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Enjoy a Free Book Through Friday

Running From Herself by April Tompkins

I'm running a Kindle Free Book Promotion for Running From Herself through Friday, February 27. So, now's the time to find out what all the buzz is about! 😉

If you are an author who's enrolled in KDP Select, you know that we're only allowed to do this for five days every three months, which seems kind of rigid. What does KDP care if we want to give our book away? (I guess it's because they don't want Amazon to be viewed as a junk bin, although I seriously doubt that most authors would make their books free on a permanent basis.)

I started my promotion yesterday and have gotten 410 downloads, which does not conform to my usual paltry results. I've often gotten only two or three. Seriously. I must have inadvertently found a seam, where fewer free books are being offered. Is there something special about the end of February I'm unaware of? I'm not complaining, mind you. But I do know that the vast majority of free downloads are never read. My goal was to gain a few Kindle Unlimited reads, where I at least make a few pennies in royalties. To that end, I did have 650 page reads between yesterday and today. That's $2.72, folks! I'm on a roll now, baby!

It's cute that my current rankings are:

Best Sellers Rank: #366 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)

Although I'm pretty pissed that Amazon chose to throw my novel into "women's romance fiction". I stayed far away from using the term "romance" for any of my keywords, and I certainly didn't choose it as a category. It's not a romance! But this'll surely anger any romance fans who grab the book, because it doesn't follow the tropes. At all. 

It also appears that I received one more rating---three stars. No text review; just a rating. Hey, that was probably a romance reader (kidding?) I hadn't gotten anything lower than a four-star previously, but it really doesn't matter. At least they read it.

Speaking of less than stellar reviews, a lot of Reddit self-pub members claim that one or two-star reviews are actually a good thing, because it "looks more honest" and something about lower ratings driving people to read a book---out of morbid curiosity, I guess. I don't buy it. Low ratings are bad, period. There's no honest way to justify it. No, I don't have any personal enemies who want to rate my book as crap out of a personal vendetta. Nobody I know is acquainted with April Tompkins, because she's not a real person. "Well, even Stephen King has gotten one-star reviews!" Except his reviews number in the thousands, so a couple of bad ones are barely a drop of water in his gigantic bucket.

Anyway, good or bad reviews notwithstanding, please feel free to grab a copy. You don't even have to read it. It's enough to see a boost in my rankings as my novel nears its one-year anniversary. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  1. EmilyFebruary 27, 2026 at 12:45 PM

    I'm glad I came back today to check out your blog! I promised myself I'd buy this book when I ran out of the ones on my Kindle... and then ran out of books and forgot! I need to write it on my to-do list to do tomorrow. "Do onto others..." As a self-pubbed author myself, I'm going to pay $ for it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Failed AuthorFebruary 27, 2026 at 1:25 PM

    Wow, Emily, thank you! Please give me the link to yours and I'll return the favor.

