Sunday, December 2, 2012

Why I'm already successful

This is the first time that I've been on Nocturnal Nights as a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!

Yes, that's right. Two weeks ago, I released my debut book, a contemporary Christmas romance called The Secret Santa Wishing Well.

Have I made any best seller lists?

NO.

Have I watched the royalty amounts skyrocket?

NO.

I've averaged about a sale a day maybe two. The first day, I sold seven. Not bad, but not great. But it's a start, and I know I have a long road ahead of me to really get known. So far on Amazon, I have two reviews, and a third review on a blogger's website.  The first review came as a shock to me! It's someone I know, a blogger friend, but I never even asked her to review the book. She bought it on her own free will and was touched so much by it that she wrote up a review. It made me CRY!  Not because it was a bad review, because it was far from it. It was a four star, glowing review.  She even told me she stayed up WAY to late to read it, lol. As a reader, I know those nights very well.

The second review was another blogger friend. I sent the book to her and just a few HOURS later, she tagged me in a FB  post saying how much she loved the  book, loved the hero, the kids, etc. Her review was just as emotional.  In two reviews, I managed to capture the reader's heart. I was praised on how well i captured the emotions of the characters, how they could relate to them. Now that's something I've dreamed about for years!  My third review was from my beta reader. She was the first person outside of a critique partner and my husband to read my book.  She is so excited and wants to help me spread the word about my book. I'm not going to complain!

There are people recommending my book when someone asks for a Christmas story. There's an author that I enjoy reading that mentioned my book is next in her TBR pile and that it will be her first holiday read of the season.  Can you see my smile here??  My dad snatched my proof print copy and won't give it back because he's been reading it, and he already said how much he's enjoying it.   My husband is pimping me out on his own FB page, telling his friends that his wife has a published book out.

So you see, for me, it's the little things, the tiny milestones that really grab my attention. Not that i won't welcome bestseller lists and skyrocketing sales, but my book empire has only begun. There's plenty of time. I'm just enjoying the little things as they come.

So for those of you that feel a little bummed about low sales and no bestseller lists, enjoy the little things. I have faith that your time will come.  Feel the warmth from those around you that show their support each and every way.

So what's this book I keep talking about? If you don't know about it, here's a little tidbit of information before I close out this post.




Blurb: The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...
Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.
Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.
When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.
With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.
Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.


It didn't take long for her to come back. Jacob moved to the living room, standing and waiting. When he saw her coming, he closed the gap between them. Before he could could think twice, he touched her shoulder gently, wanting to thank her for the evening.
But instead of talking, he leaned in and kissed her. Just a light kiss. Gentle. Friendly.
Until she responded. She had her arms around him, pulling him for another kiss. Deeper. Sweeter. She tasted so sweet. Her need made him swell. He could do this all night. Jacob pressed her against the wall, their kisses deepening with urgency. He ran his fingers through her fine hair. Hers wrapped around. his neck, rubbing lightly.
Jacob pulled back abruptly. “Cheyenne," he ground out. “We have to stop.” Before I lose it. He didn't want to stop. He never expected her to reciprocate like this. Wow. Maybe it wasn't one sided after all. Jacob sighed.
That halted everything. She pulled away, looking at him with wide, beautiful eyes. “I'm sorry. I pushed. You must think I'm a fool. I thought, when you kissed me...” Cheyenne attempted to move out of Jacob's embrace. Oh, damn. She thought he didn't want her. He did, oh, how he did.
“No, no. Honey, that's not it at all. Kissing you was magical. Amazing. But we just met. I don't want to take things too far. But I would love to see you again.” He pushed back loose strands of her hair that hung over her face when she'd moved. She looked so vulnerable. Was she going to cry? Oh hell, he wouldn't be able to handle it if she did. The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset with him.
“I'd like that, too. It was a wonderful, amazing day, and I have you to thank for it.” She nearly whispered the words, choking up on the last part. “God, I'm a mess. I'm sorry. There's been so much going on, and my signals are going crazy at the moment.”
Yours aren't the only one, Jacob thought. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, typing in her name in the contacts and handing it to her. “Can I have your number?”
She laughed. “Of course.” Her fingers brushed his as she took the phone from him, tapping in her number. She handed it back to him. Electric shocks of awareness zipped through him. His gaze lingered on her, knowing he needed to get the hell out of here before he lost it completely.

Buy on Amazon Kindle

Buy on B&N Nook



Thanks for reading!

-Nikki Lynn Barrett

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Nikki. You are a success.

Brenda said...

Super congratulations, Nikki.
And your advice is perfect--enjoy the little things. I'm going to do just that.

E. Ayers said...

Nikki, success is exactly what you make it. There is no such thing as overnight success, and it takes sometimes a year or more for readers to find what you write. Just keep writing and believe in yourself.

Jenna said...

Congratualaions, Nikki! You are successful more than you know. Because you're right, touching the readers is what it's really all about. Once you learn how to do that, all the rest will follow. And it will. That's a wonderful excerpt and sounds like a fantastic Christmas read. Here's to a gazillion sales and making all kinds of lists! Including my TBR!

LKF said...

Congratulations Nikki. : )
You are a success and your book sounds amazing. One I'm going to buy. thanks for sharing. And you're right, we should celebrate every step as an author, weather it be big or small, and publishing is a huge one.
Lynda

Harlie Williams said...

Major congratulations Nikki!

My debut is on the 28th and for me...that bets sales any day. :)

Harlie

Nikki said...

Thank you for your comments and for sharing my successes with me! And to those who went and bought it today, lol, I hope you enjoy! :)