Marketing your book in a boxed set

By Narelle Atkins

Boxed sets have proven to be a lucrative way for authors to market and sell their indie fiction ebooks. Check out the Amazon Kindle fiction genre lists and you’ll find numerous boxed sets among the top 20 bestsellers. 

Last year I wrote a 3-part series on indie boxed sets for the Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) blog. The posts contained information on how to publish a multi-author indie boxed set.

The Benefits from Indie Publishing a Box Set Collection 

How to Write and Publish a Multi-Author Indie Box Set: The Beginning  

How to Write and Publish a Multi-Author Indie Box Set: Preparing to Launch

I write contemporary Christian romance (CCR). In this post I’ll be referring to the CCR genre for examples of boxed sets purchased from Amazon Kindle. 

History of Christian Romance indie boxed sets

The indie author boxed set trend in the CCR genre kicked off in late 2014. The first Christian/inspirational romance box set to hit the Amazon bestseller lists in the CCR genre was Red Hot Squeaky Clean ROMANCE collection (Boxed Set): Ten Shades of Inspirational Romance, released in October 2014. The stories in this box set covered a range of Christian romance genres including historical, mystery, suspense, and contemporary.

Mistletoe Kisses (Inspy Kisses Box Set Book 3) was released in November 2014. It was the first Christian romance boxed set to hit the USA Today bestseller list. Four of the eight books in the collection are CCR. 

Love Brings Us Home was also released in November 2014. It hit the Amazon bestseller lists in CCR and contained full length novels that were previously published as individual indie releases. 

USA best-selling author Hallee Bridgeman was an author in Love Brings Us Home and Red Hot Squeaky Clean Romance. Hallee is our international guest speaker at the upcoming Omega Writers Conference in Sydney, October 28-30. 

Market research on boxed sets in CCR genre 

I put together a spreadsheet based on a sample of CCR multi-author boxed sets I’d purchased in the last 2 years. 

My research included: 
14 boxed sets in the CCR genre 
105 books (with only 1 duplicate title in 2 boxed sets)
45 authors – a combination of indie authors and hybrid authors who are traditionally published
7 titles by Marion Ueckermann
6 titles each by Kimberly Rae Jordan and Valerie Comer
I also sourced book release information from the Inspy Romance group blog (established in February 2014 for CCR readers)

My multi-author boxed sets I included in my research

SPLASH! (released in June 2015, retired in November 2015) 

Love Blossoms (released in January 2016, retiring soon in late October 2016) 

An Aussie Summer Christmas (new release in September 2016) 

Other CCR multi-author boxed sets in my Kindle account or on pre-order (minimum 6 books in each set) 

Candy Cane Kisses

Falling For You

Christmas Blessings

Immeasurably More

Snowflakes and Mistletoe

CCR boxed sets in my Kindle account that are no longer available for sale

Whispers of Love (USA Today Bestseller)

Home for Christmas

Summer of Love

Love’s Gift

Love Brings Us Home

Mistletoe Kisses (USA Today Bestseller) 

The boxed sets ranged in price from US0.99 to US2.99. I paid between US14.00 to US20.00 to purchase the 14 boxed sets (most were priced at 99 cents). As a result, the average price I paid for an individual book is between 15 to 20 cents. 

Is the price for boxed sets too low? 

The answer is yes and no, depending on your perspective. Traditionally published ebooks are often priced higher than indie ebooks.

If you’re a reader, bargain priced ebooks combined with the ability to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited (US9.99 per month to borrow an unlimited number of ebooks) is appealing. Avid readers can indulge their favourite past time without hurting their bank balance. For many readers Kindle Unlimited has replaced their use of public libraries (and free print book borrows).

If you’re an indie author and can place your book in the right boxed set in your genre, at the present time you can make a reasonable return on a competitively priced boxed set due to volume sales and page reads in Kindle Unlimited. Please note this strategy for success could change at any time due to the rapid changes that constantly take place in the publishing industry. 

