REVISITING MY WEBSITE? ALWAYS REFRESH YOUR BROWSER TO SEE LATEST UPDATES.
QUICK LINKS.
MY BOOKS ON THIS WEBSITE.
ALONG THE RED DIRT ROAD
THREE ROADS OUT
WHERE TO GET MY BOOKS
VIDEOS FOR READERS, BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIES
OTHER PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE.
BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIES & AUTHOR TALKS
ABOUT AUTHOR
ABOUT REVIEWS & RATINGS
THE MUSIC BEHIND THE STORIES
Jane Yearout's email > ashfoard1@gmail.com
MY
FROM READERS LIKE YOU.
Here is where I post and respond to questions/comments that readers bring up at my free author sessions with book clubs and libraries, or on my Facebook page, or email to me at ashfoard1@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you anytime the urge strikes. Questions & comments may be edited for clarity and brevity. Your identity will be protected.
Peace, love, and good reading,
Jane
CURRENT QUESTIONS & COMMENTS.
Q - Hello, Jane. I'm pleased to let you know that our library system has reviewed your books and recommended them to our book clubs. Two want to do author sessions via Zoom in early February and another in early March. (1) Are you available? (2) Can the participants be in different locations, including their homes? (3) One of the clubs is hesitant to meet via Zoom because they like to get their books signed. Any ideas? Thanks. ~ Erica
A - Hi, Erica. Thank you so much for recommending my books to your adult readers. (1) Surprisingly, I have more open times for this winter than for spring. Subject to availability, I try to schedule my Zoom sessions to start between 9 am and 8 pm (Central Time) on weekdays. You or your book clubs may email me suitable dates/times (or their phone number with a good time to call) - ashfoard1@gmail.com. (2) Yes. It is easy for participants to be in different locations for my Zoom sessions. I'll provide simple instructions when the sessions are scheduled. (3) About signed books for Zoom participants - I'm happy to mail each a personalized/self adhesive insert (no charge) that may be placed inside the front cover. Thanks again for recommending my books - and for your good questions. ~ Jane
Q - Greetings from snowy Minnesota. I'm also an author, one who is distressed by the monetization of book ratings and the proliferation of celebrity book clubs. I know that lots of people buy your books and love them, including me. I also know you refuse to pay for ratings. Same here. How do you do it?? ~ Keitha (not my pen name)
A - Hi, Keitha. That's a toughie! Since I don't hire raters or reviewers, the number of ratings and reviews for my books is quite small relative to sales. I nudge my readers to post ratings and reviews, but most don't - and I'm way too old to beg. Yet, thanks to my readers, Along the Red Dirt Road maintained a 5 star average (ratings & reviews, all sales sites) - from release in 2020 until fairly recently. What happened? I'll start by saying it is essential for ethical indies to direct their books to readers who are apt to love them, and away from those who are not. This website and my Facebook ads are designed with that in mind. My Facebook ads are also directed to select audiences and are supposed to exclude those who identify as romance novel readers (my books are not romance novels). Several months ago, Along the Red Dirt Road fell into the hands of a club that reads mostly steamy romance material. Besides a batch of sub-par ratings, I received a testy note from one of the members. Here are some realities: Not everyone will like your books or mine. Keep up the effort to get your books to those who will appreciate them, and away from those who won't - yet be prepared for the unexpected. Binge readers, big publishing, celebrity book clubs, and sabotage are only a few issues that indie authors face in today's marketplace. While my books sell well, my bill for Facebook advertising has often exceeded my royalties. Lately, I've been cutting back on ads and book sales continue to trend upward. I'm no marketing expert, but I strongly suspect your efforts will also pay off over time. ~ Jane
Q - Hi Jane. I just Googled your name and WOW! You are everywhere! The same thing happens when I Google Along the Red Dirt Road or Three Roads Out. I'd like to offer more of my art online, but search results on Google are not encouraging. I just finished Along the Red Dirt Road (loved it). Any suggestions? ~ Sara
A - Hi, Sara. Thank you! Glad you liked 'Dirt Road'. I am NOT an expert on web technology. I know Google is constantly mining websites. If you plan to get a website, those designed for e-commerce may be well suited for you. My website is not designed for e-commerce. I prefer to offer my books through sellers that readers know and trust, such as those shown on my where to get books page. Because selling art is so different from my world, I suspect your fellow artists would be a great source of productive ideas. Good luck! ~ Jane
Q - Hi Jane. The 'music behind the stories' page on your website is incredible. What an amazing freebie! I didn't know about it until your Zoom with our book club. Listening to the book's playlist after reading Along the Red Dirt Road was quite an emotional experience. We're reading Three Roads Out next month. I think the music that goes with that story is even better, if that is possible. And thanks for introducing me to Tim O'Brien and Aurora Celtic! ~ Ellie
A - Hi, Ellie. Thanks for your sweet email. A folk music festival near Charles Town, WV (Claymont) put me on this path. Another music festival (Stanfest in Nova Scotia) fed the faith in humankind that I hope comes through in my writing. I put some of that music in a large and eclectic playlist titled Dirt Road Anthology. Enjoy! ~ Jane
QUICK LINKS.
