SUSAN KAYE QUINN

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10,000 Sales PARTY and Kindle Giveaway

A little over a year ago, I decided to self-publish. I set goals, made a plan, and took a leap. On November 1st, 2011, I released my first indie title. Almost a year later, I have two novels and three short stories/novellas out:

The results have astounded me.

Here are the stats:
Sales 
Open Minds 10,000
Closed Hearts 3,460
Total Sales of Novels 13,460
Total Sales of Short Fiction (across 3 titles) 1,190
Overall Sales 14,650

(For those paying attention at home, my novels are $2.99 – $3.99, except for occasional sales. My short fiction is $0.99.)

If you had told me I would sell over 10,000 copies of my first self-published novel in the first year, I would have said, “Sure, sure. I’ll be happy to break 1,000.”

I knew a thousand sales meant something: if I reached it, I would have broken out of my immediate social circle and word-of-mouth would be selling my novel. You, my awesome blog readers, were a huge part of making that happen. That word-of-mouth, plus Amazon’s marketing machine, worked together to propel sales to that 10k number. I’m not sure what 10,000 sales means*, but it feels like a milestone. So, as promised, I’m using it as an excuse to throw a PARTY to say “thank you!!!” to everyone who has helped make it happen.

*In the Traditional-Pub world, 10,000 sales is approximately equal to selling through the average first-novel print run at a major NY house. That route would have garnered me a $5,000 advance (more on royalties after the 10k mark). Those 10k sales would have been at a higher price point and possibly harder to attain, depending on how much marketing the pub house put behind the book. But I can tell you that I’ve made much more than $5k on my 10,000 self-published sales.

What does 10,000 sales mean in the indie world? Back in February, my thoughts on that were thus:

Reaching Tens of Thousands of Sales

If you’re reaching tens of thousands of sales (one title, in a year), you’ve substantially broken out…As an Indie title selling tens of thousands, you are likely on the bestseller charts somewhere on Amazon (unless your category is extremely competitive), which boosts your visibility substantially and ensures even more sales. If you have tens of thousands of sales spread across several titles, you may have let one book go free and climbed the free charts on Amazon, but have carry-over sales from books 2 & 3 in your series.

At 50,000 sales on a 99cent book, your royalties are $17,500. For a $2.99 novel, you’re looking at a cool $100,000. You’re now paying the mortgage and possibly supporting your family on your royalty checks.

I was talking about my friends at the time – authors like Megg Jensen, Sarra Cannon, and GP Ching – indie writers I admire and who had reached (and blown past) that 10k mark. Now that I’m here, most of my assumptions were true: Open Minds has substantially broken out. It’s been on the top 100 SF bestseller chart on Amazon since June, which has certainly boosted its visibility. The only free title  was a short prequel, for a couple months (Dear Amazon: Thank you for price-matching that. You’re awesome. Love, Sue). I have a ways to go before reaching 50k sales, but already I’m making enough to replace a part-time engineering job (one of my goals).

In one short year, my ideas about how to succeed as an author have radically changed. This experiment has proven to me that I can earn a living writing the kinds of stories I want and publishing them on my own timetable, without the backing of a NY publisher. There are no guarantees in this business, but I know this: I’m just getting started. I fully intend to keep writing, keep publishing, and keep “living my dream by dreaming my living.”

The most gratifying part of having my works out in the world is connecting with readers. Second place goes to sharing the journey with my writer-friends, inspiring them to take their own leaps and being able to help them along the way. I stumbled across a recent tweet where one author said to another “you should check out @susankayequinn’s blog. She takes the fear out of indie publishing.”

That made me happy. I won’t try to convince you that indie publishing is the way to go, but if I can help take the fear out, then you are more likely to make a rational choice and find the path that will work best for you.

But enough with the talk. Let’s get on to the PARTY!

Oh. My. Heck. 
Do I have stuff to give away? 
Yes, yes I do.

There are several (!!) Rafflecopter forms below, with everything from a NEW KINDLE PAPERWHITE (!!!) to my favorite books to MY books. 

Something for everyone.
ENTER one or all.

And THANK YOU for helping make this first year of my indie publishing experiment such a wonderful success!

Note: I’ve read and truly loved all the indie books I’m giving away. You’ll see my tastes run the gamut of genres. The signed trad-pub paper books I picked up at a local signing. Ebooks are open internationally, paperbooks and Kindle are US only.

