Hey Leya! Thanks for taking the time to write in – that’s such valuable information. We’re going to be updating this article ASAP with the proper info.

Hi Thomas – I believe you can self publish through both at once, but you may want to confirm with D2D to be safe. As for their charges, it appears Draft2Digital takes 10% of the retail price of that book, for that sale.

Valid and salient points, Roy. I’m almost ready to publish my first novel, a stand-alone. Any advice concerning promoting it, as I don’t have anything to offer as a freebie?

As a monthly user of Written Word Media to promote my novels I just have a few comments. Good suggestions. I have found after twenty years and forty novels as well some nonfiction books in print in ALL formats that the “Hook” line is the best line. For book one, I open with a simple but grabbing paragraph that introduces my potential readers not only to the main character, who is both the protagonist, but also the antagonist, this single paragraph lets readers know right away, what the first novel is about, who the main character is and what the series is going to deal with novel after novel. I use this across ALL eBook platforms and it has been very successful.

“If someone you loved was brutally murdered, would a lifetime prison or even death penalty sentence (where the savage killer could remain for years unpunished) be enough punishment for the killer? The Iron Eagle doesn’t think so either. Meet the surprising vigilante handing out justice that truly fits the crime in this Los Angeles-based 30-novel series. For the killers who cross the Eagle’s path, there is no mercy. See justice delivered with exacting precision and follow along as even law enforcement’s top cops become fans of this unknown hero. Justice has, indeed, evolved, thanks to the Iron Eagle.”

This tag line sets the stage for the reader from the get go. However, I didn’t stop there. The series is for adults ONLY 18 , so inserted right after that is a detailed content warning for ALL potential readers of my series.

“”***Content Warning: While the Iron Eagle Series can be read out of order as a stand-alone book the reader should be advised that backgrounds and details of the characters may be confusing if readers choose to do so. The Iron Eagle Crime novel series contains mature subject matter, graphic violence, sexual content, language, torture and other scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. This series is not intended for anyone under the age of eighteen, reader discretion is advised.***”

This lets readers know upfront before they ever make a purchase what they are getting into in the series from book one on. I have found this to be very important and I did a great deal of research on this before posting it. One very common complaint from readers is they felt a title was misrepresented and they found the content objectionable. By doing this I let my reader know right up front before they move on to the longer description of the book where it is going and what to expect. This has cut down tremendously on one star reviews that have nothing to do with the quality of the writing but the content of the title. Now informed, the reader can go on to read the back and flap matter after the, “Hook” Line and the “Content Warning” to read the back and flap matter prepared for the series content. This allows readers to NOT down load the book if they find this type of subject matter objectionable.

The other very important thing I have learned and recommend to ALL series novelists is make the first book in the series, “FREE.” It might sound crazy, but for a series that is going to span more than three titles it is imperative. Once the reader is hooked, informed and downloads the novel from their preferred vendor or platform. Conversion to paid sales increases dramatically. Then using the great tools of WWM as part of my long term strategy along with ads move titles extremely well. I release a novel in my series every quarter, or four novels per year and currently have the first thirty-five novels written and in print the series will release through 2023. Just some food for thought for you and your readers.