Survey: What do you want to read next?
Guys, I’ve been working on my 2016 books, and I just have too many ideas; it’s hard to decide what to do. I’m praying about what projects to focus on in 2016, andΒ I would also like some feedback from you about what you would like to read next. I’ve thrown together a questionnaire, and I would so much appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete it. There are only 9 questions.
Please click here to access the survey.
Thank you in advance for your response π
And thank you for taking Sleeper to no. 1 in its category on Amazon UK and no. 3 in its category on Amazon US. I’m totally overwhelmed π
Quick update, I’m working on editing Powerful Enemies (Crystal 8). It’s a long book, the longest of the series so far, so I know I have to cut it down and sharpen the prose. I also have a 7.5 book called ‘Wedding Kidnap’ which I will be releasing in a week or two. After Powerful Enemies will come Legacy (Crystal 9) and that will be the end for the Crystal Series. I’ve had a blast writing the books and I’m so glad many of you are enjoying them.
After I finished writing the Beauty for Ashes series, I felt a little sad at saying ‘bye’ to those characters, but I was mostly relieved. I was sick of the books because Raw Deal had been on my laptop for six years, as had rough outlines for Red Carpet and Refiner’s fire. I’d read Raw Deal over and over for six years before publishing it. I really wanted to move on to new books and characters. With the Crystal series, the idea was in my mind for a few years before I started writing it last year, but it was pretty vague until I started writing. Because I only started writing the series last year, the series and characters still feel new-ish to me. I feel like I could easily write another ten books about them. But I have other characters in my mind too, whose stories I want to tell, and other ideas I want to explore.
I’m still trying to work out my ‘author brand’ and determine where I fit in the marketplace. My books are all too different from each other. I have both romance and supernatural suspense books; books about adults and YA/NA books; books with white main characters and books with black main characters. At the moment I just categorizeΒ my books on a book-by-book basis.
I guess, I just like the freedom of writing about whoever and whatever I want. I’m an independent author, so why not? If I had a publisher there is no way I could write the Beauty for Ashes Series and then follow it with the Pure Passion Series. Neither would I be able to write sweet romance and then follow it with a series about a cult. Only the biggest authors are allowed to genre-hop, and even then, not very much.
Anyway, I’m thinking about my brand so that readers know what to expect from me. A lot of my readers are so sweet and have followed meΒ as I’ve genre-hopped all over the place, but I want to settle down now, enough playing the literary field (ha ha). I want people to know what to expect when they pick up a book by me. Denise Hunter has been my favorite author for a while, probably because she writes sweet romances that relax me. I can’t read anything too suspenseful while I’m writing suspenseful books myself. It’ll be suspense overload. I know what to expect from Denise Hunter. I know what to expect from Francine Rivers. With most authors you know what to expect. I’d be completely shocked if I opened a Denise Hunter book and there were angels in it? If I wanted angels I’d go to Frank Peretti. So, I think brand is important. I’m praying about it. I wonder if my brand can be that I have no brand, and that I’m unpredictable, lol.
Please don’t forget to complete my short survey. Here’s the link again.
Have a great week.
Hi Dayo, I’ve enjoyed every book of the Crystal series. Can’t wait until Legacy is ready. How much longer until it’s released?
Legacy will be out on Monday 27th June π
I’ve read everything in the Crystal Series, and I am anxiously awaiting the release of Legacy. Will it be soon? I am #TeamJudaAndCrystal to the end!
Hey Laigan, I’m glad you’re enjoying the Crystal series π I’m still working on Legacy, so it’ll be a month or two before it’s out. God bless.
I must admit I don’t read religious stories but I stumbled across the box set of Crystal and have read 1 straight through to 8 which I just this minute finished reading. I am eagerly awaiting 9 and it can be as long as you wish because I don’t want it to end. Reading the series was an eye opener for me and I throughly enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you Dayo Benson
Thanks, Suzanne. I’m thrilled you’ve enjoyed the Crystal series even though it’s not your usual type of fiction π That’s great!
When is the last book of crystal series due to come out
I don’t know yet, Ranay. Sorry. I’ll announce when I know.
Hey dayo I love your books and have completed your survey, one thing I must say is firstly long books is fine because it will give you time to complete other books while your readers are enjoying a lengthy book and I am saying this cause I feel especially with the crystal series that it takes a while for the next book to be released like sometimes I forget what happened at the end of the last book to follow on to the next one ( I don’t know if anyone else feels this way) cause most readers will finish a book within a week or two if the book is good and captivating which your ones are.
I know writing books and having it edit etc is a hard processes so I understand it’s just a suggestion that you should have lengthy books for your next series or complete the whole series then release your books so that they will come out on time and keep the the readers going. But all in all I love what your doing and I will always be a loyal reader and you should be a unpredictable author you don’t need to have a trend. X
Hey Bianca, well, I’ve recently become a ‘full time author’, so I’ll (hopefully) be able to start scheduling release dates in advance and let everyone know when books will be out so that readers aren’t left hanging long between books.
