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Post by quinning on Sept 26, 2019 10:44:40 GMT -5
I had not yet published in 2016 (the last Presidential election in the US) but I do seem to recall reports of slumping sales as the election heated up and then in the immediate wake of results.
I am curious to see (and hoping we can put our collective heads together) if the news of the impeachment inquiry will likewise draw readers away? Of course we will immediately follow that up with the 2020 election cycle ...
Has anyone seen any impact to UK sales with the political turmoil there? Australians? I haven’t seen as much politically from you guys but feel free to chime in!
P.S. This thread is intended to give us a chance to pull out our crystal balls and try to see the future - not trying to encourage discussions of the actual politics in any country.
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Post by carlos on Sept 26, 2019 11:44:57 GMT -5
Alas, even though I am a lifelong Democrat, I am not convinced that we really constitute a 'party'-- which sort of implies that somebody knows what we are doing.
I am anticipating twelve months of chaos, followed by an unpredictable election (because everybody in both parties will be completely confused and disgusted.)
It should be a good time to turn off the news and concentrate on writing.
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Post by Suzy on Sept 26, 2019 13:05:59 GMT -5
I think that people generally want to escape during these troubling times. They read more, not less in order to turn their minds away from political turbulence.
It might be the reason why my new series is riding high in the US charts right now. Escape to a small village in the west of Ireland? Yes, please, they seem to say. So I keep writing stories where nothing much happens, except for a little romance set in wonderful scenery.
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Post by djmills on Sept 26, 2019 16:16:10 GMT -5
I notice sales fall or stop in US summer, then pick up again in US autumn/fall. Rest of the year, I get none to steady sales. :-)
So, while everyone concentrates on US politics, I hope to write more short stories and finish my current novel. :-)
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Post by Pru Freda on Sept 27, 2019 3:22:26 GMT -5
I’ll do my best to stay on-topic here - hard as it may be.  I can’t honestly say that I’ve noticed any impact on my sales from politics, either here in the UK or in the States. Given the demographic of my readers (mostly women aged 40 - 70+) that is hardly surprising. I do, however, recall one major sporting event in which the England team were playing, when my sales shot up. I assume that while the menfolk were watching the match, their women took refuge in books. (England lost, naturally  ) If I had the nerve (and the nous) it might be interesting to use that refuge and escape as a sales ploy. “Fed up of Brexit/Elections/Electioneering? Then why not lose yourself in a good book? Blah blah.” “Read what the President is missing while trying to win your vote - read My Book!”You get the idea. |
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Post by carlos on Sept 27, 2019 15:48:31 GMT -5
Ha! Although a lifelong Democrat I have very little confidence that our so-called 'party' is competent to do two important things at the same time. It is much more likely that impeachment will get snarled up with election, and both will fail. You should add a murder or two, write The Brexit Series, or the Impeachment Series, to keep your readers focused on what is truly important, vis: sales.  |
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Post by reveries on Sept 28, 2019 3:56:41 GMT -5
I do see sales slow during political drama. I suspect my readers are more likely than average to be out on climate and other demonstrations.
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Post by Suzy on Sept 28, 2019 11:44:10 GMT -5
Ha! Although a lifelong Democrat I have very little confidence that our so-called 'party' is competent to do two important things at the same time. It is much more likely that impeachment will get snarled up with election, and both will fail. You should add a murder or two, write The Brexit Series, or the Impeachment Series, to keep your readers focused on what is truly important, vis: sales. Not a good idea if you want your books to keep selling a year or two from now. Politics change so quickly and I'm afraid to even think about what horrors will be with us in the future. Better stay out of politics in our out of books. |
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Post by carlos on Sept 28, 2019 11:55:20 GMT -5
An interesting concept--a book that would still be selling (or had ever sold) a year or two from now.  However, I bow to your experience. Alas for those of us in the USA--politics is a sort of crime--so it might fit into one of the more sordid crime genres; the sort with rival Mafiosi and no holds barred. |
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Post by Suzy on Sept 28, 2019 13:33:37 GMT -5
An interesting concept--a book that would still be selling (or had ever sold) a year or two from now. However, I bow to your experience. Alas for those of us in the USA--politics is a sort of crime--so it might fit into one of the more sordid crime genres; the sort with rival Mafiosi and no holds barred. It's not a 'concept' at all. My best selling self-published book Selling Dreams was published in 2014. And all the books in the 'Hot' series are also selling like hotcakes, as are most of my older books. Why? Because there is no mention of topical political situations or conflicts. So they never date. |
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Post by scdaffron on Sept 29, 2019 9:21:47 GMT -5
It's not a 'concept' at all. My best selling self-published book Selling Dreams was published in 2014. And all the books in the 'Hot' series are also selling like hotcakes, as are most of my older books. Why? Because there is no mention of topical political situations or conflicts. So they never date. I agree because I have had a similar experience. My permafree came out in 2013 and continues to get downloads that lead to sales of the rest of the series. My readers have told me many times that they read my books as an escape. (One of my best reviews calls my Alpine Grove series "a staycation for your heart and mind.") It helps that my novels are set 20+ years ago. I almost never mention what was happening then, except for the occasional pop culture reference to something like TV shows. ("Friends" was a big deal, for example.) It also helps that no one had smart phones in the mid to late nineties when the books are set. No one was texting and in rural areas, almost no one even could get a cellular connection. That means the general public didn't have to witness moronic Twitter displays of world leaders' narcissism, misogyny, racism, ignorance, and blatant stupidity and then have it recycled into "news" on a daily basis. Talk about an escape. |
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Post by Suzy on Sept 29, 2019 11:40:57 GMT -5
I wish I could go there...
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Post by scdaffron on Sept 29, 2019 11:46:23 GMT -5
I wish I could go there... That's the good thing about being authors. In our imaginations, we can  |
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Post by Suzy on Sept 29, 2019 13:39:40 GMT -5
When someone says 'interesting concept', I read 'I don't actually believe you.' But that might just be me....
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Post by carlos on Sept 29, 2019 23:38:39 GMT -5
Ha ha--Oh no--I certainly believe you. The 'interesting concept' was a joking reference to my own historical sales. As you may recall, you are probably the only non-relative who ever bought one of my books. A unique event, but gratifying as even a single sale suffices to elevate the author from dilettante to professional writer.  |
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However, I bow to your experience. 
