Catherine Skeet-Yaffe's Blog: What Cat Did Next.., page 2
October 12, 2020
Book Tour: The Lie She Told
Over the last 10 days, The Lie She Told has been on a blog tour all over the place!
I arranged this with Rachel’s Random Resources after reading a glowing review in Writing Magazine and it has certainly helped boost awareness (and sales). All my social channels have been blowing up with reviews, and I’ve looked forward to reading them every day. Here’s a list of those that took part – and massive thank you to everyone that did.
Whilst the response has been overwhelmingly positive what I have enjoyed is the varied and constructive feedback I’ve received on every review. Clearly, these are avid readers and I take every comment seriously, the good and the not so good. It’s great to get such a cross-section of opinion and it will definitely be on my to-do list for the next book.
Huge thanks to everyone that took part, and to Rachel for organising the tour. You can find out more about Rachel’s amazing services over on her website.
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on October, 12
Book Tour: The Lie She Told
Over the last 10 days, The Lie She Told has been on a blog tour all over the place!
I arranged this with Rachel’s Random Resources after reading a glowing review in Writing Magazine and it has certainly helped boost awareness (and sales). All my social channels have been blowing up with reviews, and I’ve looked forward to reading them every day. Here’s a list of those that took part – and massive thank you to everyone that did.
Whilst the response has been overwhelmingly positive what I have enjoyed is the varied and constructive feedback I’ve received on every review. Clearly, these are avid readers and I take every comment seriously, the good and the not so good. It’s great to get such a cross-section of opinion and it will definitely be on my to-do list for the next book.
Huge thanks to everyone that took part, and to Rachel for organising the tour. You can find out more about Rachel’s amazing services over on her website.
October 7, 2020
The Lie She Told Launch
The Lie She ToldThe Lie She ToldWow, that was one hell of a launch party. In fact, it was one hell of a day! I’m not gonna lie, I woke up at exactly 12:15 am on 1st October to watch the Amazon sales chart. I flicked between all stats pages that I had set up (KDP, Amazon Author Central, GoodReads, Google Analytics) obsessively which in hindsight was a bit silly as the only thing that was going to happen in the early hours of the morning was the pre-orders being released onto peoples Kindles. I managed 2 hours of sleep at most.
I then spent the day walking around in a haze that felt like a mixture of being hungover whilst still being drunk, and of course, I had the Facebook Launch Party that I had promoted the life out of at 7:30 pm that evening. After a hasty tea of fish and chips washed down with Lanson Black Label Champagne (courtesy of my wonderful son) I went live.
And it was the most fun!
I have no idea how many people were watching live but the banter levels were high, I made a couple of bloopers but it gave me a chance to thank everyone that had been on the journey with me so far (not at least my wonderfully patient husband who acted as comment moderator and all-round rock!). I managed to answer quite a few questions that people had submitted beforehand, as well as a few on the night (I’ll do another post on those.)
I remembered to run two competitions, with one prize to help me with a character name in book 2, and also free signed copies to giveaway.
I think the whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Thank you to everyone that took part, watched, laughed and bought the book. It’s always scary putting your work out there and it felt great that Kate, Joe, Jack and even Ryan were welcomed with open arms.
Over the next week or so I’ll share various stats of the journey and the self-publishing process as it seems to be the thing that everyone wants to know so I’m more than happy to share.
To date, The Lie She Told has achieved;
Top 400 in Amazon Kindle Charts
Over 40 5star reviews across Goodreads & Amazon
Numerous Interview Requests across the media
Amazing Blog Reviews (more on this in another post)
I must add that all of the above has been organic, no paid advertising at all. The only element I paid for was the Blog Tour (10 blogs over 10 days) so all in all, for a debut self-published author I don’t think that’s too bad – do you?
If you would like to watch the mayhem that was the launch party head over the Facebook Page.
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on October, 07
I then spent the day walking around in a haze that felt like a mixture of being hungover whilst still being drunk, and of course, I had the Facebook Launch Party that I had promoted the life out of at 7:30 pm that evening. After a hasty tea of fish and chips washed down with Lanson Black Label Champagne (courtesy of my wonderful son) I went live.
And it was the most fun!
I have no idea how many people were watching live but the banter levels were high, I made a couple of bloopers but it gave me a chance to thank everyone that had been on the journey with me so far (not at least my wonderfully patient husband who acted as comment moderator and all-round rock!). I managed to answer quite a few questions that people had submitted beforehand, as well as a few on the night (I’ll do another post on those.)
