When I sat down to write my PORTABLE WARGAME book I hoped that it would be popular enough to sell a few dozen copies. You can therefore imaging my surprise when earlier today its sales reached to one hundred mark!
Besides the very positive responses that I have had from numerous wargamers, what I find particularly interesting is the fact that the sales are fairly evenly spread across the various editions of the book. I had expected that the eBook and paperback versions would sell fairly well, and that the hardback might sell one or two copies, but the sales figures show that they are all selling well.
I'd like to thank everyone who has bought a copy in one or more of the versions. It has encouraged me to give very serious thoughts to writing a follow-up book (or even two) that will cover developments of the rules and possibly the naval version as well. If I do they will not appear for some time ... but you can be sure that I will keep my regular blog readers informed of my progress!
Besides the very positive responses that I have had from numerous wargamers, what I find particularly interesting is the fact that the sales are fairly evenly spread across the various editions of the book. I had expected that the eBook and paperback versions would sell fairly well, and that the hardback might sell one or two copies, but the sales figures show that they are all selling well.
I'd like to thank everyone who has bought a copy in one or more of the versions. It has encouraged me to give very serious thoughts to writing a follow-up book (or even two) that will cover developments of the rules and possibly the naval version as well. If I do they will not appear for some time ... but you can be sure that I will keep my regular blog readers informed of my progress!
Hi Bob. I received my hardback copy on Monday. Looking forward to reading it this weekend. I would certainly buy any follow up work you do.
ReplyDeleteAlan Charlesworth,
DeleteThanks for buying my book, and I hope that you enjoy reading it. Since mentioning the possibility of writing a follow-up book, I've had several other messages supporting the idea ... so I suppose that I am going to have to write it!
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations on the sales so far.
ReplyDeleteI bought the e-book as an experiment as much as anything – it was cheap and immediately available as a download from Amazon and I can always buy a paper copy later (and almost certainly will do so). I wanted to see how it worked given the number of illustrations.
It turned out to be absolutely fine on my PC and my 10” Samsung tablet. On a 7” Fire tablet and a Kindle Paperwhite a few of the images in the history section and the example games were a bit small. For some reason the figures on the Fire tablet were physically significantly smaller than on the Paperwhite - even though its screen is slightly larger - making the text within the figures hard to read on the small tablet but fine on the e-reader. My conclusion: if you’ve got an e-ink Kindle or a larger tablet the e-book is fine but if you’ve only got a small tablet go for paper. I’ve no idea what it would be like on a phone.
As for the content, I have to admit that I’ve always had a bit of an antipathy towards gridded games and you haven’t really converted me yet, though I do now accept that I must give them more of a chance and should haul out some figures and try out your rules in a few solo games. Once I’ve finished stripping the old wallpaper in the back bedroom ...
Mike Hall,
DeleteThanks for the feedback about how the eBook looks on various devices. I have the eBook version on my old Kindle and my iPad, and it looks fine on both, although some of the illustrations are a bit small if viewed landscape on my iPad, but seem to be bigger when seen in portrait.
Gridded wargames are not for everyone, but thank you for giving the concept a chance. I hope that you find the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
All the best,
Bob
Bob
ReplyDeleteJust bought an epub version direct from LULU.com - all worked very well and I'm looking forward to reading and trying the game. Any prospect of an Ancients/Medieval version?
Maudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteThanks for thanks for buying the electronic version of the book, and I hope that you enjoy using the rules.
I do have a draft Ancient version of the rules, but they need a lot more work before I can publish them. That said, I somehow suspect that at least one other wargamer is already working on an Ancient and/or Medieval version of the rules.
All the best,
Bob
I got my paperback a few days after the release and I'm about helf way through reading it. I'm not normally the sort to 'enjoy' reading rule books but this one is the exception!
ReplyDeleteIn fact it's got the creative juices flowing and I'm getting all sorts of ideas inside my crazy head....I'm thinking hexes and using either Blocks or maybe even venturing into 2mm armies!
Go for 2mm! Irregular Miniatures Renaissance range looks particularly good and so do their WW2 tanks.
DeleteLee Hadley,
DeleteThanks buying buying my book; I'm really pleased to read that you are enjoying it!
Hexes and 2mm figures would enable you to fight quite large battles in a very small space. I've considered using my thirty year-old 6mm Spanish Civil War armies on some of my Heroscape hexed terrain, and if I do I'll write a blog entry about my efforts.
All the best,
Bob
Barry Carter,
DeleteI've heard good things about Irregular Miniatures' 2mm figures and vehicles, but have yet to buy and paint any. It's certainly something that I ought to consider.
All the best,
Bob
You can't go wrong. I used some left over horse and musket blocks with a pound shop magnetised chess set - a true portable wargame!
DeleteBarry Carter,
DeleteThat all sounds very simple to do, and is a real alternative to my boxed portable wargame.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations on a well deserved successful release.
ReplyDeleteI suspect this is just the start and should it go out of print in the future I predict first edition copies going for crazy prices on ebay!
Ross Mac,
DeleteThanks for your congratulations. The book is selling much better than I had hoped, and I am seriously giving thought to writing a follow-up book.
I hope that your copy of the book will arrive soon so that you can tryout the rules.
Will the First Edition of the book ever sell out? Probably not ... but I can hope!
All the best,
Bob
All power to your pen! A series a la Fetherstone would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteBarry Carter,
DeleteYou never know ... that might happen one day!
All the best,
Bob
I ordered the hardback the day you announced it but it has yet to appear... Hopefully it'll be here tomorrow
ReplyDeleteMike Lewis,
DeleteIt certainly should be delivered in the very near future. Has Lulu.com given you a tracking number? If they have, it will have a link to the courier that gives you an estimated delivery date and time.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI purchased a copy a few days ago, but it hasn't arrived yet. Do you have any information as to where the buyers live? I assume the UK is first; how are sales in the US doing?
Best regards,
Chris
Chris,
DeleteI do get some idea where the buyers live, mainly based on the list of sales that Lulu.com produces and updates on a daily basis.
So far the majority of buyers have been based in the UK, with a smaller number in the USA and the odd one or two from elsewhere (e.g. Australia).
The split between versions has been interesting. I expected that eBook sales would outstrip the others, but in fact the paperback version is currently the best seller, with the hardback and eBook versions not far behind.
I hope you enjoy reading your copy - and using the rules - once it does arrive.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI received my copy (paperback) from Lulu the day before yesterday. What a joy it is! I've read it back and forth a good few times already. It is has so many virtues - clarity being its number one virtue. It is going to be a classic. And, I've rooted out the various gridded table coverings I made a few years back as a result of the Wargames Project republication of Morschauser and your blogging on portable wargaming. MANY THANKS, from a tired, old wargamer.
AlFront,
DeleteThank you so much for your very complimentary comments! I hope that my book inspires other wargamers half as much as as you have been inspired.
All the best (and good wargaming!),
Bob