Amazon link to Variant: http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=monshuntnati-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0062026089&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
Today is the day to go purchase Variant by Robison Wells from Amazon, and then to tell all of your friends to do the same.
Why?
The purpose of a Book Bomb is to get as many folks to buy the same book in the same general time frame in order to boost that books stats, so that it shows up higher on the various Amazon bestseller lists, which helps them sell even more books.
But why this book?
First off, Variant is a good read. I’m one of the cover blurbs saying that I read it in one sitting. That is true. It is a solid book. I’ve plugged it before.
But secondly, and more importantly, Rob Wells is a good guy, family man, great writer, and a friend of mine, who has fallen on some really tough times. Rob was recently diagnosed with a severe panic disorder. What that means is that something in his brain chemistry has gotten out of whack, and because of that his fight or flight reflex switch is constantly in the ON position. His doctors have been trying different drugs to see what can get that flipped back to OFF, but in the meantime it has been very bebilitating.
As a result of his illness, Rob was laid off of his job last week. He’s got no ill feelings toward his employer. They did what they had to do. But now Rob’s sick and unemployed.
Rob has written a few other books, but they were for small regional publishers (and trust me, those don’t pay very good), and Variant is his first national sale.
Now normally a writer would love to quit their day job, but most of us aren’t able to do that until we either have a gigantic hit or we’ve got five or six books in circulation. I’m sure Rob would love to be a full time writer, but he sure as heck wasn’t planning on doing it yet.
So the purpose of this particular Book Bomb is to give Rob a boost, in morale and in sales. The dude has had enough stress lately. So this isn’t charity, because you get a really good book out of the deal. You get a good product, but at the same time you get to help somebody who could use a hand. I think that is a pretty sweet deal.
And when I say good product, I mean it. I started Variant thinking that it was a sort of a modern take on Lord of the Flies, and that alone was entertaining, but then there’s a mystery beneath all of that with one heck of a twist. Variant is being marketed as Young Adult, but think of it as a solidly written book for anyone, just without as much violence or profanity you’d get out of a typical Larry Correia novel. 🙂
Wait, that’s another selling point. Because it is technically YA, that means you can give a bunch of copies of Variant as CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!
Here is the review of Variant from Elitist Book Reviews: http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/variant.html
And Variant made Publisher’s Weekly Top 10 list of best books of 2011. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011/childrens-fiction#book/book-1
Last night Variant was at #6,068 overall out of six million some odd books, and #74 in his genre.
Right now it is at: Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #27 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
Through out the day I will update this as it goes up. I want to get Rob as much of a stat boost as possible so that he can sell more books and get new fans.
So, please tell your friends. Post this on your Twitter, Facebook, or blog. Let’s hook a brother up.
EDIT 1: Already the Monster Hunter Nation is wrecking face.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #75 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
EDIT 2: The Monster Hunter Nation is driving your enemies before you, and hearing the lamentations of their women, Conan style.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #16 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #40 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
EDIT 3: Congrats, MHN. You just scissor kicked a bestseller list in the throat! (that’s a good thing)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #29 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
EDIT 4: We have now put Rob Wells higher on the Amazon list than I got with my top bestseller, Monster Hunter Alpha… Hey, wait a second… I should totally book bomb myself!
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #18 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
Also, of interest, Amazon has a Movers & Shakers list, which shows the books that have shot up the most. Variant is now #3, having moved up 5,624% in one day. I heard that one of the books we just passed was the big interview on NPR yesterday… So congrats, Monster Hunter Nation. You have defeated NPR.
EDIT 5: Well, Monster Hunter Nation, you are the Oprah Book Club of the blogosphere… Only better armed, and with better taste, and if Tom Cruise tried to jump on your couch you would put him in a choke hold.
We have broke into the top 100. This is an amazing achievement.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #15 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
EDIT 6: Rob is going to have to name his next kid Owen Zastava Wells at this rate. We’ve moved from, wow, nice Book Bomb, into HOLY CRAP territory.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #15 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
And this just in, Variant is the top #1, biggest improvement on all of Amazon. It is the #1 Mover and Shaker bestseller having improved 10,166% in the last 24 hours. This is truly the best Book Bomb EVAR.
