A Chapter of Authors

 Well, you win some, you lose some.

 The book launch in Tiverton was a bit of a disaster. Snow started falling in the morning and nobody left home, the whole town centre was empty. I turned up anyway - I'd hate to default and then have people come to the event - but nobody showed. Given the snow I'd expected it. God was not playing ball.

 Still, it was great to meet Kayleigh, who runs liznojan bookstore. I'll be going there again on May 4th for a sort of mini-Comicon of Fantasy and SF authors, several local indies all in one place.Either heaven or a nightmare, right? I don't even know the collective noun for a group of authors. A bicker, maybe. Or a chapter of authors. That sounds pretty good, actually. But I digress (again). In June we hope to have an event at liznojan, and perhaps elsewhere, as part of Tiverton Literary Festival. So the launch itself was a bust, but some good things have come of it.

 Meanwhile, I've had two weeks off work and decided to focus on writing How The Stars Shine. I wanted to get through 15,000 words in that fortnight and actually managed 21,000. When the work flows like that it's as though words are drifting down from the skies, falling out of the ether onto the page. It's why I write, for that buzz. It even makes editing and redrafting worth the effort.

 Well, sort of. I've really had to fight Stars for much of the draft. It's wanted to screw off in directions I hadn't planned but it's good, it works, even though it's been like trying to wrestle a bear. I'm coming towards the end now. It's a first draft and obviously rough at the edges, but it's the best thing I've ever done, by far.

 So it should be, eh? If I don't sometimes make a PB I might start to think my best is behind me, hehe.

 When this is done, I'm going to spend some time working on the publicity side. The books aren't selling especially well, so I need to advertise better than I have done. Not what I want to be doing, but it is what it is. As an indie you have to take control of every side of publishing (that's a hint, traditional publishers, help me out here). Ho hum. I just hope that I can be back on a draft again soon, wrestling that bear.

 Have a good spring holiday, everyone, and take care.

An interesting Idea

 Well, the new novel debuts on Saturday at liznojan bookstore in Tiverton, England. Here's the cover,

 As ever, I'm indebted to Mark Watts for the cover art. I think this one's a cracker too. We had a bloody handprint on it too at first, but then it looked too crowded, so we took that out. Good thing, too. This is a nice clean cover, I really like it.

 Covers matter. I know several indie authors who work like Trojans on the novel itself, but don't spend much time on covers or back page blurb. But that's what sells the book. The first thing a browser sees is the cover, and if that catches their eye they'll read the blurb. Still like it? They'll read the opening page or two, and if they're still interested they'll buy. If any of that turns them off, though, they're gone. Spend a bit of time on the details, people. It does help.

 Liznojan is a new indie bookstore, which I'm happy to support by holding my launch there. Indie book shops are important, a bit like libraries, they're a place for people to meet and chat about... everything, really. I like the name, too. 'Liznojan' means to learn while following a track, and isn't that just what reading is? You follow the story arc and who knows, maybe learn something along the way. A phrase that stays with you, an interesting idea, a character who inspires you. Aren't books terrific?

 Mine is maybe not terrific, but I think it's pretty good. It finishes the story of Kai and the Ashir, as they struggle to defeat the invaders and hold onto their culture. There are surprises along the way, and some grief, before we reach the end. It will be available as e-book or print copy on Saturday, the 17th of March, so get a copy and come along on the journey.

 Cheerio.