I remembered to run two competitions, with one prize to help me with a character name in book 2, and also free signed copies to giveaway.
I think the whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Thank you to everyone that took part, watched, laughed and bought the book. It’s always scary putting your work out there and it felt great that Kate, Joe, Jack and even Ryan were welcomed with open arms.
Over the next week or so I’ll share various stats of the journey and the self-publishing process as it seems to be the thing that everyone wants to know so I’m more than happy to share.
To date, The Lie She Told has achieved;
Top 400 in Amazon Kindle Charts
Over 40 5star reviews across Goodreads & Amazon
Numerous Interview Requests across the media
Amazing Blog Reviews (more on this in another post)
I must add that all of the above has been organic, no paid advertising at all. The only element I paid for was the Blog Tour (10 blogs over 10 days) so all in all, for a debut self-published author I don’t think that’s too bad – do you?
If you would like to watch the mayhem that was the launch party head over the Facebook Page.
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on October, 07
The Lie She Told Launch
The Lie She ToldThe Lie She ToldWow, that was one hell of a launch party. In fact, it was one hell of a day! I’m not gonna lie, I woke up at exactly 12:15 am on 1st October to watch the Amazon sales chart. I flicked between all stats pages that I had set up (KDP, Amazon Author Central, GoodReads, Google Analytics) obsessively which in hindsight was a bit silly as the only thing that was going to happen in the early hours of the morning was the pre-orders being released onto peoples Kindles. I managed 2 hours of sleep at most.
I then spent the day walking around in a haze that felt like a mixture of being hungover whilst still being drunk, and of course, I had the Facebook Launch Party that I had promoted the life out of at 7:30 pm that evening. After a hasty tea of fish and chips washed down with Lanson Black Label Champagne (courtesy of my wonderful son) I went live.
And it was the most fun!
I have no idea how many people were watching live but the banter levels were high, I made a couple of bloopers but it gave me a chance to thank everyone that had been on the journey with me so far (not at least my wonderfully patient husband who acted as comment moderator and all-round rock!). I managed to answer quite a few questions that people had submitted beforehand, as well as a few on the night (I’ll do another post on those.)
I remembered to run two competitions, with one prize to help me with a character name in book 2, and also free signed copies to giveaway.
I think the whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Thank you to everyone that took part, watched, laughed and bought the book. It’s always scary putting your work out there and it felt great that Kate, Joe, Jack and even Ryan were welcomed with open arms.
Over the next week or so I’ll share various stats of the journey and the self-publishing process as it seems to be the thing that everyone wants to know so I’m more than happy to share.
To date, The Lie She Told has achieved;
Top 400 in Amazon Kindle Charts
Over 40 5star reviews across Goodreads & Amazon
Numerous Interview Requests across the media
Amazing Blog Reviews (more on this in another post)
I must add that all of the above has been organic, no paid advertising at all. The only element I paid for was the Blog Tour (10 blogs over 10 days) so all in all, for a debut self-published author I don’t think that’s too bad – do you?
If you would like to watch the mayhem that was the launch party head over the Facebook Page.
I then spent the day walking around in a haze that felt like a mixture of being hungover whilst still being drunk, and of course, I had the Facebook Launch Party that I had promoted the life out of at 7:30 pm that evening. After a hasty tea of fish and chips washed down with Lanson Black Label Champagne (courtesy of my wonderful son) I went live.
And it was the most fun!
I have no idea how many people were watching live but the banter levels were high, I made a couple of bloopers but it gave me a chance to thank everyone that had been on the journey with me so far (not at least my wonderfully patient husband who acted as comment moderator and all-round rock!). I managed to answer quite a few questions that people had submitted beforehand, as well as a few on the night (I’ll do another post on those.)
I remembered to run two competitions, with one prize to help me with a character name in book 2, and also free signed copies to giveaway.
I think the whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Thank you to everyone that took part, watched, laughed and bought the book. It’s always scary putting your work out there and it felt great that Kate, Joe, Jack and even Ryan were welcomed with open arms.
Over the next week or so I’ll share various stats of the journey and the self-publishing process as it seems to be the thing that everyone wants to know so I’m more than happy to share.