Kindle Paperwhite
(note this is the $119 version, US only)
My Fav Indie Books – The Fantasy Pack
(ebooks)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My Fav Indie Books – The Light-Hearted Romance Pack
(ebooks)

My Fav Indie Books – The Contemporary Pack
(ebooks)
My Fav Indie Books – The Science Fiction Pack
(ebooks)
Trad-Pub Books – Tempest and Wake
(SIGNED hardcovers, US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trad-Pub Books – Behemoth (Leviathan#2)
(hardcover, US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Books – Open Minds, Closed Hearts
(SIGNED paperbooks, US only)

Comments

  4. CONGRATS, Susan!

    – Yes, I read ebooks
    – Hard to pick one favorite indie book
    – Hard to pick one favorite YA novel
    – Have not read the Mindjack Origins short stories

  5. CONGRATS! That's amazing!

    I've been reading e-books for a long, long time.
    My favorite indie book is Anew by Chelsea Fine.
    My favorite genre is UF.
    My favorite YA? Do I need to pick just one? lol Right now, it's the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
    And no, I haven't read Mindjack Origins short stories yet!

  11. I wasn't sure I'd get into reading eBooks, but I'm so glad I gave it a try because now I really like it!

    I've read Open Minds, but haven't read the other short stories yet. I'm looking forward to them!

  13. Wow, you! You are some business woman. I'm very impressed with all you've done.

    Just a note on Big Six publishers and mid-list debuts. Most start with a modest print run around 5,000, as least from what I can tell, and advances are usually higher than $5,000. Of course, it's different everywhere, but these seem to be numbers I hear again and again.

    • Caroline – You would know better than me! Which is why I had to rely on the link, which was dated 2010. I had heard advances were down from then, but I think you're right – there's huge variation, so trying to pin down an "average" when those numbers aren't really publicly available, is tough.

      Thanks for sharing!

  14. Such an awesome giveaway! Thanks!

    And it's indie author stories like yours that make me happy to be an indie author and proud of our community. Congrats on your sales and awesome work!

  19. Congrats on making 10,000 for just one book!

    Yes, I do read ebooks and my favorite YA is the Morganville Vampire series (can't pick just one)by Rachel Caine.

  20. Congrats, Susan!! I agree with the twitterer that said you take some of the fear out of indie publishing. I've thought the same thing many times. So excited for your success.

  23. I haven't read the Mindjack stories but I'd like to in the future!

    You rock! Congrats on the success and may you have much more in the future! Thanks again! πŸ˜€

  24. Yes i read ebooks..I Dont really have a favorite book.Theres to many that ive loved to pick one.i have read all the mindjack origins books…Hmm favorite genre would be Dystopian..i have not read any scott westerfeld novels..I think i answered all the questions…Thanks for the giveaways

  25. HUGE HUGE CONGRATS!! What an awesome accomplishment! Well deserved!

    Favorite YA: Ender's game (even though it kind of existed before ya was big) Favorite more current ya The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series.

    In terms of the Mindjack origins stories I read mind games but havent yet read the others. I loved mind games and your whole series is on my to read pile!

    As for reading ebooks, I mostly read paper copies, but I typically read e-exclusives and some books as ebooks.

  27. Congrats on the milestone!!! Here's wishing you many, many more!

    – Yes, I read ebooks and I love, love, love my Kindle. I think that I'm about evenly split between e-books and mmp for purchasing
    – Favorite indie book … usually the one that I'm currently reading πŸ™‚
    – Favorite YA book … usually the one that I'm currently reading πŸ™‚
    – Have not read the Mindjack Origins short stories or Scott Westerfeld although I really, really want to!

  29. WOW! How awesome is this? Congrats, Susan!
    -yes, I read ebooks
    -favorite Indie book right now is Transcend by Christine Fonseca
    -Young adult genre is my favorite, pretty much any sub-genre under that
    -Favorite YA novel, ugh, that's hard, I have so many I love. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, although I just read Splintered by A.G. Howard and it was AMAZING!
    -I've read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
    -I've read ALL of your Mindjack books!!!!
    Thanks so much for all the giveaways!

  31. I am so stinking excited for you, Susan!! I remember when we first met and I read your first book. You totally amaze me.

    There are too many amazing books to single out just one. But I absolutely LOVED Sarah Fine's SANCTUM – which will be released on Saturday – and AE Rought's BROKEN, due out Jan. 2013!

