What makes life difficult for a writer?

Another phase.

I’m now into the last phase of my chemo and looking
ahead to the days when it will be just a bad memory. In two weeks’ time my
specialist will let me know what progress has been made. Progress in many
things is often difficult to find, and none more so than persuading book
readers to buy my books. I am currently promoting ROSELLI’S GOLD with Kindle
Direct Publishing, and have noticed a marginal increase in the daily sales.
Curiously though, the sales of NORTH SLOPE and SHADOW OF THE WOLF still
continue to outsell my other titles. This isn’t about advertising or a
promotion push, I believe, but simply getting good reviews. Or maybe it’s the
genre? I like to think good writing and storytelling is the reason readers
download my work. I have just about given up working on my current MS, mainly
because of the upheaval in our lives caused by our pending house sale and move
into temporary accommodation, plus the trauma of undergoing months of chemo. I
tell myself that I will pick up the pen again, but I can’t see that happening
for a few weeks yet. Some people will say this is “writer’s block” and that I
should work through it. That’s something I understand, and I have read articles
recently on the web by Stephen King and David Baldacci on how they cope with it
and work on through it. For me though this is more about my physical condition
rather than my lack of effort and willpower: when I apply my brain, nothing
happens.

Another project I have been working on, and having fun
in a peculiar way, is building a new website. My son, Terry, who designs my
book jackets and manages my main site, has produced something for me to get my
teeth into using WordPress. For me that means a huge learning curve, but once I
get the hang of it, and I have managed to add two titles to the main page so
far, the whole thing will be hooked into my main website and become the “new”
one. This is all a precursor to when I take on my own titles, currently managed
by Acclaimed Books Ltd., once we have moved back to the UK. I have no issue
with Acclaimed Books; in fact, quite the opposite. I have enjoyed working with
Peter Lihou (CEO) over the years and have every respect for his integrity and
abilities. But now, as I get closer to my mid-seventies, I feel I want to take
control of my work. On the down side; once this happens and my books are
de-listed by AB.c, I will lose all my reviews once the books go on Amazon with
me as the publisher. But as it’s my decision, it’s something I have to put up
with. It just means a new round of promotions and free giveaways. Wish me luck!

A gap in the life of

Those of you who read my blog entries regularly might
wonder why it’s almost a couple of weeks since my last entry. Just looking at
the last couple of sentences of my last entry, I wasn’t aware then of what was
about to happen, but my immune system collapsed and my temperature went sky
high. Consequently I was hospitalised for six days during which time they
pumped all sorts of stuff into me to get me back to something like full
fitness. I came home two days ago and now I feel fine. While I was in hospital
I did a lot of thinking (no visitors for the first three days except Pat) with
the time on my hands. I found myself seriously contemplating giving up my
current writing project. I’ve struggled with it for so long now that I do
wonder if I’m going further and further down a cul-de-sac. But like a lot of writers (I suppose), once an idea has
taken root in my head, I find it difficult to shift; it keeps nagging away at
me. I have considered changing the opening, which would be the third change,
and even re-arranging the plot sequence. At the moment a lot hinges on a book
I’ve downloaded about world finance. I have to admit that I might have bitten
off more than I can chew: the subject matter requires a fairly good
understanding of the gold markets and money laundering. Not having served a
prison sentence for either crime, or being involved in any criminal activity, I’m
not in a very strong position. Perhaps I should go out and rob a bank, but Pat
doesn’t drive anymore, so I’d be stuck for a good and faithful getaway driver.
Back to the drawing board then.

Meanwhile, I haven’t given up on promotion. My novel,
ROSELLI’S GOLD, is part of a KDP review promotion for March and April. I have
also submitted it to eBooksoda for a slot on their site. Now I need to have a
look round for a reasonably priced advertising campaign to push it.

I contacted my publisher this week because I’ve been
expecting the PDF proofs for my novel, PAST IMPERFECT. I was told that because
the publishing date isn’t until next January, the MS hasn’t been sent to an
editor yet. It would be ideal if I could have another full length novel
available by then, but until I get my finger out, it isn’t going to happen.

On the house front; it is now less than four weeks away and
we will no longer own our villa. After eleven years living here, in a house that
we had built, it will quite a sad day when we walk out of the notary’s office.
But it’s all a means to an end, and we do want to move back to UK. I will be
having my final chemo session on Tuesday, and will do my level best to keep out
of trouble, eat the right food, not expend too much valuable energy and arrive
at the notary’s office as fit as a butcher’s dog. Wish me luck!

Busy Period.

I missed last week for some reason. Maybe it was because
I was due my chemo and had other things on my mind. I have made progress on the
book front, and now have a paperback copy of my non-fiction title, A WORD IN
YOUR EAR, in my hand. My son brought it over from UK. I have also ordered a copy
from Amazon.com simply because I was intrigued by the fact that postage from
USA is cheaper than from UK to Spain. How do they work that out? I will be
ordering several copies to give away, but will have those delivered in UK, post
free. I’ll be able to pick them up when we travel over there in May. I still
have to make a change to the paperback because I included the table of contents
(from the e-file), which is unnecessary. It’s not a major problem, but I should
be able to get that sorted within a day or so.

I have also started getting to grips with my latest ms,
THE GATEKEEPER (working title). As most writers will know, there is always a
point in the creative process when you run out of ideas. I’m no different, and
have struggled a little. I put that down to the fact that I put the book on the
back burner last year while I completed PAST IMPERFECT, and also the diversion
on to my religious book. Now I’m waiting for my publisher to send me the PDF proof
of Past Imperfect so I can crack on with that. It will also tell me that they
haven’t forgotten and have made progress with it. I’m looking forward to seeing
that.

Another project I have in hand is a new, updated
website. My son, Terry, is building it for me, and when he was over here for
the weekend, we sat down and went through the WordPress file learning a little
about building and editing. I’m hoping I can grasp the essentials of building a
site, but I have a suspicion that I may be calling on my son more than once for
help. Once the website has been updated, I will begin to move my titles over.
Should be fun.

On the health front: I had my fifth chemo session last
week and today I have hit the wall. I think it’s because I survived on adrenalin
while our son and his daughter, Gemma were over here for a couple of days. Now
the chickens have come home to roost. Not to worry though; only one more
session and I will be out of the woods. Wish me luck!