SUMMER THOUGHTS

Summer is supposed to be around the corner, but we’ve had yet another deluge here making me wonder, who really is in charge on Earth? Is it a case of we’ve made our bed i.e. global warning, now we have to lie in it? Until we remake the bed that is. One thing I can promise you , if the changes were under the control of teenage boys that would never happen. My boy’s 25 and still doesn’t manage that task.

Is mother Earth telling us, we’ve got things wrong, or is she ambivalent to our existence. Are we too puny on the life scale to be considered? She likely has far more important things to consider, like not falling into the sun, not allowing too many asteroids to wander her way, and keeping her centre ignited. You’ll be relieved to hear I’m not considering writing a book about this anytime soon, though the theories might creep in somewhere.

I’ve covered several fairs this month and had an almighty upset in the form of Wyntercon, my largest event cancelling and closing down. Absolutely gutted is an understatement. I loved those guys, the event, the cos-players, the other traders. My biggest income maker of the year – gone.

Because I am an independent author with no sign of a traditional agent/publisher before I die, I have to sell books to publish/print books. Those traditionally published don’t have any outlay of money. They offer the book, via their agent, each of the interested parties take a cut and then they sit back and wait for the royalties to flow nicely in after their initial three book deal. If only.

My process involves me shelling out money for all the contracted work on all elements of each book, then printing costs. Once the launch is over, I spend most days off at fairs and events literally making a bob or two. The plan being I make enough money to be able to print the next book. I do have 25 books more waiting on the computer.
Fat chance. I’m very lucky if I cover the costs of hiring the trader table, let alone make a profit. In fact this weekend I sold two 3D printed cats at £1 each, which I gave to my son since he printed them. Then there are overheads like fuel, and overnight accommodation which I never manage to recover. It’s why I do local events, cheaper, more likelihood of breaking even, or perhaps a small profit.

I was very pleased at the Between Here & Hell launch last Sunday. The book itself didn’t whizz off the shelves, but I sold a lot of copies of my other books, so it definitely brought the readers to me.

Shea Pingle is moving forward, the cover being completed as I write, then its off to printing, putting the funds earned at the launch towards those costs. I have one more event in July, then nothing till September. I currently don’t have an Estore platform, though folks can purchase via my website by using my contact page.

The sun’s coming out now just to tease me into putting a foot outside. I will go, its good to enjoy the sun when I can. Selling books is much the same for me. I endure the rain and dismissal times of no sales, cos I know the sun will shine, and I can make sales – for a short while.