H.R. Kemp's Blog, page 2

A Self-Publishing Case Study

This is a repost of a guest blog I wrote for Christopher Fielden on 30 August 2020. His website has lots of great resources, including lists of competitions and info about writing short stories. Check it out for yourself.

Hi. I write Australian political conspiracy mystery/thrillers as H.R. Kemp. This review of self-publishing Deadly Secrets was written with 6 months hindsight.

Self-Publishing for the first time.

For years I wondered if self-publishing was a real option. Did I need the validation of a traditional publisher? I had spent years submitting (and wasted time following the original rules of one publisher at a time) but the only feedback I had was that although my novel was well-written and had a good plot, they didn’t feel it fit within their genres and they were not sure they could market my book.

I’d doubted myself for a long time, wondering if the rejections had meant my book was not good enough, but then I’d earned great reviews from a group of Beta-readers who were also authors that I admired. I played with the idea of self-publishing but the thought of marketing and promoting were daunting (and, if I’m honest, they still are.) After-all, how would my book attract readers amongst the 7m books in the Kindle store (and the 88,000 books added every month on Amazon alone)? How was I going to attract readers to my book?

While I pondered these questions, I submitted 3 short stories to competitions and magazines. I polish and rewrite short stories in bursts and don’t submit them often. In September 2019, I was excited to learn that one of my short stories had been accepted for publication in the UK Writers’ Magazine (October edition). Imagine my excitement when a second short story was accepted, this time for an anthology, ‘When Stars Will Shine,’ and I was being published alongside talented and established writers. (This UK anthology raises money for the Help4Heroes charity.) Suddenly I felt my writing was being validated in a different way and I started to believe that maybe I could publish my book.

The promotion and marketing process for the Anthology was a timely learning experience. It laid the ground work, helping me to understand how it could be done. The bonus was connecting with a whole new group of writers and readers.

The successes gave me a confidence boost so when my third short story was accepted for publication in the January 2020 edition of the Writers’ and Readers’ Magazine (formerly the Writers’ Magazine), I decided I was ready to take the plunge into self-publishing.

The beginning

I’d resisted the idea of self-publishing. It felt almost too hard and there still seemed to be a stigma associated with not being accepted by a traditional publisher. I worried about the expertise, time, and effort required. I’m a slow writer, so time directed away from writing is an issue. However, it was becoming increasingly clear that if I wanted to see my novel in print, I would have to self-publish.

Self-publishing offers the ability to maintain creative control which is appealing and I’ve noticed that traditionally published authors often have to market and promote themselves anyway. I researched the hows and whats of self-publishing and that helped me decide what professional help I needed and how much it would cost.

Firstly, I was determined that my novel should look and feel professional. That meant being prepared to pay professionals to edit the manuscript, design a cover and maybe even format the book for eBook and print versions. I dithered and wondered if I could justify the expenditure when I couldn’t be assured of recouping my costs. However, a friend set me right. She pointed out that many people spend money on hobbies they never expect to recoup and if I gained pleasure from writing and seeing my book in print, it was no different. She was right. After so many years learning, writing, and rewriting, I should be prepared to spend some money to achieve the quality product I could be proud of.

I finally selected three editors from the recommendations of author friends and Facebook groups. The local editor didn’t respond to my emails and the USA editor’s quote was too expensive once I factored in exchange rates. The UK editor’s quote was reasonable and she was willing to quote in AUD. (She’s based in Ireland and charges €7.50 to €10 per 1000 words, based on the level of work). My quote was at the lower end since my manuscript had had extensive self-editing and beta reader feedback. She provided a sample edit and we emailed each other to discuss the process and what was needed. We had a compatible approach and I felt confident that she would do a good job. Amanda Ní Odhràin from Let’s Get Booked http://letsgetbooked.com/ allocated time to edit my novel and I was thrilled that she also designs book covers and formats manuscripts into print-ready and eBook-ready files. This provided a seamless service and we were a comfortable fit.

Amanda Ní Odhràin from Let’s Get Booked

Preparing the manuscript

By this stage I hadn’t read my book for some time, so I had a fresh perspective. Editing involved three run throughs, the first being the most extensive and it picked up little issues and applied a reader’s perspective. I wrote the bio and acknowledgements for the back of the book, including contact information, while Amanda prepared the copyright page.

Although a few of my author friends formatted their own manuscripts and insisted it wasn’t hard, after setting up a website and dealing with other technology issues, I decided to pay for Amanda to format all the versions. Her fee seemed reasonable at €0.50 - €1.00 per page (Times new roman, 12pt single spaced in word). To distribute widely I needed an ePub, a Mobi file and three print versions (one for the Amazon, one for the IngramSparks (IS) and one for the local printer). UK and USA use inches, Australia uses millimetres and all the book sizes varied enough for each to need a different format. I had thought I could select one size paperback for all, but that was definitely not the case.

Designing the cover

The cover design process was interesting and enlightening. I knew I couldn’t rely on my design skills to develop a professional looking cover that fit with my genre. Amanda had a questionnaire which focused my thoughts on the important questions. I researched top selling thriller books and saved screenshots of the covers I particularly liked, adding an explanation of why. At times the covers I liked were totally different, some bright colours, some black and white, so I had to be clear about what attracted me to a specific cover. It made me pay attention to the title font, colour, and placement, the image style, the layout, and even the mood. I’d never looked at covers in such detail before.

Amanda developed four design concepts.

