Ebook Sales: 340
Audio Book Sales: 31
Paperback Sales: 9
Current Price: $3.99
Books Sold 2016: 380
Total Sold: 663
Minor Demons is really starting to gain some momentum. 380 copies is the most I've sold of any single book in any year so far as an author. I think the fact that there are two follow-up novels and a prequel novella out now really helps. I have a lot of readers who enjoy this series who grab new books as they come out, but 2016 saw a lot more people stumbling into Minor Demons and giving it a chance. I ran a few targeted promotions at $0.99 but I've moved away from giving away free books for the most part because it isn't anywhere near as effective as it used to be. Minor Demons may be my first book to sell 1,000 copies. I hope it gets there in 2017. If you've read it and enjoyed it, please recommend it to your friends and / or leave a review. It has 20 reviews on Amazon US with a 4/5 star rating and 5 reviews on Amazon UK with a 4.8/5 star rating. I also shelled out the money to create audio books for Minor Demons and Middle Demons. The Major Demons audio book is almost complete and will be released in early 2017.
Ebook Sales: 313
Audio Book Sales: 10
Paperback Sales: 6
Current Price: $4.99
Books Sold 2016: 329
Total Sold: 634
Middle Demons has almost as many copies sold as Minor Demons and it was my top selling book last year. Now that Middle Demons has been out for a while, the numbers suggest that 95.6% of readers who read Minor Demons have gone on to read Middle Demons. I'm very happy with that number. The series seems to be doing well with Kindle Unlimited readers on Amazon as well. I'm a little worried about the sell through on the audio books, but I haven't paid too much attention to audio books since 2014. They're never huge sellers for me.
Ebook Sales: 236
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 7
Current Price: $4.99
Books Sold 2016: 243
Total Sold: 243
Major Demons was released in May on Friday the 13th. It hasn't even been out for a full year yet and it's already sold 243 copies. I got a lot of positive feedback from readers following the release of Major Demons, many of them hoping for another book in the series. I did give some thought to ending the series here and tying up the ending a little more so I didn't leave a few things open-ended. Readers convinced me that they enjoy this series enough that I should continue it. The Major Demons audio book will be available soon (hopefully February, it was delayed a little and I'm reviewing it right now) and I expect sales numbers to go up now that it has a full year to sell. I'm working on the next book in the series, Minor Nephilim, which I expect to launch in 2017.
Ebook Sales: 42
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: N/A
Current Price: $9.99
Books Sold 2016: 42
Total Sold: 42
In an effort to get more readers interested in the series, I released Angels and Demons: The Demon Trilogy bundle that includes Minor Demons, Middle Demons, Major Demons, and Outcast Demons as a bonus. It has done pretty well and does better in some countries where I don't sell as many books (India, Canada, and Australia among them.) If you want to get your friends hooked, tell them to pick up The Demon Trilogy. It'll save them a little money over buying the books individually.
Ebook Sales: 19
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 17
Current Price: $3.99
Books Sold 2016: 36
Total Sold: 82
My fifth bestseller for 2016 was my photo tour of the Caribbean. This book also sold the most paperbacks for 2016. I imagine it'll break 100 total copies sold in 2017 and become the second of my travel photo books to do so (the only one that has made it so far is East Coast History.) If you want some ideas of what to check out in the Caribbean, check out this book. It has some great pictures and some interesting history.
Ebook Sales: 14
Audio Book Sales: 10
Paperback Sales: 6
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 30
Total Sold: 166
My short history article on Caribbean pirates and privateers is slowly making its way to 200 copies sold. When it reaches that point, it will be my second history article to do so (Constantine: The Emperor of Tolerance reached that point a while back.) This article goes along great with my Caribbean travel photo book. Definitely worth checking both out if you're headed to the Caribbean.