The bestseller lists are your goal

For many readers the Amazon Kindle bestseller lists have replaced the physical bookshelf in stores as the place they browse for books. Book exposure on the bestseller lists and in the hot new releases lists is critical for reaching potential readers. Paid advertising, for example Bookbub, can help ebooks rise to the top of the bestseller lists. 

Boxed sets can help authors reach new readers who are fans of their co-authors in the boxed set. 

Bestseller lists provide both the platform for finding new readers and the visibility to gain ebook sales/page reads that generate income for authors. 

Successful authors place series books in boxed sets 

The large majority of books in the 14 boxed sets I researched were part of a series. If a reader falls in love with your writing, they may buy your entire backlist. 

Repeat books in multiple boxed sets

We need to think like a reader when we’re marketing and promoting our books. How would we feel if we purchased a boxed set containing repeat books we’d already bought and read in previous boxed sets? From my sample of 14 CCR boxed sets, the only repeat title was published in boxed sets with release dates of more than 12 months apart. 

Traditional publishers reprint their bestselling books and sometimes update the cover art. When I used to work in retail on the returns desk, the most common reason for customers returning print books was due to an accidental repeat purchase.

If you have a brand new story to place in a boxed set, it would be wise to seek a boxed set opportunity that will be marketed as brand new stories. 

Have you participated in a boxed set or anthology collection? Do you enjoy reading boxed sets? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

This post is being shared on the Australasian Christian Writers blog and the Christian Writers Downunder blog.

If you’re looking to connect with writing groups online, you can join the Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group and the Christian Writers Downunder Facebook Group.

Omega Writers Inc. provides helpful resources and membership benefits for writers who live in the Australasian region.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia. 

Her latest novella release, Seaside Christmas, is available in An Aussie Summer Christmas boxed set from Amazon for 99 cents. 

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor
Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Review of An Aussie Summer Christmas with Giveaway

By Jenny Blake

An Aussie Summer Christmas 

Blurb

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 
Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 
Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas? 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart? 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go. 

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar? 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Australia’s first professional female football umpire, Maddie Grace, gets knocked out in an on-field accident, crushed beneath the weight of an athletic sports star. What is it about the visual images that has the media making up stories of a secret love affair? Escaping the paparazzi is one thing, but escaping each other is quite another.

My Review

I really enjoyed this box set. Each story is different but has the Aussie connection and a beach connection.

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 

This is the first book and I have to say I wasn't sure how I would like this book as Justin was a rock star and its not my sort of hero but I actually really liked the story. It shows how a chance meeting when someone has hit rock bottom can help change a life. Justin ends up in Australia where he comes in contact with Ella who wants to learn his secrets not knowing how it may affect her. I really loved the way it showed how Justin turns his life around and his wanting to make amends for his past. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 

I love Bridie, I think I like her cos shes has a job I would love. She is full of life although she has had plenty of heartache in her life. Will on the other hand seems to be more focused on working and not doing much else. We see an incident happen in which the two will be brought together and then need to work together. I enjoyed the story and learning both stories of why they are how they are. It also teaches not to judge by appearances as there is often more to a story than one thinks. 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
In this book we see Chelsea and Gus meet up again after 6 years. Chelsea wonders if Gus really has changed or if its just an act. She is also still grieving the passing of her sister. She has also told her father she will never reveal some of the details to her sisters death. She also wonders if she can handle someone who is in the political arena. I enjoyed their story and seeing how it unfolded. 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has returned home after the passing of her uncle. She hasn't been back for 10 years and wants to avoid some people. She made a mistake 10 years ago and still feels guilty. This story deals a lot with forgiveness and not just of others but of yourself. In many ways I felt like Breeah found herself in this book along with reconnecting with a former friend.


