Delist or relist?

[KBWrites]

A little background.

I had 4 erotica novellas from a series published. Earlier this year I was editing the fifth when I realized the story would be better told from a different direction. One that I didn't have the skillset to write when I first started.

At the time, my job gave me a LOT of down time at the computer. I ran the calculations, and it looked like I should be able to do a rewrite in about a month and a half per book..... so I delisted the series.

My rationale, I didn't want readers to fall in love with the new first book (erotic love story) and then pick up book 2 (hard core Dom/sub erotica) and get caught completely off guard.

Fast forward through a divorce and job change, and I've gone from being able to write 8 hours a day down to around an hour per day. I was going to be able to have all four books republished by the end of the year to now I'll be lucky if I get one. (still trying to adjust to my new life).

So now I'm wondering if I should create new covers for the old version of the series and relist to start the trickle of income flowing again, or to let the original (not so great) version wither away and die.

What are your thoughts on whether I should delist or relist?

The novellas are being turned into full length novels that have some of the same subject matter but told from a different direction. My first novella was 25k, the first draft of the rewrite is 52k with a completely different feel even though there are some of the same scenes, just relayed a bit different.

 

[wearywanderer64]

I've delisted and relisted loads of times. That's the great thing about ebooks. I'd say it depends on sales. I mean, are they great? If they are small, then practically nobody will know about the change. Also, have a look at your covers. This will give you a chance to redo them and the blurb.

Good luck!

 

[Trish]

I agree with wearywanderer. Letting them die or relisting depends greatly on how they were working for you. If they weren't - no harm in letting them die. If they were? Remember that some people prefer short, quick, novellas that get to the point immediately. You're essentially going to be pushing away one set of readers and inviting another in to your world.

If they are similar enough and told from a different perspective - consider renaming them as an expansion to the series (rather than a replacement) which you can then cross promote. From a marketing and readership perspective - this option would make the most sense to me unless you really hate having them associated with you.

 

[KBWrites]

I've delisted and relisted loads of times. That's the great thing about ebooks. I'd say it depends on sales. I mean, are they great? If they are small, then practically nobody will know about the change. Also, have a look at your covers. This will give you a chance to redo them and the blurb.

Good luck!

sales are mediocre at best, but at least it is income coming in. Since I am rebranding the story from hard core erotica to more of a kinky love story the cover and title has been changed. The girl on the cover is still the same since the story is based off her, and I paid to get what I wanted for the story.

I agree with wearywanderer. Letting them die or relisting depends greatly on how they were working for you. If they weren't - no harm in letting them die. If they were? Remember that some people prefer short, quick, novellas that get to the point immediately. You're essentially going to be pushing away one set of readers and inviting another in to your world.

If they are similar enough and told from a different perspective - consider renaming them as an expansion to the series (rather than a replacement) which you can then cross promote. From a marketing and readership perspective - this option would make the most sense to me unless you really hate having them associated with you.

Part of me is worried about pushing away readers of the novella series to the full length novels. I don't think I can pull off them being an expansion.

In the original, he was a seasoned Dom training a new submissive. In the rewite his name has been changed to help bring me into a new mindset. He is an adventurous guy that has agreed to help her fill a submissive fantasy. I deleted two scenes from the original, and I've added four new scenes to the rewrite to bring it more in line with a love story.

I don't think I'd say hate them being associated with me because at this point I just don't care anymore. I do however prefer the story line in the rewrite versus the original.

 

[Naomasa298]

sales are mediocre at best, but at least it is income coming in. Since I am rebranding the story from hard core erotica to more of a kinky love story the cover and title has been changed. The girl on the cover is still the same since the story is based off her, and I paid to get what I wanted for the story.

Sounds like the books will appeal to two different set of readers. As they're that different, is there any harm in keeping both listed, if they have different titles?

 

[Trish]

sales are mediocre at best, but at least it is income coming in. Since I am rebranding the story from hard core erotica to more of a kinky love story the cover and title has been changed. The girl on the cover is still the same since the story is based off her, and I paid to get what I wanted for the story.

Part of me is worried about pushing away readers of the novella series to the full length novels. I don't think I can pull off them being an expansion.

In the original, he was a seasoned Dom training a new submissive. In the rewite his name has been changed to help bring me into a new mindset. He is an adventurous guy that has agreed to help her fill a submissive fantasy. I deleted two scenes from the original, and I've added four new scenes to the rewrite to bring it more in line with a love story.

I don't think I'd say hate them being associated with me because at this point I just don't care anymore. I do however prefer the story line in the rewrite versus the original.

I think I'd keep both sets. You even have different names? They're different stories, different formats, different plot. They are entirely different stories. Update the original covers if you wish, but I'd treat the new ones as just that - new.

 

[KBWrites]

Sounds like the books will appeal to two different set of readers. As they're that different, is there any harm in keeping both listed, if they have different titles?

I'm hoping someone can answer that.

 

[KBWrites]

I think I'd keep both sets. You even have different names? They're different stories, different formats, different plot. They are entirely different stories. Update the original covers if you wish, but I'd treat the new ones as just that - new.

Thanks.

I'll have to figure out a way to rework the original covers so they don't have the same girl on them. Should I put a blurb in the full length novel that it was inspired by the novella?

 

[Trish]

Thanks.

I'll have to figure out a way to rework the original covers so they don't have the same girl on them. Should I put a blurb in the full length novel that it was inspired by the novella?

You absolutely should, and the reverse once the novel is out. Cross promotion is your friend.

 

[Trish]

I'm hoping someone can answer that.

I can - no. There's no harm in keeping them both up. If anything it's beneficial. You can pull readers from two (related) genres and forms. As long as they're under the same author you've got no issues.