Mixed bag for Michael

So, what’s been happening during the last week for me?
Low book sales; struggle with Amazon; dash to see the specialist and grappling
with my current novel. I believe there is a traditional slump in on-line book sales
after the Christmas period because so many people have received iPads, Kindles etc.
from their loved ones, and have downloaded more than their average weekly dose
of books. Some, perhaps the majority would have gone for best-sellers, while
others may have taken advantage of the many free books on offer. Whatever the
reason, my sales have nosedived. But I’m not too disheartened because there is
always the chance they will go up again. I have a promotion coming up at the
beginning of March which could help.

My struggle with Amazon is trying to get them to put
right what they have admitted to getting wrong; and that is the ‘Look inside
the Book’ facility on my latest publication: A WORD IN YOUR EAR. They say it
will take a week to put right, but they said this a month ago and still it
didn’t happen. They also failed to change the interior file I re-submitted, and
offered to download my title to me for free in compensation. Considering it
only costs $0.99, I would much sooner have them get it right in the first
place. I will wait until later in the week (they said about six days) and check
again. Yesterday nothing had changed. I managed to complete the file and jacket
for CreateSpace. It took a while with a few hiccups along the way. I have read
the digital proof and put it up for publication. I’m now waiting for
CreateSpace to let me know it’s on line.

My dash to see my specialist was because I developed a
chest infection. This would be the second one in a month. The antibiotics
worked OK, but it came back and needed treating. My next chemo is due Tuesday,
so with luck there will be no need to postpone it for a week.

As for grappling with my current novel; isn’t that the
life of a writer? My thriller is set on the Mexican/USA border. I have an
outline plan, some good scenes, but like many of us who do this kind of thing;
I have a problem with the middle: I don’t know what I’m going to write. No
doubt it will come to me but it’s got to happen soon otherwise I’ll still be
sitting in front of my laptop scratching my head. Wish me luck!