In 2008 I published my first book. It was a non-fiction title and to my surprise it sold well. Well enough to become an Amazon Best Seller. My third non-fiction book not only became another Amazon Best Seller, it generated enough revenue to pay for a new roof, replacement of our HVAC system, and some fun money left over. All of which was from one month’s sales!

Years later, I decided to try my hand at the fiction game. I’d had a brief flirtation with success in non-fiction and learned a tremendous amount about the publishing game, both traditional and indie. It had been a steep learning curve made bearable by the fact I didn’t need to master my knowledge of my subject matter.

Surely the learning curve to sell fiction wouldn’t be that difficult?

Like most things in my life, the instant I make a grand assumption I set my self up for a humiliating reality check. The learning curve has been steeper, more challenging, and financially more uncertain. I knew I would at earn back at least my costs with each of my 20 non-fiction titles.

While I learned the fiction game, my non-fiction revenue could underwrite my new enterprise. At the same time my youngest daughter was still a competitive gymnast, would soon be a freshman in college, and a host of other ongoing expenses.

While I misjudged the degree of the challenge I faced, and I’m glad I had some success under my belt writing non-fiction first or I would have quit long ago, I’m glad I took the leap.

Recently, I committed myself to yet another learning curve in the publishing world. My first audiobook will be available soon!

I selected to have the first episode of the Capital City Characters series of novellas, Friends in Low Places, as my first venture into audiobooks.

There is considerable expense for an indie author to have a print work, paper of digital, converted into an audiobook. Like it or not, being an author means you are an entrepreneur as well and there is financial risk in everything you do.

Friends in Low Places was a good choice. It is only 18 chapters long, tells the back story of a popular secondary character in my Sullivan thriller series, and is the first in a series. If sales warrant it, I plan to have Dolls, Dames, and Danger converted next with each title eventually becoming available as an audiobook.

Audiobooks are growing in market share. One of the things I learned in my venture into non-fiction was being an early adopter of converting my titles to ebooks meant I had little competition in my niche. I estimate that fact alone is why I have the roof over my head as I type.

The revenue generated from audiobook sales is earmarked to pay for the next title in line to be converted. My goal is to have every title in my backlist made available in audiobook form and if possible, for each new release to be available in digital, audio, and print versions upon release.

If you enjoy my stories and you like audiobooks, please support the effort. Friends in Low Places is reasonable priced! It will sell for $5.95 upon release.