Where's that Holy Grail?

March 30^th. 2019

Most of us know what it’s like to fail at some stage in our lives, but I wonder how many of us have profited from that failure? To get up and try again often results in some kind of success, and most writers have succeeded by not giving up. The country’s Brexit failure makes me wonder if our representatives in Parliament will adopt that attitude and not give up. No doubt readers here will have their own opinions, but we all need to see some light at the end of the tunnel. And so it is with indie writers. I’m sure we all struggle and suffer from self-doubt. If you don’t, please email me the secret and I’ll soak it up. I watched a podcast from the LBF of Barry Hutchinson, a children’s author, being interviewed. He is (was) a professional writer working for comic books here and in UK, and penning endless children’s stuff for Harper Collins. He was asked to give a talk at a school on self-publishing. It was then he realised he didn’t know how to self-publish. So he knocked out a quick children’s Sci-Fi, uploaded it on to Kindle and started selling about twelve books a day immediately. No advertising, no back catalogue, no knowledge. Now he’s on a roll and has finished with trad publishing. I uploaded my latest Pulp Fiction thriller about four weeks ago, sold about 40 copies through my subscribers, and then about six over the next few weeks. I’m advertising too on Amazon and BB. I have a back list, plenty to offer, but still struggle to find that magic: the stuff that has readers beating a path to my door, wanting to read anything I’ve written. But I won’t give up; I’ll still pile in there and hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Next week I hope to hear from James Blatch of SPF about the Book Lab interview. He told me it should be early April, so I’m expecting a call and then that moment when the experts take me apart. But I’ve promised myself I’ll use their advice and spend some money on a new jacket and a ‘relaunch’.

Talking of James Blatch and SPF, during their podcast from the LBF, Mark Dawson said there was a good chance of an SPF gathering in London next year, and probably at Amazon’s HQ. Should be good. It will be well attended, I know, and it’s something I will certainly try to get to. I did think of going to the LBF next year, but the SPF do, if it comes off, will probably take precedence for me.

I picked up my WIP again, and have set every scene out on Scrivener, without chapter headings, and following what I hope is a logical chronological path. Next week I hope to expand it and bring the whole thing to a conclusion. Trouble is, I was standing at the kitchen sink peeling the spuds this morning when I came up with a twist that would blow the reader away. But to re-write the plot again would be too much for me. Mind you, I do have a habit of managing this kind of development. It usually gives me a headache, but isn’t that what writing does to us?

On the domestic front I have been given to all clear again from the cancer clinic: they don’t want to see me for another year. I had a follow-up referral for dental treatment meaning three extractions and dentures. Bang goes my author’s public image: it will play havoc with the selfies. Pat had a consultation with the surgeon who performed her op in London. We’re still no further forward with that and are waiting for results from one of the London hospitals. Hopefully we’ll know more on Monday. Wish us luck!

Busy, busy, busy.

Lot of book stuff for me during the week. I watched a webinar Monday evening about 9pm. It was with Mark Dawson and the chat was about book reviews: the right and the wrong way to go about them, how to get them and how to use them profitably. I also watched a podcast from the London Book Fair with James Blatch of SPF talking to the author, Michael Anderle; more about that later. I went back to editing my pulp fiction book, HUNTED, dived into my current WIP and received the first report for my Book Lab venture from Bryan Cohen. Oh, and while that was going on, I celebrated my birthday, took Pat to a cancer seminar at the hospital, took her to the doctor’s and also to the hospital after being called in for an ECG. Phew!

 

The talk about book reviews was informative and educational if you haven’t been down that road before. There was a great deal in it that I knew about, but never really managed to apply the philosophy successfully; and there were elements that I disagreed with. I think the idea of paying for reviews, however ‘legal’ it might be, is simply not something I ascribe to, which is probably why I don’t sell many books.

The interview with Michael Anderle was jaw-dropping in a way. It always amazes me when a writer decides to reshape the whole game of writing and self-publishing, and is turning over thousands of dollars within a couple of years. This guy not only decided he was not turning out books fast enough, but encouraged to write with him and guarantee several books per month between them, simply to feed a market that I for one never knew existed. It was all about Science Fiction and Paranormal Fantasy, but with a kind of Orwellian twist. Certainly nothing I could get involved in. But for him and those who joined him, it works. And the turnover after five years from beginning was brilliant.

My initial Book Lab report from Brian Cohen included a new blurb for The Boy from Berlin, Amazon Ads headline options and options for Facebook ads. I can’t use these yet because I have to wait for James Blatch to speak to Jennie Nash who will be providing a critique, and Stuart Bache who will be offering advice and suggested changes to the book jacket. Once those interviews are over, he will contact me and conduct a video interview which will be published in April on the SPF You Tube channel. I plan to use the advice these experts offer, and will probably ask Stuart to do a book jacket for me. I won’t know how successful any of this is until I’ve tested it all on promotion and marketing.

