Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Authors, just out of curiosity how many books have you written?
And how do you keep track of them all when marketing?
I have about 8 novels, and a few short stories under my belt. I tend to focus on the newest releases. Inevitably something gets lost in the shuffle.

Ah, Cynthia, anyone who has 'about 8 novels' under her belt must not be too preoccupied with statistical things. No wonder something was lost in the shuffle.
What I like about this is that you seem a bit ambivalent about the whole commercial thing. Good on you. Keep writing!

I've published 6 poetry collections, 34 children's books, and a story in a sci-fi and fantasy anthology.

I know the titles of every book I've published to date (including the anthology my story appears in). Though, I admit to not knowing the titles of every poem in the collections by heart. I also have an easy to find list of my books on my blog, and pages dedicated to them on my website.

Mostly I focus my marketing on the newest release, but I also take every oppertunity to mention older titles; especially if I can find a way to tie them in with the newer release (because of a similar theme, for example).

I have about 8 too. I keep a bibliography on my web site, so that I don't have to remember.

I've written 2 novels: Maurya's Seed and Passion's Pride. I also wrote 2 textbooks available on iBooks, Practicing Literary Analysis for students and 1 for teachers.

I've written one, which is reasonably manageable...

Written? Hoo boy, lost count on that one. I've got seven stories published, one set to release in August, plus a dozen works in progress, two or three books I wrote in high school/early college that I avoid reading now, about fifteen children's books (which I'll illustrate...someday...), three or four plays, one full-length film script, another film script in progress as well as two TV shows, and who knows how many poems and side stories that I have long since forgotten.

I've had one novel published in May 2015 by Accent Press, I have a second novel as a work in progress. I've had one flash fiction story selected for an anthology, and another short story finished which is waiting to be entered in the next suitable 3,000 short story competition.

I'm writing my fourth one now. My first, "A Wicked Way to Win an Earl," launches Nov. 3 from Berkley, the second to follow in May 2016. I'm definitely starting to have a hard time keeping track of deadlines and marketing for all four, not to mention juggling all the characters that have accumulated from a 4-book series! I don't know how you do it with 8 published novels.

I've seen some pretty cool spreadsheets that keep track of deadlines, publication dates, etc. Would the same kind of thing work for marketing?

Written one book (Joshua's Island), self-published six months ago. Finishing my second one (Ethan's Secret), which I'm releasing in ebook format on Amazon on 8/17.

Very excited!

I have written two books, Angel War, published in April, 2013, and Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle, published in March, 2015. My third book will be a collection of my poems.

I have 5 books and a short story/novella out. Three in production active writing that is and another 4 sitting lost waiting for inspiration. All listed here on GR, Blog, Facebook and various site selling.

Marketing hard for any, selling harder!

I have five out and the sixth ready for summer. I have a monster spreadsheet I created that keeps track of my promotion dates and KDP Select renewal dates.

I published three novels and four short stories/novellas in one series, but I have two novels and one novella that I'm getting ready for publication.

I've written 3 so far. The first was a superhero novel titled "The League of Protectors: Dawn of a New Age."

The second was a 100 page follow up titled "The League of Protectors: Fire and Ice." Which followed just two characters.

And most recently, a vampire suspense novel titled "The Blood in Their Veins."

I'm currently working on the next installment of the superhero and vampire stories along with a zombie thriller!

Two released, one soon to be released, another to get into shape for release, two very close to completion, and about two dozen in various stages of completion.

Amazing how changing a tiny demon's poopy diapers can slow down your ability to write.

I’ve written two young adult action/adventure novels featuring a strong female protagonist and am finishing a third. I’ve also written a book of children’s stories (have plenty more tales for another), a Christmas short story, and contributed a short story to a sci-fi/fantasy anthology.

i have 8 that are published now, one waiting to be published, currently writing three others.

Seven are in one series, so market one, all eventually get some attention. the other one is a new series and currently putting it through review programs to get it some attention

Written or published? LOL. I have quite a few written - or partially written - but I have published 13 novels (12 95k-110k words and 1 70K words) and 1 short story. I am currently working on my 14th novel (~70% written.)

I have one published another in the process of and am writing a third. The thing I try to remember is that I cant forget the book that started it all.

Drako wrote: "i have 8 that are published now, one waiting to be published, currently writing three others.

Seven are in one series, so market one, all eventually get some attention. the other one is a new seri..."

Nice Drako. Which published work do you feel has been your best or gotten the most attention? I have a character in my vampire novel The Blood in Their Veins named Drako Malachi lol

I have two that have been published, working on the third and the fourth is written but needs re-writing. As for short stories, probably four more of those.

The four novels started as a short story a long time ago. Once I picked it up again, I did a serious re-write, and with all the back story and the expansion on the original story, it became four!

Wrote 80 a decade ago, published 8 so far. I mainly spend time editing for release... Why so many? Just all the ideas I had. Don't have anymore to write now...

We should all congratulate ourselves for even finishing writing a novel. That's the biggest hurdle.
I suppose I started this thread because I was concerned I wasn't giving enough attention to my older works. Our books are like our children in a way and I don't want to leave any of them on the backburner because I'm proud of all of them. But like Victoria said I think the best approach for me is to market the newest release while at the same time mentioning older titles when I can.
Thanks for all the answers! Keep writing everyone!!!

