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My 7 Year Journey as a Self-Published Author

Get Your Zombie Turkeys Laughter
Sixth-Year Anniversary
My Seventh-Year Anniversary
My 7 Year Journey
Zombie Turkeys front cover. Click to get a copy! Sam Melvin, an underachieving e-reporter from a small town, changes forever when he meets turkeys that won’t stay dead. You can shoot ’em, chop ’em, burn ’em—they come back stronger. The undead plague of poultry spreads uncontrollably, rocking the whole country. . .

My 7 Year Journey as a Self-Published Author–What did I learn? What were my mistakes? What worked for me? I’ll tell you all about my last seven years and how I sold 3,500+ books.

If you missed the first blog post in this anniversary series, here it is: My Seventh-Year Anniversary as a Self-Published Author

First, grab a copy of my book for .99. In 2018 I put Zombie Turkeys at permanently .99. free. Click here now!

I published My Undead Mother-in-law in August 2017 and Paranormal Privateers in May 2018,

My hopes and dreams were that everyone who bought Zombie Turkeys would buy my other books.

How’d that work out? About 43% of those who bought Zombie Turkeys bought the other books. Not bad, but not great.

But later on, the .99 lead in helped me. I’ll tell you how below.

I was pumping them using Amazon ads and in person sales and my newsletter. But I wasn’t getting rich. Nor was I breaking even. But I was having loads of fun.

My Undead Mother-in-law

My Undead Mother-in-law back cover
My 7 Year Journey
My Undead Mother-in-law back cover

Blurb:

My mother-in-law’s a zombie. And she has anger-management issues. What ticks her off is when people don’t treat her like a normal human being—with glowing red eyes and super strength and speed. 

Get your audiobook for free by clicking here.

Get your autographed copy by clicking here.

Paranormal Privateers

My 7 Year Journey

Zombies charge first, ask questions later. Middle-aged, overweight, and undead, Diane Newby leads the paranormal privateers against criminals and corruption. Sailing to trouble spots too sensitive for the US government, with zombie strength and regeneration they beat bullies into submission. Aided by zombie turkeys, corgis, and bulls, vicious criminal geniuses fall before them

Get your audiobook for free by clicking here.

Get your autographed copy by clicking here.

My 7 Year Journey – My Second Series Secret Supers

Not everyone like zombies, not even funny ones. But everyone likes superheroes. One of my author friends specializes in middle-grade books, Paul Maitland. He said there was a dearth of books for that age group. So I made my four main characters are in 7th grade.

My daughter is disabled and drives an electric wheelchair. She asked me to write a book with a flying wheelchair. So I did, Secret Supers.

My main character is Jeremy Gentle, in an electric wheelchair with cerebral palsy, just like my daughter. But he gets telekinesis and can make his wheelchair fly. And his super-powered friends.

Get your Secret Supers audiobook for free by clicking here.

Get your autographed copy of Secret Supers by clicking here.

Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?
Villain’s Vacation cover

After completing 7th grade and cleaning up crime in their town, the four friends go to a coaster park for summer vacation. Too bad their worst enemy is also there and out for revenge. Find out more in Villain’s Vacation.

Get your Villain’s Vacation audiobook for free by clicking here.

Get your autographed copy of Villain’s Vacation. by clicking here.

Produce Your Audiobook Secret Supers in Space
Secret Supers in Space audiobook cover. Click to listen.

But that’s not the end of their summer vacation. They become bored and their parents send them to Space Camp. They get more adventure than they expect.

Get your Secret Supers in Space audiobook for free by clicking here.

Get your autographed copy of Secret Supers in Space by clicking here.

My 7 Year Journey – What Happened Next?

So I have two series. Both start with .99 books. Why?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had my best year for sales. I couldn’t sell as much in person, but there were tremendous sales online. I think the .99 price invited a lot of people to try my books.

Zombie Detective cover
My 7 Year Journey
Zombie Detective cover

But these six books aren’t all I’ve done. I inserted Zombie Detective in between Zombie Turkeys and My Undead Mother-in-law. Then I wrote Oops! Tales of the Zombie Turkey Apocalypse, my short story collection. I put all the wacky ideas in it I couldn’t use in my other books.

Oops! My SciFi latest science news What's New Science
Oops cover final medium

My 7 Year Journey – My Non-Fiction Book

Finally, I wrote a book in another genre which I’d never done before: Bible helps. The Gospel Medley. Here’s what the book is about:

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience
The Gospel Medley cover. Click to get

Are you curious about Jesus Christ? Do you struggle to understand the Bible? The Gospel Medley includes the four Gospels in a single narrative, faithfully pulling the text from the World English Bible. You are now able to read all the gospel as a single, easy-to-read story.

Each Gospel describes Jesus’s life from a different point of view with different details and insights. The Gospel Medley combines every word into a single perspective with all details and events arranged chronologically.

Unlike other harmonies, The Gospel Medley doesn’t put the four gospels in columns or rows. Instead, the text is integrated word by word into a smoothly flowing narrative. Further, each paragraph references the four gospels so you can read the original citations. You also get footnotes of all the quotes from the Old Testament, giving you the context of Jesus’s words.

For a unique perspective of the four gospels, read ‘The Gospel Medley’ today.

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Your Second Series Surprise by Andy Zach

Secret Supers audiobook cover
Secret Supers audiobook cover
Second Series Surpris
Secret Supers audiobook

Your Second Series Surprise –Most of you know I have a second SciFi series. Now it comes to you with a surprise.