Ebook Sales: 13
Audio Book Sales: 0
Paperback Sales: 15
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 28
Total Sold: 96
Moving along alphabetically (tied for 7th place), Gateway to the Vikings: L'Anse aux Meadows comes next. I actually traveled to L'Anse aux Meadows in 2016 and released a travel photo book for the site plus Boston and Halifax. It goes great with this short history article. Feel free to check them both out. Gateway to the Vikings also placed 2nd for most paperbacks sold in 2016.
Ebook Sales: 28
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 0
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 28
Total Sold: 28
Law school and work get in the way of me just writing all day. That being the case, I wanted to get another Angels and Demons book out when I had some free time to write over the summer. I decided to write a prequel to Minor Demons. It's roughly 40,000 words (so a little more than half the length of the novels) and follows the demon Bumalin as he becomes a memory thief in the Philippines. It hasn't really sold many copies yet, but I only released it in late August so I'll give it some time. If you've read the three novels but haven't read Outcast Demons yet, head over to Amazon and grab a copy.
Ebook Sales: 12
Audio Book Sales: 4
Paperback Sales: 8
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 24
Total Sold: 139
My short history article on Luther Standing Bear was in the also-bought section of Luther Standing Bear's own works on Amazon last year. It sold 78 copies in 2015. Obviously that's not the case anymore, as it's down to 24. It's still a great short read and way less than the publishers of other works on Luther Standing Bear will charge you. That's still one of my favorite history book covers. It features an Igarut shield and spear I bought the last time I was in Baguio.
Ebook Sales: 4
Audio Book Sales: 10
Paperback Sales: 9
Current Price: $0.99
Books Sold 2016: 23
Total Sold: 182
These seven short computer stories from my days as an in-home computer technician were put together for an eight hour writing challenge. I put this entire book together (including the cover that I made in MS Paint) in under eight hours. It has now sold a total of 182 copies and is my most popular selling audio book overall. That's the most accidental success I've had with any title, so I just leave it alone and let it do it's own thing. It isn't very long, but it's very entertaining for a $0.99 ebook. It was also my best selling book in 2014.
Ebook Sales: 7
Audio Book Sales: 13
Paperback Sales: 0
Current Price: $0.99
Books Sold 2016: 20
Total Sold: 64
My Geekus Maximus short stories are hidden gems. Seriously, if you're a little geeky and want some laughs, go buy everything I've written under my Geekus Maximus pen name. It'll cost you less than $3 total (or nothing if you're in Kindle Unlimited). This 8,000ish word short story follows an out of work computer tech named Robert who finds new clients in a fantasy land of dwarves, elves, goblins, trolls, and talking horses. Yes, the trolls have original technology riddles that I created. See if you can solve them before Robert does.
Ebook Sales: 5
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 13
Current Price: $3.99
Books Sold 2016: 18
Total Sold: 121
If you enjoy U.S. history, you will enjoy this travel photo book. Over 125 photos and brief histories from: the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Jamestown (with excavation photos), Gettysburg, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 memorial, and more. History nerds will dig this book.
Ebook Sales: 15
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 2
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 17
Total Sold: 92
This 54,000ish word collection contains three short stories I wrote when I was first starting out as an author. It follows the last known descendants of Dr. Jekyll as they take on and attempt to stop the descendants of Mr. Hyde. They don't sell a lot of copies and don't make much money, but I will be adding the first short story to a multi-author bundle soon in 2017. If you like the Angels and Demons series, I imagine you'll have a good time with these as well, even though they're shorter.
Ebook Sales: 7
Audio Book Sales: 4
Paperback Sales: 2
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 13
Total Sold: 250
Constantine: The Emperor of Tolerance was my best selling book in both 2012 and 2013. It's a modified version of my senior thesis and explores the idea that Constantine shaped Constantinople as a city open to both Christians and pagans. By doing so, he set a model for emperors to follow. Any time an emperor diverted from that path like Theodosius (in favor of Christians) or Julian (in favor of pagans), it led to civil war. This one is my personal favorite. I'm thrilled that it's up to 250 total copies sold now.
