I am about to do a TL;DR summary of this post on my author-centric site, Shiny Sugar Goblin. The Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series has reached its “Death Throes” for a series. While I will be finishing it as planned, if the math maths as it has been mathing as of late, the new releases in this series will no longer be making any profit.
Too bad, so sad. That does mean one thing: the release frequency is officially being dropped to no more than once a year, and honestly, I may drop it to once every 2-3 years to give myself more time to work on books that might actually make profit and establishing new series.
Here are the pertinent details:
- Playing with Fire: 110,014 books sold. (This is Book 1.)
- Hoofin’ It: 58,134 books sold, 52.84% RTR (Read Through Rate)
- Hearth, Home, and Havoc: 25,906 books sold, 44.56% RTR, 23.54% overall RTR.
- Serial Killer Princess: 25,321 books sold, 97.74% RTR, 23.01% overall RTR.
- Whatever for Hire: 43, 581 books sold, 172.11% RTR, 39.61% overall RTR.
- Owl Be Yours: 24, 054 books sold, 55.19% RTR, 21.86% overall RTR.
- Last but not Leashed: 24,731 books sold, 102.81% RTR(*1), 22.47% overall RTR.
- No Kitten Around: 33,253 books sold, 134.45% RTR, 30.22% overall RTR.
- Fowl Play: 19,511 books sold, 58.67% RTR, 17.73% overall RTR.
- Blending In: 26,593 books sold, 136.29% RTR, 24.99% overall RTR.
- Cheetahs Never Win: 24,377 books sold, 91.66% RTR, 22.15% overall RTR.
- Burn, Baby, Burn: 29,328 books sold, 120.31% RTR, 26.65% overall RTR, 26.65% trilogy RTR.(*2)
- Double Trouble: 17,701 books sold, 60.91% RTR, 16.08% overall RTR.
- Grave Humor: 25,992 books sold, 146.83% RTR, 23.62% overall RTR.
- A Chip on Her Shoulder: 22,442 books sold, 86.34% RTR, 20.39% overall RTR.
- The Flame Game: 21,541 books sold, 95.59% RTR, 19.58% overall RTR, 73.44% trilogy RTR. (*3)
- Murder Mittens: 19,874 books sold, 92.26% RTR, 18.06% overall RTR.
- Catnapped: 17,888 books sold, 90.00% RTR, 16.25% overall RTR.
- Plaidypus: 14,472 books sold, 80.90% RTR, 13.15% overall RTR.
- Doggone Mess: 8,817 books sold, 60.92% RTR, 08.14% overall RTR. (*4)
- 101 Ways to Die: 6,308 books sold, 71.54% RTR, 05.73% overall RTR.
- Whiskers on Kittens: 5,513 books sold, 87.39% RTR, 05.01% overall RTR.
*1: Clearly, wuffs sell better than owls. These two books released in close proximity to each other: June and September of the same year.)
*2: This is book two of a “trilogy” within the series, which includes Playing with Fire, Burn, Baby, Burn, and the Flame Game. As such, this book has a 26.65% RTR to book 2 in the trilogy within the series.
*3: This means 73.44% of people who bought book two also bought book three; I had a huge amount of drop between book one and book two, but book two to book three did well. However, that level of drop between book one and book two is a hefty sign of “series death.” I’ll explain this more in depth a little later.
*4: this is where I would have slated this series for conclusion if I did not already have a set route; in short, I would have replotted the remaining series to limit how many books I would write to cut losses.
THE DEATH THROES OF A SERIES
Let’s face it, y’all. A 5% overall RTR is not sustainable. And frankly, it was a miracle it was only a .70% drop between 101 Ways to Die and Whiskers.
I am expecting a 3% drop on the next book in the series, Dragon Her Heels. Let’s do some math.
Dragon Her Heels will be 80,000 to 120,000 words, so I will be pricing it at $6.99. At a 2.01% overall RTR, I am expecting to sell approximately 2,211 books, most of which will happen at release. If I’m lucky, I’ll sell 3,000 at release.
Let’s run both sets of numbers.
At current, my production rates are approximately $4,000 for a 100,000 word novel.
At 2,211 books, I will earn $10,597.32. At 3,000, I will earn $14,379. This is not bad! However… using the 2,211 estimate:
I lose $4,500 to taxes immediately. That leaves me with $6,097. $4,000 of that went to production expenses. That leaves me with $2,097.32 to pay the bills, etc, etc, etc. This is assuming I don’t ever spend another penny on advertising… (Yes, thanks to my husband’s income, even if I only earn a penny, I immediately lose a minimum of 45% of my earnings to taxes.)