  32. Congratulations, Sue! I am so excited to see that your indie journey is paying off. I've been dieing to know how your sales were going. Thanks for showing us that you can become a success as an indie!

  33. Congratulations! When I first read Open Minds, I immediately ordered Closed Hearts, then shoved both books into the hands of many of my friends. They especially liked that you had so awesomely signed the books and now use the phrase, "Stay Mesh!" We are all anxiously awaiting book 3!
    – yes, I read ebooks (most recently Mind Games and Sherlock Holmes)
    – favorite genre is epic fantasy novels
    – favorite YA novels = too many: Night Circus, Daughter of Smoke and Bones, Libriomancer, Mindjack series, Mortal Instrument series, Mistborn series, Harry Potter series, Twilight series, Hunger Games series, Eragon series.

    • Thank you so much for reading (and sharing!) my books! I can't tell you awesome and wonderful that is for a writer to hear. You and your friends are clearly mesh. πŸ™‚ And your fav YA list reads like mine, except I need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone still! Also Mistborn! Dang, I need more time. πŸ™‚

      Thanks again!

  34. Congrats! That is so exciting! I love ebooks! My TBR list has grwon exponentially since I got my Kindle Fire! My fave Ya book is Beautiful Disaster. My fave Indie book this is a hard one. There are so many great ones! Shepard's Moon by Stacy Mantle. I haven't gotten to read yours yet, but one of the reviewers on my blog did and loved it! thanks so much for the amazing Giveaway! You rock!!!!

  36. Awesome giveaway! Congrats πŸ™‚ This series is really amazing, you should be proud.

    In regards to your question — I do read ebooks frequently. I usually buy books I like in paperback following reading in ebook, but I love the portability and accessibility!

  38. My favorite genre is Young Adult, specifically dystopian, mythology and paranormal. I'm fascinated by these topics!

  39. My favorite YA novel is Divergent by Veronica Roth. The series is so well done and interesting, I think it has potential to make as big an impact as Hunger Games has.

  40. I JUST bought the latest mini stories and plan on reading them soon! I can't wait to learn more about the new characters more in depth.

    • Thanks so much for getting The Handler and The Scribe! I would love to hear what you think of them when you're done. πŸ™‚

  41. Congrats on your great success Susan! It's been a joy to watch you travel on the publication journey. You are a marketing guru! You've earned everyone of those 10,000 sales. I'm so proud of you.

  42. Woo-hoo! *dancing all over the place* So awed. So inspired. Susan, if anyone earned this, you have. Wonderful book and brilliant social networking.
    So proud to have known you (and I'm still wearing my openBooks openMinds bracelet!)
    I don't read many ebooks because I don't have a reader and don't like reading books on my laptop, so I'm excited to enter for the Kindle. and what an awesome book giveaway, so many good ones!

  47. Huge congratulations, Sue. This is a great achievement and only the beginning.

    Open Minds is the only indie YA that I have read. As soon as I get an e-reader I will pick up your others, as I don't enjoy reading on the laptop.

    My favorite genres are fictional realism and crime. Favorite YA is very difficult. I like Ellen Hopkins work, as well as Laurie Halse Andersen and Patty McCormick.

  50. Woo hoo, Sue! Congratulations on this milestone! I'm not surprised you've sold 10,000 copies of Open Minds. It's an awesome, thrilling read. I love Closed Hearts, too, and am anxiously looking forward to the third book in the Mindjack series. I'm so happy for you. You're a model for all of us.

    And this giveaway, dang! Whatever you do, it's BIG! I'm entering for chances at these prizes. Cool and awesome, just like you. It's wonderful that you're making enough with your writing that you cut back on your engineering job! Keep blazing ahead. I know you'll reach that 50,000 milestone!

  54. To pick a fave ya novel would be impossible. Some fave ya authors, Caron Rider, Quinn Loftis, Amanda Hocking!, man I could go on for hours!

    Thanks again for another amazing giveaway!
    <3 Tobi

  57. Hi Susan, You've certainly inspired me. In fact, your site is a featured link on my own blog on the Useful Websites page under the 4 Writers section. I've even been thinking of doing a post on your site (I have a category called Blogs I Love), and maybe now would be the time to do it! Anyway, congrats and thanks for all the info. and inspiration.

