Next week is the 25th of July and people celebrate Christmas in July. Being Winter in Australia, we have the ‘cold’ Christmas theme while others picture Santa on the sand. I tried to do something last month and it didn’t work out because it was only a few hours and wasn’t much notice. Well this month I am doing a Christmas in July sale. The first 25 people to message me via the website with the key phrase “Christmas in July” will get 25% off the postage price. The book will be signed.
Feeling the Blues
This week I have been not feeling well, this meant I wasn’t able to go to my usual place to write on a Wednesday and my enthusiasm for writing has been wavering. However something did arrive on the Wednesday to cheer me up a bit. I ordered a different look of business cards to help those that aren’t tech savvy. I plan to put them around town, have them given out.
Sample Image
With two months until I start getting my cover designed for the fourth book, I only have one chapter left to edit before I start getting myself ready to work out when to publish it. I hope to do it this year but I will decide once I get everything finished.
Depressing, Disappointing but Determined
Today is the last day of June and nine days ago, I did my first Book Special where I offered $3 postage for those in Australia to have their book delivered. The day was a good day, but it ended being a disappointing result. I got no messages, not a single person wanted the book delivered. This was depressing, knowing I advertised the special in advance and got zero results. I still have at least 40 copies left at home that I ordered last year. I do hope they are not in my house by the end of this year.
I am determined to continue writing my series, I have one chapter left to edit for the fourth book and in September I am getting the cover designed. I am up to Chapter 8 in writing the first draft of the 5th book. My hope is that people will buy my book and read through and get the next one and then the third.
I found my first ‘negative’ review but I am determined to prove to the readers that my book is worth their time. It’s not written in a traditional way, it is written in my unique style and it may take people a few goes to understand it, but there is a method to my ‘madness.’
I have been lucky to have a trial using AI and I started designing character costumes and hero outfits.
I am not giving up, I am going to finish writing this series and have it available for everyone. It is out there on Amazon, iTunes or Applebooks and Lulu.
Two to go
Last week I finished editing the third last chapter of my fourth book; there are only two more to go. The fourth book won’t be available until I have finalised the cover, organised a price and marketed it correctly. I will be hoping to finish editing the book within the next two months and then I can have someone copy edit my story.
In two days, I am having my Winter Solstice Special starting from 7 am until 4:54 pm. It seems like a long time, but the first 30 people will be hearing from me to get their book delivered to their house. These books have been with me for almost a year and it is about time they find a good home and a person who would like to read it. The details for the special are on my Social Media pages as well as a previous blog.
Winter Solstice Special
It's winter; therefore, this solstice, I will be selling my books and having them delivered to your door. Signed and sent to your address for only $30 (including postage). All you need to do is be in NSW. The first 30 to contact me will receive their copy. Thirty copies for $30 for the 30 days of June.
In order to get your copy, all you have to do is contact me via my website and message me your address. Then once I have your address, I will be in touch.
Attempting a Market Day
On Friday the 2nd; I had a book stall at Crown St Markets in Wollongong. I arrived there at 8:00 to set-up my table and placed my books on display. The markets opened at 9:00; a few people were asking about it, but it wasn’t until 11:20 did I make my first purchase. The rest of the day was long but I made two more sales before I closed up at 3:00. It was a learning experience, given me ideas of what I need if I do it again. But everything costs. I would like to thank ‘Cuddly Bubs’ for the conversations and the company.
I am trying to work out how else I can sell my books, maybe offer a special or something this winter. I have a box and a half still to get rid of. The special will only be for those within a certain area. But I am hoping that this will spread the book to more people.
A Toast to my Booksale
On the 13th of May, I had a book stall set up at Campbelltown Catholic Club; it was part of the Annual District 70 Toastmasters Conference. I have been in Toastmasters for nine years (since May 1st) and have learned a lot from attending their meetings. As an author, I was invited to set up a table with other authors to sell my book. From 12:00-6:30pm, my books were out for anyone interested in asking about my process or my story.
I had several conversations with people from all over NSW and talked to them about how I started and what I have done. I even spoke to school-aged children about my book. Though my expectations for the day were unrealistically high, I did sell some of my books. So some are better than none. I continue to hope I can sell the books that I have ordered. I am hoping to find more markets, or locations that I can go to this year to sell my book.
Happy Anniversary
One year ago, it all officially started, don’t get me wrong, it took a few months to get the covers, order the books, try to get the book on Reedsy and Amazon. The mass panic of editing and having the book out there. It was a rush and that was last year. Now it has been 365 days of promoting myself, selling some of my stock and coming up with new ways to keep people engaged. I created an instagram account, I continued to use a Facebook Account. I made reels, posts and stories, reaching out to a small by growing community. It isn’t an easy process, but it’s a step closer.
Happy Anniversary Immortal Legacy Series
Now I have created a page with the main characters, giving a brief background on who they are. Characters Profile. Most of these characters make themselves known in the second book.
Ways to Promote myself
Business Cards and QR Codes are two things that I have created these last two weeks. I had hoped to print bookmarks, but due to being in the wrong country, they cannot be produced here, so I had to go with business cards instead. They will act as bookmarks, and I even added a QR code to them. That’s something I have learned and utilised over the last week. Making QR codes, something I can put on posters to have people go directly to my website or my book online. By scanning my QR codes they can find out more about my series.
With it being almost a year since I released ‘Age of the Immortal’ I hope to have ‘Class of the Immortal’ available on iTunes before then. On the anniversary of Book 1, I will be giving access to my character’s bio page. This is a way for those who wish to know who the story is about can read before or after they but a book.
Books and Bookmarks and Marketting
On April 3rd, the paperback book of ‘Immortal and the Hex’ was released on Amazon. This means people can buy the book and put it on their shelves. Now there are two books physically available for readers to buy. The link for the book is here for America. Otherwise, you can click here for Australia.
Now with two books out, I am trying to find other means to raise awareness, and I was told about trying to come up with bookmarks, so one of my next challenges is the come up with various designs to make bookmarks to give out.
But I cannot just keep making things; I need to talk to people and have people engage. I can design posters and posts for Instagram and Facebook, but I need ideas and feedback from the community. So I am reaching out; comment, message me, get in touch with ideas; what would you like to know? I am only just getting started on this career path, I am working on getting the last two books ready to be released, but I need feedback. I need support. Spread the word, if you have read the book, leave a review. Let’s get the Immortal Legacy out there.