Ebook Sales: 5
Audio Book Sales: 2
Paperback Sales: 4
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 11
Total Sold: 140
I wrote Explanations and Advice for the Tech Illiterate because I saw a need for it as an in-home computer technician. It covers a lot of computer and home theater basics and helps you understand the terminology and what you should be looking for in retail stores. I had these available on all outlets for a year and they still only sold on Amazon, so they'll be going back as Amazon exclusives this year. Great series if you need some help with technology basics.
Ebook Sales: 3
Audio Book Sales: 2
Paperback Sales: 5
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 10
Total Sold: 56
I actually thought I would stop the Tech Illiterate series after Volume II, but a reader left a review letting me know that she had purchased both the ebooks and the paperbacks (which she marked up) and that they had changed her life. She didn't feel afraid of technology anymore. She asked me to continue the series, so I did. I'm hoping the series does better back as Amazon exclusives this year.
Ebook Sales: 1
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 7
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 8
Total Sold: 33
I've talked about what's in this travel photo book before, so let me tell a story about the cover. That tiger was asleep nearly the entire time we were there looking at it. I had time to buy a shirt and walk around for a while. The tiger slept the whole time. As we were leaving, he popped his head up and I ran back. When I looked through all the photos I took for this book, one of the shots of the tiger that I took when I ran back was my favorite and ended up on the cover. I'm really glad he woke up.
Ebook Sales: 2
Audio Book Sales: 2
Paperback Sales: 3
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 7
Total Sold: 64
This is a pretty cool little article that traces some early sources towards the origin of prayers through Archangels and intercessory beings. The praying couple on the front are the Mary and Joseph from the carved nativity set I bought in Baguio. As you may have guessed, my house has a lot of wood carvings from Baguio. A lot.
Ebook Sales: 4
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 3
Current Price: $3.99
Books Sold 2016: 7
Total Sold: 37
This book is a great photo-based tour of three major Asian cities. The cover features the entrance to the grave of the 47 Ronin. Definitely worth checking out.
Ebook Sales: 3
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 4
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 7
Total Sold: 32
This is my photo-based travel book on Hawaii. It was my only book to sell 0 copies in 2015, so I guilt-tripped everyone in my last Book Sales Breakdown. The guilt-trip worked, because it sold a few copies early in 2016 and then a few more later on in the year. So thanks everyone. Someone go buy a copy now so I don't have to guilt-trip you in the 2017 Book Sales Breakdown. :-P
Ebook Sales: 4
Audio Book Sales: 1
Paperback Sales: 1
Current Price: $0.99
Books Sold 2016: 6
Total Sold: 36
This is the second short story in the journeys of Robert the computer tech. In this one, goblins release a virus so that they can drum up business for their anti-virus software company. My sister did the cover for this one. I'm gonna say it again, go buy every Geekus Maximus book. Less than $3 total.
Ebook Sales: 5
Audio Book Sales: 1
Paperback Sales: 0
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 6
Total Sold: 56
This is a combo of two really short articles, one about the theocracy that existed in early Utah and the other about Gregory Palamas of the Eastern Orthodox church. I'm really surprised it sold an audio book, because it's been blasted over on Audible. Writing about anything religion-related always brings out people with really strong opinions.
Ebook Sales: 2
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 4
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 6
Total Sold: 43
I miss the Philippines like crazy. I lived over there as a missionary from 2005-2007. In my travels, I've also discovered that I just really like islands in general. I also hate snow... especially Utah snow. This is a unique book in my travel photo series because I speak fluent Tagalog, so I've included some Tagalog words and a lot of really cool places to check out. The rice terraces of Banaue (on the cover) have been farmed for thousands of years. If I ever make enough money to retire early, I might move to the Philippines... or the Caribbean... or just away from Utah.
Ebook Sales: 4
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 2
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 6
Total Sold: 32
I should have named this one Traveling the U.S.: Salt Lake City. This mostly explores historical sites in Salt Lake, Echo, and Park City. It was fun to walk around and learn a little more about the history of Salt Lake for myself. It's a cool book with some great pictures.