  60. Thanks for the awesome giveaway and Congrats on reaching such an amazing milestone! I hope you sell even more!

    – Yes, I read ebooks
    – I don't really have a favorite YA novel, there are quite a few that I love but the most recent are Cinder and Grave Mercy
    – I haven't actually had the chance to read your books. I do own Open Minds though and I can't wait to start it.

    Michelle

  66. congrats on the milestone! i read tons of ebooks now. at first i though i would really be irritated by not holding a paper book, but i couldn't have been more wrong! now when i do read a paperbook, i find myself irritated that i have to hold it open!

  71. That is so amazing!! I am so happy for you! And yes, I love ebooks. It has to be a pretty spectacular book with something extra special on the inside (e.g. illustrations in a YA) to induce me to buy paperback anymore.

  72. Congratulations! What a great story. I'm extremely curious about all this and will be back to visit your blog. And more importantly, I want to read your books.
    BTW, there was a question on the form: Yes, I do read ebooks.

  73. Congrats! I haven't got a Kindle but I'm keen to try reading it, especially because I can imagine carrying around the Kindle in the purse and so always having a book at hand!

  76. I may have wet my pants a little when I saw this! I'm SO excited for you. And I love the way you're STILL helping all the writers coming after you. You, my friend, rock it hard core. I couldn't be more thrilled.

  77. First Congrats!

    Second Yes I to read e-books. However at the moment I am back to reading them on my laptop since my Kindle broke.

  78. Congrats Sue! So wonderful that you're living that dream. Loving all your works thus far–my son actually did a report on Open Minds for his English class, so maybe we can help spread the word farther…

  80. So I pretty much ONLY read ebooks – when I can. If a book I'm really wanting is only out in hard form, then I'll go that route. But I really love ebooks. My favorite YA book would have to be the Gallagher Girl series – does it count if I list the whole series? And no, I haven't read the Mindjack Origins short stories – but they're on my list!

  84. Susan, I can't express how truly grateful I was to read this today. I recently took a planned, but tenuous, step into self-publishing. I'm thrilled with the results so far (not nearly 10,000! lol), but still feel like I'm drowning a bit. I needed to hear what you said today.

    I'm also thrilled for all of your success, and really appreciate you inspiring others to do the same. (Me included.)

  86. Wow, Congrats on 10,000 for Open Minds! One of those was mine :). Thanks for all of these awesome giveaways! Hopefully it's OK if I answer all questions in one comment.
    – ebooks: yes, I love ebooks! I fought it at first, but now I prefer them to the physical books. I use the kindle and aldiko reading apps on my phone and tablet.
    – favorite indie book: Shelly Crane's Significance series. If I had to pick one, I'd say Defiance, book 3.
    – favorite genre: YA Paranormal
    – favorite YA novel: this is a tough one. I think The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Ask me tomorrow an I'll probably give you a different answer!
    – Scott Westerfeld books I've read: Peeps.
    – Mindjack Origins?: I have not read these yet, but I definitely plan to. I've read the Mindjack prequel and Open Minds, and Closed Hearts is ready and waiting on my reader!

  87. Congrats and wonderful giveaways here! I love that you have so many categories (and kind of cool that I've already read quite a few of these great authors).

  88. Congrats! That is so exciting that in just a YEAR (A YEAR! Can you believe it?) you've been able to reach those kinds of numbers. It really speaks to the quality of your work, and how much time you've put into networking. You've earned every bit of it (but I don't think you need me to tell you that!)

    • Such a great milestone…I must enter all the giveaways!

      I don't read ebook as often as traditional, but I do.
      fave indie book is Laura Pauling's A Spy Like Me. πŸ™‚
      fave genre is contemporary and paranormal
      fave YA is Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
      I haven't read any Scott Westerfield (crazy, I know. Must rectify.)
      I haven't read the short stories, but I want to soon!

  90. ebooks- yes, I read them. I have alotof them.
    fav indie- I would agree with above Shelly Crane's Significance series!!!
    fav genre- Paranormal romance. I like to escape reality
    fav ya novel- can't say I have one but many I love the grey wolf series by Quinn Loftis
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I love your books too!!

  91. I love reading success stories from self-publishers. I am currently writing a YA book that I plan to self-publish at some point when I'm finished with it. You are definitely an inspiration and your success gives me something to shoot for when I begin my own self-publishing journey.

    Thank you!

