I’m bringing Julie back!
Okay, well… Julie never went anywhere. However, as I discussed in an earlier post, the model representation of Julie on the front covers of the last series disappeared for a while and was replaced with this design:
I’d mentioned that this was a marketing tactic (one that didn’t work out so well, a-thank-you-very-much!), so we’re back to basics.
She’s back (and better than ever (again, too vain when I say these things?)).
The change has already taken place at Smashwords, is in progress at Barnes & Noble (though I still can’t figure out why they’re only selling books 2-4), and will be reflected through other major retailers (Apple, Kobo, etc.) within a couple weeks.
But I’m doing this with great hesitation.
Here’s my predicament….
I went through a great deal of stress trying to get Just a Little Crush to go free on Amazon. No longer being under the KDP Select contract, I’d given up the perks of having free days at my disposal. So, I had to go about it another way. And it wasn’t easy. I spent days and nights reporting the price change to Amazon, getting a lot of help from some great people on the Kindle Boards, and it took fourteen days before Amazon agreed to drop the price to $0.00. It was awesome (and yes, totally worth all the work and wait)! And since the change, I’ve seen a big increase in readership. Great! 
But here’s why I’m struggling with this decision…. There’s a process with publishing. Even if you want to tweak the book description, the cover art, or the book content itself, the entire book goes back into review. My fear is that when I change the cover for Just a Little Crush that it will get bumped back to paid status and will no longer be free.
Of course, I can go back through the reporting again… but I really, really, really don’t want to do that. Too much stress. Too much aggravation. Too much messing around online when I should be writing.
So, anyway… that’s where I’m at.
Taking the plunge, keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping that Amazon loves me enough to save me some stress!
I’ve always promised to keep you guys updated, so that’s your update for now.
X’s and O’s
Update (January 6, 2013): Amazon process was successful! “Crush” remained free during the publishing process, so I’m eternally grateful to Amazon! I’m still waiting to see the book show up on Barnes & Noble. Additionally, the cover changes showed up on Kobo last night as well. So, one step at a time. We’re getting there
Yea! I am happy with your decision to keep “Julie” on the front covers. A good choice. But I would be HAPPIER if you wrote more of “Just A Little” series. Totally fell in love with Julie and Luke and hate to see it all end. Please reconsider, oh please.
This makes me giggle a bit because I read a review someone wrote yesterday saying that they (I’m paraphrasing here) couldn’t wait for the last book in the series to come out and they were really hoping for a kick-butt ending. And all the while I’m sitting over here thinking… “hmm… thought I already wrote the end!”
But I won’t lie. There have been days when I’ve toyed with the thought of going back. Sometimes I feel like their story isn’t over, but I don’t know how or why. I most definitely haven’t shoved them off. But now that I know there’s at least one person out there who’d read more, it’s worth considering 
And I’m glad you like the covers better this way! I knew it would only be a temporary change before, but I missed my “Julie” covers
I somehow knew YOU of all people would be pretty excited about this decision, haha.
Trust me- there are plenty of people wanting more of Julie and Luke. So getting your thinking and creative juice going. HAHA. Luv all your books! Thanks for writing them.
Alright
Thinking cap is on!
This is GREAT news! But have to forewarn you…”If you give a mouse a cookie…” we will want more & more. Funny creatures, we are.
Julie and Luke are still young and there are SO MANY stories to tell about their lives and only you can do that. Can’t wait to read them all!!
Hi Tracie, Mark from Smashwords here! Congrats – the good folks at Apple Australia (Apple’s second largest international iBookstore) and New Zealand have added Just a Little Crush to their Breakout Books promotion. The book is priced at FREE.
If you have an iPhone, here’s how to view the promotion in Australia (this is excerpted from a tip I published at Site Updates on the Smashwords site November 1):
A little trick that will allow you to view your book in any of Apple’s international iBookstores. Let’s say you live in the US, and want to view your book in the Australia store. Here’s how to check another country. 1. Click to open the iBooks app (of course, if you don’t have the iBooks app, download it for free from the App Store). 2. Swipe down to the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a button, “Sign in.” Click it. 3. The screen will pop up a message asking if you want to “Use an Existing Apple ID,” or “Create a New Apple ID.” Click the latter one, “Create a New Apple ID.” 4. Next, it’ll ask you to select the country or region. The default you see is the country you’re registered for, which is likely the country you live in. For me, it says United States. If I want to view Australia, I select Australia, then the blue “Done” button. Next, click the “Next” button. 5. The next page shows the agreement. Ignore that, and click the “Cancel” button in the upper left portion of the screen. A pop up box appears, asking if you’re sure you want to cancel the creation of a new Apple ID. Click “Yes” to cancel. 6. Voila, you’re in the Australian store.
You’re the #3 title listed in their Breakout Authors promotion!
Wow! Mark, this is amazing!
Thank you so much for reaching out and letting me know! I am eternally grateful to Smashwords and everything you’re doing to support Indie authors.
Woo-hoo! So exciting
Thanks again!!!
Tracie i hate you (not in a bad way). I hate you because you ended such a wonderful book. As soon as i was done i couldnt stop crying…. i love this book and… just a little heads up… make a movie out of this…. it deserves to be appreciated…. i love Julie and Luke’s love… please make more books of Julie and Luke…. it was the most amazingest thing ive ever laid eyes on….thank you so much………… MAKE A MOVIE AND MAKE MORE JULIE AND LUKE BOOKS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good news, Autumn! Julie and Luke are here to stay (for a while, anyway). I originally planned to write four, but I decided to keep it going! Please see this page for more information about book five: Just a Little Insecurity.
Thanks for reading !!!
