Hello, my friends and the occasional relative!

Cover art is almost there! I am proofing the formatted version of the book, and it is hard reading the words again, for what seems like the millionth time. I’ve had doubts, but writers always do. I’ve also had bursts of pleasure, where the words, even a million times in, sing. Which is a relief. How third parties, the great reading public will react? I have no idea. Not because I don’t have confidence in the book, but because I am just far too close to it to see it remotely objectively.

If you recall, two weeks ago I said I was going to experiment with this launch after it struck me that I have tried something new in the writing of each book, new approaches attempted, new techniques applied,  but had done nothing new with the second book launch: a post to my buddies on FB, and I pushed my little paper book-boat out into the digital waters to fend for itself, no fanfare, no champagne bottles shattering against the prow, nothing.

That was foolish. I should do more.

So for one thing I’m going to solicit ARC readers this time around. I’m also considering using a marketing company that has been recommended, and does not cost an arm and a leg. In terms of sunk costs I’ve already spent plenty on editing/cover/formatting, the cost of using a commercial site to get ARC readers and a marketing company to provide a small paper champagne bottle of celebration is very small in comparison to what I’ve laid out already with no expectation of immediate return, (I’m a long-term kind of guy in that respect), and importantly I will learn from both experiences.

If I’m all about learning as a writer, it is time to embrace learning more about the business of book launching. Yes there is far more to book business than that – let me take one wee baby step at a time, people!

As a dry run I’m going to use an ARC solicitation site to try to get extra reviews for The Killer and The Dead. This will allow me to make horrendous mistakes in advance and learn from them before I launch the new book – hopefully with an improvement in The Gardener and The Goddess’ launch as I will be more familiar with the software, tools, and choices available to me. Choices like the Oxford comma, which I endorse. It just looks right to me – I’m not being a slave to a particular style manual. Quite obviously, hahahaha! TKATD has a paltry number of reviews on Amazon, and I’d like to see if I get much traction by doing way post release ARCs for it, and targeting them to grimmer, darker fantasy readers. Nothing ventured, and all that.

I figure I can’t damage the book too much, it is already highly obscure, and the reviews and responses may help it, and me. Hopefully it will help the other books too, and the launch of TGATG will then be able to return the compliment. If it works I don’t think I would go back and do ARCs for The Thief and The Demon, I feel it is too far in the past now – 7 years! How did that happen? But hey, never say never.

And now for something completely different: I have started playing pool again. Really haven’t been serious about it since before the pandemic. My first blog was largely pool oriented. Haven’t put a post on it in 7 years. Hmm, since I first published. Coincidence? (No – I deliberately changed my blog focus at that time, and the pool pages got orphaned.)

Anyway, in comparison to my former skill level, I suck. And my eyesight is not what it was. If I was given the choice now between my hairline at 20, or my eyesight at 20 and the durability of both going forward, I’d take the eyesight. It lasted a solid 28-30 years from 20 as exceptional, and I totally took it for granted. I don’t need to go through hair loss again, though I think I’d be way less bothered by it second time around!

But I’m improving, quite quickly with practice, and that is exciting and fun. It feels like learning new skills, even if they are old ones reborn. I do seem to have slowed down a fair bit though… Could I go back to the pool hall now – and be that guy? I’ll give it a few months: hopefully I speed up a bit as I regain confidence in my shot making and position play. Fingers crossed!

Until next week, my friends, why don’t you consider taking up an old hobby you loved, but set aside for some random reason you can’t recall?