I've got three novels published in e-book formats. They're a series, so when I market, I focus on the first book.

The one I'm working on now is a standalone. So, that one will get priority when it's released.

Cynthia wrote: "We should all congratulate ourselves for even finishing writing a novel. That's the biggest hurdle.
I suppose I started this thread because I was concerned I wasn't giving enough attention to my older works. Our books are like our children in a way and I don't want to leave any of them on the backburner because I'm proud of all of them. But like Victoria said I think the best approach for me is to market the newest release while at the same time mentioning older titles when I can.
Thanks for all the answers! Keep writing everyone!!!"

As I get more work out there, I do that list of Available and TBR (soon To-Be-Released) titles in the front matter as a way of letters readers know more is out there or on the way.

I've written 554 books in my 24 year career of being a writer. I'm publishing them one at a time at my leisure.

I've only written three! John, I think you should write The Glass Beacon the way you want to write it. From the synopsis you have given, it sounds as if it would appeal to a wide audience. Self-publishing is a quick way to see your work in print (although the marketing is hard). Don't miss the chance to put into print the book you have always wanted to write.

Hope you are still writing at 90!

Just two short stories from my Sex and Desperate Hearts series.

Angel wrote: "I've written 554 books in my 24 year career of being a writer. I'm publishing them one at a time at my leisure."

Full-size books? Wow!

Cynthia wrote: "Authors, just out of curiosity how many books have you written?
And how do you keep track of them all when marketing?
I have about 8 novels, and a few short stories under my belt. I tend to focus ..."

Fourteen, as well as contributing to several anthologies.

I have different campaigns and plans for each one. A calendar is your friend. :-)

Seven novels, one nonfiction. The two latest novels are the ones I've published. The rest will stay in a virtual drawer forever.

7 non-fiction, and my first novel, a historical fiction story set in the 1920s in the US and the Algerian Sahara is coming out in August or September. My Amazon author page is http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Turmel/e/...

In answer to John's question: Will his story have much appeal? John, you won't know until you finish it and find a publisher who feels the same as you. I know that at your age that sounds like a challenge and it is, but mortality always comes as a surprise. If I had quit when I was your age I would never have seen my latest novel published. At 85, I am working hard to locate a Lit Agt for "The Unvarnished Truth", a novel I copyrighted in April 2014. Talk to your wife about the novel you always wanted to write. See if she can't help you set aside the time to finish the project. If you use a lap top, you can work anywhere.

I have written numerous books, but only one of them is published (the rest were pretty dreadful!). Starscape is a fantasy novel, and I think I'll likely be sticking with the genre.

As I only have the one published, I can't say much about keeping separate marketing strategies, but I did read on a blog somewhere that it's a good idea to keep one document for all your books, with the different links like Amazon and wherever else they're available, plus other relevant information. Having just the one document makes it so much easier to find all the basic data, than if you have to search through your folder!

I just published my second one :) They're both part of the same fantasy series :)

3 with 4th in the works. Genre: New Adult Inspirational Romance.

Two books published - one under my own name and another under a pseudonym.

Working on a third.

There are two other novels that occasionally "work on" with no end date in sight.

I've also published articles in various publications. There are also the many reports I wrote for clients when working as a market research consultant. One of those reports was quoted before a Congressional committee and others were made to make strategic business decisions.

Cynthia wrote: "Authors, just out of curiosity how many books have you written?
And how do you keep track of them all when marketing?
I have about 8 novels, and a few short stories under my belt. I tend to focus ..."

Cynthia, I have nine published but over fifteen completed. Received a call from an old acquaintance who had just read Sara's Reward and wanted to discuss the characters. I kept getting them confused with the book I'm currently writing. I make notes for signings and book club meeting and something still get confused.

I have 4 out now. My latest will be released Aug. 21st. It's quite easy to keep track of them now, because it's only 4. But I know as more are being added, it will be difficult. So, I also, will have to just concentrate on the newer ones.

Books are like your children: You gave the older ones as much exposure as you could so they could get out there and be read. Now it's time to let them sit independently while you nurture the newer babies and give them as much publicity as you can.

Over 24 years of writing since I was 13. I've written over 500 books of all genres, mainly mixed genres and I'm slowly getting them polished and ready for publication one by one. I've got one book out now and will have a novel out this fall while working on two others to be out at the end of this year.

500 books, Angel--wow! Sounds like you were a quiet child, like me, who liked being alone with her imagination.

I've written... dozens. Maybe a hundred or so. I'm not sure. I have published at least twenty. Most of the published things are short stories. There's two or three novellas published, too. More stuff out soon.

Groovy wrote: "500 books, Angel--wow! Sounds like you were a quiet child, like me, who liked being alone with her imagination."

Yes, I was a quiet kid and my imagination saved my life literally a lot of the time.

Good for you, Angel. I know exactly what you're saying. I don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't have my vivid imagination by my side:)

May we both reap the good rewards from all our hard work:) All the best on your new release!

I just launched my eighth. I keep track of them as best I can in my accounts - I'm sure I'll get lost at some point though.

Published, about thirty-five, give or take a book.

7 non-fiction, but my first novel comes out first week of September!

I published Novel number 6 four days back :~)

Now ten pages into the writing of number 7.