Overwhelmed by reaction to "Ethan, Who Loved Carter"
I haven't shut my jaw since the first review came in for Ethan, Who Loved Carter on Goodreads. 5 stars. Since then, almost every review is 4 or 5. On Sept 16, 70 people had it on their to-read list (I gained 10 a day before due to my GR chat on the DSP group). Currently, over 300 people have added it. That's a 230 increase in 3 days.
It's been in the top 10 on Amazon's GLBT lists since release. It even made top 10 on Amazon.co.uk. There are six 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.
Cole Riann did a review on The Armchair Reader that made me cry. http://coleriann.com/2012/09/18/ethan...
LL's Word did one that made me laugh. http://the-ll-word.blogspot.com/2012/...
I have 10 new friends or followers on Goodreads; I have 5 new fans on Facebook and a handful of new twitter followers.
Let me put this into context. My last two books, combined, a historical and a sci-fi, have sold fewer copies in 10 months than Ethan has done in 3 days. They each have 20 reviews on Goodreads and never came close to cracking the top 10 lists on Amazon (or anywhere). I don't think I got any new followers because of them. How do I compute that difference in response? You understand why I'm gobsmacked. For promotion, I did blog tours for both of those books, plus Goodreads chat, Yahoo and Facebook postings. For Ethan, I did a GR chat and posted about it on FB and Yahoo. That's it. (FB chat coming up this Saturday!)
But for all this, as thankful as I am that it's looking good I'll make my advance back and finally have something to put a little money in my pocket, the thing that brings me gratitude is the interaction I had with the mother of a boy with Tourette's who was so worried about how Carter would be portrayed b/c she's been burned by how fiction shows people with TS as clowns where I was able, with help from another reader, to put her mind at ease by sharing the foreword with her. And Cole's review in which he opens up a part of himself because of this book. And various other private conversations I've had with people as a result of this book, which included making friends with someone who has a dear attachment and protectiveness of TBI survivors and felt especially protective of Ethan as a result.
I just wanted to write a book with two adorable boys in a cute romance who happen to have TS and TBI. I wanted to do it honestly to the best my research and personal experience would allow me to do.
I never imagined this would be the result. People aren't only falling in love with Ethan and Carter, they love the supporting cast too, which is something I always hope for, but rarely happens. This is the first time in any of my books that the supporting cast is mentioned in almost every review. In particular the attention Ethan's teenaged brother Elliot gets, seeing evidence that he's understood, makes me so grateful.
Okay, I have to go before I get overwhelmed again. But let me say publicly, THANK YOU.
Ryan Loveless
http://www.twitter.com/ryanloveless
http://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessb...
http://ryanloveless.dreamwidth.org
It's been in the top 10 on Amazon's GLBT lists since release. It even made top 10 on Amazon.co.uk. There are six 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.
Cole Riann did a review on The Armchair Reader that made me cry. http://coleriann.com/2012/09/18/ethan...
LL's Word did one that made me laugh. http://the-ll-word.blogspot.com/2012/...
I have 10 new friends or followers on Goodreads; I have 5 new fans on Facebook and a handful of new twitter followers.
Let me put this into context. My last two books, combined, a historical and a sci-fi, have sold fewer copies in 10 months than Ethan has done in 3 days. They each have 20 reviews on Goodreads and never came close to cracking the top 10 lists on Amazon (or anywhere). I don't think I got any new followers because of them. How do I compute that difference in response? You understand why I'm gobsmacked. For promotion, I did blog tours for both of those books, plus Goodreads chat, Yahoo and Facebook postings. For Ethan, I did a GR chat and posted about it on FB and Yahoo. That's it. (FB chat coming up this Saturday!)
But for all this, as thankful as I am that it's looking good I'll make my advance back and finally have something to put a little money in my pocket, the thing that brings me gratitude is the interaction I had with the mother of a boy with Tourette's who was so worried about how Carter would be portrayed b/c she's been burned by how fiction shows people with TS as clowns where I was able, with help from another reader, to put her mind at ease by sharing the foreword with her. And Cole's review in which he opens up a part of himself because of this book. And various other private conversations I've had with people as a result of this book, which included making friends with someone who has a dear attachment and protectiveness of TBI survivors and felt especially protective of Ethan as a result.
I just wanted to write a book with two adorable boys in a cute romance who happen to have TS and TBI. I wanted to do it honestly to the best my research and personal experience would allow me to do.
I never imagined this would be the result. People aren't only falling in love with Ethan and Carter, they love the supporting cast too, which is something I always hope for, but rarely happens. This is the first time in any of my books that the supporting cast is mentioned in almost every review. In particular the attention Ethan's teenaged brother Elliot gets, seeing evidence that he's understood, makes me so grateful.
Okay, I have to go before I get overwhelmed again. But let me say publicly, THANK YOU.
Ryan Loveless
http://www.twitter.com/ryanloveless
http://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessb...
http://ryanloveless.dreamwidth.org
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I found you through Kaden's Colors and I really like that book. I enjoyed the GR chat last week, you gave some great excerpts that made me want to read it right away. You wrote wonderful characters in Ethan, Who Loved Carter they just reach out and grab your heart. Enjoy :)
Panalopy wrote: "I found you through Kaden's Colors and I really like that book. "Ah, so you're the one! :D Thank you!!
Syfy wrote: "Congratulations on such a successful launch! You bring a lot of enjoyment to people, and that is a beautiful thing, so I think you deserve the return ten fold! ;P"
Thanks, Syfy. :D I appreciate it.
I am one of the 5 star raters that lovessss this book, and while the presented issues of TBI and Tourette's are extremely moving, this book is also helpful to everyone who has a Before in their/our lives. Congratulations! You deserve the success. This book is brilliant and brave and beautiful!
I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to read it again. Everything about both Ethan and Carter was beautiful to me as they obviously were to each other! One of favorite reads ever
" Ryan: "I just wanted to write a book with two adorable boys in a cute romance..."
Yes, exactly!
Yes, exactly!
Camille wrote: "this book is also helpful to everyone who has a Before in their/our lives..."You said that perfectly Camille.:)
As soon as I finished reading your story, I did a researcher about the syndrome.From medical research, Oprah, and Youtube, I can honestly said, I'm not ignorant regarding Tourettes any more.
I also talked to my family about it, I showed them some videos, and to be aware if they see someone on the street with this kind of symptoms/ behaviour to make sure they will get my family support and not our criticism.
Your story is not only about 2 wonderful men falling in love, is a wake up call!!! and if you managed to teach one family in Australia to learn more about this Syndrome, I think you've done wonderful.
;P