I knew which one I liked best, but I wasn’t sure if readers would agree. I posted the four designs on my Facebook and on several Facebook groups and asked for feedback. I was stunned by the response. I’d expected a few comments but I got hundreds. Just as well there was a clear winner. I also asked friends and family and took the four concepts into my local bookshop to ask the staff what they thought. That too was an eye-opener. They identified two of the design concepts as consistent with the thriller genre while the others were more crime-oriented.

Once I selected the design concept, Amanda refined and tweaked it until we were both satisfied with the final look. I know I couldn’t have designed such a stunning cover myself and at a quote of €150-200 for her design, I’m confident paying for a professional was worthwhile.

To complete the cover I came up with a subtitle, wrote a blurb/description for the back cover and selected feature quotes from Inkitt author’s reviews. Even this caused me angst, I was worried about getting it right and making sure the blurb was doing the book justice. At least with an eBook it’s easy to change, but with a paperback, it stays until the print run has been sold. I sought feedback from author friends but in the end, I needed to just give it my best shot.

eBook and paperback too

Now-a-days it’s not considered necessary to have a paperback. It’s an expensive option but holding an actual book in my hand was important to me, however, I hadn’t realised just how many decisions were involved.

Firstly, what size (trim) book did I want? I’m not a fan of the recent publisher’s trend to print the larger 9.5 by 6.25 inch format. Instead I chose the 8.5 by 5.5 inch size for the Print on Demand (POD) books and the 210mm by 135mm (roughly 8.25 by 5.25 inches) for the local printer (Their range of options weren’t the same). The book is almost 100K words, about 450 pages, so I couldn’t make the paperback too small but this size proves big enough to have easy-to-read formatting but not so big that it’s hard to carry around.

Page numbers must be in multiples of 16 so there are blank pages at the back. There were more choices to make. Pages could be crème or white and on different gsm (the thickness of the paper). The cover could be printed on different gsm artboards and be finished in matt or gloss. I checked the paperbacks in my home library for guidance, but I couldn’t be sure of what I was looking at. Luckily, my local printer was super helpful. They print books for all the Australian traditional publishers and invited me to visit to talk through the options. The rep laid out examples to illustrate the differences and helped me select the options that suited what I had in mind.

I had a print run of 200 books delivered to my home and it was cheaper than other printing options. I also really like the quality, look and feel of these books (the colours seem more vibrant and the cover doesn’t have that felt-feel that the PODs have.

Who is the publisher?

I purchased my own ISBNs ($AUD88 for a set of 10 – plus $AUD55 for a new publisher) even though distributors will allocate a free ISBN for you. Providing my own means I am the registered author and publisher of my book and the ISBN stays with my book regardless of any changes that I make to distribution channels. (Different countries have different fee structures. In Australia they are sold through Thorpe-Bowker and you can buy just 1 for $44 (plus new publisher fee) or 100 for $AUD480).

Buying 10 meant I had the necessary ISBNs for my Paperback, Mobi and epub versions (each requires its own ISBN) and I can use the others for my next book or to create a large print version for Deadly Secrets.

I also made up a publisher name and a logo (Amanda charges €50-100, but my logo was included in the cover design charge).

I think it gives the book a more professional feel.

Loading the book

Many self-published authors are happy to be exclusive with Amazon for both eBook (Kindle) and paperback (POD) and it’s an easy option. Many also submit their book to Kindle Unlimited which makes the eBook exclusive to them.

As a debut author, I was keen for my book to be widely available and to reach as many prospective readers as I could. There are many different distributors, they take a percentage, and each has different levels of flexibility. I selected the following platforms for Deadly Secrets:

IngramSpark (IS):

Initially I intended to use them only for the paperback distribution. However, I was enticed by their wide range of eBook options and I flirted with using them too, but, it became complicated. They suggested I allocate a different ISBN to an eBook but that meant it doubled up on some platforms where duplicates were not allowed. I could only deselect Amazon and Apple books, IS didn’t allow deselection of any of the other platforms in their distribution list. It became a matter of choice and I removed the eBook from IS and am using them for the paperback distribution only.

Draft2Digital(D2D)

D2D distribute eBooks to a number of platforms and you can select which ones you want. Through them the Deadly Secrets epub is available to Barnes and Noble (Nook), Apple Books, Tolino, and some subscription services and libraries. https://books2read.com/u/bzoZVZ They provide a single link which means the reader can access the book in whichever format they require from a single link. I also have my author bio on their corresponding Books2Read site.

Kobo

D2D or IS can distribute to Kobo but I was advised to go direct. That way I can access Kobo promotions and enlist my book in their subscription service (which is not exclusive). https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/deadly-secrets-66 I’ve found Kobo to be very user friendly, approachable and their team is happy to help. It’s refreshing to have a real person answer emails and questions. Their promotions have helped me to gain sales too.

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

I uploaded both an eBook and paperback (POD) onto KDP. At first, I thought I couldn’t use the same ISBN for the paperback on KDP as IS, so although I uploaded the book I didn’t publish the KDP version straight away but during the launch I ran into problems (I’ll explain later) and after getting advice from ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) I uploaded the paperback on Amazon too, using the same ISBN. Now Deadly Secrets is available through both distributors and IS makes it available to a number of bookshops, retailers and libraries too.

One important thing I didn’t find out until later is that the three BISAC categories (Industry categories) the KDP system asks you to select are not the same as those used on Amazon sites. In fact, Amazon has its own categories and they vary between the different sites, e.g. the .com uses slightly different categories to co.uk, or com.au; and the categories vary between the Kindle Store and paperback book site. Using https://www.bklnk.com/categories5.php you can find the most applicable categories. I did the research, well after release, and when I had compiled my lists, I emailed a request to Amazon (from Author Central) to add these to my book. You are allowed up to 10 for each book and the more categories you can list (that are relevant) the more likely your book is to be found.