To date, The Lie She Told has achieved;
Top 400 in Amazon Kindle Charts
Over 40 5star reviews across Goodreads & Amazon
Numerous Interview Requests across the media
Amazing Blog Reviews (more on this in another post)
I must add that all of the above has been organic, no paid advertising at all. The only element I paid for was the Blog Tour (10 blogs over 10 days) so all in all, for a debut self-published author I don’t think that’s too bad – do you?
If you would like to watch the mayhem that was the launch party head over the Facebook Page.
September 30, 2020
Out now!
If you’ve been kind enough to leave a review here for The Lie She Told then I would be eternally grateful if you could also leave a review on Amazon.
As an avid reader I’m sure you know how much it means to an author to have their work independently reviewed, and how it helps to spread the word of mouth!
Thank you again,
Cat x
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on September, 30
As an avid reader I’m sure you know how much it means to an author to have their work independently reviewed, and how it helps to spread the word of mouth!
Thank you again,
Cat x
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on September, 30
Out now!
If you’ve been kind enough to leave a review here for The Lie She Told then I would be eternally grateful if you could also leave a review on Amazon.
As an avid reader I’m sure you know how much it means to an author to have their work independently reviewed, and how it helps to spread the word of mouth!
Thank you again,
Cat x
As an avid reader I’m sure you know how much it means to an author to have their work independently reviewed, and how it helps to spread the word of mouth!
Thank you again,
Cat x
September 22, 2020
Where I Write
Where do authors write?
I wonder why we have a fascination with where authors write? If you just Google ‘Where Authors Write’ it returns over 698,000,000 results.
J K Rowling started Harry Potter in a cafe.
Joanne Harris has her very own Shed.
Charles Dickens always wrote at the same desk and in the same chair.
Virginia Wolfe wrote in her basement.
Agatha Christie (allegedly) wrote in her bathtub whilst eating apples!
So it made me wonder, why are we so curious? From a personal perspective, I’ve always idly daydreamed about a cosy cottage in the country somewhere with a dog that I could walk and real log fires I could sit in front when the winter descended. Or some swanky Florida Keys condo that opens up onto a private beach, eating freshly picked fruit for breakfast and that mornings ‘catch of the day’ for lunch whilst I slink about in a uber stylish kimono, gently wafting myself with a fan as I stare off into space searching for the right phrase, word or description.
Of course, the reality is very different.
Exhibit One – The Shed Of Words (I have a plaque and everything!). Shedofwords
Now don’t get me wrong. I simply ADORE my Shed (and yes husband, it is MY SHED) and I get quite possessive over it as you can tell. She was built in 2013 in my back garden in place of an asbestos riddled, falling down garage and it’s the best investment we’ve ever made. She really has come into her own during lockdown when hubby has been permanently working from home and the kids have been homeschooling. in fact, in the last seven years, she’s seen quite a bit of action, not in the least when my son returned home from college and it became, well… a boy cave, with lots of boys. And sofas, and pizza boxes and general boy smells!
Don’t tell him but I was so pleased when he moved out and I could reclaim my territory!
Since the whole Covid-19 pandemic we’ve all had to find a new way of working. Be that from home or a nook in the corner of your kitchen and I can tell you hand on heart that I have never been more grateful for The Shed. Mark (husband) has been working from there 5 days a week since March, and I honestly don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have it. The kitchen table is not much of an option and we don’t have a spare bedroom so I dread to think how we would have managed – and in the middle of it all, I’ve been trying to finish a book!
As I mentioned before, I do love my shed (even if I don’t have her to myself all the time). it’s so lovely stepping inside, switching the heaters on (or fan depending on the weather) and firing up the kettle/coffee machine. On days where I really can’t be arsed to write, I know that if I sit on there for long enough I will find the inspiration or feel compelled to scribble something down. If I’m going through a time of non-writing or feeling really stuck I’ll burn some sage and waft it around to move the energy.
And also, do you have to be in seclusion to write? I know I’m a damn sight more productive if I’m in The Shed but (when we’re allowed) I do enjoy sneaking off to the local cafe and catching up with friends. I take that as a time to do some ‘research’ and plotting.
I’ve often wondered what we’d do if ever we were to move house? Can I take The Shed with me? Should I build a new one? Should I look for a house that already has one? Thankfully it’s not on the cards for a good while yet so I guess I’ll still be sat here, writing away as the old girl falls down around me!
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on September, 22
I wonder why we have a fascination with where authors write? If you just Google ‘Where Authors Write’ it returns over 698,000,000 results.
