‘A West Cork Mystery’ is the book I wanted to write for myself, not necessarily for potential readers. Nevertheless I think it’s good enough for others to read. Therefore, barring accidents, it will launch on Amazon Kindle on Monday 1st December.
Regulars will know that I struggled with the question of whether to edit the m/s with a view to conform to an acceptable word count which a publisher would consider. In the end I decided to simply self-publish again. I’m too old and busy to spend months, maybe years, angling for interest that might not be there at all.
AWCM has been beta-read and critiqued by the excellent Sue Ghosh, herself a newly-published author. She gave me much helpful advice, some of which I even accepted π

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The m/s is presently being proof read and I’m in the process of having a cover designed. It will be available as an ebook only in the first instance though I might then go down the POD road for the first time. A little extract, where Miranda and Joe find Dunmurry House for sale on their Irish honeymoon.
‘Joe, isn’t it just beautiful?’
‘The view or the house?’
‘Both, everything! Imagine living here!’
‘Imagine living here in the middle of winter, honey. The rain and wind howling in off the Atlantic, more tiles being blown off the roof. Miles to get to the nearest store. Probably no broadband. Then it would be ‘why did we leave Massachusetts, honey?”.
Wow, Roy! You are a man of action! I am looking forward to reading it.
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Inaction more like Naomi – I could have got it out six months ago if I’d made some quicker decisions. Thank you as always for your support.
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I’m so looking forward to reading this, Roy! π
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Ah thanks Dianne. It was your work that encouraged me to push our earthly boundaries a bit with this one. I hope it’s worked!
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AWESOME, Roy! Impatient Britt is happy you decided to self-publish so she can read it sooner.
Be sure to pat yourself on the back for completing another novel. We writers don’t do that enough.
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Hi Britt, thanks so much. Maybe it will tempt you to visit Ireland some say! And yes I’m happy to have completed #4, with so many possibilities ahead.
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Very exciting, Roy! West Cork one of my favourite places. Looking forward to reading this over the Christmas.(Will it go down well in front of a coal fire and with a glass or two of wine?)
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Is that Aileen?! Yes I think the scenario will go well with the scene you describe!
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December 1 – noted! You have a knack for dialogue, my friend….
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Thanks Letizia, I’m happy to have your support.
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Very best of luck with it, Roy. Must say I didn’t like the word ‘old’ in your Intro piece.
As for the excerpt, it’s perfect for tonight as the rain and wind are indeed howling in off the Atlantic!
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Thank you Jean! Yes, can’t ignore the weather in a book set in the west of Ireland π
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Way to go, Roy. Good luck with the book.
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Thank you Jenny π
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Well done, Roy! Wishing you the best with your book!
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Thank you Jill π
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Good stuff, Roy. Glad you’ve made a decision that you’re happy with. π
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Thank you Janna – a decision helped no end by you guys out there π
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Congratulations Roy it must feel good to publish and know that you have plenty more stories within. Wishing you every success. I learn many things out here in internet land and reading about your experiences with following your dreams gives me hope.
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Thanks so much Kath. I sometimes wonder if there is more to come. However if I didn’t write another word I’d still feel proud of completing and publishing four novels, whether they be good or bad. If you’d have predicted that for me in 2010 I’d have been astonished π
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Congratz Roy!
I am behind on my reading but I want to get to yours and hope I can download on my “kobo” reader too.
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Thank you Cybele π I think mobi files work with Kobo readers? I’ll send you the file to upload if it’s not possible off Amazon.
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thanks so much Roy I will let you know when I check that!!
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That’s great Roy, glad you made the decision you did so I can read it sooner, looking forward to it π
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Ah thank you Andrea π
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Best of luck with your novel. I’m thinking of having a go self-publishing one of my novels as an experiment. Not ready to do it with my latest. If it reaches twenty rejections, then I’ll go for it. Too early to give up just yet as the literary agent noises are very positive, although no takers yet. I can’t believe how slowly the wheels grind, though, when it comes to responses to submissions. It’s terribly bad for the nerves.
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Thank you Sarah. You’ve got time on your side so be patient, especially if the noises are encouraging. I’m at the stage where I just want to pop them out there and get on with something else π
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Can’t wait to read this, Roy!
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I hope you like it Julie – another angle on Ireland for you.
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Gratz! I think it’s always something to celebrate when one finishes and has ready a novel of any kind. π
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Thank you Jae π Indeed it’s a buzz and I suppose an incentive to start creating all over again.
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That’s great news! Congrats!
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Thank you, getting exciting now. Waiting to see cover design suggestions.
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