OK, I'm Published. Now What??? [View all]

I have heard that 250 copies is average. It's been a week, and I'm up to 38. I am SURE that 20 of them were friends and family. I have about 400 Facebook friends, and some friends shared. About 600 people saw this on DU. I have an e-mail list of 100 friends, and some of them forwarded. I have tried those "promotion" thingy's and had my book put into lots of e-mail boxes. But mine is "niche". Choose "African-American fiction" or "Contemporary Fiction" or "Women's Fiction" or "Short Stories"... but it's not thriller/horror/romance/mystery. And I'm pretty sure it's going to be the only one I write. It took me 15 years to write all of those stories. They don't just roll off my fingers.

I have chosen not to spend money on "Secrets of Selling 10,000 books". I have chosen not to spend money on BookBub ($300), and BookSirens rejected me. I tried Pubby.co and got ONE review. (Five stars). I tried Book Bongo and Bargain Booksy and It's WriteOn, and BookRaid. And sold 18 books. I have posted a description of my book in 30 groups on GoodReads, and there are about 20 people who have my story on their "plan to read" list. Next week I try Bookgoodies, Free&Discounted Books, and Booksprout. I have 5 reviews, all 4 and 5 star, and I need 10 in order to try The Fussy Librarian and eBookSoda. There are 15 people who are doing ARC/Beta reads for me, and I'm hoping to have more reviews by the 11th.

I have chosen not to pay Kirkus for an editorial review. They are pricey. ($600). Someone tell me if they are worth it.

I have fixed my 10 categories in Amazon. I'm down in the thousands. No where near best seller. I did not pay for Book Rocket. I have done TONS of keywords.

I have an Author Website and a press release coming out next week. I hope to have a second press release going to black media companies around the 19th. Google is optimized by SEO. Frankly, if this doesn't do it, I give up.

What works, people????