I started editing HUNTED again because the inevitable happened: I picked up the paperback and immediately saw changes that were needed. We all know about typos etc., and how they slip through. I’ve edited the book twice and have been completely satisfied, so I thought, but now I have to do it all again.

I picked up my WIP and began looking at the chronological sequence of events, putting them all down on paper with the help of Scrivener. This meant I was able to fit the new character in that I introduced before Christmas without messing the story-line up, and it also gave me a clearer idea of where I was going with it.

And I now have some dental work coming up: totally unexpected, but it is what it is. So, what with dental appointments, Book Lab, rewrites and hospital appointments, I seem to have my hands full. Let’s hope it’s all worth it. Wish me luck!

What me? Nervous?

March 16^th, 2019

My pulp fiction thriller, HUNTED has now sold 50 copies; probably more than I expected, so I can’t be too disappointed. My advertising sucks, but that is something I know about and need to dig deep to turn it round. My opportunity may come later this month, but more of that in a while. I have now resurrected my main MS, my ‘WIP’, and have been going through it, scene by scene, chapter by chapter making corrections and changing direction somewhat. The word count stands at 36,000, which is a long way from where I would expect to finish (80,000 words), but when I look at the whole thing laid out on Scrivener, I seem to have written an enormously long book. But the word count doesn’t lie, so I have quite a way to go yet.

Looking ahead in the book world, I am getting rather nervous. On Monday, I expect to receive the results of Book Lab 5 and I fancy I might be in for a pasting. Isn’t it strange how we feel we are good, competent writers, but as soon as we throw our hats into the competitive ring, we suffer from self-doubt? Well, I do anyway. Despite being told time and time again how good my books are, I see the sword of Damocles hanging over me. It would be nice to think the three professionals who will be taking my work apart found nothing wrong with any of it and praised me to the rafters, but I doubt it. So, Monday the 18^th, which is my birthday by the way, I’ll be getting a present of sorts. I will need to spend money on advertising the book, but will follow the advice I’ll be getting with the Book Lab.

Last week it was the London Book Fair. I would liked to have attended, but circumstances prevented it. After my lonely trek to the Fair three years ago, I believe I would feel more at home now I have been involved in the Indie book business for so long. I see a lot of ‘happy’ reports about the meetings, not to mention the free drink at the local pub with Mark Dawson and James Blatch. James will be interviewing me as part of the Book Lab process (it will be on You Tube), so that’s one bloke I could merrily talk to. We also have something in common: we have both had a flight in the Harrier jump jet. James was with the BBC when he flew, and my trip was with my son, Terry, when I retired (I was 55 at the time — still young!). So, common ground there.

I had a major disaster earlier in the week; my false tooth bridge fell out! Horror of horrors. Now when I sit in front of my laptop for the podcast interview, I’ll be showing an enormous gap. I can’t see my public liking that at all! Hope it doesn’t put them off buying my books. I need some teeth removed too, so it will be a lengthy process at the dentist before I can wear new dentures. That will take about three to four months.

Pat’s prognosis goes on: we are still no closer to learning which cancer she has, although lung cancer has now been discounted. We will be seeing the haematologist on Monday or Tuesday for a consultation and a decision on what to do next. Poor girl is going through such a lot.

I received a nice comment from a neighbour about the book talk I did at the village hall. One of her friends said she is enjoying my book so much that she’s reluctant to put it down, and when she has to, she can’t wait to get back into it. I asked my neighbour which book it was, but she couldn’t remember. However, she thinks it was the romance, Past Imperfect. Another fan! Will there be any more? Wish me luck!

Entering uncharted territory

March 9^th. 2019

This week saw the launch of my pulp fiction thriller, HUNTED. This was something I didn’t expect just two months ago, and the thought of writing a thriller in five weeks was anathema to me, but there you go; never say never. I’m not going to claim it’s brilliant, but I can say it’s a bit of a page turner. I sent an email to my subscribers and have sold 41 copies so far. I actually shifted 23 within a couple of hours. That might have something to do with the low launch price of £0.99. I’ll keep it there for a week or so and then raise the price. So, if you want to grab the low priced copy while you can, this is where you’ll find it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P9MQYCK. It’s also available on most of the other on-line book sellers here: https://books2read.com/u/meyjXl.

My book talk at the Ladies Friendship Club went well. I sold about twelve books, which was very good for me. I expected to maybe shift a couple, but the ladies must have liked me. One even complimented me on the creases in my shirt sleeves. (Yes, she bought a book too!). One of my Chindi author colleagues asked what I talked about. I told her it was about me essentially; I just go on and on, reminiscing about the early days of traditional publishing and how I ‘metamorphed’ into an indie publisher. I have nothing lined up now, and probably wouldn’t commit myself because of being here for Pat. The talk last week was just a couple of minutes up the road and a friend came in to sit with her. But I do have Book Lab 5 to look forward to.

