250

That’s the number of books most self-published authors sell, or less. At least that’s what Google tells us. They also say that 90% of self-published authors sell less than 100 copies. I suppose that makes sense, at least based on my experience. When I first published my Desert Sun series in the early to mid-2010s, they definitely sold fewer than 100 copies. I think, like most people at the time, the digital publishing landscape was brand-new, with that new-digital platform smell to it. And like most people who gave it a whirl, I sold a few copies to friends and family and my advertising was limited to Facebook posts. Not exactly a recipe for success, but as I said at the time, I just want to put the books out there and if people find them and enjoy the stories, good. Fast-forward to today and my two recent books, each of which have sold much more than 250 copies. Amazing what a little advertising can do. Clearly, I’m not making a ton of money off them. In fact, my regular paycheck from work laughs at the total amount I’ve made from almost two years’ worth of royalties. But again, it’s not about the money, or even the number of copies sold. I’m gratified by the reviews people leave, things people say in person, and awards the books have won. I may be above average, at least in this regard, and I’m thankful for each person who reads my books.