Authors Electric

  After a period of stressful ‘getting the novel completed’ and ‘getting the novel edited’, it’s a wonderful feeling when the typescript is finally on its way towards publication. For me, as an ‘Indie Author’ this means having the text (interior) and cover, etc., all processed and sent over from my book and cover designer — and awaiting the final push — that of sending it off to Ingram Spark to transform it into a saleable book — and also to Amazon for Kindle. A great period for rejoicing! Though after the initial rejoicing — of completing the text, editing, etc. and after receiving the completed files, there is now a kind of hiatus before that final push, that Ingram form-filling. So, then I realized that today there’s another task which takes over — my AU contribution for September. And, surprising how these things turn up, it’s our wedding anniversary — 15th September 1973 — which makes it our fiftieth or Golden Wedding. Hum. So many couples may’ve planned, or had planned for th...

  Yesterday my second full length novel was finally published. It has been a busy and exciting time in the run-up. The writing of the book was finished a long time ago - I long for those days! Now I am in the throes of the far less appealing marketing stage. Wouldn’t it be fun if we could just spend all our time writing, and not worry about getting our books sold and read? Sadly, that is not the way of things. My first book came out during lockdown. I was vaguely aware at the time of something called a book tour – where authors travel from place to place and talk to enthusiastic gatherings about their new release. I was frankly grateful that Covid just made all that getting out there impossible. But how to get my book talked about, seen, bought even? I was fortunate enough to be a part of a writers group who introduced me to the idea of a blog tour. This simple idea relies on recruiting bloggers and book reviewers who are willing to read and review your book on their blogs. I...