Got a reply back. Didn't sound too happy that I asked for the information:

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"Ms. James,

We do not have “public sales” figures and releasing numbers on sales would be a violation of author privacy.

I can tell you that we average 200,000 visitors a month to our website.

Deanna Lee

Yahoo IM ID: deannaleebooks
www.deannaleebooks.com
www.cobblestone-press.com

http://nakedpublisher.blogspot.com/
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Firstly, it's Ms. Jones , and I would think if they sold a lot they would say something like, "we average 10,000 book sales a month." I didn't ask for individual sales, just what was their sales figures in general. Oh well. 

And visitors and buyers are two separate animals. 

I'll contact the gal that publishes there and see what she says. I'll let ya'll know later. 

I should ask the gal who's published her books there what her opinion is about the site. If she's happy with her 'sales', does she get many readers. She's seem pretty happy about her books being published there, but I suppose the word 'published' would make anyone giddy.

I didn't see a place on there that showed how many customers or repeat customers came to the site. But there are a heck of a lot of writer's publishing there and many books available. But those books could be sitting alone in a void if no one clicks to read them.

Are eBook sites just self-publishing sites in disguise?

Oh, down at the bottom left there was some info, but nothing on the number of customers they have. I'm still curious about it. I think the 'frowned upon' attitude is valid, but I also think electronic publishing is in our future. Maybe far future, but still, something to consider. And there are going to be authors who are going to frown on something. Some look down their noses at straight romance, others think there's too much sex in books, etc.

OT, but by the way, Leigh Greenwood is a member of my local chapter of the RWA.

Just saying, craft is craft. 

The author Kelley Armstrong is recommending this contest to all writers. Thought I'd pass it along.

http://shomifiction.com/contests.html

Several writers on Kelley's site are going to participate.

Speaking of writing groups and critiquing, is Congi from here still up and running?

Also, Kelley Armstrong's forum has an active online writing group. You have to sign up and get permission to join, but I think that's standard practice.

When I think my writing sucks, I go back to my background stuff and research. It's usually because I haven't taken the time to get to know my characters, theme, plot, climatic ending, etc.  The problem I'm confronted with is I want to write fast to get it down, I want to rush it before the creative energies go away. But I'm finding out that for me, writing is patient, practical application of craft on those creativity spurts I have. I call it the S & M of writing.  Drives me crazy but it works.

I did in the beginning, but then I realized that being influenced by good writing is a good thing. I think all authors are influenced by those that came before them. It's only natural and besides, how else are we going to learn to write as well as our favorites if we don't absorb some of the 'flavor' that King and Mickey referred to?

Kelley Armstrong on her message board said she got her idea for her Bitten series by watching an episode of X-Files. And now she's on her 10 book, I think. So wherever you get your influences, if it's a good thing, use it and run with it.

I hope to be heavily influenced by Jim Butcher's and Jack Bickham's scene and sequel writing construction. I've got the stories, what I need and am working on is the structure to put them in.

I got a good laugh at this. I instantly thought, 'Harry Dresden!' when I read it.

Hope you can read the link:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp08.Impressive.Failure.html