J K Rowling started Harry Potter in a cafe.
Joanne Harris has her very own Shed.
Charles Dickens always wrote at the same desk and in the same chair.
Virginia Wolfe wrote in her basement.
Agatha Christie (allegedly) wrote in her bathtub whilst eating apples!
So it made me wonder, why are we so curious? From a personal perspective, I’ve always idly daydreamed about a cosy cottage in the country somewhere with a dog that I could walk and real log fires I could sit in front when the winter descended. Or some swanky Florida Keys condo that opens up onto a private beach, eating freshly picked fruit for breakfast and that mornings ‘catch of the day’ for lunch whilst I slink about in a uber stylish kimono, gently wafting myself with a fan as I stare off into space searching for the right phrase, word or description.
Of course, the reality is very different.
Exhibit One – The Shed Of Words (I have a plaque and everything!). Shedofwords
Now don’t get me wrong. I simply ADORE my Shed (and yes husband, it is MY SHED) and I get quite possessive over it as you can tell. She was built in 2013 in my back garden in place of an asbestos riddled, falling down garage and it’s the best investment we’ve ever made. She really has come into her own during lockdown when hubby has been permanently working from home and the kids have been homeschooling. in fact, in the last seven years, she’s seen quite a bit of action, not in the least when my son returned home from college and it became, well… a boy cave, with lots of boys. And sofas, and pizza boxes and general boy smells!
Don’t tell him but I was so pleased when he moved out and I could reclaim my territory!
Since the whole Covid-19 pandemic we’ve all had to find a new way of working. Be that from home or a nook in the corner of your kitchen and I can tell you hand on heart that I have never been more grateful for The Shed. Mark (husband) has been working from there 5 days a week since March, and I honestly don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have it. The kitchen table is not much of an option and we don’t have a spare bedroom so I dread to think how we would have managed – and in the middle of it all, I’ve been trying to finish a book!
As I mentioned before, I do love my shed (even if I don’t have her to myself all the time). it’s so lovely stepping inside, switching the heaters on (or fan depending on the weather) and firing up the kettle/coffee machine. On days where I really can’t be arsed to write, I know that if I sit on there for long enough I will find the inspiration or feel compelled to scribble something down. If I’m going through a time of non-writing or feeling really stuck I’ll burn some sage and waft it around to move the energy.
And also, do you have to be in seclusion to write? I know I’m a damn sight more productive if I’m in The Shed but (when we’re allowed) I do enjoy sneaking off to the local cafe and catching up with friends. I take that as a time to do some ‘research’ and plotting.
I’ve often wondered what we’d do if ever we were to move house? Can I take The Shed with me? Should I build a new one? Should I look for a house that already has one? Thankfully it’s not on the cards for a good while yet so I guess I’ll still be sat here, writing away as the old girl falls down around me!
posted by Catherine Skeet-Yaffe
on September, 22
Where I Write
Where do authors write?
I wonder why we have a fascination with where authors write? If you just Google ‘Where Authors Write’ it returns over 698,000,000 results.
J K Rowling started Harry Potter in a cafe.
Joanne Harris has her very own Shed.
Charles Dickens always wrote at the same desk and in the same chair.
Virginia Wolfe wrote in her basement.
Agatha Christie (allegedly) wrote in her bathtub whilst eating apples!
So it made me wonder, why are we so curious? From a personal perspective, I’ve always idly daydreamed about a cosy cottage in the country somewhere with a dog that I could walk and real log fires I could sit in front when the winter descended. Or some swanky Florida Keys condo that opens up onto a private beach, eating freshly picked fruit for breakfast and that mornings ‘catch of the day’ for lunch whilst I slink about in a uber stylish kimono, gently wafting myself with a fan as I stare off into space searching for the right phrase, word or description.
Of course, the reality is very different.
Exhibit One – The Shed Of Words (I have a plaque and everything!). Shedofwords
Now don’t get me wrong. I simply ADORE my Shed (and yes husband, it is MY SHED) and I get quite possessive over it as you can tell. She was built in 2013 in my back garden in place of an asbestos riddled, falling down garage and it’s the best investment we’ve ever made. She really has come into her own during lockdown when hubby has been permanently working from home and the kids have been homeschooling. in fact, in the last seven years, she’s seen quite a bit of action, not in the least when my son returned home from college and it became, well… a boy cave, with lots of boys. And sofas, and pizza boxes and general boy smells!
