Hurray! My consignment of Tess of Portelet Manor finally arrived on the back of a lorry. I’ve flogged a few around the office, sent another few off to off-Island friends. Next week I’ll get the distributor to pick another load up to get into the shops and other outlets.
Maybe I’ll arrange a little book launch at our chic little office in St Helier shortly; it’s an opportunity for the firm to have new people have a look around at the conversion that’s been done on the old 18c merchant’s house and courtyard. In the process I might get rid of a few more copies of A Jersey Midsummer Tale which is still commandeering space in my storage area.
But really (and probably to the puzzlement of many authors, both established and aspiring) I’m really not bothered about selling. The overwhelming number of people out there on the Net that give great advice on selling your books are, frankly, wasting their time with the likes of me. I’m not motivated to sell. I don’t particularly need to. I’ve no dream, as so many have, of becoming a full-time writer. Sure, it would be nice to have a secondary income (or even a primary one – I’m not so far away from retirement) but I have no intention on wasting my energy trying to create one.
I’ve loved writing my books. I’m now in the process of getting them converted to mobi. and thereby onto KDP. This is an interesting subject in today’s writing world. I hear gruesome tales of struggle to format one’s work properly. Again there is plenty of help and advice out there, but it doesn’t always translate well in practical terms. The likes of the excellent Catherine Ryan Howard will take you, step-by-step, through the process of conversion from Word. Others extol the virtues of Scrivener – a sort of organiser for writers that, at the end of your labours, does the conversion for you.
The author Craig Stone says that he eventually downloaded Mobi Pocket Creator, and converted his intriguing The Squirrel That Dreamt Of Madness in ten minutes. Anyone else used this program? It is free and, if it indeed works, that’s an awful lot of advice being made redundant.
But anyway, if you’re local you can pick the new book up from me rather than pay the shop price. Off-Island readers I’ll let you know when it’s downloadable.
Back On The Rock 
Congratulations, Roy. I think you’re correct – writing it is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Still, I look forward to your finally figuring out how those of us offshore can get a peek!
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Thank you Deb, appreciated. I love the writing process but I doubt I could ever look upon it as a job – even if that were possible. I’m looking forward to making them more widely available though.
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What is it about looking upon it as a job that deters you? Do you think it would take the fun out of if? Or that inspiration mightn’t come if you were forced to write?
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You have it in one Deb. Exactly like the coaching I’ve done for years. Money turns it into an obligation and the fun would go out of it. I’ve no doubt many feel the same way. And I’m not sure inspiration has ever come anyway 🙂
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I know what you mean! We’re always told to do what we love and the money will come … but it does take the joy out of it. A sometimes think the best you can do is a close proximity – they way you’re doing.
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How exciting. Who does your printing? Who does your cover design? How many do you order for a first consignment? Sorry to have so many questions, but I have watched a few people I know near me who have taken fairly big consignments and then spend an awful lot of time arranging for signings, readings, and other promos in order to sell well. I like your philosophy of writing for the enjoyment of the process and the completed project. I’m asking these questions to better understand how you follow through on that philosophy in this healthy manner. Very cool, Roy. I hope you are pouring some champagne or at least a special pint. Cheers!
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Gosh Jane, you make me feel like someone who knows what they’re doing 🙂 I don’t, not at all. Printing – we don’t have a book printer on the Island so I use CPI in the UK. A local graphic designer knocks up the cover, but I’ve been able to use some great local images and I love the pic we chose for the front cover of Tess.
I ordered 500 of Midsummer & Tess and they’ll sell in time I guess. A local author/friend has plans for a few of us banding together to promote our work at local fairs, festivals etc this summer.
Honestly 90% of my time is taken up with my day job and athletics coaching so stressing about book sales isn’t possible anyway 🙂 Thanks for your support Jane.
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Congratulations, Roy! Well done. I totally agree with you on the selling angle. It’s the actual writing that gives me the biggest thrill 😉
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Thank you for your support Dianne. I think your enjoyment of the process comes through in your stories, and I hope I can emulate that to some small degree.
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Congrats on the new book release!
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Awesome! Can’t wait to become another one of your adoring “off-island” fans. : )
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As they say in Dublin Britt ‘Gedoutathat!’ 🙂 You’ll probably consider them a load of rubbish but that’s OK. Thanks for you support, appreciated.
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Congratulations! That must be such a great feeling!
One of my children had a job converting to mobi for a Literature Festival, so I’ll ask him what he used and let you know…
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Thank you EBL! Yes, I’d be interested to know how straightforward (or otherwise) he found it.
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Caught up with the lad. He actually produced epub documents using Sigil, but suggested using Calibre for Kindle
http://calibre-ebook.com/
Hope it helps 🙂
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Thank you EBL!
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Roy,
I’m so happy for you. I really enjoyed Midsummer and at the time, to be honest, I felt a little cheated that I didn’t get to know Tess better. Now that she has her own story, I am excited.
And your feeling about career vs hobby makes sense to me. As long as it gives you joy, I hope you continue.
Congrats to you. It is a heck of an accomplishment to complete not only one book, but now two. I look forward to getting to read it! Please let us know when we can purchase it!
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Ah thank you Mae! It’s reward enough just to get comments like that. Yes, I couldn’t just leave Tess there on the golf course could I 🙂 I really enjoyed building her story in the years that followed. Thanks again.
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Good luck with it! There are some authors who seem to enjoy the marketing and selling aspect (the business side) of being a writer, but I believe the vast majority would rather just write.
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Yes indeed, and of course those that work at the business side will inevitably have a better chance of commercial success. Of course success can be measured by other criteria.
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Exciting times. I don’t think I would have the patience for all the work that goes with the selling process, I just like to write, lately some would debate that! With respect to file conversion program I use calibre ebook management – free software very easy to use. Turn a pdf or word into mobi in seconds. I wish you the best and look forward to reading you book when you can get it across the pond to me. 🙂
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Thank you Lisa! Maybe we’ll get our reward in Heaven. And another vote for Calibre, as per Electronicbaglady above. This time I’m paying my book printers to convert the three back numbers, but next time I know what to do.
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