All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy feels she is bad because she loves her brother in law, she has loved him for a long time but knew he was off limits and never acted on the feelings or told anyone, she would never to that to her sister. Even with her sister gone for many years she still hasn't told anyone. Josh gets a letter from his late wife which changes everything between them. I actually found this book refreshingly in the way it showed Amy and her feelings and how she struggled with them. 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Now here is a story I can appreciate. While I love cricket more I am an AFL fan. Maddie Grace is a umpire who has the misfortune of being knocked out by a star Zac. The media have a field day with this as Zac is also referred to as the Rev due to studying ministry and being squeaky clean. They know each other from years back when her father was the coach of Zac's team but nothing more. Seeing this story play out was interesting. Once again another good read.

Giveaway
Thanks to Narelle Atkins we have one copy to give away to one reader. Just leave a comment and the winner will be announced in the comments next Thursday.
Leave a way to get in touch with you like (myemail   at email dot com)

Announcing ... An Aussie Summer Christmas

By Meredith Resce

(A cross-post from International Christian Fiction Writers.)

The Christmas season—as we call it in Australia—is always a favourite time of year for me. As a kid we would have the various school graduation services, Christmas parties, and end-of-year breakup parties all at one time. December was crazy. Living on the farm, it was also harvest time, and though it was getting hot, we would struggle to find someone to take us to the next town, where the district swimming pool was located. December is beach weather, but there was less chance of making it to the coast, an hour’s drive away.

Instead, we would spend that week before Christmas decorating the house, putting fake frost on the windows, watching Christmas movies that featured snow and sleds, and hanging Christmas lights that we couldn’t switch on until late because of the long summer days. I had no idea what Christmas in the cold must be like, with long dark nights, snow, fires and hot drinks. We had those images on our Christmas cards, and joined in with Bing as he sang ‘White Christmas’.

It was all part of the season.

The best part was Christmas Eve. We would go into town to the little church and sing those precious old carols, accompanied by my grandmother on the old pump organ. Then we’d go to the main street where the locals would gather to sing carols out the front of the shop. Santa would arrive on the back of a ute (that’s Aussie for truck), we’d all get an ice-block and lollies (candy/sweets), and then tie ourselves in knots of excitement waiting for Santa to come visit. Of course he would visit us in Australia first, as we are a good ten to fourteen hours ahead of other countries. (He’d drop into New Zealand first, of course.)

So when I was asked to be part of this Christmas box set that had an Aussie theme, I was excited to have the opportunity. Just as I’m not familiar with the white Christmas, I’m guessing there are a number of readers out there who would not be familiar with our warm, summer Christmas.

We also have a beach theme. 

Luckily, I have had some experience with the beach since my childhood, so I’ve chosen one of the world’s most popular surf beaches—Torquay, Victoria.

In this set we have four Australian authors, and you will get a great mix. Two of the authors, Rose and Andrea, are from Queensland, a tropical region that is always warm and humid. One of the authors is from Canberra, the nation’s capital city. Canberra is nowhere near the coast, but Narelle has set her story in Sydney. I’m from the region known as the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, but I’ve set my story in Victoria.

Then, as part of the set, we have international authors, Lacy Williams and Marion Ueckermann. Lacy lives in Oklahoma (that’s a mile or two away from the Australian coast), and Marion lives in South Africa. I’ve read their Aussie stories, and felt they did a good job of representing those of us from Down Under.

During the proofing process I got to read each of the stories included in this set, and you are in for a treat: some engaging characters and great plot lines, with that added element of visiting Australia during the Christmas season. We don’t say ‘holiday season’ because we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween. But we sure do celebrate Christmas and New Year. Barbeque, back-yard cricket, trips to the beach, and the odd case of sunburn.

Join us this holiday season, and take a trip Down Under.

About Meredith Resce

Meredith Resce is a popular Australian Christian fiction author, who has had novels in the Australian Christian market since 1997. She is proud of her Australian rural heritage, and is looking forward to sharing with readers from the international Christian Fiction community.