An example of a category string is:

Book>literature & fiction> action and adventure> mystery, thriller and suspense > crime

Kindle Store> Kindle eBooks > mystery, thriller and suspense> thrillers > political

Setting up an account with each of these channels was time-consuming since their requirements and systems vary. I could use my Australian Tax file number (and this also accessed the lower tax rate in the USA, courtesy of the Tax Treaty) on all platforms except IS, who required me to register as a sole trader and supply a business number.

The uploading process was also time-consuming and at times frustrating, but having my books professionally formatted meant there were few errors to deal with. Each platform has its own guides to help. Just make sure you allow plenty of time. I set a release date that I thought had lots of leeway, and yet I only finished everything a little over a week before the release. (I contracted Amanda at the beginning of October 2019 and my release date was 31 March 2020)

I’ve placed my book on the library register through the ISBN agency (Bowker Thorpe), IS and D2D. In Australia I had to lodge a print copy (Legal deposit) with the National and State Libraries too.

Pricing

The final stage is to select the price. I’d previously seen lots of Kindle promotions for 99c, but I felt uncomfortable about offering my book at such a discounted rate. I know having a 99c or free book can gain a wider exposure, but the royalties on eBooks are already very low. I hoped to recoup some of my costs even if I couldn’t earn it all back. Advice from author groups recommended setting a fair price based on how big the book is and what the genre usually costs and I followed that advice.

I also remember an anecdote from a friend who set up an aboriginal art gallery. He travelled to remote communities to buy art works to sell in his city studio. He set what he believed to be a fair price, which was cheaper than much of his competition. He told me one day that he’d overheard customers suggesting that his low prices made them worry that the artworks weren’t genuine. He raised the price, and he gained more sales. It seems counterintuitive, but perhaps a low price makes consumers think it is also lower value.

My paperback is almost 450 pages, it’s a big read and I was advised to set the price between $17.99 and $19.99. $3.99 for the eBook is at the cheap end of the range, but not a give-away. I listed my book for sale in all countries and amended the individual prices (after the automatic exchange rate adjustment) to end in a .99 or .50.

It’s worth noting that Kobo doesn’t expect books to be listed cheaply. Their promotions have more impact if the book is reasonably priced before it’s discounted. I have set the same price on all the platforms.

Once the files were uploaded, but before the book was released, I ordered a proof copy (both paperback and eBook) to ensure they didn’t require any last minute fixes. Once I was satisfied, I pressed publish and made it available for pre-order.

3 different print copies. Top L: IngramSpark POD, Top R: Amazon POD and bottom: Griffin Press print copy.

Other help

The process seems straight forward (in hindsight) but I relied on advice and help from many people. My self-published author friends were often on-hand and as a member of author Facebook groups I was able to tap into their knowledge. I also joined two professional organisations. One is ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/ and the other is ASA (Australian Society of Authors) https://www.asauthors.org/ . They provide legal and practical advice, run courses and advocate for authors. They also have special deals with affiliate organisations which can be useful. My ALLi membership provided a code to load my manuscript on to IS for free.

The launch

There is so much to learn about being a self-published author and that is without the added strain and angst of bushfires ravaging my daughter’s property (luckily the house was untouched), a serious family illness requiring major surgery, and a Covid pandemic. It wasn’t hard to understand why I struggled to concentrate.

I’d dithered about having a physical launch or release party given all that was happening leading up to the release, and then COVID made the final decision for me. Thinking about whether to have a launch or not, made me realise that I often don’t stop to acknowledge my achievements, but move straight on to the next challenge. My family and friends encouraged me to stop and celebrate this time, we could use something to celebrate about, and just as I decided that’s what I'd do, it was no longer possible.

I wasn’t confident enough to run a live event on Facebook, or set up paid ads, so I promoted in Facebook groups, on my Facebook page, Instagram, and personal emails. I got off to a slow start and I stressed about not being totally prepared. All the advice suggests the launch should be a big bang. My website wasn’t completely ready, I didn’t know how to advertise on Amazon or Facebook, or know all the ins and outs of promotion and marketing. The family illness and the fallout from the bushfires meant I needed to pay attention to other things besides my book too. Not only was I trying to come to grips with launching/releasing my first novel amongst these issues, Covid restrictions were starting to bite and there was no way of knowing what was ahead. I forged ahead anyway.

To add to my stress, on release, Deadly Secrets was priced at $57 on Amazon.au and all on-line Australian retailers. As an Australian author, with a debut novel, I had expected Australia to be one of my main markets, but no-one was going to buy a book at that price. Because at the time, I had allowed IS to distribute the POD to Amazon their decision to source the book through IS UK meant the price reflected the exchange rate and shipping cost, and every other online retailer had followed suit. It almost brought me to tears and I had a few sleepless nights. All my hard work was being undone and there was nothing I could do about it.

I spent days emailing them, pleading, begging, for Amazon, Booktopia, Book Depository, and IS to source the POD in Australia and set the price correctly, but no-one was willing to help. That’s when ALLi advised me to publish my paperback on Amazon as well as IS, and I’m not sure why it should, but it worked. Luckily it was already up on their system, so I only had to press publish and the price slowly decreased to a more reasonable level. But it got things off to a difficult start.