As Dragon Her Heels will take me 2-3 months to write, this is a non-sustainable series.
My rent is $3,500 a month.
I will be finishing this series because I want to, which is why I’m not trimming out any books. But, this is also why the series is no longer being prioritized in any fashion. As of Doggone Mess, the series has lost its realistic profitability. I might even add a book here and there because I want to and the series is fun. But as of today, I will be telling them why the Mag Rom Com series has been deprioritized… and this post will be the vessel in which I have to hold off the angry hordes due to no longer feeding the machine twice a year.
It is time to move on to new waters, and that is fine.
I finish series because I want to. However, the economics of this series states one thing: this series is officially dead. It is floating belly up in a pool of its own blood.
Losing readers happens and is to be expected, and I do not ever hold any judgment for that.
If I had written better books, I would have had a better retention rate for the series. As it is, all I can do is keep writing and trucking along, hoping I improve my skills to the point I have a better retention rate.
But for now.. facts are facts, and this is just how things go.
The Magical Romantic Comedy series had a great run, but now it’s in its death throes, and while I will write the series through to my intended end for it, that’s that.
And that six book Otters series is probably just going to have to go into the “wishful thinking” category.
It relied too heavily on the main series itself not going into its death throes. But we shall see. Time can change things, but for now, I’m going to write the series as intended and finish the three Client from Hell books, after which I will be calling it a day/series.
Clearly, it’s time for new waters… and I have other series that aren’t in their death throes right now to worry about.
And yes, this falls into the department of news nobody wanted to hear, most of all me.
Understandable, i love this series, and will continue to read any additions to it
You are an amazing author
I have honestly fallen in love with pretty much every series you’ve written. The world’s you create gran me and drag me in almost immediately to the point that when there is a new release I’m starting as soon as my pre-order is released and I don’t stop until I’m done. Then I end up rereading it another 2 or 3 times immediately after. Keep doing what makes you happy and works for you, I can guarantee I’ll keep pre-ordering and reading.
So sorry to hear this, but reality is reality. You have to make a living. Doing what you love to do is reality as well. I love to read your imagination, but I am not your pocketbook! I have started re-reading some of my favorites of the MagCom, but I also just finished the Grave Affairs book and loved it! And the Royal States is a favorite as well, but I realize I am not your average reader, oh well. I think I have all your books, in all your names, and look for them often. And I buy them, not just borrow, as I believe that good authors should be paid for their efforts, as long as I can afford them. When I go on the dole, then I shall go to borrowing them! Ack! Lol.
R.J., do the numbers include sales through Smashwords, etc.? I’ve changed to that rather than Amazon to get the extra content.
My numbers on other vendors are statistically insignificant. The 200ish sales across all other vendors do not make a dent on the overall story the Amazon sales tell. (And Patreon, while awesome, is also not statistically significant in terms of the numbers.)
Amazon is very, very representative of the big picture. yes, there are some sales at other vendors… but not enough to turn that train wreck around.
Amazon represents more than 95% of the series’ sales. Maybe higher than that.
Understand. Will patiently wait while you do what you need to do for your wellbeing. I do love this series & have all of them.
Sorry to hear your decision but the numbers you show cannot be ignored. I’m in awe that you intend to write any more in the series when you expect no profit.
Do what you must to keep yourself comfortable and food on the table.
I have bought every single one of your paranormal books and have loved them all! Thanks for the hard work this series and it introduced me to your writing.
I will always love these books! I re read them every year to keep them close to my addled brain. Keep writing anything and I’m reading it!
I love your books, but as always I support the decisions you make regarding your writing. The books of yours that I do not have yet are going on my birthday and Christmas lists. Have a great day!
As soon as I am notified that you have a book under any Name I pre-order it. I love all your books. I’m so sorry for the decline in your sales. I have no idea why it has happened. I think everything you write is wonderful. I understand your dilemma and agree with your reasons. But know you have given me days of peace and chuckles reading your books. More success in the future. Debbie
It’s a thing that happens with books. Not every reader will like a book, and once they find ONE book they dislike, they tend to not buy any more. That’s just how it goes. <3 And it's okay.
I'm not going to worry about it. It's just a sad thing that has happened, and that's just how it goes.
Do the figures include Patreon “sales”? I’ve switched to getting your books through Patreon and buying a extra copy when the titles are on sale because I like having them all show up in the series list in my Kindle app because I’m crazy like that…
Thank you for finishing the series, despite the decrease in sales. I look forward to reading whatever you write whenever it is published and am quite happy that we are getting more books than initially anticipated for 2024! Royal States is my personal favorite, with most of the others nipping at its heels…
No, this is just Amazon, which makes up about 95% of all my sales, and that includes counting Patreon. Patreon is great, but like… there is only a maximum of like 600 readers there.
