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Writer puts novel on Kindle for 96p and wins a six-figure deal
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent3 Aug 2011
A struggling writer landed a book deal with a major publisher after putting her novel online for 96p a copy and promoting it by using social networking.
Louise Voss, 42, shot to the top of the Kindle charts after publishing the book in digital form herself after being rejected by literary agents.
It attracted the attention of publishers HarperFiction, which offered her a six-figure, four-book deal.
As a result, her ebook Catch Your Death will also be printed and stocked in bookshops in the traditional way.
She learned how to publish her own material after studying for an MA in creative writing at Kingston University.
She made it available on Kindles and iPhones, using an Amazon service which allows writers to turn their manuscripts into digital books.
Ms Voss promoted the book using social networking and by asking independent reviewers, who specialise in reviewing self-published books, to write about it online.
As a result the book made it into the top 100, and worked its way up to the number one UK download position. It stayed at the top spot for the whole of June and sold 50,000 copies.
At one point a second novel written by her and writing partner Mark Edwards was at number two. Ms Voss, from West Molesey, who is divorced and has a 13-year-old daughter Gracie, said: "Everything has happened very fast, although it feels like a culmination of a lot of hard work.
"I did an MA in creative writing at Kingston University a couple of years ago. It gave me loads of advice on publishing as well as writing."
Ms Voss said she thinks the book was successful because its low price encouraged people to take a chance on it. She also generated publicity.
"Initially I emailed everyone I knew to ask them to buy the book. Then we approached a lot of indie reviewers on line. When it started going up the charts it was really surreal. We were going past Michael McIntyre and Stieg Larsson."
The deal which HarperFiction has done with Ms Voss and her writing partner, will allow her to go part-time at her job in the music department of Kingston university.
Ms Voss said it cost nothing to put the book on Amazon, but she paid some money to use an image of the front cover on the site. She made around £20,000 from the combined sales of Catch Your Death - a thriller about a deadly virus - and her second book, Killing Cupid.
Alison Baverstock, her former tutor at Kingston, said: "Louise's writing was always very good but her effective marketing, and the fact that they were able to prove there is a market for their work, has made publishers and agents come running to her.
"She moved from being yet another person vying for their attention to someone who was able to command it. It seems the tables have turned and authors are now driving publishing companies."
Reader views (7)
The point is - to all you 'BUT IT'S NOT A BOOK' folk, is it IS a book, available in an electronic format. Now a publisher will print it, so go and buy a copy!
- John Stenson, GUILDFORD UK, 03/09/2011 10:43
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Why is it the people who bemoan ebooks never seem to have used them? If they I'd they may find many of their arguments are obsolete. I love books and books are here to stay, but now we have more options for reading - surely a good thing.
We also have more options for writing and publishing and full credit to this lady for her success.
What on earth the suggestion that it's good that she didn't turn to stripping has got to do with anything to do with story I've no idea?! What a narrow minded view of women and what a patronising irrelevant comment - get out more!
- Paulo, Suburbia, 07/08/2011 12:24
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I too prefer real books.
However, it's a good thing if authors are able to put their work in front of their public directly, rather than having to convince a publisher's editor or literary agent to publish it. If their e-books sell well, the paper book is bound to follow.
Also a lot of my objections to E-books would go away if they were all 98p downloads rather than £9.80!
- Nigel, London, 03/08/2011 14:21
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Dave,
I used to be an avid "real" book buyer and reader but as I now have to travel for my work the kindle and devices like them mean I don't amass a stack of paperbacks in other parts of the world which would cost me to ship to my next location. The digital age is here to stay and plays a very important role in literary consumption. Well done this lady.
- Andy G, Bahrain, 03/08/2011 13:19
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Dave - both Catch Your Death and Killing Cupid will be physical books soon as the result of our deal with HarperCollins.
Mark Edwards
co-author of Catch Your Death and Killing Cupid
indieiq.com
- Mark Edwards, London, 03/08/2011 11:58
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But it's not a book.
- Dave, Devon, UK, 03/08/2011 11:15
True, however she's providing a good honest living for herself and her daughter without resorting to making money by kissing and telling or stripping off which seems to be the choice of career for lots of females .
- Alison, Beds, 03/08/2011 11:51
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But it's not a book. It doesn't have a cover, it doesn't smell of anything and it doesn't appear as a body of work. You can't instantly lend it to someone, and you can't give it to a charity shop when you've finished it, or put it on your bookshelf. It seems ephemeral in its nature. It can be saved on the Kindle but if the book has never gone to print it can be erased altogether, forever. As good as the novel or writing is, Kindles just don't light my fire.
- Dave, Devon, UK, 03/08/2011 11:15
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