Marketing and Promotion

I’m still learning about marketing and promotion, and there is so much more to learn. The fact that Deadly Secrets didn’t fit neatly into the existing genres, meant marketing or promoting this book would be complicated for me too. I set up an author profile on Amazon Author Central ,https://www.amazon.com/author/hrkemp and connected it to Deadly Secrets (and the anthology with my short story). Unfortunately Amazon has a separate website in each country as well as separate author centrals. They are not linked. I had to log in to each country’s website and repeat the process. To complicate things, if you are logged into one country and then try to access another, it doesn’t show you the correct data. For example, when I was logged into the amazon UK (and had forgotten to log out) I logged into the Amazon Germany website and couldn’t find my paperback. It was showing me only what someone from the UK is allowed to access, rather than what was there. It certainly was easier to add a bio on Books2Read (which is the Draft2Digital author page) and Kobo.

So far my promotion and marketing is not very sophisticated. I’m a member of many different Facebook reader and author groups, some of which allow promotion and since I’ve built up contacts over time, I’ve gained some support from other members. My Beta readers/authors are also a strong support network, often sharing my posts and responding when I promote my book. I accepted all offers to guest blog and to date I’ve had eight shared on Facebook and one on Instagram. I don’t know if this translates into sales, but I have had sales in other countries and I put that down to the reach of Facebook.

During the COVID self-isolation phase I wasn’t sure how I would get physical copies out to readers. I was lucky that some of our local bookshops were still operating (some delivering books to readers, others able to maintain a shop front) and when I approached them about stocking my book, three agreed to stock it on consignment. Since restrictions have been eased, Deadly Secrets is available in seven local bookshops and I’m happy to say, sales have been steady. They seemed keen to promote a local author and were impressed with the professional look of my book.

Andrew from Dymocks Bookshop at Glenelg.

It takes a lot of time to sell the books through bookshops. I contact them regularly (or drop in to check if I’m nearby) to see if there have been sales. I deliver additional stock and send an invoice for sales as we go.

I’ve been delighted that friends and acquaintances have wanted to buy copies and their willingness to promote my book by word of mouth has helped with sales. Even my Physiotherapist stocked copies at their front counter and helped to promote sales to their customers and Pilates class attendees. It’s been lovely having a network that has been so supportive. I’m also about to start doing author talks, so wish me luck.

I’m not very proficient at technology, so setting up my own website was a challenge. I recently upgraded it to a custom domain, attached Mailerlite, and a domain email address. If you feel inclined, perhaps you could check it out and give me feedback. https://www.hrkempauthor.com

I hope to build a mailing list but it’s a work in progress (and I need to figure out how all those components work not to mention learning more about keywords and SEOs so my website can actually be found).

Despite having more time during this pandemic my concentration often waned. I managed to go for a daily walk along the beach (and you can see the photos on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hrwriting/ ) I completed several on-line courses, the latest an Amazon ads challenge, and I’m experimenting with ads both on Amazon.com and Amazon UK. They are totally separate websites and have slightly different set ups, so it keeps me learning. Amazon has only recently added Australia and Canada to their advertising console and I’ve just set up my first ads on these sites. My efforts have resulted in a few sales but fingers crossed that I’ll work out the winning formula.

The other complicating factor is trying to fit my book into a genre. Just as the publishers predicted, my novel isn’t a neat fit. It’s not an FBI or CIA agent thriller which dominates the US Political thriller genre. My political themes involve drama, intrigue, conspiracy, and suspense, and my plot is about ordinary people being challenged to stand up for what’s right. There are no gun battles or car chases. I’m still searching to find the books that are similar to mine. All suggestions are welcome.

I’ve participated in three Kobo promotions and was thrilled that they generated sales. Kobo have recently expanded their subscription reading application to include Canada (previously only Belgium and Netherlands) so I’ve just signed up for that too.

As you can see, the promotion and marketing aspects can be time consuming and exhausting. I feel it’s been a steep learning curve and I’m not finished yet. I'm hoping to find a way to limit the time element, especially as I need to work at editing and rewriting my second novel and prepare it for professional editing. Being a slow writer means I’ll never churn out books, but the advice of some is the best marketing and promotion is to write more books. I am hoping it gets easier as I go. We’ll see.

Between the release on 31 March 2020 and end of July, I’ve sold just under 200 books (35% eBooks and 65% paperbacks). This ratio may be a reflection of my reader profile.

Of the eBooks, approx. 16% have been sold through Amazon, 12% through Kobo and 6% through D2D (mostly Apple books). I’ve participated in Kobo promotions but now am also running Amazon ads, so we’ll see if that increases my sales.

Most of my paperbacks have been sold either personally or through bookshops (65% and approx. 50:50) while IngramSparks have sold 29% and Amazon 6%.

My sales figures aren’t high but I’m still working on it and looking for more ways to promote and run ads.

What I’ve Learned

When I first started writing, I believed it would satisfy me to just finish a novel. Slowly I realised that it wasn’t enough. I wanted readers and I wanted some recognition for the hard work. Although I spent a lot of time and energy seeking out a traditional publisher, it didn’t result in success. Self-publishing seemed my best option. I like that it allows me control over the creative elements and gives me direct access to readers, but it also means there is no support network to fall back on or a business that will take care of the difficult aspects. Especially when life throws some unexpected issues into the mix and when technology can be hard to manage or learn.

Draw on the community

The writing community in general is very supportive and helpful. I have drawn on people’s experience and advice and they have been willing to share. It’s one of the best things about being a writer.

Social Media can be useful

I forced myself to learn more about social media and how to promote myself. That helped enormously when I finally self-published. Accepting opportunities to submit guest blogs helped to give me and my book some exposure and I enjoyed the process.

