That snarky interviewer I had around here the other day jinxed me. I didn’t even have my newest book up at Smashwords for twenty-four hours, and I found an error. But it’s not glaring, it would likely pass you by (it would!), and I fixed it before I published at Amazon. So, if you entered the betting pool for republishing, there are still no winners.
But something really cool happened after I published at Smashwords Sunday night. Within the hour. Did you catch that? WITHIN THE HOUR, I sold 50 books. Fifty. Fitty. Yep. Do the math. 50 books at $2.99 each before fees. At that hourly rate, I’ll be a millionaire within a year! (Click the graphic for a closer look.)
Are you ready to leave comments and congratulate me for writing such an awesome book, that I sold FIFTY copies within the first hour?
Yeah, don’t bother.
I’m a realist. There’s no way 50 copies of my book sold within the first hour – especially at Smashwords. So what happened? I have a few theories.
– It’s a glitch.
– It’s someone using a credit card fraudulently as they try to amass money through affiliate programs. This happened last month at Smashwords, and they eventually reversed the fraudulent sales. I’m expecting this to happen to me in the coming weeks.
But let’s pretend it wasn’t a glitch or fraud! Play along now. What could it be?
– Someone who works for a library saw the book go up as newly published, and they needed more chick-lit, because the patrons can never get enough chick-lit. They bought FIFTY copies for eBook distribution.
Louie B. and Piglet are today’s Ray of Sunshine to entice Secret Admirer to buy more books.
Or my favorite theory …
– I have a secret admirer who reads my blog and is so happy with the ray of sunshine I bring to his/her life every day, that he/she bought FIFTY copies just to throw some money my way.
That’s the one I’m going with until Smashwords reverses the sale(s).
What? Do you have a better theory?
Breezy Books 
I’m going to congratulate you anyway, partly because of my contrarian mindset and partly because having a new book up is genuinely cool. As for my theory, the mathematical hamsters in charge of running the site went a little too long without sleep and botched their equations. That’s probably the most likely explanation.
You are too kind, Daniel; thank you for the congrats. Something goofy definitely happened, because Smashwords itself generates very few sales; their distribution outlets do more.
A charity event bought them to raffle off. They will probably call you to ask if you can autograph a few.
There was a charity email in my inbox this morning. I’ll have to look at it again. it was for Chillbrains: the ice-cream headache.
I will congratulate you too….and maybe you have multiple secret admirers!!
Thanks, La La. It gave my heart a start to see 50 sales, but only for a few seconds. I had to hurry and take the screen capture before it went away (it hasn’t yet). I like the secret admirer angle. 🙂
Congratulations…however, there is always the outside possibility the interviewer needed copies for his new counseling support group.
Now there’s a good theory, Steven. He probably wanted to show the group what sent him over the edge! 🙂
Even if there was a glitch (which I hope not because then 50 sales would be just awesome), you have a new book out so you deserve a celebration. Congratulations on getting your book published! =D
Thank you, Zen. The fifty will definitely be a boo-boo because they were *one* purchase. But I appreciate your kind thoughts, and we are definitely in celebratory mood here.
A school has recognised your genuis and put you on the required reading list
🙂 Not with chick-lit. That honor will be reserved for your upcoming publication!