A self employed author in the USA, Cassidy Webb, contacted me through Facebook and has placed a kindle version link of W2H on her web site "Twisted Webb". So I might get some exposure in the USA. I had already sold a few books over there but not many. I also placed a link to my web site on the SFX 'Pimp my book" forum. I will continue to look at other ways to push on line as I'm sure this is the future for new authors.
It's also about time for another push on Facebook and via email.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Week 40
Back from holiday - welcome to reality!! Really got going on the sequel in the last week of the holiday and knocked out several chapters - wish I could have stayed on for a couple of months, I reckon I could have broken the back of it. Ho Hum!
Sitting by the pool overlooking the Provencal countryside with the sun shining and drinking the occasional cold beer is definitely the way to free the mind.
I've entered 'The Picture' for the Bridport prize and put in an entry for 'Just Back' in the Telegraph - we shall see - I'm forever hopeful.
I've got to start thinking about marketing W2H again so that's next on the agenda.
Sitting by the pool overlooking the Provencal countryside with the sun shining and drinking the occasional cold beer is definitely the way to free the mind.
I've entered 'The Picture' for the Bridport prize and put in an entry for 'Just Back' in the Telegraph - we shall see - I'm forever hopeful.
I've got to start thinking about marketing W2H again so that's next on the agenda.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Week 39
I'm back on line a week earlier than I said I would be. I'm currently in Provence basking in the sun and the relaxed atmosphere has got me wanting to write again. I've completed my second short story - I'm much happier with it than I was with the first one. 'The House' was bleak to say the least, but 'The Picture', which has a similar theme, is not so dark. I shall enter it for the Bridport Prize as well so we shall see what happens.
The Telegraph has a travel writing competition called 'Just Back' so I've written a piece on our arrival and will submit it on my return.
I'm enjoying writing short stories and you never know one of them may win something eventually. I'll keep writing and keep entering competitions. Eventually I will have enough for an anthology and will publish them on line.
Meanwhile, however, I'm in the mood for continuing with the sequel for W2H and after six months lay off I am going to get back to it. I have the plot and characters mapped out in my head but I am only on the fourth chapter - so a long way to go.
I must admit I'm more interested in the writing than I am in the marketing but when I get back from holiday I must get at it again.
The Telegraph has a travel writing competition called 'Just Back' so I've written a piece on our arrival and will submit it on my return.
I'm enjoying writing short stories and you never know one of them may win something eventually. I'll keep writing and keep entering competitions. Eventually I will have enough for an anthology and will publish them on line.
Meanwhile, however, I'm in the mood for continuing with the sequel for W2H and after six months lay off I am going to get back to it. I have the plot and characters mapped out in my head but I am only on the fourth chapter - so a long way to go.
I must admit I'm more interested in the writing than I am in the marketing but when I get back from holiday I must get at it again.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Week 34
Two weeks for building a wet room has turned into eight!! Where has the time gone!! I am still concentrating on writing short stories to hit deadlines and consequently marketing Welcome to Heaven has gone to the wall and sales have dropped considerably. I've still got loads of ideas but will not be doing anything until the beginning of July when I will start up again. Jackie and I will be going away in June for a much needed break. By the time we come back I shall have some indication on results of some of the competitions and whether YPD has had any luck in marketing. So I shall be back in week 40.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Week 26
Having a couple of weeks off - building a new wetroom at home for aged P - so nothing to report.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Week 25
I can't believe I've been doing this for 6 months!
I returned to writing this week and have just completed a short story called 'The House' - a dark tale of misery and despair. Anything to cheer me up! I've entered it for the Bridport prize and the Bristol Prize - so we'll see if I have any success. I've got an an idea for another one, so hopefully I'll be in time to get that entered for the Bridport Prize as well.
I returned to writing this week and have just completed a short story called 'The House' - a dark tale of misery and despair. Anything to cheer me up! I've entered it for the Bridport prize and the Bristol Prize - so we'll see if I have any success. I've got an an idea for another one, so hopefully I'll be in time to get that entered for the Bridport Prize as well.
