BEHIND THE SCENES DIARY
One Author shares her journey to publication.
BTS040, Low Budget Book Promotions Gone Wrong
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Episodes
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.
BTS036, Moving Web Hosts, Getting Book Reviews, and Writing Book Two In a Series | September Author Diary Update
In this episode, I share how after months of frustration with the slow speed of my website, I took the plunge and moved web hosts. And, I discuss along with the results of another free promotion on Kobo, and my experiments with pre-orders on Amazon.
A Quick Guide on How to Get Interviewed on Podcasts for Fiction Authors
The problem with helpful book marketing suggestions like”get interviewed on podcasts,” is no one actually tells you how to create a pitch that will land you an interview. In this episode, I will share three tips and a six-step formula that will help you craft a better pitch and hopefully, get you a podcast interview. Obviously, I can’t make any outlandish claims or promise you’ll get interviewed on podcasts. But, I can promise to show you how to present yourself to hosts, so that they can see the value you can contribute to their show.
BTS035, Developing a Writing Habit After Months of Struggling | August Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I share how I finally developed a writing habit after months of struggling. And, I discuss my efforts to chase reviews for my mystery novella, Missing. Plus, I found a fun alternative to Patreon.
BTS034, Struggling to Write Book Two in a Series and the Results of My Free Book Promotion on Kobo | July Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss how a well known free ebook platform shared my novella to its audience and the equally unexpected results. And, I review the outcome of my free ebook promotion on Kobo. On top of all of this, I talk about how I’m struggling to write book two in a series.
BTS033, Opting Out of Kindle Unlimited, My First Free Promotion on Kobo, and Outlining a Short Story | June Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss my decision to opt-out of Kindle Unlimited or KDP select and shifting my focus from book sales to getting more book reviews. On top of all of this, I’m making a special announcement, at the end of the show.
BTS032, Publishing a Second Edition of a Mystery Novel and Using Book Blogging Tours as a New Author | May Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I will discuss my progress with publishing the second edition of a mystery novella Missing and the results of the book blogging tour. And, I share the results of my boosted Facebook post and my Book Doggy promotion.
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Hello!
My Books
A van Gogh is Missing and A Body is on the Lawn
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 killer is on the loose, Excalibur is missing, and his career is on the line…
James, the chief editor of a small newspaper, returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Valentine has unexpectedly left. Later that morning, he fails to reallocate her story. To avoid blank space in the paper, James 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 his girlfriend has been kidnapped.
Currently on sale for 99¢
Find it on Amazon:
What I’m Writing Now!
Revised Draft
70,483 of 80,000 Words
Right now, I’m preparing Book Two in the James Lalonde series, for a final round of revisions. The next step is to send the story off to my editor. I aim to have this eBook published on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid to late 2021. 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 late 2021 or early 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 late 2021 or early 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.
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