Her story, Falling for Maddie Grace, is set against the back drop of Australia’s number one spectator sport, Aussie Rules football. Maddie Grace, Australia’s first professional female umpire, gets caught up in an on field incident that sees her clash with a player, Zac Beecham. The accidental tangle brings about more than a trip to the hospital. The over-imaginative press decide there is a secret love affair between the two – a situation that, if true, compromises Maddie’s position and Zac’s reputation.

The other stories in the collection are:

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann

Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all.

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams

Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas?

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart?

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee

Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go.

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg

Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar?

Preorder An Aussie Summer Christmas from Amazon.com

Book Review: Love Blossoms - Seven Spring-Fresh Romances

Review by Andrea Grigg

Amazon describes this enjoyable, recently released box set this way:

Seven contemporary Christian romances for your springtime reading pleasure from your favorite authors: Kimberly Rae Jordan, Narelle Atkins, Autumn Macarthur, Lynette Sowell, Jan Thompson, Marion Ueckermann, and Susette Williams. 

I think that’s a perfect description. Well, apart from the fact it’s autumn here, not spring, but seeing as how the novellas are written for a primarily American audience I’m not going to quibble over that.

And more importantly, did you notice a familiar Aussie name in the line up? The second one, our very own Narelle Atkins? How awesome is that!

Novella box-sets are quite the thing these days, and I’ve downloaded several of them in the last six months. They’ve all been cheap in price – some as low as 99c – but never short in reading pleasure

So, what about Love Blossoms?

I was delighted to find variety of settings in this box set and I think this is a standout feature. We start off in central Canada, then travel to Snowgum Creek in rural Australia, followed by Edinburgh, Scotland; Castlebury, Vermont; Savannah, Georgia; the Lake District, England, and lastly, the U.S.A.

There’s also a terrific mixture of characters, from single mums and dads, to a pastry chef and a baron amongst them! A fabulous variety.

What I love about box set novellas is that I get to visit with long-time favourite authors as well as sample the work of new (to me) ones.

To be honest, two of the stories didn’t grab my attention as much as the rest. One was because I picked up on continuity errors as well as a couple of typos, and in the other, the characters didn’t do it for me. Still, that’s just my opinion, and you may not necessarily agree with me.

The other highlight for me was the inclusion of Narelle’s The Bridesmaid’s Hero. There’s nothing like reading a great yarn from your own backyard.

 

Should you rather purchase one of the novellas by itself, each author has released their contribution individually. Being biased and Aussie-minded, here’s the link to Narelle’s here. 

Great cover, isn't it? 

In conclusion, Love Blossoms is a heart-warming collection of sweet, contemporary Christian romances. With each one easily read in a couple of sittings, these stories are perfect for a brief hiatus from a busy day. I highly recommend you try them.  

Love Blossoms is available on amazon.com.au and amazon.com

Andrea Grigg is the author of two contemporary Christian romances, A Simple Mistake and Too Pretty. She loves hearing from readers and writers alike, and can be contacted via Twitter, her Facebook author page, and via email - andreagrigg@live.com

Happy Australia Day (and a book release plus giveaway)

By Narelle Atkins

Happy Australia Day! Today I'm celebrating our national holiday and the release of my eighth book. The Bridesmaid’s Hero is a contemporary Christian romance novella in my Snowgum Creek series. The story is set in a fictional town in the Snowy Mountains region of Australia.

Book Description:

Pastry chef Serena Blaxland isn’t staying in the small Australian town of Snowgum Creek. She’s there for her sister’s wedding, and to help out at the family B&B until her mother’s arm heals. Sparks fly when the handsome driver of their bridal car saves Serena from disrupting her sister’s perfect wedding day.

Harry Westmore’s dream of becoming an equine vet was put on hold when his father passed away. He’s working several jobs in his home town to pay his bills and prepare for his future career. He can’t stay away from the beautiful chef when he visits the B&B each day to look after her mother’s horses.

Serena’s home is in Canberra, where she has built a successful career. When Harry’s offered an opportunity too good to refuse, they must decide if their love and faith can overcome all obstacles.

