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!