Not everything has to be perfect

I was very stressed during the launch. There were so many other issues to deal with but I tried to maintain perspective. I wanted Deadly Secrets to generate some hype during the release, but it didn’t gather a lot of momentum. My expectations made it harder but then I realised that I didn’t need to have everything perfect, or know everything before releasing the book. I needed to give myself some leeway and acknowledge that it’s OK to keep learning and experimenting.

Issues with using a wide distribution

I’m still happy to go wide as a strategy to find readers, but getting paid for overseas sales is problematic. Amazon won’t transfer royalties until you’ve earned a minimum amount, with eBook royalties so small, it might take some time before I get paid for sales in the US, UK, and Canada. I hope the ads generate enough interest to help with this problem. (I find it ironic that Amazon can accept payment of small amounts on my credit card for the ads, but can’t deposit small amounts in royalties.) I’m investigating account options that might allow transfer of smaller foreign currency amounts without the hefty fees.

Quick reference sheet

One useful recommendation was to set up a document which lists all the links, the author profiles I’ve used, the book blurb, descriptions, categories, and ISBNs. It provides a quick reference point whenever I set up a Facebook post, or an ad, or someone wants me to provide details or links. I can just copy and paste. It was helpful when loading information onto the different Amazon Author centrals, allowing me to maintain consistency.

Refine the meta-data

Part of the marketing and promotion focus needs to be on the meta-data of the book, that is, the blurb, description, and categories you choose. It is critical for these things to be relevant and to attract readers. It’s no good attaching the categories for other best sellers, if they are nothing like your book. The blurb has to provide a hook, so does the description especially when the on-line description often only shows the first couple of lines. That’s all you have to get someone interested. Luckily you can keep refining it as you learn more from your readers, it’s easy to update the eBooks, but it’s harder to amend print copies. It’s worth noting that the title, subtitle, and descriptions should also make the most of keywords.

It’s not for the faint-hearted

Self-publishing has been harder than I expected although some of that is my own perfectionism and personal circumstances, not to mention Covid. Loading my book up onto the different platforms had small challenges but they were manageable. Setting up an author platform, marketing the book, trying to get reviews, and finding the time to learn more about these different aspects is hard when you don’t have someone with technological expertise who can help. Doing this by myself has made me feel both joy when things work and desperate frustration when they don’t. I have been bamboozled by some courses or information sheets while I’ve experienced great satisfaction when I’ve managed to achieve something new. I’ve learned that I can do more than I thought, but also that I should be prepared to buy in expertise when needed.

In the end, what I really want is for the readers looking for a story like mine, those readers who would enjoy Deadly Secrets, to find it and read it and hopefully leave a review. Achieving a readership is a work in progress but I’ve enjoyed the challenge and I keep learning.

It’s 5 months since I released my novel. Given the stress of the bushfires, my husband’s medical issues, and the complications of Covid, it’s been a strange start. I look back and feel I’ve come a long way. I’m relieved that my husband is on the road to recovery, my daughter’s property is starting to regrow, and we're coming out of the Covid restrictions here in South Australia.

Looking ahead, there is so much more to do. I’m still working on getting more reviews, getting more exposure, and finding different ways to market my book. Of course, I’m also trying to turn my attention back to writing so I can finish my second novel. Despite the hard work, frustrations and complications, I’m glad I self-published. The feedback from readers makes me glad I put it out there. It’s better than leaving it sitting in the bottom drawer.

Happy Publication Day to Lizzie Chantree

Today is publicaton day for a facebook author friend of mine. I'm thrilled to feature Lizzie Chantree on my blog and since it will soon be Mothers’ day in Australia her new book would make a great present for the avid reader mum.

Even though I read a lot of crime fiction and thrillers, I occasionally like something fun and light-hearted. Lizzie's books fit that category well.

Just in time for mothers’ day, Lizzie Cahntree's new book has been released today. I’ve been reading her non-fiction book on networking for authors but she also has an impressive backlist of fiction stories. Check her out. The details are here.

Happy Publication Day, Lizzie Chantree.

And here she is to tell you a little more about herself and the novel.

Shh… It’s Our Secret, by Lizzie Chantree.

Thank you for inviting me onto your beautiful blog today and for the amazing support of the launch of my latest book!

Shh… It’s Our Secret, is about a shy woman called Violet, who is trying to silence her inner critic and step out of the shadows. Her best friends and sister support her, but she feels like they don’t see the real her, or understand that she has ambitions of her own and skills that could help them all.

To them, she is reliable, slightly dull and not very talented, but she is hiding a secret that could blow this theory sky high. Violet will have to eliminate old demons, learn to stand up for herself and show the world who she really is.

Shh… It’s Our Secret, by Lizzie Chantree - Book Blurb:

Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them.

Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house.

When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidently discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?

About Lizzie:

International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantree https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree.

Book link: Lizzie Chantree.

Universal link: Shh… It’s Our Secret: mybook.to/ItsOurSecret

Social media links:

Website: www.lizziechantree.com

Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391757.Lizzie_Chantree

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/

Deadly Secrets on promo

Deadly Secrets is part of a new Books2Read Promo! and taking part in the M stands for Mystery sale. Don't miss out.

Find your next favourite book at https://books2read.com/rl/mysteryreads

And follow @FindBooks2Read for more promos like this one!
#ebook #sale #MStandsForMystery​ #MysteryReads​ #books2read #bookstoread #findbooks2read

Writing – Politics and Vigilance

I have begun this new year with hope, despite not getting off to a great start, I'm not giving up on it yet. Of course, many of the issues we were dealing with in 2020 haven't gone away and we have no way of knowing what the year has in store. We’re fortunate in South Australia that we’re able to live a cautious version of normal life. We celebrated Christmas with our families and had modest gatherings for New Year. I missed having fireworks herald in the new year but maybe that will happen next year.

