15 Comments
User's avatar
Ken Schultz's avatar

Kevin, I had the good/mis fortune to purchase an e-reader many years ago. As it happens, it was (and has continuously been upgraded as) a Kobo e-reader. I dare not change hardware now as I have over 2,700 books that I continuously re-read as well as to which I add.

The point of my little recitation is that you have announced the publication of Rover 8 on Amazon. Amazon, of course, pushes (most graciously, obviously!) books compatible with it's Kindle hardware. So .... Is there any prospect that you will publish through Kobo?

Thanks for your time, Sir.

Expand full comment
J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I had put the book into Amazons Kindle Unlimited platform, on a whim, thinking that most people get everything on Amazon anyway. But you've proven my original instinct was true. I'll work on getting this to other platforms! Sorry about that. I was kind of experimenting, and sometimes those don't work out.

Expand full comment
Ken Schultz's avatar

Experiments are an essential way of proceeding to victory - whatever that might mean. Having said that, a critically important part of experimenting is to look at ways that the process can be improved. So, perhaps, just perhaps, I added a possible improvement.

As for the substance of your experiment, i.e. putting the book out for folks to grab - and generate income for you (terrifically important, no?) - it seems to me that it has worked, judging by the commentary. So, the basic experiment was really successful but, now, you look to the improvements.

Oh, and the combination of putting your flash books out and getting feedback and also saying, "I have this new book on Amazon" seems to me like a terrific marketing approach. I think you should do more of that, i.e. a flash book to help grab attention and a simultaneous announcement of a new item.

Thank you for your response.

Expand full comment
Aloysius J. Kling's avatar

I was going to ask about Kobo as well, but Ken beat me to it. I moved everything from Kindle to Kobo earlier the year and would prefer to purchase Rover 8 there instead.

Expand full comment
Pam's avatar

love sci fi, on my kindle now!! Thank you

Expand full comment
J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.

Expand full comment
Theron Mathis's avatar

Just got it. Perfect for an upcoming flight

Expand full comment
J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Maybe I’m ignoring a lucrative market opportunity! Have a safe flight. Hope you enjoy the book.

Expand full comment
Samuel George London's avatar

Thanks Kevin. Not your fault. It probably is just a listing lag on Amazon. Hope all is well 👍

Expand full comment
Samuel George London's avatar

Hi Kevin, sounds great but I just tried to find it on the Amazon UK store and couldn't see it. Is it only available on Amazon US? Cheers :)

Expand full comment
Samuel George London's avatar

Tell a lie... I've found it but only by changing the Amazon website suffix - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FSDWW17R - It doesn't seem to appear on your author profile or when you try to search for it just yet :)

Expand full comment
J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Hmm... maybe because it's so new? Sorry about that! But glad you found it. I'll look into this.

Expand full comment
JK Stenger's avatar

Thanks. An interesting read. It's also interesting people can already buy your book on Amazon. That way you can raise some inxcome as well. Again, thanks for sharing.

Blessings

Expand full comment
J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you! Yes, I'm actually combing through a lot of my old short stories, novellas, and even novel starts that have been gathering dust on my hard drive. My plan is to polish these up and make them available to everyone, rather than letting them languish in obscurity for all eternity.

I'm also wanting to embrace my speculative fiction roots again. I miss the fun and quirky stories I used to write. I love my archaeological thrillers, and have no intention of walking away from the genre entirely. But readers can expect to see a lot more stand alone, speculative work in the future.

I'm making writing fun again.

Expand full comment
JK Stenger's avatar

So glad to hear, Kevin. If writing is no longer fun, something is terribly wrong. As the famous quote goes: 'Not tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.' And that counts for joy, excitement and happiness too. Sometimes when I am writing, it's such a rush and I feel very privileged to have the chance to bring beauty and meaning through the written word.

Expand full comment