  92. I actually am starting to really like ebooks. At first I preferred the actual hardcopy of books, but I take notes on all the books I read and noticed how much easier it is to do so on ebooks. And the search engines for when I'm finding a specific line or quote–love them!! ^_^ so now, ebooks and hard copies are at a tie.

  93. Susan! I am so so happy for you! You are a rockstar, a cheerleader, a mentor, an inspiration, and just an awesome friend. I'm over here doing the happy dance for you. Here's to continued success~ :o) <3

  104. Okay, I was just entering away on this amazing contest, and I think I saw at the last second before it disappeared that not only was I supposed to comment, but I was supposed to answer a specific question. My favorite indie book? My most recent, favorite was Easy by Tammara Webber.

    I may have missed answering other specific questions. Sorry! πŸ™

  110. Wow! Congratulations!!!

    Yes, I read ebooks.

    I think Easy qualifies as best indie and best YA I've read lately (although it's technically NA). But I haven't read Open Minds or Closed Hearts yet. πŸ˜‰

    My favorite genre is romance, and I lean toward historical NA/adult.

  112. I just downloaded "Mind Games" and hope to read it soon. Hugh Howey pointed me in your direction. Congratulations on your achievement. Here's to the 100,000 mark!

    Mark

  118. Sue! Can't believe (yes I can) how AWESOME you are! What an inspiration–from the get. I'll be shouting this and sending a dozen personal recs for my friends who are launching out into the indie world. (What a giveaway, too!) You RAWK.

  119. Oh, and for the contest entries: I DO read ebooks. Nook mostly, but I needs a Kindle for all my Kindle for PC collection πŸ™‚ I needs it!

    My favorite YA novel is Divergent by Veronica Roth. Blew me away.

  121. Congratalations to you, Susan! What blessed news! I saw your note on Goodreads and just literally squealed with excitement! Mostly FOR my daughters – 2 of which recently started to read more and more due to my enthusiasm for reading and I just squealed with pure delight at the titles, covers and descriptions of your books πŸ™‚ I'm so wanting to know more now, absorbed in each one to see the deets. How wonderful for young minds to be inspired by the written works of authors such as yourself – and a nice boost for us mommies, too, that read with our children! Blessings to you and thank you for being an inspiration in the literary world for the young – and young at heart! x0x0

  124. Big congrats! You are an inspiration to me! I hope to publish my first ebook soon and I can only hope for such success as you have had. Keep it up – I love mind reading stories.

  127. I read ebooks like CRAZY – I actually prefer them, because they a) don't take up as much space (although they don't smell as good), b) they're usually less expensive and c) I am not tempted to flip to the end to see how it all ends… (a bad, bad habit). Definitely would love a Paperwhite so I can read with the lights off… πŸ™‚

  128. 2nd comment: I am very sad that I can only get Ali Cross's books by doing Tweets, since I do not use Twitter and absolutely refuse to start – digging in my heels, absolutely REFUSE. Oh, well – I have "Desolate" so I can get the other…

    Re: Scott Westerfield – I have not read any of his books yet, but they look very interesting and I've heard good things.

    • You should be able to enter for Ali's book via a blog comment as well (which you've already done!). In fact, I see your name on there, so no worries!

  129. Final comment: NO, I have not yet read the shorts, but I have the original full-length books on my wishlist and have for awhile. I simply hadn't yet noticed to add the shorts to the list… on they go!

    • Oh, and to answer the questions (I went to leave a comment before I entered), I do read ebooks, I haven't read many indie books but I loved Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina, and one of my favorite YA novels (can't be an absolute favorite, but it's what came to mind) is My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay.

  131. Just wanted to say congratulations. It's always a wonderful milestone to reach, whether indie or traditionally published.

  137. Congratulations!!! You deserve all this success and more!
    Thanks for the giveaways! πŸ™‚
    I do read a lot of ebooks now, even though I don't have an ereader. I read them on my phone and I go through almost as many as I do in print.
    Again, Congrats!!! πŸ˜€

  141. Congratulations Susan!
    Yes, I read eBooks all the time on my laptop with Kindle for PC Free. This is way I need to win the Kindle on here – too hard to sit with laptop in library and read (my library has a sink, a tub LOL you get my drift). ~Brenda

  143. Congrats!! What an awesome milestone. I read a lot of ebooks. I currently have a nook, but have been thinking about getting a kindle too. I haven't read the Mindjack series yet, but it sounds awesome. I love too many Indie books to choose just one favorite. I also can't choose a favorite genre or YA book. I am no good at choosing favorites for anything.