The Bridesmaid’s Hero is a standalone novella and Book 1.5 in the Snowgum Creek series. It’s available in Kindle Unlimited and for 99 cents from Amazon Kindle.

Here’s a short excerpt from Chapter One:

Serena Blaxland leaned back into the soft leather rear seat of the white BMW hire car, her bare shoulders tense. Wedding planning had transformed Debbie, her easygoing older sister, into Bridezilla in her quest for a perfect day. She’d never forgive them if they kept her waiting.

The front door of their parents’ Snowgum Creek home remained open. Serena’s younger sister was inside the farm house. Why was it taking Gina so long to find a missing tube of lipstick? She’d been in there ten minutes already.

Serena fidgeted with the hem of her knee-length pale pink bridesmaid dress, her immaculate French manicure catching the early afternoon sunlight. Her nails had never looked this good, but the manicure failed to hold her interest.

The handsome driver of their hire car had captured her full attention.

He paced the length of the front veranda, his elegant suit accentuating his tall, muscular physique. Harry Westmore. The name suited him.

Harry returned to the car and crouched beside her open window, his fair hair ruffled and eyebrows drawn together. “The rest of the bridal party left fifteen minutes ago. Should I find out what’s holding up your sister?”

She shook her head, meeting his concerned gaze. “I’ll give her a few more minutes before I go inside and yell. Unlike Debbie, Gina has no concept of punctuality.”

“The bride was determined to leave on time.”

“That’s Debbie for you.”

His eyes, the color of the cloudless sky overhead, hinted at his impatience.

An idyllic September spring day, and they had a long drive ahead. The bride had left with her parents in a matching BMW. The chief bridesmaid had snubbed Serena and Gina by catching a ride to Sunny Ridge with her boyfriend in his luxury sports coupe. Debbie hadn’t been impressed by Crystal’s last-minute change of plans.

Gina flounced onto the veranda, slamming the front door behind her. Two inch heels didn’t slow her progress across the lawn. “I found it, finally.” She held the lipstick in the air as if it was a precious gem.

Serena let out a deep breath. If Harry drove the speed limit, they should make it on time to Sunny Ridge Community Church in the large town west of Snowgum Creek. Pre-wedding photos were scheduled in the adjoining park.

He opened the car door for Gina and she slid into her seat behind the driver, her skirt a tangled mess around her thighs.

Gina bit her lip. “I hate this skirt.”

“Be thankful it’s not floor length.”

“True, but I wish Debbie had asked what we thought before she chose our dresses.”

“It’s her wedding.”

“And don’t we know it.”

She let Gina’s comment slide. Her younger sister’s relationship with Debbie was fraught with issues, and Harry didn’t need to hear their complaints. He’d already witnessed Crystal’s emotional outburst. Debbie’s best friend had refused to travel to Sunny Ridge in the bridesmaids’ car.

Harry started the car, a quiet purr compared to the cough and splutter of Serena’s aging hatchback. “Ladies, are we ready?”

“Let’s go.” Gina buckled her seat belt. “I hope we won’t be late.”

Serena suppressed a groan. “Me too, because Debbie doesn’t need the extra stress. Harry, I’m ready.”

“Okay.” He maneuvered the luxury car over the cattle guard at the front entrance next to the prominent Blaxland B&B sign, onto a short dirt track leading to the main road. “We have enough time.”

“Oh, good.” Gina stashed her lipstick in her purse. “I’m already in Debbie’s bad books.”

Serena tightened her grip on the door handle. “What did you do this time?”

Read more in the sample at Amazon.com.

Kindle ebook giveaway of Love Blossoms box set:

My novella is part of the Love Blossoms box set, available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle. It’s releasing on January 28, 2016, and will be available in Kindle Unlimited.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and answer one of the following questions. If you're an Aussie: How are you celebrating Australia Day? If you live outside Australia: Which part of Australia would you like to visit?

I'll announce the winner in a comment on this post on February 1. Please leave an email address where you can be reached.

"Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws."

How to Write and Publish a Multi-Author Indie Box Set: Preparing to Launch

By Narelle Atkins

Last week I talked about the middle stage of an indie box set group project, drawing on my experiences from publishing my first indie novella in SPLASH! Today I’m finishing my three part series on how to indie publish a fiction box set collection with a group of authors.

After the manuscript submission deadline for the individual stories has passed, your group will be focused on the final preparations for the box set release.

Box Set Formatting

Your box set will need to be formatted for Amazon, and also the other ebook retailers if you choose to not sell exclusively with Amazon. For SPLASH!, our group decided to distribute the box set through Amazon and Draft2Digital. Our group leader volunteered to format the box set manuscript, including all the front and back matter. Each group member received a copy of the formatted SPLASH! document for proofreading.

Box Set Proofreading

As I mentioned last week, each SPLASH! group member was responsible for submitting an edited manuscript prior to the May 1 deadline. We were also responsible for proofing a portion of the SPLASH! document. The focus of our proofreading was on locating any typos or formatting errors. Each group member had two weeks to proofread the document and advise the other group members if they came across any errors in their individual novellas.

Set up the Pre-order and Distribution Channels

Each of your distribution channels will have deadlines regarding the uploading of the final version of your box set file. It’s important to set realistic deadlines for group members and allow time for the book production aspects of the box set. For SPLASH!, we allocated six weeks from our May 1 deadline to produce the box set manuscript and meet our pre-order obligations with our distributors.

Pre-order and Release Dates for the Individual Titles

If the box set contains brand new titles, your group will need to make a decision on when to set up pre-orders and release the individual titles. The large majority of multi-author box sets are a limited time offer with an expiry date. It’s likely you’ll have readers who will prefer to post reviews on the individual titles in addition to, or instead of, the box set. Your initial marketing focus will be on the box set, and your reader-reviewers will appreciate having all the individual titles available for sale within a month of the box set release date.

Create Buzz and Implement the Group Marketing Plan

The few weeks prior to the box set pre-order becoming available is the time to define your group book promotion and marketing plans. Once the pre-order is live, your group can kick off their marketing and promotion activities, including social media and blogging. Your group will need to determine a marketing budget and make decisions regarding paid advertising for the box set. Your group members can let their readers know about the upcoming box set release via their author newsletters. For SPLASH!, we decided to organize a Facebook Party Event to celebrate the box set release.

Street Teams and Reviewers

Each of your group members, if they’re already published prior to participating in the box set, will most likely have at least a few readers who review their books. You may have group members with a street team of readers who help them promote their book releases. The group can pool together their resources and contact their readers who may be interesting in reviewing the box set.

Social Media and Blogs

For SPLASH!, each group member made a commitment to promote the box set. We all used a variety of social media tools to reach out to readers in our genre. We set up a SPLASH! Pinterest Board as a home base for all our blog posts relating to the box set. We created a Blog Hop to help readers find posts relating to SPLASH! A number of SPLASH! authors are also members of group blogs, including Inspy Romance and International Christian Fiction Writers. We coordinated our schedules to post promotional material on the blogs and social media.

Launch Day Promotions

Our SPLASH! Facebook Party was the main focus of our launch day promotions. It was challenging to co-ordinate the party across time zones in North America, UK, South Africa and Australia. In my time zone, the SPLASH! online Facebook party started at 7am on June 24, which was 5pm-7pm on the US East Coast on our June 23 release day. It was an early start for me, and provided a great opportunity to chat with our readers and give away prizes.

Have Fun!

Indie box sets provide a wonderful opportunity to work with other authors in a fun and professional environment. I loved participating in SPLASH! and I’d definitely consider doing another box set collection that fitted in with my schedule. Valerie Comer has talked about her thoughts on box set collections on the International Christian Fiction Writers blog. Marion Ueckermann shared our thoughts on participating in SPLASH! on the Beauty for Ashes blog in South Africa.