I’ve got good news–and more good news for you. Let’s start with the good news. The first book in the series is free today, November 5th. Grab it here: CLICKITY CLICK!

You can get an autographed book directly from me. Click here now! I give you FREE SHIPPING!

But that’s not all.

Your Second Series Surprise – A New Excerpt

Enjoy this excerpt where Jeremy first learns of his new superpower:

Disabled Middle School Superheroes
Chapter 1 icon

The next morning I felt great. I wriggled out of bed and dressed, as usual, crawling around my carpeted floor. My legs were hopelessly spastic, but my upper body was strong enough to drag me around my room.

After packing my wheelchair’s pannier with my school supplies, I pulled myself into my chair. Getting in and out was a long, painful process. I picked up my phone, preparing to leave my room, but it slipped from my hand to the floor.

Crap. Now I have to climb down again. Desperately, I bent over and tried to reach the phone where it lay, tilted against my bed. Not quite.

With a burst of frustrated anger, I said, “Come here!” And the phone zipped into my hand.

Wow. That never happened before. There was a pencil on my desk, across the room. “Come here,” I said.

Zip! It smacked into my palm.

I experimented. Using my new power, I could make my bed far more efficiently than from my knees. I even tidied my desk.

“The bus is here,” called Mom from the kitchen.

I went down to the bus more excited about school than I ever had been before.

Want more? Get your free copy here!

Your Second Series Surprise – More good news!

Villain’s Vacation on sale for .99!

You read that right–two of the three books in my second series are on sale! Grab your copy now!

Are you unsure? Listen to the latest review:

October 8, 2023

What a fresh take on the superhero genre. Teenage kids with profound disabilities and super powers. And, don’t forget the super hamster. I love the blending of storytelling the author displays that throws him into the characters as the one documenting these super kid’s lives and the defeat of their villains. I gotta read more from this author!

Brad Secrest

Your Final Surprise

First, you can get free audiobooks by clicking here. CLICK HERE.

Next, you can subscribe to my Youtube channel here:

Finally, the third book in my series may go on sale this month. Subscribe to my newsletter to find out!

Let me know what other surprises you’d like by clicking here.

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My Seventh-Year Anniversary as a Self-Published Author

Get Your Zombie Turkeys Laughter
Sixth-Year Anniversary
My Seventh-Year Anniversary
Zombie Turkeys front cover. Click to get a copy!

My Seventh-Year Anniversary as a Self-Published Author–how did I do it? How is it going so far? Hold onto your socks, because I’ll tell you all about it.

But before anything, grab a copy of my book for free. It’s free for 3 days, October 1-3 to celebrate my anniversary! Click here now!

On October 31st, 2016, I published this book:

Sam Melvin, an underachieving e-reporter from a small town, changes forever when he meets turkeys that won’t stay dead. You can shoot ’em, chop ’em, burn ’em—they come back stronger. The undead plague of poultry spreads uncontrollably, rocking the whole country. . .

From Zombie Turkeys’ Blurb

So, what happened next? What happened before the publication?

In the beginning . . .

Only Three Days Left: Get Your Free Book
My Sixth-Year Anniversary
My Seventh-Year Anniversary
A turkey who missed the free book offer. Click to get your free book.

Caterpillar forcibly retired me in October 2015. I didn’t want to rust on the pile of retirement, so I decided I would start writing a book. But I needed a topic. I wanted something light and funny.

We got a new turkey fryer and I tested it out. I brought in the fried turkey on a platter and said, “Imagine if this turkey came back to life!” Then someone said, “It’d be a zombie turkey.”

“Eureka! That’s it! That’s my book! Zombie turkeys! A whole apocalypse of them. It’ll be a parody of all zombie books ever written.”

My Seventh-Year Anniversary – What Happened Next?

I wrote about 48,000 words in November in the book for NaNoWriMo. Then I finished it in December. Then I edited it: six times over until March. I decided I needed an editor–and got her, Dori Harrell.

Then I decided to learn about publishing. I read about six books. I also took a writing course at my alma mater, Bradley university. Who knew point-of-view was so important?

I created a project plan for self-publishing. Then I decided to publish through Amazon, since it was easier and cheaper.

I went back and forth with my editor about six times. The novel was ready to publish, with 54,000 words.

Oops! I forgot to get a cover illustration! I needed one done and it was July 2016.

The Making of the Zombie Turkeys Cover

My Sixth-Year Anniversary
My Seventh-Year Anniversary
A cover draft. Click to see more.

Fortunately, I already wrote a blog post about this process. Click the title or here to read it.

Oh, I forgot. I also worked with my illustrator Sean “Fuzzy” Flanagan on my chapter icons. Read about it here: How we Made Zombie Turkeys Chapter Icons.

My Seventh-Year Anniversary – Format Editing

Text formatting–so simple–NOT! Readers expect books to be formatted a certain way. If you break the rules–like not starting your book on the right-hand page–you look like a rank amateur.

Which I was. But I didn’t want to look that way. I only got one chance to make a first impression. So I hired Rik Hall. He’s fast. He’s experienced. And he made my book in both paperback and ebook formats.

Finally I was ready. I uploaded my file to Amazon and ordered my proof copy. My launch date was set for October 31st, 2016 and ordered fifty paper copies from Amazon.

I was ready to launch. What happened next? Read my next blog to find out!