    ReplyDelete

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works1 publish day1 published1 publishing has no emotional resonance1 publishing problems1 publuu1 purging my newsletter1 Q and A about Running From Herself1 qualifiers1 query letter1 query rejections1 querying2 querying a novel1 querying agents2 querying website suggestion1 questionable advice sites1 questioning yourself as a writer1 quitters1 re-reading an old one1 re-reading what you've written1 re-reading your novel1 read your novel aloud1 reader's house pay-to-play magazine for authors1 readers are the deciders1 readers don't care about you1 readers' favorite1 reading reviews1 reading your own books1 ready to move on to my two novels1 reassessing my career choice1 recognition1 red headed book lover is a scam1 reddit1 redesigning my book covers1 Rediscover the Joy in Writing1 rediscovering the joy of writing1 reducing online presence1 reducing your book's price1 rejection1 replacing book covers1 rereading first novel1 research1 Research any offers you receive1 resizing a book cover for a paperback is impossible1 results of my Facebook boosted post1 resurrecting an old novel1 review site rejected my book1 reviewer scams1 reviewers who don't read the book1 reviews4 reviews matter to authors1 reviews vary widely1 revising a novel3 revising a plot1 revising a published novel1 revising an old book1 revising an old novel1 revising an old story1 revising another book1 revising band website1 revising my author website1 revision progress1 revisions2 revisiting first novel1 revisiting old titles1 Revisiting the Book Trailer Idea1 reviving an old novel1 rework a novel into a novella1 reworking a published book1 reworking the big scene1 rewrite a novel?1 rewriting a novel1 rewriting my opening1 rewrote a blurb1 rewrote my book blurb1 romance1 rookie writing mistakes1 running from herself1 running from herself is free through February 271 Running From Herself is number one on Amazon1 running from herself review1 running from herself's one-year anniversary1 sales1 sales report1 sales tallies1 sales update1 sameness in writing1 scam marketers1 scammed by a "book blogger"1 scammers1 scamming authors1 searching and not finding answers online1 searching for my ideal reader1 second day promo results1 second-guessing as a writer1 seeking validation in the creative world1 self-consciousness as a writer1 self-editing a novel1 self-evaluation1 self-promotion1 self-publishing20 self-publishing hobby1 self-publishing is awesome1 self-publishing tips1 selling self-published books1 sending a newsletter against my will1 sentence structure1 SEO1 series marketing tactics1 series titles1 set up Google alerts for your book and your author name1 setting up substack is a nightmare1 Setting your website's favicon1 shadow song3 sharing book marketing advice1 Should authors pay to publish their books? Substack moron to the rescue1 should authors read their reviews? is there an upside to reading one's reviews? is Amazon's "look inside" feature important?1 should authors take advantage of all writing opportunities1 should i only care about selling my book?1 should i out myself on my personal X account? what if my ideal reader is on X?1 should i quit writing?1 should storytelling be studied?1 should you ask book bloggers to review your book1 should you hire a book cover designer1 shouting Into the void as an indie author1 simple facebook ad tips1 simple SEO tips for websites and blogs1 slow week1 slow writing3 smaller book promotion sites are struggling1 snags along the way1 so I resubmitted it1 social media1 social media does not sell books1 social media doesn't sell books1 social media doesn't work for book promotion1 Social Media Doesn't Work For Selling Books1 social media for authors1 social media is useless for authors1 social media pests1 social media scams1 social media user statistics1 Some Genres are Easier to Write1 some genres are impossible to market1 someone actually returned my book for a refund1 sometimes I miss writing1 Sometimes I Wonder If My Books Even Exist1 sometimes my writing is really good1 songwriting1 spam1 spam marketing and authors1 spamming authors on social media1 sparse writing1 spelling1 spilling too many words onto the page1 spinning my wheels1 spinning my writing wheels1 spoiler reviews1 spoken press for audiobook creation1 spoken.press1 spoken.press review1 spoof emails?1 stacked deck1 standard querying template1 star ratings1 starting a new novel1 starting a new story1 Starting a Novel in the Wrong Place1 starting is the worst1 still finding Substack confusing to use1 Still on the Fence About Publishing1 still trying to come up with a book cover1 still waiting for my cover design1 still waiting on reviews1 still working on my book cover1 stop nagging people to buy your book1 stop whining and make a plan1 stories that take an unexpected turn1 story concept1 story ideas aren't revelations1 story in progress1 story meandering1 story openings1 story pacing1 story problems1 story progress7 story research1 story transitions2 storytelling1 strive to reach above average status1 struggles1 stuck1 stuck trying to write a blurb1 substack5 substack is far too complicated1 substack is good for finding specific topics1 substack is very confusing1 substack notes1 substack post1 successful trade authors denigrate self-publishers1 successful writing needs to be real1 surgery1 surrender1 surrendering a domain1 suspense1 Synopses are the Devil's Handiwork1 T Minus One for my book launch1 taking a break1 Taking a Promotion Breather1 taking care of old business1 terrible paperback formatting1 thanks for the five-star review1 thanksgiving1 that1 that bad review was a mercy killing1 the "bad" of indie publishing1 the "michael levine" publicist scam1 the best way to write a book is to write it1 the book cover discussion1 the book industry1 the Canva trick i learned today1 the competition in writing is unceasing1 the deck is stacked1 the diner girl1 the dreaded saggy middle1 the failed author1 The few people who read my novel really liked it1 the fussy librarian3 the importance of book cover images1 the January publishing doldrums1 the long scene continues1 the more you write1 The Naivete of a New Author1 The One Story You Have to Write1 the psychology of colors in book cover design1 the reality of writing1 the reveal1 the saggy middle1 the slow burn novel1 the steps to writing a blurb as I see them1 the still waters series1 the story progresses1 the storygraph1 the tips will keep coming1 the women's fiction label is like a pesky mosquito1 