[54706]

  First, a big thank you to everyone here in the Writer's Cafe for your support, help, laughs, and information.  Without the helpful folks here, I'm sure my learning curve would have been much steeper.  Thanks especially to those who offered a helping hand, who provided inspiration, and who are out there pushing the envelope on behalf of all authors to help us get better deals in publishing and gain better relationships with our readers.  I would be remiss if I also didn't mention the incredible support I get from my loving family and my fabulous readers.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you!

January 1 marked my first year as a writer.  My first title was published on January 1, 2012 (written during December 2011) and my last one in 2012 on December 31st.  I didn't plan it that way, it just worked out to be a perfectly timed year.  I was waiting for the 15th of this month to come so I could get my Amazon report and compile all my numbers and share, for anyone who's interested, looking for inspiration, or curious.

Most of my work is YA, but I do have one chick lit title and a few serial erotic romance shorts.  Those titles make up the very smallest part of my sales and income.  YA is my bread and butter.

So here goes nothin':

Novels: 13
Novellas: 1
Serial Shorts: 3
Shorts: 2
Total words published: 1,344,472
Reviews on Amazon: 850+
Average rating on Goodreads: 4.33
Ratings on Goodreads:  2,900+
Reviews on Goodreads:  465+
Highest Author Rank, Amazon: 52 Fantasy, 22 Science Fiction, 13 Horror
Facebook likes:  671 (all organic)
Fan Club members: 394
Books sold: 43,941 (most at $4.99)
Books borrowed through KOLL:  3,532
Books given away through KDP: 133,130
Rights sales: 4 titles to Brazilian publisher
Offers for ebook deals: 1 (not acccepted)
Offers for audio book deals: 1 (not accepted)
Agent:  None
Trad pub deals:  0
Sales income:  Six figures

I am incredibly proud to have these numbers and hope to do even better this year, the Universe and Amazon willing.  I wish you all much success in 2013!!

 

[AgnesWebb]

This is so amazing and inspiring! Thank you for sharing, and I hope your 2013 is even better!

 

[SBJones]

1.3 million words in a year!  I think my fingers just started to bleed a little bit inside.  Congratulations on what I would consider a highly successful rookie year.  If you create that much again in 2013, I don't think anyone will wait until your senior year to give you the Heisman Trophy.

Amazing.

 

[Bec]

Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing Your output is phenomenal!

 

[60911]

Really impressive, Elle. Someone was talking to me earlier today about me being a prolific writer and I mentioned that you, in particular, made me feel like a turtle stuck in the arctic by wordcount comparison. Great job on your first year!

And as an aside...is anybody else looking back on their first year with tears in their eyes after that? I mean...wowza. That's amazing.

 

[60169]

Hezekiah Smith! Those are astounding numbers in so many ways that I think I'll just sit here for a moment... stunned.

Congratulations, obviously, and with that kind of word count... *does math estimate in head* Does that come out to like 4,000 words every single day? Shut the front door!

 

[R.A. Hobbs]

That's amazing.  You worked hard for those numbers.  Congrats!

 

[54706]

1.3 million words in a year! I think my fingers just started to bleed a little bit inside. Congratulations on what I would consider a highly successful rookie year. If you create that much again in 2013, I don't think anyone will wait until your senior year to give you the Heisman Trophy.

Amazing.

lol thank you! ooooo, a trophie. I consider 5-star reviews my trophies.

Really impressive, Elle. Someone was talking to me earlier today about me being a prolific writer and I mentioned that you, in particular, made me feel like a turtle stuck in the arctic by wordcount comparison. Great job on your first year!

I type fast. I took a required course in 7th grade and never looked back.

Hezekiah Smith! Those are astounding numbers in so many ways that I think I'll just sit here for a moment... stunned.

Congratulations, obviously, and with that kind of word count... *does math estimate in head* Does that come out to like 4,000 words every single day? Shut the front door!

I don't write everyday, but my goal is 10k words a day - so now you know I goof around quite a bit during the week. Like right now I should be writing but I'm playing on KB.

 

[Bruce Blake]

Amazing numbers, Elle. Congrats on a great first year and for setting a pace we can all hold as a goal to hit.

 

[Rachel Schurig]

Elle Casey, you are a rock star. A ridiculously amazing rock star. You deserve all the success in the world!

 

[39179]

Astounding, Elle, absolutely astounding! Congratulations! It's always so much sweeter to see good things happen to good (not to mention incredibly hardworking) people  

 

[George Berger]

And as an aside...is anybody else looking back on their first year with tears in their eyes after that? I mean...wowza. That's amazing.

I am.

But to be fair, I sold eighteen books my first year, so everyone's first-year retrospective makes me misty-eyed.

Those are some... seriously impressive numbers. Color me awestruck.

 

[54706]

Thanks you guys.  So much! 

 

[GWakeling]

Elle,

You continue to be a HUGE inspiration to me, and thank you so much for sharing your stats. You've done incredibly well, but I also know that you've worked incredibly hard well done!! May you success continue for a long time to come!! 

 

[41413]

Congrats, Elle. Well done. How does your fan club work?

 

[B.A. Spangler]

very impressive. awesome.

 

[54706]

Congrats, Elle. Well done. How does your fan club work?

That sounds probably way more impressive than it is. Right now it's just a mailing list of people who want to be kept updated about my new releases and promotions. Someday I'm going to develop a street team like Liliana Hart, though.

Elle,

You continue to be a HUGE inspiration to me, and thank you so much for sharing your stats. You've done incredibly well, but I also know that you've worked incredibly hard well done!! May you success continue for a long time to come!!

Thanks, G! I don't mind working hard when this is the result. It's the only job I've ever had when I walk into work in the morning (open computer) and my boss (readers) tell me how amazing and brilliant I am. Who else can say that about her job?

 

[Cheryl Douglas]

Wow, just wow, Elle! Those numbers are incredible. Congratulations and thank you for sharing. It makes me feel like a slacker, only writing 1500 words a day.  I think I may need to step up my game.

 

[dalya]

Thanks for sharing, Elle!

You know, often we say "you deserve it!" when people from here have success with a title. But you, my dear, with all your hard work, deserve all these sales and more. ;-)

And fwiw, everyone on this thread, Elle has been very helpful whenever I've been in a pickle and asked for help. Good karma.

 

[Lisa Scott]

10k a day.  Holy carp.  I am most impressed with your goodreads rating!!!  Even after all those freebies (which usually lead to some grumpy reviews.)  Hope 2013 is even luckier for you!