Finalising and Editing

For the past month and a half, I have been attending a Writer’s Boot Camp in which I get to hang out with other aspiring writers to have time to work on their work. I have been using that time to either work on a new book or edit one that is already written. The past 6 weeks, I have been editing the third book of the series. I spent mornings, afternoons and some nights, going through the book to correct mistakes I overlooked when I first wrote it four years ago.

Today, I finished the editing process, I spent the day going through the final chapter and after a few hours, I have completed the 22 pages. I look forward to hearing back about the cover and start designing that but for now, I am happy to have the book complete.

What does this mean, it means that maybe before the end of the year, Book 3 can be available as an Ebook for those who liked book 1 and 2; it means that I can start slowly going through the fourth book and plan the full series. It certainly means that the story of the Immortal isn’t finished and you might not have to wait too long to read what happens next.

Final Preparations

With less than a week to go, the final preparations are in order. It is getting so close, anxiety and nerves will kick in soon. With a few things left to arrange, the big treat and the big cut-out. The life-size cut-out was trouble. I left it too late for one place and had to make arrangements for another place. I am hoping that it arrives on time. With less than a week, time is precious.

I posted one of the books so it can arrive on the day of the launch for someone who cannot make it. I am looking forward to seeing the book in someone else’s home. I know that the book won’t be for everyone and some people might not like certain parts. What I fear is that the book will not be read because they judge it fro the first few pages.

Reviews and honesty is what I am hoping for, the good, the bad and the messy. I am looking forward to hearing someone say “I love….” but I am also waiting for the feedback “You might want to….” that way I can improve it. I don’t want someone to look at the cover, the first few pages and then say “Oh I don’t like it because….”

The Immortal

Immortal Legacy

Feeding the Masses

When it comes to planning an event, there is one thing you need to be careful about. Food allergies and dietary requirements. You have to pay food for everyone. You have those with tolerances, those with mild to severe allergic reactions to peanuts, egg, soy. You have those that are Coeliac. People that are vegan or can’t have dairy.

Having enough food that people will eat is a challenge, it is best to have enough of what is safe for the majority and have something aside for those that need specifics. Separate bowls, or plates, serving tongs and there needs to be labels. Signs that say “This contains dairy.” “This contains nuts”. The other option is buy nut free, dairy free food and have that separate to the food that may contain.

I have started the shopping for food for the launch, however, I am trying to arrange a treat as well as a combination of sweet and savoury nibbles. With the amount of food, the other thing required is enough plates, serviettes and spoons.

The next task is providing drinks, I am thankful that the hot drinks will be made and accounted for - but still a challenge with people’s choices of drinks (but that’s another talking point) - so then it is the soft drinks ; the juices and fizzy drinks. Better safe and go with no sugar, after all everyone will have enough from the food.

Boxes of Books to Buy

When the books you order from out of state, arrive 4 days later, it is a great sign of a quick and save delivery. 19 kilograms of books, to be put aside and left untouched until the launch. Another 50 books to sell to those looking forward to reading.
40 kilograms of books to be taken to the venue, hopefully 3/4 of the books are sold on the 30th.

I am pleased that about five books have be purchased; two have already been hand delivered to the buyers. I know there are at least 12 people interested in purchasing the books. With 15 days until the Book Launch, I am trying get as many people knowing about the event so majority of the books can be sold.

Boxes of Books

But there are other ways to purchase the book. I have it on Amazon and iTunes, I have it on Softcover. If you aren’t local or can’t make it on the day. You can buy it and read it anywhere, anytime.

Advertising Yourself

With my book launch only a few weeks away, I need to find ways to advertise to the community, the public and my friends. Doing it on your own means going around town and putting up posters. Word of mouth and using social media. I hope it can travel from my hometown to the neighbouring towns so people from all over the Illawarra and Sutherland Shire can attend.

Double or Nothing

The gamble term “Double or Nothing,” is when the debt is either doubled or cancelled but it is a risky bet. I am taking a risky gamble by paying for more physical copies of the book to double how many I have to sell. The risk is how many will be paid for to cover my debt and will it be cancelled and then get the profit.

There are many risks in life and when you take a leap and try something new that risk v. reward is questioned? The reward is the profit from selling all the books, making tens of people immerse into a new world. The risk is that not all the books are sold and you are at a loss.

When you are faced with the choice of double or nothing. You have to ask yourself is the risk worth it? Not the reward. The risk could damage self, reputation, others, if the risk is worse than not getting the reward than not take the risk. But if the risk is minor and the reward can be without, than take it.

Music to my Ears

When it comes to planning an event, there a few things that are hard to get and top priority; Venue, Entertainment and Special Guests. For my first Book Launch, I wanted to find local talent for the live music. That meant I was reaching out to my community and trying to find someone that was available for the date of my launch.

With over a dozen suggestions, there weren’t many that were available. Which made choosing one a lot easier. When it comes to local talent, the next thing to think about is what they play and if it will be appropriate for the event.

Selecting songs means going through the lyrics and seeing if the words are appropriate for the event. Once you have a song list, if the musician agrees, you have your entertainment.

I am happy to report, that I have found my live music for my book launch, she is young, talented and her music fits perfectly with my theme. I am so excited to hear her play. The event is shaping to be one to remember. There is just over a month to go. The countdown begins.

Imperfectly Perfect and Proper

Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has flaws, and nobody is perfect. Even the best can stumble. Human error is not an excuse it is a reality. The best thing about mistakes, it makes us unique. That’s the same with any created thing, the flaws make it rarer and different.

When it comes to what you make, sometimes it is better to embrace the flaws rather than trying to perfect them. You will chip away all the ice if you keep mending a broken part, you will damage the product more by trying to cover up the mistakes. Same with writing a book or having it published. It will cost you more if you keep trying to correct all the tiny flaws that make the end product unique. Regardless of the popular opinion, it’s perfect in the maker’s eyes.


I have decided to embrace my flaws in my book, well some of them anyway and have them there as a quirk that makes the book imperfectly perfect. What does this mean to you readers? It means that when you come across those flaws, the book isn’t boring. It isn’t predictable and what's more, it doesn’t stop you from reading.

The biggest mistake you can make is trying to cover up the flaws that make you unique, if you strive for perfection, you will get broken. Accept the indifference, the oddness and love the fact that nobody’s perfect.

Finding Other Authors

Since I am part of the Illawarra, I had to make sure I joined my local groups. Can’t be part of one in Sydney or even as far as New York City. It is still early days with my books, 1 and 2 are out there. But now that I have fellow writers to talk to, I can gain more and more readers and eventually fans.

Every career has their owner groups and support networks, writers need to find other writers. So this week, I joined a few different writing groups and managed to get my book available for other authors to read if they wish.