discourage anyone from trying this, merely to show you what you might be in for should you attempt to go at it on your own.

First off, the Ebook sales from Jan-Sept 2009

Null_Pointer Units Sold = 2  Total Income = $4.48

Starstrikers Units Sold = 45  Total Income = $26.64

Short Stories Units Sold = 16  Total Income = $5.60

Total units sold = 65

TOTAL $36.72

Now, Paperback sales from Jan-Sept 2009

Null_Pointer Units Sold =  4    Total Income = $5.00

Starstrikers Units Sold =  7   Total Income = $27.65

Total units sold = 11

TOTAL $32.65

GRAND TOTAL $69.37 *

The exact breakdown of the prices is a bit complicated.  The Starstrikers ebook started off at $4.00 and wound up at $.99.  Same for the Null_Pointer, sold for $6.39 and now goes for $2.00.  The paperback prices are fixed at $14.95 for Starstrikers and $12.96 for Null_Pointer.

As you can see, the most sales are coming from ebooks.  But you have to sell quite a bit more of them than the paperbacks to catch up in sales.  Coming up tomorrow, the other side of the coin – how many copies have I given away or how many people have seen the books online for free.

* Numbers updated to reflect Smashwords sales and correct math.

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