EDIT 7: I can’t even say how amazing these results have been. That’s 61st out of every book in the world. Today Rob Wells has Won The Internet.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #12 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
EDIT 8: Rob is still kicking serious booty. What an astounding run
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- #10 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
Got it! I’ve had this on my list for a while, but held off until today to participate in the book bomb. 🙂
Bought, Blogged, Tweeted and Facebooked. Rob’s lucky to have a friend like you who cares, big guy.
Got it. Robison is a local, and a friend. Don’t often buy YA, but people I trust say it’s good, and it helps him out, so I’m more than happy to do it. Also, tweeted, facebooked, and plussed. 🙂
Done and done.
Out of curiosity who assigns a category to a book – author, Amazon or somebody else?
It would not have occurred to me to be looking in the “teen” section.
It’s really cool to see all the people who are willing to help out (and get a good book out of the bargain). I’ve had friends who I expected would take my advice. But then there’s people I never imagined would tag along who are participating.
Done!
In for one!
It’s up to #16 in Sci-Fi and #40 in Fantasy now. It’s pretty cool to watch this.
Done! Luckily I had a gift card, so I basically got free shipping. And Rob gets a boost!
Time to repost!
Hardcover on the way. May read it then donate it to our small town library. Get his name in a few more hands.
Did my part. Will relay this on Google+
My goodness. Monster Hunter Nation is absolutely KILLING it on this one.
I’m so stoked to see how effective the book bomb has been already! I bought four copies to give away for Christmas on top of the copy I’d already bought for myself (LOVED), and I’m promoting the heck out of the book bomb. You’re an awesome friend to do this for Rob!
Any Monster Hunters who have participated in the VARIANT book bomb are welcome to enter my contest before midnight tonight:
http://kashkawan.squarespace.com/novembrance/2011/11/9/contest-book-bomb-for-a-cause.html
” Hey, wait a second… I should totally book bomb myself!”
If it is any consolation, I ordered Hard Magic when I ordered Variant.
Top 100 in Amazon books now. 86 last time I looked. Amazing!
Just picked it up for Kindle. That counts, right?
This is totally awesome! I’m so glad it’s working 🙂
Eh. Never mind. Got the hardcover too. 🙂
Is there a time frame for this? I don’t know if I will be able to order today but I can probably order tomorrow. . .
The day is almost over, but the important thing is that it still gives Rob some royalties if you do it tomorrow. 🙂
Squee!
#66 in books.
In for a good cause.
Wouldn’t it be cool to find out exactly how many copies of Variant this book bomb generated? Larry Corea, you are a genius, and a pretty nice guy, too, in a very tough, gun-toting sort of way.
Glad to see the book shoot up so much so quickly. Wish I could have participated in it.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#7 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
#13 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
And it’s still going… wow…
I’m in.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#7 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
#10 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
Kindle copies are a separate best seller list
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children’s eBooks > Action & Adventure
#15 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
#15 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children’s eBooks > Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
When you consider he’s up against a bunch of $1 and $2 books, I’d say that #473 is pretty impressive…
Bought the kindle edition. Let’s bump this thing into space.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#7 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
#10 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
So cool to be a part of this. I read an ARC back in the summer, but today my wife and I downloaded the audiobook. Cheer up, Rob.
My husband wants me to take one of the copies I just bought and insist our school use it instead of Lord of the Flies. Maybe then we can get the iffy kids to relate better to something more modern. 🙂 Here’s to getting Rob into the schools next!!!! Way to go Rob!
I finally finished the book I was reading and got to start on Variant last night. All I have to say is whoa. Rob has some serious writing chops. I really hope this book bomb was enough help to keep him writing.
Thanks so much Larry. This gave both Rob and I a needed boost. I have never been on the receiving end of so much Love.
Done.
Bought a copy for me, one for a Christmas gift and one for my daughter when she can read. The on I got for me will be passed around to friends who enjoy reading.
Truly amazing! Nice job, MHN!! 🙂
Larry,
Bought Variant to help, but was not thrilled. YA Sci Fi? Great.
And then I read it. In one 24 hour period.
Wow.
The book rocked. Well written, killer plot and an ending I never saw coming.
Awesome recommendation. Thanks much.