I mentioned the Book Lab last week. I’m due to get the results from the three professionals on the 18^th. March, followed by an interview with James Blatch. I watched the Book Lab 4 video again, and then checked out No. 3. It’s scary stuff, and I expect to be dissected without mercy. I also know I’ll be asked what or how I intend to use the results of this free assessment of my book. I’m sure I’ll be expected to say I will take everything on board and invest in a new jacket, a new blurb and spend a bit on promotion. I’d be a mug not to I suppose, but like all advertising etc., there are no guarantees. The video interview won’t be released until some time in April, so I won’t be able to give the link for a while.

On the subject of advertising: I created a BookBub ad for HUNTED, using the excellent advice in David Gaughran’s latest book. I had a budget of $50 spread over two weeks with the instruction to get through the money as quick as possible. I allocated $0.14 a click — just above the suggested price, paying CPM (as advised), and saw the money disappear in two days! And no sales! This is scratch the head time: what do I do now? I’ll probably resort to my own BB ads plan in future and keep the budget down; after all, I have to save some money for the outcome of Book Lab 5.

On the domestic front, Pat and I are still in the middle of waiting for her results. It’s a stressful time, particularly for Pat. I’m keeping fit by doing the jobs that Pat would normally do and, thankfully, I’m able to keep abreast of my on-line stuff. Hopefully I’ll be able to devote some time to the WIP I shoved aside to write my thriller. Maybe, eh? Wish me luck.

No pressure then?

March 3^rd. 2019

Another busy week for yours truly. I travelled up to London each day and brought Pat home Friday. We now have to wait until about March 11^th. for the results. There was precious little time to do much else except make sure the dog had her walk and keep on top of the small jobs around the house, but I did manage to get on with my Pulp Fiction thriller. I now have a book jacket for it. I won’t say it’s brilliant, but that’s something I can deal with later if it’s really necessary. I also received a fairly comprehensive report from one of my beta readers with a beautifully laid out column of typos and an adjacent column with suggested changes. It cost me nothing! I had already done an edit myself, so I can hold my hand up and say I had already caught about 30% of the errors. I have now sorted them all out and can take the next step: publish. That will probably be some time during the week. I’ll be setting the price low and spending some money on advertising. But (there’s always a but), I have just bought David Gaughran’s book on BookBub ads, and I really need to go through it before putting any ads on BB. No doubt I’ll do that anyway and then tweak the ads later.

Regular readers of my blog will remember me talking about being selected for Mark Dawson’s Book Lab; it’s something I’m eligible for because I’m a gold Patreon member. I volunteered for selection, never for one minute expecting to be picked. I’m No.5 and will be interviewed later this month. Meanwhile, I watched the Book Lab 4 video last night on You Tube. It was an author called Niki Danforth, and the video ran for about two hours. The three professionals who looked at Niki’s latest release, using the ‘Look inside’ feature on Amazon, were Jennie Nash, Bryan Cohen and Stuart Bache. To hire these professionals would cost the earth: I think Jennie charges $3000 a month to work with an author through the writing process. Stuart Bache charges $600+ for a book jacket, and I’ve no idea what Bryan Cohen charges, but it will be up there with the rest. They have all worked with top authors like John Grisham, David Baldacci etc., so they know what they are about. Having seen Niki Danforth’s work taken apart, dissected, critiqued and other little peccadilloes thrown in, I’m now wondering what on earth they will say about mine. It’s The Boy from Berlin they’ll be looking at, and already I’m a nervous wreck. I will have to find a sanctuary just to hide my shame: a remote retreat somewhere. When Niki was interviewed, I could see her reaction was, well, controlled is the best word I can come up with. The upside to all this though, is that if I take on board the suggested changes to my book jacket, the blurb and advertising strap-lines, it should — should — give me an increase in book sales. I know I would be a mug not to take advantage of this. However, it could be different, couldn’t it? After all, they may say I’m brilliant and nothing needs changing, right? No, I didn’t think so. The results will be posted to me on March 18^th (my birthday), and the video interview will be released in April. Should be fun.

My book talk at the Ladies Friendship Club is on Wednesday, which is something I’m looking forward to; nowhere near as frightening as the Book Lab. It was touch and go for a while because I wasn’t sure I could make the date with Pat being the way she is at the moment. Thankfully she’s home and will be coming to the event with me. It’s only a two minute drive up to the village hall from here. The talk is scheduled to last 45 minutes by which time I will probably have managed to cover most of what I want to say. However, I do have a habit of going on a bit, so may have to wind things in a little. Hopefully the women will all love me and will want to but my books. Wish me luck!