And when you’re talking about thousands of readers who just never bothered / wanted to continue the series, it’s just not statistically significant. (I wish, though.)
And… even if Patreon was statistically significant, half the earnings from Patreon go to my rent, and the rest go to audiobook and Royal States production… that isn’t taken by taxes.
It makes me sad but I understand. Its one of my all time favourite series and I re read it regularly. I don’t want it to end but I understand that this is your livelihood and viability makes the world go round!
I’m glad that you will finish and do client from hell too. Sad that Otters won’t be done, I really liked Jace and the Saven brood. But I understand. We all have bills to pay. Thank you for finishing what is started. I will be buying every book you put out to these series so please keep us informed. Thank you! And let us know about all the other series. I collect all the books you write religiously. They always guarantee a smile when I read them so I always read them on a bad day. Please don’t stop writing, that’s all I ask.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, but I understand that business is business. I appreciate that you plan on finishing the series. You have done a terrific job on the series and your other series’ as well. Thanks so much for all the enjoyment that your books bring.
Nooooi! Please say it ain’t so. I love your writing. It gives me joy, laughter and hope. I wish you would write more. BLESS YOU!
It’s okay! It’ll still get written, it just gets written slower so I can keep writing. 🙂
I am so sorry to hear that, I understand you must make a living. That is paramount. Just know that you have a core of fans who will buy whatever books you write!
(BTW, I love Owl be yours!)
Cheers
Michelle
I’m very sorry that this amazing series is no longer selling at a profitable level. I can very happily admit that I have purchased everything I can find that you have provided for our reading pleasure. I can also acknowledge that anything that is not contributing properly to the household income is eligible for “a pink slip” – as disappointing this could be for us readers. I’m very happy to hear that you will be finishing this fun and thought-provoking series, eventually. I am also very much looking forward to reading all the new tales you will be releasing for our pleasure. Thank you for your skills, patience and generosity.
Do what is best for you. I will take any books that you write in that series.
Huh. It’s too bad the RTR isn’t calculated by number of times the book is read. I’ve reread ALL of your books (with a couple of exceptions) multiple times. The earlier books (aka MAG Rom Com and Royal States) especially.
They’re like warm blankets+lolz on a chilly night.
Which brings up a question: which is more valuable to you? Buying the books on Amazon (current Kindle snob here) or Patreon? Amazon would be better, no?
For long term sustainability? Patreon. But the reality is, retail is how I keep afloat at this stage, specifically Amazon.
OK, I’ll keep using Amazon for now. 🙂
You write it, I’ll buy it. Happy to hear that you will finish Client From Hell, tho. Timeline doesn’t really matter to me as long as you keep writing. I love all your series and reread them regularly.
I will still buy whatever you write, and be happy that I tripped over your books. Thank you for ALL of the joy you have brought into my life.
PS: I’ve been having trouble accessing your website. Just an FYI. I’m still buying anything you write in any of your pen names.
You write it and I’ll buy, read, and enjoy. I love your characters, worlds, plots, and the ethics of your characters. I find your books – all of them to be a fun and relaxing read.
I am absolutely floored… Doggone Mess and 101 Ways to Die are 2 of my absolute favorites of this series. I love all the books, of course, but… wow. Every book is different (different MCs usually, completely different things happening and situations), so nothing boring in any of the books in this series, but we still get visits from many favorite characters from past books, like Satin, Darlene, Baily, Quinn and Perky!
I hate series’ that have the same Main Characters and have things constantly escalate until, even for fiction, it’s too unbelievable to stomach, and nothing you write is like that. I’ve stopped reading SO many authors because of it. And sex on the page… too many years reading it, it just bores me to tears so I skip the scenes entirely and end up cutting out a lot of reading in those books.
I love the series and thank you very much for continuing it!
it’s a great series and well worth the wait for however long it takes you to finish.
I hit ‘Like’ because I like the news being given upfront, not that I like the news. And I’ve had series I thought were great that just stopped with no comment anywhere I could find; presumably they weren’t profitable and that was that.
Whatever; I’m now just eagerly awaiting whatever is next.
I’d be willing to do a presale order if that helps.
No, that just adds so much stress and strain to me. It’s okay that the series is in its death throes.
The way people can generally help is to encourage their friends to read the series, share it when people ask for book recommendations, etc.