First and Foremost

First and Foremost; ALL (BUT A FEW) PHYSICAL COPIES MUST BE SOLD BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST. That’s right, I do not want to have any but a few of the physical printed books in my house when it is December. Why? Because it is the Christmas season and unless someone is buying the book as an extremely last minute Christmas present, I do not want the boxes in the house. I have between 50-60 books left and that gives me about 60 days to sell them. How will I sell them all I have no idea, but this week I at least attempted two firsts.

The first first was reading the first few pages of the book - the prologue - live on social media. I am hoping that people listening to the first few pages will be intrigued by the story and buy it. I didn’t want to read too much but I read enough to hopefully captivate them. This was inspired by Sue Whiting and what she calls her Friday Firsts.

Reading my book live on Social Media

The second first, is with the fair being unfortunately cancelled, I set up a table beside a shop and attempted to sell my book there. Though the weather was cold while the sun was out, people did walk by and looked at the cover, asked questions, a handful of people bought the book. People were at least interested and that is important too.

Literacy Lunch, a learning opportunity and hope for future

When you have an interview, they normally ask, where do you see yourself in 5 years time. If I was asked that when I graduated university, I would have said in a classroom but after today, I now can proudly say “I wish to be speaking in front of 90 children and adults about my books.” Today’s event was full of fun, tips and stories.

The CBCA Literacy Lunch was an event I attended back in 2019 when I had the opportunity to listen to authors while I was with the class and met a few fabulous authors, including the amazing Alison Tait, the delightful Di Ellis and the notable Nat Amore. Today, I had the opportunity to help out in the first one that was face-to-face for a few years. And the line-up of authors was extraordinary. We had Nat, Di and Alison return, as well as the sensational Sue Whiting, the debut authors of Dani Vee, Tania Woznicki and Dr Danielle Camer.
Each one told a story about themselves and their books and why they wrote them or how they came up with the idea.

So what does this mean for me, it was a massive learning opportunity, I saw how authors interact with their readers, how they engage the audience. I also heard how the process was, the motivation and the passion. This also gives me hope that I COULD be in front of those readers, the audience and talk about my book.
Because watching the students listen as the authors, talked about cicadas, ducks, sloths, boys and girls that solve mysteries, achieve their dreams. I am only starting my journey, like some of these people. It has been only a few months for me, some who attended today have been doing if for years.

They are still having fun, they are still telling stories and they are still entertaining the readers. Today’s event was a great success, we had students interact with the authors, ask questions, try to guess somethign they brought that had a story. So what do I hope to do in 5 years’s time. I hope that I will be in a room filled with children talking about my books. I hope to share about my journey. One can hope, right?

Interview and Advertisement

On Friday, I had an interview with a student, they were doing a paper on authors, publishers and the process. This was an opportunity to do some “Free Advertising” but also a time to talk about the process of being a self-publisher. She was local, attends the same university I attended and arranged for a face-to-face in a place I am familiar with. The interview was a great dry run of what might happen down the road when my book really hits it off.

She asked me about my childhood, my writing in general, how I created my book and why and how I went down the self-publishing path. I wish her all the best with her assignment and look forward to seeing the result. I hope this always provides that “free advertisement” to those who read it.

Speaking of advertisements, another ad was launched today to last a week. This time I am hoping to get more followers, those to join my Facebook page to find the links to the books then or see my journey. I don’t know how many will follow or like by the end of the week. But if you do happen to find this because of the ad on Facebook, comment below where you are from.

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Finding the Readers

The quote from “Field of Dreams” is ‘If you built it, HE will come’ which has been misheard for decades as they will come. So here I am I built something, hoping HE or THEY will come. Readers, that is! Unfortunately, I was informed that my local bookshop could not stock the book because the market isn’t good there. YA/Fantasy, Science Fiction won’t sell there. This means I need to find my readers. I have put out the ad, and I have boosted my range to England, the US and the whole of Australia. With 70% being in England so far. I am hoping people will buy the book.

The advert will last a week. My posters have been out in town for two weeks. I even have had the same poster in the Coffee Shop for two months. It seems that right now I am only reaching the same people and word of mouth isn’t working, or the word isn’t spreading yet.
My article in the local magazine didn’t get the exact phrasing I wanted, I got a small mention at the bottom of another article. I hope it doesn’t get overlooked.

If you are here reading this because of the ad, a magazine or another means. Comment below how you found out and thanks for reading. Spread the word.

Bank and Boost

This week has been a real learning curve in terms of being your own business and trying to get royalties from overseas. I thought I fixed the bank rejection trouble with my iTunes Royalties only to be told that it was rejected again. Why? Because it wasn’t an overseas account. That’s right, I need to create a middle bank account, one that will take my royalties from overseas and then transfer them into my Australian account. It must be simple to create that account, right? Wrong!