I spent much of 2020 being distracted and didn’t write as much as I expected to, despite having so much more time. Hence my second book isn’t ready for professional editing yet. Even my reading was sporadic but I did finish a couple of books from my to-be-read pile late in the year.

I'm a glutton for difficult and thought-provoking reads, and although I occasionally seek light-hearted and gentler stories, at the moment I've been reading more serious works. I recently saw that the 2021 Adelaide Arts Festival will feature a play based on a book in my to-be-read pile, so I brought it forward.

‘The Work I Did’ is a memoir of the secretary to Goebbels, Brunhilde Pomsel. It documents an interview with Brunhilde before her death in 2017 and Thore D. Hansen also provides a commentary on what this account means for us now and into the future. It’s an interesting read. Brunhilde was an ordinary person. She says she didn’t pay much attention to politics and took no interest in the rise of Naziism. She was too busy and preoccupied trying to make a life for herself, establishing a career and working to improve her personal circumstances. The story is an insight into societal norms and living through those tumultuous times. It’s also a warning about political apathy and the tendency to look the other way when confronted with alarming and challenging events. This is not to apportion blame, none of us know how we’d act if speaking out endangered our lives and the lives of our loved ones, but this book is a compelling commentary on what can happen if we don’t pay attention.

Thore D. Hansen provides a well written and well thought-out commentary on what the story of Goebbels’s secretary teaches us for the present day and for our future. I found it compelling and highly recommend it. I’m also curious how this book will be brought onto the stage.

Politics is an area fraught with issues, no matter what time we live in. Currently, nations are descending into warring tribes where opposing opinions and any disagreement is treated as a personal assault. How do we unite in the face of so much divisiveness?

I hear people say they ‘don’t pay attention to politics’ or ‘aren’t interested in politics.’ Sometimes it’s said with a sigh and they admit that they’re overwhelmed or exhausted trying to keep up with all the issues, or they're afraid to challenge the aggressive and angry voices. Sometimes it’s said in a way that suggests politics is ‘beneath’ them. The Brunhilde Pomsel story is a perfect antidote to that attitude and shows us that letting the loud, aggressive and strident voices define political debate is dangerous.

On a recent weekend away in the Riverland of South Australia, I came across a memorial park in Renmark. The RSL (Returned Servicemen’s League) motto inscribed on a plaque in the gardens sums it up for me.

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

If we believe in democracy, and that a government should govern for the benefit of all, then we need to pay attention (stay vigilant), ask questions and care about the answers.

Writing political fiction has its own challenges. It’s a fine line between caring about issues and bringing them into a story, and preaching a philosophy. I am not so much an advocate for a party but for the need to ask ‘what if?’ That question often generates my plot.

An issue I find particularly troubling at the moment, is the prosecution of whistleblowers in Australia. I’ve previously featured the book Banking Bad by Adele Ferguson in my blog. It exposed the illegal and fraudulent activity by the big four Australian banks and led to a Royal Commission (reluctantly agreed to by the Morrison Government and confined to a quick 12-month time-frame that couldn’t examine all the issues raised). It’s a scary read. It took the courage of a whistleblower, willing to risk everything, to expose this misconduct and yet, we are still waiting to see the commission’s recommendations enacted.

Unfortunately, the Australian government doesn't protect whistleblowers. I’ve read of three separate trials of whistleblowers (being held in secret). The bank whistleblower had his charges reduced but was still facing jail; Witness K, who exposed the Australian government’s bugging of Timor-Leste during negotiations over ownership of lucrative oil and gas reserves, and his lawyer; and a soldier who brought the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan to our attention. Given these trials are being held in secret we may not know what happens to these courageous and selfless people.

I remember Andrew Wilke revealing the lie of Weapons of Mass Destruction in 2003, and saw how he was vilified and his name blackened for daring to speak out. I witnessed the destruction of the career and life of Denis Ryan, the policeman who persisted in investigating paedophile Catholic priests. He was persecuted despite doing what was right. How many more? As a society we owe these whistleblowers a debt of gratitude. They are brave and courageous enough to speak out, despite the cost to their own lives. We should protect them, not prosecute them or persecute them.

Whistleblowing is a theme that I find compelling and thought-provoking. The protagonist in my novel, Deadly Secrets, is Shelley, a public servant at the Department of Immigration. She's an ordinary person who uncovers a high-level plot involving powerful organisations, even the Prime Minister appears to be involved. What is she willing to risk to save the lives of others?

My current work-in-progress (still in editing mode) is also a story of ordinary people uncovering a serious conspiracy and having to confront what they are willing to risk to achieve justice.

You can visit my website www.hrkempauthor.com which has details about my novel, my author biography and my published short stories. If you'd like to be kept up to date with progress, recieve special offers and have advance notice of special deals, you can sign up to my newsletter too.

I hope you stay safe and well.

Until next time.

If you'd like to read Deadly Secrets you can use the following links to buy it in either eBook or paperback.

Book Links:

Universal Link for eBooks on Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, and more: https://books2read.com/u/bzoZVZ

Paperbacks available from:

Amazon

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Secrets-unspeakable-provocative-contemporary-ebook/dp/B0868DKCYP

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Deadly-Secrets-Unspeakable-Truths-Beneath/dp/0648766306

USA: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Secrets-unspeakable-provocative-contemporary-ebook/dp/B0868DKCYP

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Deadly-Secrets-unspeakable-provocative-contemporary-ebook/dp/B0868DKCYP/

The Bookshop (supports local Book stores)

https://bookshop.org/books/deadly-secrets-what-unspeakable-truths-lurk-beneath-the-lies/9780648766308

Book Depository

https://www.bookdepository.com/Deadly-Secrets-H-R-Kemp/9780648766308

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-secrets-h-r-kemp/1136661961?ean=9780648766308

Writing - Big Issues

I can’t believe my last blog was posted 6 months ago. I hope you have successfully managed the terrible impacts of the pandemic and the corrosive politics and stayed well and safe during this time.