MY BOOKS ON THIS WEBSITE.
ALONG THE RED DIRT ROAD
THREE ROADS OUT
WHERE TO GET MY BOOKS
VIDEOS FOR READERS, BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIES
OTHER PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE.
BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIES & AUTHOR TALKS
ABOUT AUTHOR
ABOUT REVIEWS & RATINGS
THE MUSIC BEHIND THE STORIES
Jane Yearout's email > ashfoard1@gmail.com
MY
FROM READERS LIKE YOU.
Here is where I post and respond to questions/comments that readers bring up at my free author sessions with book clubs and libraries, or on my Facebook page, or email to me at ashfoard1@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you anytime the urge strikes. Questions & comments may be edited for clarity and brevity. Your identity will be protected.
Peace, love, and good reading,
Jane
CURRENT QUESTIONS & COMMENTS.
Q - Hello, Jane. I'm pleased to let you know that our library system has reviewed your books and recommended them to our book clubs. Two want to do author sessions via Zoom in early February and another in early March. (1) Are you available? (2) Can the participants be in different locations, including their homes? (3) One of the clubs is hesitant to meet via Zoom because they like to get their books signed. Any ideas? Thanks. ~ Erica
A - Hi, Erica. Thank you so much for recommending my books to your adult readers. (1) Surprisingly, I have more open times for this winter than for spring. Subject to availability, I try to schedule my Zoom sessions to start between 9 am and 8 pm (Central Time) on weekdays. You or your book clubs may email me suitable dates/times (or their phone number with a good time to call) - ashfoard1@gmail.com. (2) Yes. It is easy for participants to be in different locations for my Zoom sessions. I'll provide simple instructions when the sessions are scheduled. (3) About signed books for Zoom participants - I'm happy to mail each a personalized/self adhesive insert (no charge) that may be placed inside the front cover. Thanks again for recommending my books - and for your good questions. ~ Jane
Q - Greetings from snowy Minnesota. I'm also an author, one who is distressed by the monetization of book ratings and the proliferation of celebrity book clubs. I know that lots of people buy your books and love them, including me. I also know you refuse to pay for ratings. Same here. How do you do it?? ~ Keitha (not my pen name)
A - Hi, Keitha. That's a toughie! Since I don't hire raters or reviewers, the number of ratings and reviews for my books is quite small relative to sales. I nudge my readers to post ratings and reviews, but most don't - and I'm way too old to beg. Yet, thanks to my readers, Along the Red Dirt Road maintained a 5 star average (ratings & reviews, all sales sites) - from release in 2020 until fairly recently. What happened? I'll start by saying it is essential for ethical indies to direct their books to readers who are apt to love them, and away from those who are not. This website and my Facebook ads are designed with that in mind. My Facebook ads are also directed to select audiences and are supposed to exclude those who identify as romance novel readers (my books are not romance novels). Several months ago, Along the Red Dirt Road fell into the hands of a club that reads mostly steamy romance material. Besides a batch of sub-par ratings, I received a testy note from one of the members. Here are some realities: Not everyone will like your books or mine. Keep up the effort to get your books to those who will appreciate them, and away from those who won't - yet be prepared for the unexpected. Binge readers, big publishing, celebrity book clubs, and sabotage are only a few issues that indie authors face in today's marketplace. While my books sell well, my bill for Facebook advertising has often exceeded my royalties. Lately, I've been cutting back on ads and book sales continue to trend upward. I'm no marketing expert, but I strongly suspect your efforts will also pay off over time. ~ Jane
Q - Hi Jane. I just Googled your name and WOW! You are everywhere! The same thing happens when I Google Along the Red Dirt Road or Three Roads Out. I'd like to offer more of my art online, but search results on Google are not encouraging. I just finished Along the Red Dirt Road (loved it). Any suggestions? ~ Sara
A - Hi, Sara. Thank you! Glad you liked 'Dirt Road'. I am NOT an expert on web technology. I know Google is constantly mining websites. If you plan to get a website, those designed for e-commerce may be well suited for you. My website is not designed for e-commerce. I prefer to offer my books through sellers that readers know and trust, such as those shown on my where to get books page. Because selling art is so different from my world, I suspect your fellow artists would be a great source of productive ideas. Good luck! ~ Jane
Q - Hi Jane. The 'music behind the stories' page on your website is incredible. What an amazing freebie! I didn't know about it until your Zoom with our book club. Listening to the book's playlist after reading Along the Red Dirt Road was quite an emotional experience. We're reading Three Roads Out next month. I think the music that goes with that story is even better, if that is possible. And thanks for introducing me to Tim O'Brien and Aurora Celtic! ~ Ellie
A - Hi, Ellie. Thanks for your sweet email. A folk music festival near Charles Town, WV (Claymont) put me on this path. Another music festival (Stanfest in Nova Scotia) fed the faith in humankind that I hope comes through in my writing. I put some of that music in a large and eclectic playlist titled Dirt Road Anthology. Enjoy! ~ Jane
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