Ebook Sales: 0
Audio Book Sales: 5
Paperback Sales: N/A
Current Price: $0.99
Books Sold 2016: 5
Total Sold: 39
This short story was free for a long time to generate sales of the next two short stories. I've changed it back into a $0.99 ebook and I think a lot of the readers interested in the series just buy the $2.99 bundle. I'm fine with that. This does have an amazing audio book version, though.
Ebook Sales: 3
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 2
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 5
Total Sold: 5
In our 2013 east coast history travels, we didn't have time to make it up to Boston. This year, I suggested we go to Boston and then fly up to Halifax to drive down and see L'Anse aux Meadows. We put that vacation together and I got some amazing photographs of colonial history in Boston and the only confirmed North American viking site up in Canada. It's a steal at $2.99. Go read it.
Ebook Sales: 3
Audio Book Sales: 0
Paperback Sales: 0
Current Price: $1.99
Books Sold 2016: 3
Total Sold: 46
This is the short story that started it all for me. I wrote it way back in 2012 when I decided being an author would be a fun hobby. I had no idea how much fun it would be and that it would eventually lead to an extra passive income every month. I still really like the cover for this one, even though it doesn't necessarily gel well with the genre.
Ebook Sales: 1
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: 2
Current Price: $2.99
Books Sold 2016: 3
Total Sold: 11
This is the only Tech Illiterate volume that hasn't made back its costs, but I don't care. That's not why I wrote this one. I wrote this one because a reader asked me to continue the series. Her review made me feel like I had done something life-changing for her, so I wrote Volume III. It'll eventually make back its costs.
Ebook Sales: 2
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: N/A
Current Price: $8.99
Books Sold 2016: 2
Total Sold: 10
So the history article collection finally got a new cover. I ran a Facebook ad early last year when I was still experimenting with Facebook ads. The ad sold two copies. I'll take it. At least the history article collection didn't go a year with nothing. If you're interested in a few of my history articles, buy the collection. It'll save you a lot of money.
Ebook Sales: 2
Audio Book Sales: N/A
Paperback Sales: N/A
Current Price: $5.99
Books Sold 2016: 2
Total Sold: 2
I created this bundle that includes all three Tech Illiterate books to save readers some money if they want more than one. I don't expect it to sell a lot, but it has already sold one in 2017.
Ebook Sales: 1
Audio Book Sales: 0
Paperback Sales: N/A
Current Price: $1.99
Books Sold 2016: 1
Total Sold: 24
This is a short 10,000ish word novella I wrote as a follow-up to Jehovah and Hades. I stopped the series after this one, but the things I learned writing this series ultimately led to my decision to write Minor Demons in 2013. Thank you to whoever purchased the single copy that this short story sold in 2016.
I've already sold over 100 books so far in 2017. That's insane. I'm actually starting to get some fans with the Angels and Demons series. Here's the total breakdown for the past 5 years:
2012 Books Sold: 157 (156 ebooks, 1 paperback)
2013 Books Sold: 372 (222 ebooks, 139 audio books, 11 paperbacks)
2014 Books Sold: 636 (404 ebooks, 160 audio books, 72 paperbacks)
2015 Books Sold: 998 (885 ebooks, 70 audio books, 123 paperbacks)
2016 Books Sold: 1,325 (1,099 ebooks, 95 audio books, 131 paperbacks)
That puts me at 3,488 books sold since I started in 2012. I put a lot more time into this now than I did back in 2012 and I hope the numbers continue to trend upwards. That's why I'm aiming to sell 1,750 books in 2017. That's a bigger jump than I've seen in years past, but I will be releasing the 4th Angels and Demons book this year and at least start working on the 5th. Ultimately, I would love it if I sold enough at some point in the future that I could go down to being a part-time lawyer and / or IT guy and dedicate more time to writing. I'm definitely trending towards that, so thank you to all of my readers. Here's to a great 2017!
You can check out my 2015 book sales breakdown here, my 2014 books sales breakdown here, and my 2013 book sales breakdown here.
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