My plan was to write a monthly blog. I thought that would not overwhelm, but was often enough to keep in touch. Unfortunately, as you can see, my plans didn’t work out.

After the fires, a serious family illness early in the year and Covid-19 still requiring attention, I lost my focus. Then politics around the world generated endless conflicts and division and I’ve found myself sitting on the side-lines shaking my head and feeling reluctant to comment.

I admit, seeing people shout others down and aggressively voice their beliefs (placing an almost religious faith in their preferred side of politics) is hard to understand especially when facts, data, and evidence are ignored. There are others who say they ‘don’t pay attention to politics’ or ‘aren’t interested in politics’. It’s sometimes said with a sigh and in a voice that says they are overwhelmed or exhausted by the multitude of issues, but sometimes it’s said as though politics is ‘beneath’ them. I have difficulty understanding this too, because to me, politics is important. Paying attention is particularly important, how else can we hold those in office and power accountable.

Surprisingly, I also haven’t used books as an escape. I usually read fiction and occasionally read nonfiction to research a topic or stay informed. But one of my latest reads (I haven't quite finished it yet) has been difficult for a number of reasons.

Mayada by Jean Sasson is a true story about one woman’s survival in Saddam Hussein’s torture jail. It is all the more shocking and distressing because it’s real and that makes it an important story. It shows us how politics can impact on everyday lives in horrendous ways. Mayada’s experiences are frightening and can’t be dismissed as being unique to specific parts of the world. Books like this are hard to read, but I think they are a necessary addition to reading stacks. They create awareness of the factors driving people to flee their homes and seek safety in another country. In this time of mass exodus and high refugee movement, it shows why they need our help not our disdain. And, it shows us what can happen when power is left unchallenged.

As a political conspiracy thriller writer, it’s my job to ask ‘what if’ and that sometimes means imagining the worst. I’m not a conspiracy theorist in real life, I like to pay attention to facts and data, but I also admit that I don’t trust politicians and powerful corporates to do the right thing without oversight. We can believe that our politicians are basically honest (or not), but what if they aren’t? We might think they are generally community spirited, but what if they’re not? Mayada shows us that the only safe option is to pay attention and have systems and processes to protect us. We’ve seen it before. The lessons are there in history. Are we prepared to allow these horrifying events to happen again, just because we didn’t feel like paying attention? I prefer to have safe-guards (and remember safe-guards are often called red-tape when corporates and politicians don’t like them). And that means we have to care enough to ask questions and discover the truth.

Another book I read more recently is an Australian political thriller, Deceit, by Richard Evans. It is an interesting read about a corrupt Prime Minister and the everyday people who try to foil his plans. Given here in Australia our government has just paid $31m for a plot of land valued at $3m, the Robo-debt debacle has resulted in a massive $1.2b compensation payout and the sports rort gave marginal seats money earmarked for needy areas, we can see that vigilance is key.

My novel Deadly Secrets is also an Australian style political thriller. The main characters are not FBI or CIA agents, or professional law enforcement officers investigating the abuse of power. They are ordinary people who uncover a plot involving corporate greed and corrupt politicians. They must decide if they will turn a blind-eye or risk everything to expose the corruption. Is risking their lives to save the lives of strangers worth it? Read it and find out.

You can learn more from website www.hrkempauthor.com .

Until next time.

Stay safe and well.

PS

If you’ve read Deadly Secrets, I’d really appreciate you posting a review. It doesn’t have to be long, just something that will tell prospective readers if this is the book for them. For Independent authors like me, reviews help readers who’d enjoy my novel, to find it. These links can take you directly to where you can leave a review.

Amazon:

US: http://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?&asin=B0868DKCYP

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review?&asin=B0868DKCYP

Aust: https://www.amazon.com.au/review/create-review?&asin=B0868DKCYP

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19757948.H_R_Kemp
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/deadly-secrets-66

If you haven’t yet read Deadly Secrets and would like to, it’s available in either eBook or paperback.
You can purchase Deadly Secrets from your favourite online book store here:

Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Tolino etc: https://books2read.com/u/bzoZVZ

Also available in paperback from:

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Deadly-Secrets-H-R-Kemp/9780648766308

Barnes and Noble:

,https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-secrets-h-r-kemp/1136661961?ean=9780648766308

The Marketing Begins

The process of preparing my socio-political thriller, Deadly Secrets, for publication is almost finished and the release date (31 March 2020) is looming. I am very new at this and am still finding my way through the options for distribution and printing.

My first foray into promotion and marketing was the opportunity to post an author promotion on a Facebook writing group I belong to and I thought I would share the post here. I hope you enjoy reading it and keep an eye out for my novel.

Hi everyone.

My debut socio-political thriller, Deadly Secrets, will be released on 31 March.

Marketing and promoting a novel is a very new experience for me so here goes.

The Novel - the blurb:

Deadly Secrets – What unspeakable truths lurk beneath the lies?

Can ordinary people thwart a powerful conspiracy?

Shelley Ormond’s life is about to change forever. Her friend, a young refugee, dies suddenly and the federal police have shrouded her case in secrecy. Shelley has never been bold, but she will have to break the rules and jeopardise her safe, public service career to learn the truth.

