Starting a new trend

The octothorpe, the 8-pointed symbol on the keyboard that you get if you click shift [3] or the pound sign, number sign, or even just plain hash. It was something that was used for weight, telling phone numbers, and in the modern day, in social media, it is used for grouping posts, pictures and media together. The “Hashtag”

Well, I am hoping to introduce my own # to the world.

#Immortallegacyseries

Since it will be a five-book series, I am hoping that by the time I get to book 4; it will be trending. I plan to use this on all my book-related posts on all my media. I hope that by the end of 2022, at least 100 posts will be grouped under this new hashtag. I hope that those that have the book will use it too.

It won’t be the only hashtag I plan on making. I hope to make a few with each coming book. So get trending, use the new hashtag if you have the book, and share a post about it. The more it grows, the more people will know about it.

Selling and Signing

This week I sold several books, each signed. That’s something I got to get used to my signature. I am not planning on changing what I do. I even don’t plan on changing how I sign, but what to write along with their name and the signature is always tricky. You don’t want to be cliche. You don’t want to sound impersonal. But you don’t want to write a whole paragraph either.

Signing a book at the launch.

When it comes to signatures, people have their initials, their first and last name, fancy loops and swirls. I kept mine pretty simple, it may change depending on the speed I write but it is clear and easy to read.

I still have over 70 books to sell that I can sign for people from my hometown to Western Australia, even those overseas. I look forward to seeing photos of people holding the book, the book on the shelf or on the coffee table. I am looking forward to seeing bookmarks sticking out of them. I am happy when someone tells me they are reading it. I am pleased when people are enjoying the storyline. I am even eager for people to pick up on things and criticise it. The more feedback I get, the better the next book will be.

Beginning of Phase 3 - Book Three

Last week I finished editing the third book of my series, and yesterday I heard from my cover designer. The first discussion of what to have on the front lasted 30 minutes, and he was impressed with what I gave him. I can’t wait to see the first draft. The cover is going to give the storyline of the third book without spoiling the ending - of course - as well as give hints to what will happen.

With the second book already out on Amazon, I plan to put it on iTunes this month and later on Lulu. The plan to have three books out in three months changed when the third book was ready in time, and the cover designer was swamped with work. With “Age of the Immortal” not reaching everyone on Amazon yet, I will put off submitting the third book until October. However, I will most likely have a cover reveal in September. Since I haven’t released the Title of the Third Book (unless people have seen the posts on Instagram.) That won’t be revealed until the Cover Reveal.

I am going to put a link to the second book here in case anyone is interested in grabbing Book 2.

Immortal and the Hex

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.