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Week 24
Not a lot happened on the book promotion front. Amazon paperback and Kindle are now interlinked and all is functioning correctly - which is good. Now I can get on with other things.
I've started writing again after a long break and am concentrating on short stories for the moment. I'm going to enter various competitions and try to get some published in magasines/newspapers in an attempt to raise my profile while I wait to see if YPD has any luck in their promotion.
I've started writing again after a long break and am concentrating on short stories for the moment. I'm going to enter various competitions and try to get some published in magasines/newspapers in an attempt to raise my profile while I wait to see if YPD has any luck in their promotion.
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Week 23
I managed to re-configure the PDF to MS Word and upload it to Kindle on Amazon - it took me forever - there must be a simpler way. Still - the italics are there!
I will keep the next book fully up-dated in MS Word to save this problem occurring again.
There were still one or two minor indentation oddities but it is ok for release.
I must learn how to do this properly.
There is no contents section - I wasn't quite sure how to do it, but I couldn't see the point anyway.
Contents sections are useful for non-fiction ie cookery/gardening/etc books but not for fiction.
With trying to promote the book and other personal commitments I haven't written anything for six months - hopefully I can get back to it now.
I will keep the next book fully up-dated in MS Word to save this problem occurring again.
There were still one or two minor indentation oddities but it is ok for release.
I must learn how to do this properly.
There is no contents section - I wasn't quite sure how to do it, but I couldn't see the point anyway.
Contents sections are useful for non-fiction ie cookery/gardening/etc books but not for fiction.
With trying to promote the book and other personal commitments I haven't written anything for six months - hopefully I can get back to it now.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Week 22
The EDP published a news item in their literary section of the Sunday Supplement.
It's a Start!
It's a Start!
I've also entered the novel for the Brit Writers Awards - So I live in Hope!
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Week 21
The EDP has come back and is unable to do a review. I had a contact in the EDP and still couldn't get a review - it doesn't bode well for the Nationals. However on a more optimistic note the EDP has promised me a news item in their book section with a link to my website - so I await that with interest.
Other than the marketing potential I would really like an independent professional review of my book to see how good it is. Still I live in hope!
Kindle is still a problem so I've decided to have a go myself - watch this space.
Other than the marketing potential I would really like an independent professional review of my book to see how good it is. Still I live in hope!
Kindle is still a problem so I've decided to have a go myself - watch this space.
Monday, 14 February 2011
Week 20
I re-contacted SFX and the EDP to try and persuade them to give me a book review. SFX responded that they do not review books from small publishing houses or self published authors. There's that brick wall again!
However SFX have a forum for new authors called 'pimp my book' so I will get on that and start pimping.
I am more hopeful with the EDP as I may be of local interest to them - not had reply yet -we shall see.
I have now entered the 21st century as the book is being sold as an Ebook and on Kindle. Unfortunately it has been uploaded incorrectly and is in normal text only - all italics have disappeared. The italics are essential for the meaning so hopefully this will be corrected before anyone buys it.
I am on week 20 already! Still spending loads of time trying to promote the book.
Lesson number 3 - unless you have a lot of time don't try to publish your own book. Also be prepared for the long haul.
However SFX have a forum for new authors called 'pimp my book' so I will get on that and start pimping.
I am more hopeful with the EDP as I may be of local interest to them - not had reply yet -we shall see.
I have now entered the 21st century as the book is being sold as an Ebook and on Kindle. Unfortunately it has been uploaded incorrectly and is in normal text only - all italics have disappeared. The italics are essential for the meaning so hopefully this will be corrected before anyone buys it.
I am on week 20 already! Still spending loads of time trying to promote the book.
Lesson number 3 - unless you have a lot of time don't try to publish your own book. Also be prepared for the long haul.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Week 19
Aha!! I've finished the Website and it's been uploaded. See http://www.welcometoheaven.co.uk/
It's taken me some time but it's been worth it. I bought a piece of software 'WebSiteX5' for £8.50p plus postage and with a little help from http://101.lv/learn/tyhtml/index.htm I managed to produce a reasonable site. To enable a site to be produced you have to provide all design and copy to a designer anyway - so having done this I just took the next step and saved myself several hundred pounds. However if you know nothing of web design (like me) it will take you some time.
