The official launch for Aquasapien went well at Canterbury Library. I didn't sell as many copies as I would have liked, but then again who is ever satisfied with sales?
​Sold several copies of WOTW which was interesting and a couple of  copies of Red anthologies too, which was great. No Soroptimist anthologies this time.

​I've other places booked for signings in the future including Hythe on the 2nd July and Ashford on 24th September so not all bad news.

​Some people were interested when Aquasapien might be coming out on Kindle format and a couple of folk asked about Audible format. I looked into Audible, which is where books are narrated, good for people with visual problems, or English as a second language. I used to use audio books when I travelled from Thanet to Hastings and back everyday for work. Those days were long and with 135miles to negotiate, is sometimes a chore, so I joined Rye library at mid-point. I borrowed and listened to over 135 novels during my time travelling. It was good to hear all the classics I'd never got round to reading, though the Sci-Fi and fantasy was limited to Pratchett and Wyndham in those days.

​Audible books are popular, but it requires a narrator and guess what, that costs more money. We researched it on my favourite site, Fiverr and it worked out at £2,000+. You naturally pay more for well-known people. I've wondered since, whether holding auditions might be a good idea. I mean it's an acting job really, like on the radio, and you'd get accreditation too (though no royalties - sorry).
I'm seriously considering auditions and already have one person interested. Did I mention that you need to be comfortable narrating sex scenes (of various levels). It would be interesting to see if anyone 's interested. I have worked out I could probably pay £135 - £140. This equates to  30 - 34 pence per page - there are 448 pages. Watch this space and please feel free to apply. You need to be male, have a fairly deep voice and be broad-minded.

​On another note I attended the Kent Creative Awards on the 19th May with fellow writer, Kim Hammond,  from Inspirations Writing Group. We didn't win, but it was a good evening and we met a couple of interesting folk. I was surprised how many creative people are very happy to blow their own trumpets. I suppose that's what you have to do to make yourself known. As some of you may know, originally it was suggested that I put myself forward as a nomination, but I felt too uncomfortable shouting how brilliant I am. Despite what the rest of you might think, I prefer to let my work shout for me. Sadly if you don't sell many copies, or come to the mover and shakers attention, then it seems that writing itself does not sell books.
​Maybe next year I put myself forward, it can't hurt, though I'm not going to wear some of the avant grade outfits I saw this time, and if anyone ever see's me wearing such please remind me that I'm mortal.

These last few days have seen me spending some time reflecting on my writing. Where do I go from here, I've asked myself. Aquasapien is launching on the 20th May at Canterbury Library (I can hear your groans!Not another shameless plug ? But yes, as the say, needs must when the devil drives)

I've been re-visiting past works and wondering where, or rather how, to move forwards. I can't afford to publish any more novels until I sell some, but I'm looking towards the future. Initially, after WOTW came out, I thought, I'll complete the second, follow-up novel Gristle's Revenge, but despite completing 55,000 words, it isn't driving me the other 32,000 to complete it.  I've looked at the follow-up for Aquasapien too. I've briefly begun, Aquasapien - Prodigy which continues 17 years after the first. I've done about 12,000 words on that and was thinking I'd make a dent into it doing NaNoWriMo this year (National Novel Writing Novel - its in November every year and you have to write 50,000 words in 30 days.) I've managed to meet the deadline to two times I've entered and I reckon this year should be no different.

​Then I started perusing my other written pieces. I've got  a story called What If? and another one called Between Worlds. Each of these are around 45 - 50,000 words so far. Then I have around 6 more pieces at several thousand. None are pulling me in any one direction and I'd rather write the one which calls to me.

If you're not sure what I mean, it's where a story gets snagged in your head, a bit like a song. I was very happy to get Ed Sheeran's album for my birthday this year and I've listened to it in the car endlessly. Now, it's playing relentlessly in my head when I wake each morning and out of nowhere I'll strike up snippets of lyrics without realising it. A story is like that to me. It invades my peace and smothers my waking hours until I write it out of my head. Aquasapien was definitely one of those. I know it bores my husband to death, like my singing, but its who I am, almost like an obsession until I've shaken it out and stamped on it too on occasion.

​Then, on top of this, I get information on a poetry competition and I think, 'I've written some ok poems.' So, I click poetry file. I didn't realise how many I'd written - starting when I was 10 years old - the majority highlighting something in my life its like a timeline in verse. It's got me wondering whether my next publication should be an anthology of poems I have so many. First, though I think I'll enter the competition, maybe the anthology, but only if my poems are a hit. 

​This musing hasn't helped me decide on my writing direction, it's follow-on versus new work. Perhaps doing NaNo will help.

​See you all Saturday - regards Carol

  Just wanted to share my excitement, following my first piece of feedback on Aquasapien. I sold a couple of copies pre the launch on the 20th May (in Canterbury Library - Yes another blatant plug - no shame here) and I've had a text telling me officially the novel "was brilliant." It's a perfect birthday present. I want to shout it out in case you missed it. No, I didn't pay someone to read it. No, I didn't even give them a copy free. They paid the full price and thought it was brilliant. Some days don't get any better than this.

​To add to my happiness, I received an email from the Waterstones buyer dept actually requesting a copy of Aquasapien for them to decide whether they want to stock it. Last time, with WOTW, I sent them a copy without any request and they turned me down. This time they asked me! I know people round the country have been ordering the book, but so far my distributors have not sent any copies out because they haven't been asked for them. I'm not sure what's going on that end.

Hang in there all you folk that have ordered one. Your support is the only way I can break into a tight old boys/girls network and that one line of text has made my writing efforts seem worthwhile - thank you reader.
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