I’m glad you like my books and don’t mind my unpredictability. I really appreciate that π And thanks for completing my survey xx
You are an incredible writer, I truly do love your books. So much in fact that I finished the crystal series in a week just to find out that it wasn’t over yet ! I’m just sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for powerful enemies. When is it going to be out ?
Hey Erica, I’m glad you’re enjoying the Crystal Series. Powerful Enemies will be out soon. Unfortunately I can’t give a date yet but if you sign up to my new release list you’ll get an email as soon as it’s out. God bless.
Reblogged this on booknerdwordpresscom.
When is wedding kidnap coming out? Is it a book or a short story?
It’s a (very) short story. I’m pushing the ‘publish’ button tonight so it should be out tomorrow morning.
I read Wedding Kidnap right after I got the email that it was out!!!! When will Powerful Enemies come???? I just can’t wait for it!!
Hi Rosemary π we’re aiming for Jan/Feb.
Hi Dayo!
I love that you’re thinking about your brand and as a branding/marketing consultant I’d be more than happy to help/bounce around ideas or even just explain branding/marketing further to you if you wish? I do already have some thoughts on why your current brand already works for you, I can email them to you later today?
Currently finished book 6 in the Crystal series…I want to start book 7 on a day I know I can finish it in one go lol.
Can’t wait for what 2016 holds in store for you!
Remain blessed π
Christine x (@ceeinivory – Twitter)
Hi Christine,
I’ve been reading about branding for writers, and I do have somewhat of an understanding of it, just not for myself, lol. I’d love your thoughts on why what I’m doing seems to be working. It might give me some insight. I’ll look out for your email.
Glad you’re enjoying the Crystal series π
God bless x
Hey Dayo!
Looking forward to reading 7.5 because I’m itching for 8 already. The series has been amazing. Really kept you in your feet.
By the way, I’m not sure if you have this going already, but at the end of each novel could you consider some discussion questions for book clubs and stuff – if you haven’t already. I haven’t actually checked. Just a suggestion. βΊοΈ
Hey Tumi, hope you’re good. Yeah, discussion questions are a good idea. I’m not sure why I didn’t include some. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. Book 7.5 should be out soon. Thanks π
I really enjoy your writing and don’t mind at all that you genre-hop. But if you’re concerned about that, maybe you can create another alias for some books? Although that would require you to re-brand.
I’ve enjoyed the Crystal series so much, I wouldn’t mind a long book! π
Hey Cindy, I have considered that. In fact, I’m considering it pretty seriously. It won’t be a secret pen name so that everyone knows about it.
Good to know you wouldn’t mind if the next installment of the Crystal series is a long one. Hope you’re well xx
I must agree withwith Ann I don’t see why the books have to be redpersonally love a long read most of thethe other books seem like they’re so short I would love for one of them to be longer.
Shauna
To be honest, I doubt if I’ll be able to cut much out (must to my editor’s dismay) so the final version of the book will still be pretty long. It’s good to know that some of my readers won’t mind that.
Along with the others, I definitely wouldn’t worry about the book being too long(or at least for me!). I love the series and can’t get enough! Great writing, I won’t know what to do with my self when the series is done… π
Thanks Sarah. I’m glad you’re enjoying the books π God bless.
Keep on writing and chugging away!
Thanks π
just thinking out loud … I’ve noticed authors tend to seem to rush at the ends of series. i’d like them a little more detailed. why does you next Crystal book need to be reduced so much? is ‘too long’ a negative? just curious.
I’ve read all your published books and truly enjoy them. I live in Texas – born and raised in the US, so that you are a British author intrigues me. also, i’m βlily-white, so i’m also intrigued reading authors of different color and nationality.
one thing I really love when it’s revealed is the amount of research done for a certain book. have you ever read books by the late Francis Parkinson Keyes ? of the books of hers I’ve read, she often reveals research in a prologue or epilogue.
although I love all your books, referring only to settings, I prefer the settings when they’re ones you’re very familiar with b/c I learn about those areas, and the book seems more authentic to me.
i’m glad you’re writing b/c i’m enjoying reading your works!
Ann
Great to hear from you Ann. I love knowing about the demographic of my readers, and I’m so glad I have pretty much every kind of reader; male, female & people from lots of different ethnicities. I love it π
Too long is generally considered a negative in most genres apart from epic fantasy, because the assumption is that the author is waffling. And I have had some negative feedback on some of my longer novels, because of the length. But it’s so good to know that some of my readers like longer books. The next book will still be much longer than the average novel so don’t worry.
No, I haven’t read anything by Francis Parkinson Keyes. I know some authors do include their research at the end of their books. It’s something I will consider with the final book of the Crystal Series.
I’m glad you enjoy my novels. It’s always great to hear that from a reader π Thanks.
Hey Dayo,
I keep wondering if you will put this in one of the books but since there is only 2 books left I figured I should remind you just in case. This is a small detail but I would like to hear what Juda’s “response” would be. In I think delirium crystal took a selfie of Juda and her and I just wanted to hear what he would say to the selfie. π
From vivian
Hi Vivian, good point. I wasn’t going to say anything further about the selfie, but since you’ve mentioned it I’ll slip something into the next book, Powerful Enemies π xx