,Well that's a dismal start to the week. Waterstones have turned down my request to launch Gristle's Revenge at their Westwood Cross branch. I would have thought they'd appreciate someone giving of the time free to encourage more people into the store at Xmas. Apparently, they are too busy with Christmas and have no resources  to spare a table and chair for little ole me to sit in a corner and make them some more money.

Now, I'm looking for another venue. I was hoping to launch on Saturday 1st December with £1 from every sale going to the Terrance Higgins Trust as it's World Aids Day, but if I can't find a venue with plenty of footfall that's not going to happen sadly. If any one has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Our Writing group, Inspirations, had a talk from a London publisher and it was all really quite depressing for me. Seems I've chosen a terrible time to become a published writer. No one is buying printed books in any great numbers any more, its all kindle and Ereaders. Amazon have cornered the market on it all. With an Ereader and print on demand deal publishing books is a waste of money. It's also why I had to move printing companies, the new one charges half the price of the old one and still I've yet to break even. 

Apparently the thing to do is keeping writing, writing, writing and make you books very short and very cheap. Then only publish on Amazon and let them bear the work and the costs of printing. I've investigated Bookbub, which I use as a reader. The recommendation is to do a deal on their site, but I need to make £400 in book sales to afford their pricing. At the rate I'm selling now I'll have made that amount in 2025!

Why, did I choose something so hard to do? The story of my life...

These last four months have been traumatic for me on a personal level. Now I am at a point where, with much sadness and loss, I am moving on. The only positive point out of my sorrow is that I have been able to concentrate on writing a lot more, and reading. I have read so many books in the last month I have lost count, but equal to the one book a day of my past life.

Meanwhile, Gristle's Revenge moves ever nearer publication. My formatter Geoff, has been amazing as usual, and is assisting me tightening up punctuation. Who knew question marks and exclamations had so much work to do?! Hoping to have that finished today or tomorrow.

Next week, all being well, will see the novel going off to print. First, I'll receive the proofing copy and if that is ok, it'll be print ahoy. My aim is to launch on 1st December. As it's Worlds Aids Day and its a cause close to my heart after a good friend passed away and with me working in the field in the NHS for a number of years, I've decided to donate £1 from every one of my books sold on the day (regardless of which book) to the Terrance Higgins Trust. I'm hoping Waterstones will be able to support that because last time they took 50% of the takings.

I've emailed Waterstones, as directed by the store manager at Waterstones Westwood Cross. Seems they've changed their procedure regards local authors since Witch on the Warpath was published and now the manager doesn't decide whether the book can be launched at their store, but the area buyer.

Sadly, my last novel Aquasapien wasn't so lucky, despite their head office requesting a free copy it never appeared in their stores. Hence the reason, despite getting great feedback from readers and a request for a follow-up novel, that I still have several hundred copies at home.

Fingers crossed that Gristle's Revenge meets their expectations, otherwise I'm not sure where I can launch it or sell it for that matter. If I had a fairy godmother, I'd wish that someone would take pity on a poor author and agree to sell her novels. Failing that, an agent or publisher consider supporting her. I can dream. Thank god for fantasy, sometimes it's all you've got. Gosh that's a good slogan, might put it in my books when I sign them in future.

I know I've asked before, but a writer can never have enough reviews. I know I've sold more than 4 copies, but there are only 4 reviews maximum for each of my pieces on Amazon and Goodreads. May I ask again, if you purchased a copy, if you read it and if you liked it. Could you please consider leaving a review either on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I sold many books in 2018, but so far no reviews.