How Many Books is too Many?

Time marches on, stopping for no one, not even me. Recently walking again without a limp. I'm back at Karate and Yoga, albeit with some amendments to the moves that involve my Achilles tendon.

This Saturday see's the launch of my writing group Inspirations,  Indigo Anthology.  The sixth in the series and the best one yet. Bigger in size and pages, larger font to make it easier to read. It's a credit to the members of the current group and I am so proud of them.

The launch is happening this Saturday 23rd March

11.00 to 12.30 at Westgate Galleria, Station Rd, Westgate
&
1 to 3pm at Taddy's Barn Eatery, St George's Hill, Northdown.
(Free Tea & Coffee)

Please consider finding the time to come along and support them. 

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Following on from the anthology, my own eighth novel Between Here & Hell is due for release hopefully in late May.

I promised a sneak peek at the cover and here it is, together with the back cover blog.

"Emma Marnier’s life shatters one quiet night at home with her cat Widgett.
Discovering multiple dimensions exist, and the complexities of love, she journeys to understand why she is being hounded.
Her path leads her to Hell. Do its denizens and horrendous punishments really exist?
And if so, will Emma survive to uncover the truth? "

Details of the launch to follow in my April blog. ​

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Meanwhile writing continues apace. My next picture book, Shea Pingle and the Swarm is heading towards its final illustrations and I've just signed another illustrator Danny for the first picture book about Timmy and His Magic Toe Beans.

I've a total of seven picture books waiting completion, where are traditional publishers when you need them? 
I've also picked up and restarted my novel, A Sackful of Dragons to continue writing that story. Its about twins in foster care in Margate who discover, you've guessed it, a sack full of baby dragons and decide to rear them without Grace, their foster carer, knowing.  Nothing could be easier could it? Unless you add a bullying kids gang into the mix.

This story exists alongside the Witch on the Warpath trilogy time frame.

Over time I've found it never does one good to become too confident in this writing lark. There are many ways you get knocked back down and put in your place. The highlight of mine being the 146 rejections letters I received in the past. My heart broke each more with everyone till only chocolate held me together.

Once published be prepared, that doesn't change. rejections come in all manner of formats just like books.

In lockdown 2020, I decided to read all of my first novel, Witch on the Warpath out on my YouTube channel. Its still on there, one chapter a week for 26 weeks.  I was devastated to discover as I read that it contained spelling, and grammar errors. Once I knew they were there I couldn't live with them. They ate away at my writing soul, while I succumbed to feasting on chocolate once more. I re-edited the book, then paid for another print run, casting any original copies away. My heart easing after.

Last year, someone pointed out there was a spelling mistake on the blurb of What If? Again devastation and chocolate. I did not discard the whole print run, can't afford to at £500+ per run. Saturday? You've guessed. There's one letter missing in Chicken Wizard! Noooo. Where's the chocolate, give it to me now!

Both these will be amended in the next print runs, but for now I can't afford to do it. Plus, someone has mentioned that if I ever did become famous these copies might just be worth more. So, hold on to your original copies, store them in the attic, or better still, wait till the next print run.

Chocolate? Who needs chocolate?