Don’t tell him but I was so pleased when he moved out and I could reclaim my territory!
Since the whole Covid-19 pandemic we’ve all had to find a new way of working. Be that from home or a nook in the corner of your kitchen and I can tell you hand on heart that I have never been more grateful for The Shed. Mark (husband) has been working from there 5 days a week since March, and I honestly don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have it. The kitchen table is not much of an option and we don’t have a spare bedroom so I dread to think how we would have managed – and in the middle of it all, I’ve been trying to finish a book!
As I mentioned before, I do love my shed (even if I don’t have her to myself all the time). it’s so lovely stepping inside, switching the heaters on (or fan depending on the weather) and firing up the kettle/coffee machine. On days where I really can’t be arsed to write, I know that if I sit on there for long enough I will find the inspiration or feel compelled to scribble something down. If I’m going through a time of non-writing or feeling really stuck I’ll burn some sage and waft it around to move the energy.
And also, do you have to be in seclusion to write? I know I’m a damn sight more productive if I’m in The Shed but (when we’re allowed) I do enjoy sneaking off to the local cafe and catching up with friends. I take that as a time to do some ‘research’ and plotting.
I’ve often wondered what we’d do if ever we were to move house? Can I take The Shed with me? Should I build a new one? Should I look for a house that already has one? Thankfully it’s not on the cards for a good while yet so I guess I’ll still be sat here, writing away as the old girl falls down around me!
I wonder why we have a fascination with where authors write? If you just Google ‘Where Authors Write’ it returns over 698,000,000 results.
J K Rowling started Harry Potter in a cafe.
Joanne Harris has her very own Shed.
Charles Dickens always wrote at the same desk and in the same chair.
Virginia Wolfe wrote in her basement.
Agatha Christie (allegedly) wrote in her bathtub whilst eating apples!
So it made me wonder, why are we so curious? From a personal perspective, I’ve always idly daydreamed about a cosy cottage in the country somewhere with a dog that I could walk and real log fires I could sit in front when the winter descended. Or some swanky Florida Keys condo that opens up onto a private beach, eating freshly picked fruit for breakfast and that mornings ‘catch of the day’ for lunch whilst I slink about in a uber stylish kimono, gently wafting myself with a fan as I stare off into space searching for the right phrase, word or description.
Of course, the reality is very different.
Exhibit One – The Shed Of Words (I have a plaque and everything!). Shedofwords
Now don’t get me wrong. I simply ADORE my Shed (and yes husband, it is MY SHED) and I get quite possessive over it as you can tell. She was built in 2013 in my back garden in place of an asbestos riddled, falling down garage and it’s the best investment we’ve ever made. She really has come into her own during lockdown when hubby has been permanently working from home and the kids have been homeschooling. in fact, in the last seven years, she’s seen quite a bit of action, not in the least when my son returned home from college and it became, well… a boy cave, with lots of boys. And sofas, and pizza boxes and general boy smells!
Don’t tell him but I was so pleased when he moved out and I could reclaim my territory!
Since the whole Covid-19 pandemic we’ve all had to find a new way of working. Be that from home or a nook in the corner of your kitchen and I can tell you hand on heart that I have never been more grateful for The Shed. Mark (husband) has been working from there 5 days a week since March, and I honestly don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have it. The kitchen table is not much of an option and we don’t have a spare bedroom so I dread to think how we would have managed – and in the middle of it all, I’ve been trying to finish a book!
As I mentioned before, I do love my shed (even if I don’t have her to myself all the time). it’s so lovely stepping inside, switching the heaters on (or fan depending on the weather) and firing up the kettle/coffee machine. On days where I really can’t be arsed to write, I know that if I sit on there for long enough I will find the inspiration or feel compelled to scribble something down. If I’m going through a time of non-writing or feeling really stuck I’ll burn some sage and waft it around to move the energy.
And also, do you have to be in seclusion to write? I know I’m a damn sight more productive if I’m in The Shed but (when we’re allowed) I do enjoy sneaking off to the local cafe and catching up with friends. I take that as a time to do some ‘research’ and plotting.
I’ve often wondered what we’d do if ever we were to move house? Can I take The Shed with me? Should I build a new one? Should I look for a house that already has one? Thankfully it’s not on the cards for a good while yet so I guess I’ll still be sat here, writing away as the old girl falls down around me!
What Cat Did Next..
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