Now I have the 'tools' I must get back to marketing.
It's taken me some time but it's been worth it. I bought a piece of software 'WebSiteX5' for £8.50p plus postage and with a little help from http://101.lv/learn/tyhtml/index.htm I managed to produce a reasonable site. To enable a site to be produced you have to provide all design and copy to a designer anyway - so having done this I just took the next step and saved myself several hundred pounds. However if you know nothing of web design (like me) it will take you some time.
Now I have the 'tools' I must get back to marketing.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Week 18
I've been working all week on the website. I should have asked my 12 year old grand son to do it in his spare time- it would have been completed days ago. However I'm slowly creaking into the 21st century - it should be up and running within a few days. I'm determined to finish it without help!
Monday, 24 January 2011
Week 17
I decided to build my own Website and have spent most of the week learning some basic HTML, or rather cribbing it from various online sources. I'm getting somewhere and will hopefully have it up and running soon.
Watch this space!
Watch this space!
Monday, 17 January 2011
Week 16
Some progress this week!!
Media pack agreed and will be sent out to the press, book stores, TV and Radio.
I've contacted the local paper (Eastern Daily Press) and had some response - they await my media pack. (Thank's Oliver! - for the contact)
I've also contacted SFX but as yet no response - early days yet.
So now all this stuff is being sent out I have the long wait to see if anyone is interested.
Still plenty to do in the mean time.
Sales are ticking over - nothing exciting - but there won't be until I have some regional or national exposure.
I've had several requests for Kindle - I'm pushing YPD to expedite matters.
Media pack agreed and will be sent out to the press, book stores, TV and Radio.
I've contacted the local paper (Eastern Daily Press) and had some response - they await my media pack. (Thank's Oliver! - for the contact)
I've also contacted SFX but as yet no response - early days yet.
So now all this stuff is being sent out I have the long wait to see if anyone is interested.
Still plenty to do in the mean time.
Sales are ticking over - nothing exciting - but there won't be until I have some regional or national exposure.
I've had several requests for Kindle - I'm pushing YPD to expedite matters.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Week 15
Happy New Year To all those reading this blog.
The festivities are over - now for the long haul to become a best seller in 2011. LOL!!!
I have at last sorted out the 'Amazon' problem. I refuse to pay the exhorbitant 60% commision plus £1.25 postage to be 'In Stock'
This would mean that I would be left with £1.95p which at this stage doesn't cover my printing costs. Later on, if and when I need a longer print run, I will be able to reduce costs below £1.95p, but until then I will have to remain 'Temporarily out of Stock'.
However I have reduced the YPD price to £5.19p plus postage of £2.80p (Total 7.99p) so that this appears on Amazon under 'More Buying Choices' directly competing with the Amazon price of £7.99 with free postage. By the way - Amazon insists that YPD charge £2.80 postage!!
Deliveries through Amazon are taking up to two months - Deliveries through YPD are taking two to three days.
This is what happens when one company has such a powerful hold over the market!!
The festivities are over - now for the long haul to become a best seller in 2011. LOL!!!
I have at last sorted out the 'Amazon' problem. I refuse to pay the exhorbitant 60% commision plus £1.25 postage to be 'In Stock'
This would mean that I would be left with £1.95p which at this stage doesn't cover my printing costs. Later on, if and when I need a longer print run, I will be able to reduce costs below £1.95p, but until then I will have to remain 'Temporarily out of Stock'.
However I have reduced the YPD price to £5.19p plus postage of £2.80p (Total 7.99p) so that this appears on Amazon under 'More Buying Choices' directly competing with the Amazon price of £7.99 with free postage. By the way - Amazon insists that YPD charge £2.80 postage!!
Deliveries through Amazon are taking up to two months - Deliveries through YPD are taking two to three days.
This is what happens when one company has such a powerful hold over the market!!
Monday, 3 January 2011
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