Are payments from Amazon considered wire transfers or ACH?

I just noticed that from December Transferwise will be charging a flat fee of $7.50 for wire transfers from the USA but ACH payments are still free. I've tried checking my KDP account but it doesn't say which one they are.

I'm about to republish an old series (ie. pulling the books, rewriting and publishing from stretch not just a cover change) and am wondering about the best schedule to do that.

Is it best to pull the entire series at once then do a gradual release say one book every 30 days?

I had some computer issues yesterday and now the link I use to get into my GP account won't work! I have no idea why but I thought I'd just post here to check if anyone else is having issues. Is it just me or is it a general thing?

I mean like a pilot for a TV series, writing one book to see if the series has legs. Has anyone done this?

I'm worried that just doing one book with no guarantee of a follow up might annoy readers but, on the other hand, I have an idea for a series that isn't that similar to things I see in the market and don't want to commit to a series without knowing it will have a readership.

Is this a new thing? I just went to book some promo sites for a freebie run on one of my romance titles. I wanted to include a couple of smaller sites but a couple of them had one price for Amazon only then included a "premium listing" if you wanted to include other retailers.

Considering getting any kind of positive ROI from these smaller sites is iffy at best, I backed away. Sure putting a few other retailers on the listing might be a few minutes more work, assuming that the process would be automated, but it just seems very grabby-hands to me.

Is it worth using I Love Vampire Novels to promote an urban fantasy without romance or do their readers only want paranormal romance?

If I have subscribers on multiple lists/groups and I delete one of those groups, do the subscribers remain on my list?

I've been asked questions on a few posts recently about my digital nomad lifestyle so thought I'd start a new topic just for that. Any other digital nomads who want to pitch in with their experiences would be fantastic too since I do things my way which is only one of many ways.

I hate the term digital nomad but it does seem to be the most recognisable for someone who travels and works online. I have no permanent home, I'm not an expat moving from one country to settle permanently or even semi-permanently somewhere else.

I'll try to think of the most FAQs but any questions etc are fine. Of course, if they are too personal, doesn't mean I'll answer them.

Visas:

The most common question. I normally only travel to places where I can get a 3 month tourist visa. Thailand is nice but the visa requirements do my head in. I start reading then decide to go somewhere else instead.

I'm Australian so the list of countries I can get a 3 month tourist visa (I'm saying that but more often it's a visa exemption to be pedantic about it) will be different than if you are from the US, UK etc. I know our government has a site that lists each country and the visa stay length. One thing to be really careful about is whether the visa is for 3 months or 90 days

I've never been asked about my lifestyle or working when I enter a country. That's not to say it won't ever happen but it's just not been an issue. Most border controls only care that you are planning to leave before your visa expires and that you aren't going to take a local job. I always have an onward ticket even if I just buy a cheap flight ticket that I ditch later. I never tell them that I'm a digital nomad or any details. I do put that I'm an author on my forms.

While I've not had issues, I know people who've had problems entering the UK. I only went there for a week and I'm Australian which might make it easier than if you're from the US etc. I did have the customs guy question me about my writing and got a little panicked but he just wanted tips for his own novel

Accommodation:

There are much cheaper ways to do things but I stay mostly at Airbnbs. I think this is one area where the time vs money thing is huge. People who do it cheap will often use local fb groups etc to find places or just walk around looking for places.  That might be a week or so of your time and, in a good week, I could write half a book so I figure it's better to spend a few hundred bucks extra a month than lose a week's work time.

Having said that, I've had some [crap] hole Airbnbs. I could pretty much write a book on horrific Airbnb experiences, including rats! Mostly places are good though. I always get my own apartment and try to find places with a decent writing space.

Equipment etc:

I used to try to be minimalist with carry on luggage only but most airlines out of Australia and around Asia have a 7kg total carry on limit. By the time you add in the weight of your bag and laptop that leaves little for other stuff. I just bought a 60l suitcase because I figured if I have to check in bags, I might as well have a bit extra luggage.

For writing, I have my laptop, of course. I also have an external keyboard and a laptop stand. It's a bit extra to carry but so worth it.

