The Numbers (Info for M/M Writers)

So this page is specifically for M/M writers. When I started, I looked for information about what to expect as an indie writer of M/M fiction. Unfortunately, there's not much information out there. I've discovered that there were full-time M/M writers, but I wasn't sure if they were full-time specifically due to their M/M writing or due to other situations like a spouse with the money to support them or another pen name.

So here is me, sharing my numbers, for mine and other m/m writers benefit. I'll also try to add blog posts when time permits. So onward!

I forgot to state the genre I write in is mostly M/M romance and erotica with a sub-genre of paranormal, mystery, and a few contemporary ones to shake things up.



November 2012
New Releases: 1 Novel; Total Titles: 12
Total Sales: 995

New Releases
Only You (Wolf Bonds) - 4.99 (novel) [released on 11/19/2012]


Old Releases
A Touch of You (PCU: The Touch #0) - 2.99
The Raven's Mate - 2.99 


Consent 2: Submit - 2.99 
Wolf Bonds - 3.99
Demon Marked - 2.99
Consent - 2.99
Pieces of You - 2.99
Whatever You Want - 4.99
Unseen Touch (PCU: Touch #1)- 3.99
Burning Touch (PCU: Touch #2) - 3.99
His Own - 2.99

Distributors: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, All Romance, Kobo, Rainbow and Lulu.


Highest Seller: Only You
Highest Distributor Sales: Amazon


October 2012
New Releases: 2 Short Story; Total Titles: 11
Total Sales: 929

New Releases
A Touch of You (PCU: The Touch #0) - 0.99 (short story) [released on 10/05/2012]
The Raven's Mate - 2.99 (short story - new series) [released on 10/26/2012]

Old Releases
Consent 2: Submit - 2.99 
Wolf Bonds - 3.99

Demon Marked - 2.99
Consent - 2.99
Pieces of You - 2.99
Whatever You Want - 4.99
Unseen Touch (PCU: Touch #1)- 3.99
Burning Touch (PCU: Touch #2) - 3.99
His Own - 2.99

Distributors: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, All Romance, Kobo, Rainbow and Lulu.


Highest Seller: Wolf Bonds
Highest Distributor Sales: Amazon.


September 2012
New Releases: 1 Short Story, 1 Novella; Total Titles: 9
Total Sales: 545

New Releases
Consent 2: Submit - 2.99 (short story) [released on 9/13/2012]
Wolf Bonds - 3.99 (novella - new series) [released on 9/28/2012]

Old Releases

Demon Marked - 2.99
Consent - 2.99
Pieces of You - 2.99
Whatever You Want - 4.99

Unseen Touch (PCU: Touch #1)- 2.99
Burning Touch (PCU: Touch #2) - 3.99
His Own - 2.99

Distributors: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, All Romance, and Kobo.


Highest Seller: Wolf Bonds
Highest Distributor Sales: All Romance and Amazon (it was tied this time).



August 2012
New Releases: 2 Novellas, 1 Short Story; Total Titles: 7
Total Sales: 819

New Releases
Unseen Touch (PCU: Touch #1)- 3.99 (novella - series) [released on 8/10/2012]
Burning Touch (PCU: Touch #2) - 3.99 (novella - series) [released on 8/24/2012]
His Own - 0.99 (short story) [released on 8/4/2012]

Old Releases
Demon Marked - 2.99
Consent - 2.99
Pieces of You - 2.99
Whatever You Want - 4.99

Distributors: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, All Romance. I added to Kobo Direct on August 25.

Highest Seller: His Own
Highest Distributor Sales: All Romance


July 2012
New Releases: 3 Short Stories, 1 Novel; Total Titles: 4
Total Sales: 402

New Releases
Demon Marked - 2.99 (short story) [released on 7/1/2012]
Consent - 2.99 (short story) [released on 7/1/2012]
Piece of You 2.99/0.99 (was on sale from 7/12/12-8/1/12) (short story) [released on 7/1/2012]
Whatever You Want - 4.99 (novel) [released on 7/7/2012]

Distributors: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Nobles. I added all four to All Romance on July 16.

Highest seller: Whatever You Want
Highest Distributor Sales: All Romance

If you have questions feel free to comment here or email me. :)

8 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for sharing this information!!! Personally, I think you're doing fantastic! But... I'm not even published yet. Hope to be very soon though (erotica/erotic romance). I'd LOVE to have your numbers when I do.

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    1. I'm glad to share! I certainly hope you have lots of success. I'm a hugh fan of m/m stories and the more out there, the better in my opinion. It'll give me tons more to read.

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  2. I'm hoping to get a few more titles up and then maybe, possibly, start tweaking prices looking for that sweet spot that will increase sales and keep profit up enough to make it possible to keep writing.

    I'll definitely be keeping an eye on your numbers! Thank you very much for posting them.

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    1. You're welcome! I tend to do my prices based on word count with some leeway for promotions. So far I'm satisfied with my price structure, but I aways keep an eye on things. I think when starting out you have to balance finding a price that will help get your work in readers' hands as well as value your work.

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    2. I've posted here before about how helpful this was to me, but now that I've (finally) had the chance to get a few more things up, I'm wondering if you're not underpricing yourself. :) Not that it's my business, but I priced novels at 6.99 so I'm averaging 4.49 per unit sold (an average of all books sold, and I have some short novelette length stuff). It makes a decent different in whether or not I "made a living" this month! At 3.99 gross, the answer would have been no. I don't have any other income source, so I have to maximize. :) Do you recommend I get onto AllRomance? I have not bothered yet... I do Amazon, BN, Smashwords, and Kobo. I assume (hopefully not erroneously) that you are doing much better now on sales too! I hope so. ;-) I hope publishing new stuff regularly will keep sales strong. I don't want to quit writing but if the money's not there, I'll be too busy earning a living to do more than dabble. At that average profit for book though, I can live off of about 700 sales a month. (Low cost of living here where I'm at, thank God.) If sales go up, then maybe I can start adjusting prices down to benefit readers too. I don't know. I've always been perfectly willing to pay $7-15 for a book, and have bought enough hardcovers in my life to feel guilty about the expense. That leaves me going "huh?" when people complain about "high" prices of $4-7. LOL. YEAH. Try $25 back 15 years ago when I was buying up all of Johanna Lindsey's new releases in HC. Anyway, would love to discuss more but it's a public place here and I already feel like I've probably run off at the mouth too much! :D

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    3. Sorry for such a late reply! I definitely think getting on all romance is worth it if you write m/m. Besides the more outlets you are on, the more people you can reach with your fiction. So definitely go for it.

      I think 6.99 is a great starting price for a novel. But since most of my fiction is shorter than a full-length novel I keep the price lower. I also think it's good to keep in mind at what price readers are willing to take a chance on for a new self-published novelist as well.

      Feel free to email if you would like to chat more. I love talking about the business side.

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  3. Thanks for posting those, Arvel! That's very helpful!

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