the writing community1 There is Book Marketing Help Online and it's Free1 things an indie writer will need to do1 think I just blew it with my book blogger1 think you don't need an editor?1 thinking about writing1 thinking of quitting1 thinking of republishing my third novel1 This blog exists because I am a loser1 Thomas Umstattd2 threatening email1 three different book covers1 tiktok1 tiktok for authors?1 Time For a Free Book Promotion1 time heals1 time to say goodbye to email subscriptions1 time to update my music blog1 tips for goodreads reviewers1 tips for titling books1 titling a book3 Titling a Novel1 titling books1 titling your book wrong?1 too distracted to think about my writing career1 too many ARC readers? story progress1 too many fundamentals to get out of the way1 too many ideas1 too much detail1 too much fun in a novel?1 too much writing advice exists1 torn how to end my novel1 touching home2 track your website visits1 trade authors disdain self-published books1 trade publishing is dying1 traditional publishing doesn't have diversity within its own ranks1 treat publishing as a business but don't go broke1 trends in trade publishing1 trying new free marketing ideas1 trying new things1 trying to amend my writing style1 trying to learn how to rewrite my book blurb1 turn a Blogger blog into a website1 turning a novel into a novella2 turning all my books into audiobooks1 turning an enemy into something else1 two parts of a novel that don't match1 two-star review1 unable to concentrate1 unable to write well1 underrepresented writers aren't who they'd have us believe1 uninspired1 unlearning bad writing habits1 unpredictability1 Unprofitable Fun for Authors1 unpublished one of my novels1 unresponsive companies1 unsolicited requests1 unsolved mystery1 update on contacting my former teacher1 update on my search for a former teacher1 update on my teacher search1 updated my author site1 updates on my anthology1 updating band website1 updating my music blog could be going better1 use read aloud for your novel1 use smaller promo sites? Amazon ads aren't the way to go1 useless writing sessions1 using humor in novels1 using life experiences1 using Miblart for my cover redesign1 using unfamiliar occupations in novels1 very slow progress on my manuscript1 very slow writing1 videos on book editing are not helpful1 voicing an author's frustration1 voracious readers only6 voracious readers only drawbacks1 walmart1 want story to be finished1 wasted writing sessions1 wasting money on book ads1 we authors try too hard1 Weaving Characters Back In1 weaving together separate versions1 website analytics3 website design1 website hosting1 website stats1 website update1 website using Blogger1 websites1 week's roundup1 Weird to See a Full-Page Ad of My Novel1 what an author can do to improve their book's ranking1 what do agents want1 what does your astrological sign forecast for your writing career?1 what helps sell books1 what I've learned about writing in the past decade1 What If No One Visits My Author Site?1 what if you don't have a target audience?1 what if your story has no destination?1 what is the benefit of a writer's group1 what is women's fiction2 what kind of writer are you?1 what readers want and expect in 20261 what's it like writing a memoir1 what's it like writing a novel1 when a character needs to make a big pronouncement1 when did you fall in love with writing?1 when to say "enough"1 when to send ARCs1 when you're an unsuccessful author1 When Your Main Character Won't Follow Your Orders1 where do avid readers go1 where my novel stands1 where to take a story1 which provider came out on top?1 which subscriptions are worthwhile?1 whisk ai1 whisk ai is quite good1 whispers in the dark1 why are authors expected to give their books away? everyone expects to be paid except authors1 why are experts pushing memoir writing now?1 why can't authors break the mold?1 Why can't I take my own advice1 why do trade published books fail?1 why do we write1 why do you need beta readers1 why doesn't my novel sell?1 why don't my books sell1 why don't my books sell?1 why I dislike trade publishing1 why I don't like romance novels1 Why I Find Marketing Difficult1 why I stopped writing1 why I'm done with writing1 why publish widely?1 Why This Novel is Important1 why use a pen name1 why write if no one is buying1 Will My Novel Even Have an Audience?1 Winding Down1 winding down my book marketing1 windows movie maker1 winning1 wired for story1 Wix1 women writers aren't fragile1 women's fiction3 word choice1 word of mouth1 Working to Get a Scene Right1 worst selling book genres1 worthless book marketing advice1 write in your own style1 Write the Story You Want to Write1 writer beware3 writer burnout2 writer goals1 writer themes1 writer's block1 writer's forum1 writer's procrastination1 writers second-guessing1 writers shouldn't use AI1 writers who overthink it1 writers' horoscopes for 20261 writers' insecurity1 writing5 writing a blurb for an anthology1 writing a book blurb1 writing a book blurb is hell1 Writing a Book Blurb is the Hardest Part1 writing a final scene1 writing a good main character1 Writing a Likable Main Character1 writing a memorable final scene1 writing a nonsense novel would be fun1 writing a novel's hook1 writing a sequel?1 writing advice5 writing advice that doesn't work for you1 writing again1 writing an author bio1 writing as a business1 writing can be frustrating1 writing competitions1 writing dialogue1 writing discipline1 writing epilogues1 writing exercise1 writing fails1 writing failure1 writing fiction to push a message1 writing flaws1 writing forums2 writing freedom1 writing frustration1 writing is a learned skill1 writing lessons learned1 writing long scenes1 writing nothing interesting1 writing or having written?1 writing patience1 writing physical description1 writing problems1 writing progress2 writing prose1 writing resources1 writing retirement1 writing rules1 writing secondary characters1 writing short3 writing suspenseful scenes1 writing the final scene1 writing the last scene is difficult1 writing themes1 writing when you're not interested1 writing while annoyed1 writing without expectations1 Written Word1 written word media1 written word media reader survey2 written word media's author trends1 wrong roads in a novel aren't always wrong1 wrote a first revision of my blurb1 you can design your own book cover1 you know who you are1 you need an elevator pitch for your book1 your competition is you1 YouTube Publishing Videos1
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