I hope you’ve found this series helpful. Please leave a comment if you have any questions about box set collections. If you embark on your own multi-author box set adventure, enjoy the journey!

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia. Her latest book, His Perfect Catch, was released on June 23 in the SPLASH! box set contemporary Christian romance novella collection. His Perfect Catch was released as a standalone title on July 10. 

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor
Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

How to Write and Publish a Multi-Author Indie Box Set: The Middle

By Narelle Atkins 

Last week I talked about how to set up an indie box set group project, drawing on my experiences from publishing my first indie novella in SPLASH! Today I’m posting the second in a three part series on how to indie publish a fiction box set collection with a group of authors.

Box Set Title

Your group will need to select a title for your box set collection. If the individual stories are connected via a theme, it can make it easier to choose a title with a strong marketing hook. For example, the SPLASH! box set has a water theme which we used to name our box set.

Box Set Cover Art

Important decisions need to be made by the group regarding cover art. This includes defining the group budget for cover art, selecting a cover designer, reviewing stock photo options, and forming a consensus on the style and content of the cover art image. It’s helpful to have a genre and theme to use as a starting point. For SPLASH!, we wanted the box set cover image to have a fun, contemporary, summer romance feel that included a water element. A bride splashing around in red gumboots met our criteria. Each group member was responsible for organizing the cover art for their individual novellas.

Ideal Number of Group Members

If all the individual titles are for sale prior to the box set group being organized, you can determine the ideal number of titles for your box set at the start. If the titles are being written under a deadline, it’s a good idea for the group to have a target number of titles in mind for the box set. With SPLASH!, we had original group members drop out and new group members join in later. Life happens, and it’s wise to assume that it might not be possible for all of your group members to submit their manuscript by the due date. For this reason we didn’t finalize the SPLASH! cover art until after the May 1 deadline had passed.

List of Instructions for Group Members

Our SPLASH! group leader had previously participated in box set collections, and she provided us with a document containing all the relevant deadlines and information we needed to submit. Being a new indie author, I found the checklist very helpful and it defined all of our responsibilities as group members.

Front and Back Matter

Each group member is responsible for independently publishing their own book, and providing front and back matter for the box set. This includes the individual novella cover art, book descriptions, author bio and photo, links, copyright and ISBN information, dedications and acknowledgements. For SPLASH!, I chose to keep my front and back matter to a minimum. My novella, His Perfect Catch, was the first title in the box set and the sample. The front and back matter will be more detailed in my individual novella release.

Writing, Writing, Writing!

If the stories are original releases that aren’t for sale prior to the box set release, the middle phase of the box set production process will see the group members writing their stories. The large majority of our SPLASH! group wrote their individual novellas during the three months leading up to our May 1 deadline. I appreciated the encouragement and support within the group as we checked in on our writing progress and worked hard to meet our deadlines.

Editing and Proof Reading

For SPLASH!, we agreed to submit an edited manuscript by the May 1 deadline. One of the first things I did was line up my freelance editor, Iola Goulton. I had to allow time for editing and proof reading prior to the May 1 deadline. During May, the group members had committed to proof reading a minimum portion of the SPLASH! draft document. The goal was to pick up any minor errors or formatting issues. The errors that were found during the group proof reading process needed to be fixed in the SPLASH! document, which would create additional work for the person formatting the box set. The group had a proof reading deadline to ensure that the manuscript was finalized prior to our Amazon pre-order deadline.

Book Promotion and Marketing Plan

During the middle phase, our SPLASH! group brainstormed book promotion and marketing ideas. We gradually put together a marketing plan as we worked toward our June 23 launch date. The plan included promotion before, during, and after the release of SPLASH! We looked at how we’d promote both our own individual titles and the box set.

Next Monday I’ll finish this series by discussing the final preparations for launching an indie box set collection.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia. Her latest book, His Perfect Catch, released on June 23 in the SPLASH! box set contemporary Christian romance novella collection. 

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