  144. congrats on your milestone. I love reading E-books. I have the Kindle app on my iPhone and iPad. I too love to read, I read about twenty books last month. Great giveaway btw!!!

  150. BIG 'OL Congratulations Susan! I posted this up at Kindle Boards because it's truly inspirational. Here's to 10,000 more! (And beyond!)

  151. I enjoy reading books by Megg Jensen and Sarra Cannon, I love her books, this book of yours Susan is new, So I'm hoping to read yours, i have lots of books on my Kindle.. and some of the ones mentioned, I have already.. I just love books.. reading. πŸ™‚ and congrats on your selling Susan Q. πŸ™‚

  153. I love ebooks! I read them on my iPad, my iPhone, and my Mac. These days the only time I read a print book is in the bathtub. I've discovered many authors by downloading books offered free on Kindle for a short time, then have gone back and purchased other books by those authors. And, I often connect with those writers on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, which leads me to other authors and their books. That's how I found you!

  154. Hi Sandra,

    Congratulations on your enormous success. It is really heartwarming and encouraging to see and thank you for sharing such wonderful information in your blog.

    If you don't mind I have a question about the marketing, bane of my existence.(lol) If a writer doesn't have time for full-time job, writing AND promoting everywhere, and the full-time job and writing itself are a must; then which promotional tool have you found to be the most useful if you can only do one? Facebook, Twitter or blogging? All are great, but if you had to pick one that has been the most helpful in ensuring your book's success, which would you to suggest to other writers based on your own experiences?

    Pamela

    • The most important thing is to write a really good book. Next, I would send it out to reviewers and run giveaways on Goodreads. That will get you exposure, even if you have zero social network. And be patient – that's the hardest part. πŸ™‚

      Good luck!

  155. A big, big BIG congrats to you, Sue! I am so proud and pleased for your success. You really do take the fear out of Indie Publishing, and your tenacity and determination is a great example of what it takes to succeed at anything…especially publishing.

    Angela

  156. I do read ebooks but still love paper books.
    I loved ON LITTLE WINGS.
    YA is my favorite genre.
    I have many favorites! IRON KING. FORGOTTEN. HUNGER GAMES.
    I haven't read the Mindjacks series…yet! I have MIND GAMES on my phone and will start it this week!

  157. I am just starting to appreciate ebooks, after discovering them. After being resistant to losing the smell/feel/aesthetics of a book in my hands, I am beginning to realize how much fun it is to read books on a screen. (Also, reading romance novels is a secret way for me to have some rare 'down time', and I like the discretion of not having the covers available for everyone to see). My 14-year old son is just starting to read e-books, and after being a reluctant reader for years, is starting to finally discover how reading opens WORLDS for him πŸ™‚

  159. I've never read your books but they sound interesting! I will definitely have to check them out. Congratulations on your success!

  160. I love e-books! I have way to many of them, but yet I keep getting more. Just need more hours in the day to have time to read them all. πŸ™‚

  161. I do read ebooks, not sure what my favorite indie book is, My favorite genre is horror and mystery, favorite YA book is the trylle series by amanda hocking.

    Congratulations:)

  163. Congratulations!!!! You should be so proud. You've written some really good stories. I read Open Minds & really liked it and then was lucky enough to win Mind Games & Closed Hearts which were equally as good. I'm really happy to see that you've done so well & it keeps getting better.
    I have a Nook Color & take it everywhere I go. Ebooks are the best. One of my favorite Indie authors Is Amanda Hocking but there are so many good ones it's hard to choose just one. My favorite genre is YA Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, etc.
    My fav YA books are The Twilight Saga but there are so many equally as good ones it's really hard to choose.
    I haven't read any of Scott's books yet but he's on my TBR list which is getting quite long.
    Thank you for these generous giveaways. I could really use a Kindle, I have a Kindle app for pc & have over 300 books on my laptop. Take care….Diane

  164. I find it ironic that you are giving away a kindle paperwhite. I just called all stores up to 50 miles away looking for one. They are sold out everywhere. I have a kindle keyboard and kindle fire. I really can't stand the kindle fire. the battery wears out way too quickly.

