Today we're examining The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) by Vaughn Heppner. Priced at 5.99 and enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program, this book is currently ranked #333 in the paid Kindle store.I realize that this author has a lot of books, so it would be easy to just say that his audience size and previous successes (this being the third in this particular series) is why his book is selling.
But that would be a bit too easy.
When we try and analyze markets, we want to learn from people who are doing it well. People who know how to sell books.
If all you ever do is say, "well that guy's got an audience, no wonder his book sells," then you're doing it wrong.
Very wrong.
What does each and every book in his collection have on its side? What does this PARTICULAR book do well? Are there other trends or factors to consider?
The fact of the matter is that most books high up in the store will be authored by folks who have been writing and selling for awhile. That's because it takes time to get good at this job. So you can't just consistently write off their successes with individual books as being due to audience size.
I see folks do this with Patterson a lot. "Oh, Patterson just markets. I'd be James Patterson too if I had his marketing."
That's circular, facile logic.
In order to do what Patterson does, you need to think like him. You need to be able to reverse-engineer his success, working backwards to a starting point.
Otherwise, you're essentially making excuses for someone else's hard work and success, diminishing their achievements and making yourself less likely to learn valuable lessons.
So let's hear some good analysis of The Lost Destroyer beyond, "oh, this dude is already a huge author with a big fanbase to launch his books."
BLURB
A silver pyramid in space ten thousand years old…
The secrets of the mysterious New Men…
A war like no other…
Starship Victory—Earth’s ancient, alien spacecraft—has won a smashing victory against the New Men, driving them from “C” Quadrant. On their way home, Captain Maddox and his crew run into a vast machine trapped inside an ion storm. Maddox doesn’t know it yet, but the meeting isn’t an accident. There’s a traitor aboard ship, implementing a secret plan, threatening to destroy everything Star Watch has achieved against the New Men.
Now begins a deadly race as Captain Maddox, the crew and Galyan are pitted against the masters of a centuries-old conspiracy. Human existence lies in the balance.
THE LOST DESTROYER is the third book in the LOST STARSHIP SERIES.
