BEHIND THE SCENES DIARY
One Author shares her journey to publication.
BTS047, Issues with Apple Books, Cover Redesigns, and The Results of Using Advanced Reader Services like BookSirens and BookSprout | December 2021 Author Diary
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Episodes
BTS048, Trademarking My Podcast Name, Publishing Books, Mixed Feelings About ARC services, and Designing Covers
In this show, I’m going to come clean about why I’ve trademarking my podcast name. Honestly, this isn’t the first time I considered discussing it. The last time I chickened out. Also, I will discuss the books I published this year and my mixed feelings about using Advanced Reader Services. And I’m going to come out of the closet as a book cover designer.
BTS047, Issues with Apple Books, Cover Redesigns, and The Results of Using Advanced Reader Services like BookSirens and BookSprout | December 2021 Author Diary
In this episode, I discuss a series of frustrating issues with Apple Books. While I was struggling with Apple Books I decided to redesign the cover of the ebook, and I went on to design the paperback based upon this new design. Also, I started paying attention to the results of using advanced reader services like BookSirens and BookSprout.
BTS046, Preparing for My Book Release, Snarky Reviews and Why I No Longer Recommend Etsy to Creative Businesses | November 2021 Author Diary
In this episode, I discuss my newfound distrust of Etsy and no longer recommend them to creative businesses. Also in November, I finish preparing for my book release, and I get some snarky reviews.
BTS045, Working with a Professional Editor and Preparing to Self Publish | October 2021 Author Diary
Coming up in this episode, I discuss the highs and lows of working with a professional editor and preparing to self publish my second novella.
BTS044, Revision is Like Pulling Teeth and Working with a Professional Editor | September Author Diary Update
In this behind the scenes author diary episode, I discuss the highs and lows of my revision process, what prompted me to move into the professional editing phase and my struggles with writer’s insecurity. Yes, spoiler alert, I’m riddled with it. And, I share an exciting milestone with Le Villain Book Covers.
BTS043, Revising a Murder Mystery, Creating a Book Marketing Plan, and Feeling Scared to Self Publish | August Author Diary Update, Part Two
In this episode, I discuss revising a murder mystery novella and creating a book marketing plan for the Candidate. And, I share how I began to feel scared to self publish.
BTS042, Preparing a Murder Mystery Novel for Beta Readers and Juggling Multiple Manuscripts | August Author Diary Update, Part One
During the first two weeks of August, I focused my time on preparing a murder mystery novel for beta readers, then as I waited for feedback, I focused on the second book in my other series. And, this is what juggling multiple manuscripts at once is like. You spend much of your time jumping between projects, and it does get overwhelming at times. In light of that, I share a tip on dealing with overwhelm when jumping between manuscripts.
BTS041, A Writing Update, Fussy Librarian Book Promotion, and The Best Beta Reader Software
In this episode, I share a momentous writing update, a surprising update on my Fussy Librarian book promotion. And, I discovered a great tool for self-published authors at a great price.
BTS040, Low Budget Book Promotions Gone Wrong | May and June 2021 Author Diary Update
In this episode, I discuss experimenting with more low budget book promotions on a 99 cent sale on my first-in-series novella, Missing. Naturally, things didn’t go as expected. So, I dive into why I believe my low budget book promotions went horribly wrong.
BTS039, Writing Multiple Books at Once, Low Budget Book Promotions, and Multiple Streams of Income | January to April Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss the progress I made writing multiple books at once, the results of my low budget book promotions, including download statistics, and I discuss my efforts to add multiple streams of income to my author business. And I share my biggest lessons learned with multiple streams of income.
BTS038, Story Origin Newsletter Swaps, Price Matching an eBook on Amazon and Lifting a Preorder Penalty on Amazon | November and December Author Diary Update
In this episode, I discuss the results of my very first story origin newsletter swap, price matching ebooks on Amazon to free when you’re not enrolled in the KDP select programme, and how I lifted my pre-order penalty on Amazon.
BTS037, Write to Market, Free Book Formatting Services and Hiring an Alpha Reader on Fiverr | October Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss my plans to write to market, my new book formatting services and how you can use them for free, and a-ha moment I had about my book Missing, which I’m hoping will result in more positive book reviews.
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My Books
A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
$2.99
Excalibur is Missing. A Killer is on the Loose. One Reporter is Determined to Uncover the Truth.
James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.
Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on–Excalibur is missing, and a dead body is at the crime scene.
If you love gripping cloak and dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.
$2.99
What I’m Writing Now!
Final Draft
86,532 of 85,000 Words
Yesterday, I sent Duplicity off for proofreading. Yay! And I’ve set up preorders for this novel on Kobo, B&N, and Google Play with a release date of the 24th of November 2022. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Publishing Updates
First Draft
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Revised Draft
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in early 2023. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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