    • Well, it may be sold out by the time I order it for the winner too! And my kindle fire is the same way – it helps if I keep the WiFi off unless I need it.

  169. Thanks for running this contest. If I don't win Your books I will definitely buy them. I am a huge supporter of self published authors.

    • I have not read the mind jack origins series. My favorite genre is fantasy and my favorite indie book has to be wastes of space. My favorite ya books are by Tamara pierce. I have read the Scott westerfeld series uglies, pretties, specials, extra, and I love them.

  170. I love ebooks. I definitely a collector of them. lol I jumped on board when ebooks came out and im so happy i did! πŸ™‚ You wouldnt believe how much lighter my purse is when i carry it. lol

  172. I have so many favorite books, i couldnt choose one. And to be honest, i have no clue whos an indie author and whos not. Ive never paid attention, if the book sounds great, thats all the matters to me! Im sure i have hundreds of favorite indie authors and books.

  173. My favorite genre is paranormal romance. I love them! Anything in romance is great, but paranormals, for me, are addicting! I cant get enough!

  175. What an amazing milestone, Susan!! Congratulations!

    – Yes, I read ebooks, and I love them!!
    – I wish I knew which authors were indie, but since someone above said Amanda Hocking is an indie author, I definitely love her books!
    – My favorite genres are YA, Fantasy/Paranormal, and Dystopian.
    – My favorite YA series is The Mortal Instruments series!
    – No, I haven't read any of Scott's books yet, but they are on my TBR list!
    – Have not read the Mindjack Origins short stories, but I want to!

  176. What a fun giveaway and I've found some new friends to follow.
    Yes, I read lots of e-books!
    My favorite Indie book is whatever I am reading at the time.
    My favorite genre is horror or paranormal or….
    My favorite ya novel- too many to choose:)
    Haven't read Scott Westerfel's books yet.
    Need to read Mindjack Origins short stories. I love collections.

  177. Congrats Susan,
    I love reading in general, but I find it easier to read e-books since you can have so many with you at a given time without having to carry around a heavy load.
    I love to read paranormal/fantasy, YA, and sometimes romance.
    I have WAY too many books/novels to choose from for my favorite, because it all depends on my mood and if i've read something similar to it already.

  178. Oh my goodness, HUGE, HUGE congratulations!
    When I think of successful indie authors I "know" who I want to be like when I "grow up", I usually think of you first. Seriously! Thank you for inspiring us!

    Oh, and my fave genre has got to be fantasy – young adult fantasy πŸ™‚

  180. Well, congratulations to you!!!! What a HUGE milestone for you! πŸ™‚ I do read ebooks, I love to read them. I think I read e-books faster than print books, even though "they" say that's not how it typically works… But I sure seem to fly through them even faster. Favorite indie book??? That's so hard! Hmm…probably the Wool books by Hugh Howey… I have not read any of the Mindjacks Origins short stories yet, though I do have the first one.

    Thanks again for this awesome opportunity!! You rock! And congratulations again on your amazing milestone! May you surpass many, many more πŸ™‚

    • Oops! Two questions I forgot to answer. I have not yet read anything by Scott Westerfeld, but I did buy The Uglies e-book when it was on major sale recently πŸ™‚ Favorite YA book…also such a hard one!! Ones I've loved most recently include CINDER by Marissa Meyer, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis, and THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers, which just was like a punch in the gut for me – in a good way! I absolutely loved that book – so different from the first two I mentioned, but absolutely devastating in a delicious way. If that makes sense πŸ™‚

  183. CONGRATULATIONS!! The numbers are astounding! You've definitely become one of my idols. Your books are amazing and please keep writing πŸ™‚
    To answer the questions: I actually read e-books all the time. I've read all of Tammara Webber and I've been reading alot of classics, my favorite being the Count of Monte Cristo the unabridged version. I've read the Uglies series by Westerfeld but nothing else by him.

  187. I'm late to the party, but congratulations on this huge milestone! It is well-deserved. I've been reading your blog for a while, and I really admire how hard you work. You are a great example for other indie authors, showing them that you must treat self-publishing like running your own business if you want to see any success.

  188. I'm late for the party, but I just wanted to say . . .Congratulations!!! You deserve that recognition and those numbers. Your writing is beautiful, and fun to read!

About Susan

Susan Kaye Quinn is PhD Environmental Engineer turned spec fic author who writes hopeful climate fiction & solarpunk.
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