One of the other reasons I stopped being so minimalist is that this is my everyday life, not just a holiday. I'd rather carry a bit more and have some home comforts than try for bragging rights by carrying a tiny backpack.

Money

Since I'm Australian, I've had a Payoneer account from before I traveled and also got paid to Paypal for D2D payments as well as my Australian account. It's worth thinking about how your move your money around esp if you're from outside the US. Currency transfers cost money so I don't want to go from USD to Aussie dollars to another currency if I can help it.

I usually just withdraw money from local ATMs and have no problem with that.

Work/Travel balance

This can be hard to get right. I tend to be a binge writer anyway so am happy to hole up for a few weeks, just working then go out and sightsee or whatever.  I try to mix up my travel between places that are new and exciting to me and places that I've been to before. I spend a fair bit of time in Kuala Lumpur because its pretty much on the way to other places from Australia. It's a lot cheaper to live there than in Australia although more expensive than some places in SE Asia. I find that more comfortable because I don't like being seen as a rich Westerner and being constantly hassled, needing to barter etc. Also, apologies if anyone on here is from KL, but its not a very exciting city so I'm happy to just settle down and get a ton of work done.

That's about all that's in my brain at the moment. But, yeah, feel free to ask questions or chime in. 

I just read one of the other threads on here where a few people advised that launching around 4th July is a bad idea. I've got my new release scheduled for 3rd July and can't move it (it's a pre-order plus I have a few things booked).

I can't even remember Australian public holidays let alone the ones in other countries

Am I making a huge mistake?

Would it be better to focus on getting pre-order sales the week before launch rather than the actual launch week?

I couldn't find a thread on this but needed to ask - has anyone used them? Are they effective? They seem a bit overpriced to me.

How often do you do mailing list cross promotions and at what point do readers get fatigued?

I've been pretty haphazard about this but think I need to get a bit more on top of things so I'm not sending out two cross promotion mails in a short time then nothing for ages. 

I recently moved from Mailchimp to Mailerlite and have sent out a couple of emails to my list. I'm finding that I'm getting a higher rate of unsubscribes than usual.

My theory on this is that maybe a big chunk of my list weren't getting my emails when I sent from MC but are now.

Anyone else found this when they switched over?

I'd really appreciate any comments, feedback etc on my the blurb for my UF novel. I have two versions with slightly different focuses.

Also, while there's no sex in the book, there is some BDSM scenes. Should I mention it in the blurb?

Blurb 1

The Demon Child is not like any other vampire I’ve ever hunted. He’s young but he’s strong and he moves like quicksilver. Even worse, he lacks the impulse control that’s essential in keeping the vampire world hidden.

Opposing evil forces want to use him as a weapon to bring about an open human/vampire war. I’m hired by Nic, the prettiest, vainest, most infuriating vampire ever to stop the Demon Child before that happens.

There are just a few problems: firstly, I hunt demons by using my sexual aura, which makes hunting a vamp who looks fourteen years old totally gross. Secondly, working for a vampire could get me kicked out of the Demon Fighters Council, destroying my entire career. And, thirdly. I have a massive crush on Kisho, Nic’s assistant and, possibly, gay lover.

Could my life get any more complicated? Oh yeah, apparenty the Demon Child is unkillable.


Blurb 2

Here's the most important thing you need to know about demon fighting. It's not a noble calling, it's not about saving the world. It's a job. Most of the time I get in, outsex a pesky incubus and get out with the pay cheque.

But there’s a new vampire in town, stronger and faster and more out of control than any other vampire I’ve seen. Instead of covering up the problem, the new mayor wants to use him to expose the vampire world, ultimately leading to open human/vampire warfare.

To destroy the Demon Child, I need to join forces with the only ones offering to pay me: Nic - vain, b*tchy and into games of both the sexual and mental kind, and Kisho - who seems to be the sweetest vampire ever, but harbours dark secrets.

If I work with them, I risk being barred from the Demon Fighter Council and ruining my whole future. If I don’t, maybe no one will even have a future.