I am now waiting to hear back from my bank to know how to create that middle overseas account to act like a middleman. Hopefully, I hear back next week, otherwise, I might be receiving my first royalties six months after the fact.

On the positive side, I created my first social media ad to boost engagement and, hopefully, sales. It will last a week and then I will try to create another. If the first one works. The ad will let people know about my next event and where my books are. Hoping they will then check out my website.

If you have came here because of the ad, comment below your city/country you are from and let’s see how who is the furthest from where I live.

New Month, New Goals, Old problems

October has started, Daylight savings started and the nights are getting longer. With plans to have my book signing on Saturday the 22nd, everything else needs to go smoothly. I have a goal to sell all my books by end of October that I have physically ordered. It has been a slow progress with the Fridays, trying to buy a book and my elevator pitch needs to improve. But I still plan on selling them all, so I can put Book #3 on Amazon before Christmas.

What I have discovered is that my bank and iTunes aren’t seeing eye to eye, which means I am not getting the royalties from iTunes just yet. I hope to hear back from them with an explanation. I hope that they can resolve this, so I can start getting an income from them.

There were a few problems that I found that I won’t mention - if you find them you can message me - and it seems that trying to reach to people is way harder than I thought, especially if my words aren’t heard or overlooked.
Keep an eye out for latest updates for the Book Signing.

Trying to Sell to New People

This LONG weekend, I tried and failed to sell my book to new people. Friday, I put my Cut-out in the Coffee Shop I spent my morning working at but I didn’t have the opportunity or the courage to bring up my book. I have learned that trying to talk to strangers is more difficult unless they bring it up or looking at the product. Then on Sunday, while the world came to my suburb, I didn’t have time to let slip that I am an author. I wanted to, but I didn’t get a chance.

Monday, I advertised that I would sell my book at Wollongong Golf Club for a different audience and took several books with me to an event that happened on the night. But I learned that people take a while to buy a new concept, a new book. People need time to accept a new story, and especially a self-published story.

The hope is that come October I will sell the rest of my books that I ordered back in May and June and that by December people will be buying it online.

Me, Myself and I are doing their best to market, promote and advertise but it also takes word of mouth from those who have bought the book. Those who have read it to, post a review, spread the word too. That way more and more ‘new’ people' can understand what the book is about and buy it.

Book Two on iTunes and Things to Come

The presale has ended, the second book “Immortal and the Hex” is now available for purchase on Apple Books, this was a long process, trying to figure out why it wasn’t working. Attempting every second day to publish it, only to get an error. Here’s hoping those on Apple Devices, will enjoy reading the two books.

This book delves into the the 21st Century, an alternate 21st Century. It looks at the Mitchell’s continuous desire to help and protect as well as the consequences of his actions.

In 30 days, I plan on selling all the book copies I have left that I ordered in one go, I will be having a Book Signing in my local community. I hope to sell some books on Monday when I travel down south for an event, and then keep selling books. I hope that I attract enough buyers from all around the area so I can be sold out on the day.

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Yesterday, my third book cover was revealed, if you missed it, check out Facebook or Instagram. I am impressed with the turn-out, something that tells a bit about the book without giving it away. I hope to publish the third book late October after the Book Signing. But I will take each week as it comes.

Catch the Clues

Tomorrow the third Book Cover will be revealed, the last three days I have posted clues on Facebook and Instagram. The clue could be in the image, the words or both. The clues will help give you a mental picture of what the cover might look like. Of course, I am leaving the main part of the cover unmentioned until the big reveal.

Can you guess the blank space?

The problem with starting a series and being a beginner author is that you don’t know if people are liking the book, finished reading or even started the book. You can only hope; the feedback you get helps but until people outside your friends, family and those that you pay to provide feedback, the book is still an unknown factor. I was hoping to have three books out in 1 year. Because the books flow and lead from one to another, but unless someone leaves feedback saying “I can’t wait to read the next book.” It’s all uncertain.

So please, comment below, have you got any guesses for the clues, have you finished the book?

Tease of the Cover

Yesterday, I posted on Social Media, a hint of the Third Book’s Cover. With the big reveal on the 21st, I will be dropping hints on social media for those who are keen observers. It took two extra months to arrange for the third book’s cover. The plan of three in a row went out the window. Then iTunes struggled to publish Immortal and the Hex onto Apple which took over two weeks. So that will come out on the same day as the Cover Reveal.

Comment what you can see, and what you think might be on the cover. Keep checking social media to see if you can figure out the clues and hints.

Post from Saturday 17th September