Her new friend Adrian, a medical researcher, is studying a mystery illness in outback communities. Young children are falling fatally ill. There’s no obvious cause although suspicious mining activity in the area is worth investigating.

Shelley delves deeper and is drawn into a sinister world of police cover-ups, organised crime and corporate greed. If she obeys the law, the powerful can go on breaking it.

The stakes are high, and the treacherous schemers will do anything to keep their deadly secrets. Lives don’t matter, not even hers.

Can she and Adrian expose the plot before more lives are lost?

Will the formidable and ruthless forces behind the conspiracy stop them?

Writing the novel:

Deadly Secrets is my debut novel. I’m a slow writer and this novel has taken many years of writing and rewriting. The corporate and political world often inspires me with ‘what if’ questions that generate plot ideas. As an idea took hold, I began writing and at the same time, learning about the craft of novel-writing, plot and character development. It has been fun and challenging, so much so that I’m currently editing the first draft of a second thriller and the beginnings of a third sits in the bottom drawer awaiting my attention.

My novel is plot-driven but also has a strong focus on the central characters. I like the idea of heroines and heroes who are ordinary people being stretched by extraordinary issues. My main characters are not government agents, spies or professional advocates nor are they gun-toting police officers. They’re ordinary people, in ordinary jobs, who become embroiled in a powerful conspiracy and need to make choices. I’ve recently had three short stories published. Their focus is exclusively on the human dilemma and relationships and while Deadly Secrets is a political/conspiracy thriller, it also incorporates the emotional and relationship dimensions in the story-line.

ABOUT ME:

I live in Adelaide, Australia, although I grew up just outside of Melbourne.

After seeking out feedback through specific courses and groups, I placed Deadly Secrets on a sharing website, Inkitt, where it attracted great reviews and 23, 5-star, and 6, 4-star ratings. That response, and my writing group, inspired me to publish. The manuscript has been professionally edited, a cover designed and it's being formatted, all with the wonderful help of Amanda Ní Odhràin from Let’s Get Booked. It's almost ready for release on 31 March 2020 (fingers crossed it all goes to plan).

I’ve also been encouraged by having three short stories published recently. I was thrilled to have ‘A Present of Presence’ included in the auspicious anthology ‘When Stars Will Shine’ (9 Dec 2019) and two other short stories: ‘Reunited’ (Jan 2020) and ‘Unforgivable’ (Oct 2019), published in the Writers’ and Readers’ Magazine.

Although I have been scribbling story snippets and scenes all my life, in 2011 I got serious and successfully completed a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing, at Adelaide University. I’d taken a variety of writing courses at Writers SA and WEA before that (and I still do). My original degree is a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Chemistry), and my career in the public service spanned roles as diverse as Management trainer, Team Facilitator, Statistician and Laboratory assistant. Writing had to wait until I had time, energy and brain-space, but perhaps it’s also helped me to gather a wealth of ideas.

One of my other passions is travelling, which includes writing a travel journal and taking copious photos. I have a selection of photos on my website that link images with some of the scenes in my novel. Even though much of the action is in Adelaide, Sydney and the outback, the beginning chapters are in Paris, Normandy, Nice and Barcelona.

I also enjoy live theatre, art and of course, reading. Most years you’ll find me hanging around the Adelaide Writers’ Week event in March, listening to authors speak and adding to my overflowing to-be-read pile of books. If you're there, I'm always ready for a chat.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hrkemp01

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hr.kemp.31

Website: https://hrkemp13.wixsite.com/hrkempwr...

My Publishing Quest - Part 2

The time since my last blog (musings and update) has been fraught with anxiety and worry. As many of you already know, Australia has been wracked with bushfires. So much of our country has been burning, all at the same time, there has been little respite. When one area settled, another flared. I sat in my safe suburban home in Adelaide watching reports on my TV screen filled with red skies, dark daytimes, fleeing wildlife and stock, and people in stress. Our wonderful volunteer force of firefighters saved lives and property, some losing their own homes while protecting those of others. They lost pay, time with their families and risked their lives in situations I can't even imagine. As you probably also know our Prime Minister (and the NSW Emergency Minister and others) chose to go on holidays overseas and left the job of managing the crisis to the States. There has been much anger at the slowness, and almost unwillingness, of our PM and Federal government to act. They and the Murdoch Press seemed more interested in downplaying the crisis.

For me, it has been a strange time. Trying to celebrate the success of having 3 short stories published over the last 4 months and trying to complete the first run through edit of my novel, while at the same time, worrying about a serious family health issue and feeling anxious and worried as the fires threatened my daughter's home and property, her in-law's home and property, my brother holidaying in one of the areas in severe danger and a friend who lives in the middle of the chaos in NSW. Luckily they have all survived although it is not over yet. My daughter and her in-laws are safe and their homes are still standing, despite their properties suffering losses. The images on TV and social media are heart-breaking and I am overwhelmed by the thought of what is needed to recover. I try to stay positive, but I'm also realistic. This is going to be a mammoth job.

In the midst of this turmoil, I have found some time and mental space to work on my novel and prepare it for publication. Perhaps the distraction was a necessary coping mechanism. I completed the first run through edit (2 more to go) and ran a poll on social media for the preliminary design concepts for the cover. There was a clear winner, and the comments offered have been useful for the next step. Amanda Horan from 'Let's Get Booked' is both editor and cover designer and she has come back to me with a first draft of the cover design. This part is exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will eventually look.

I've also been trying to draft the 'blurb' for the back cover. It's hard condensing an almost 100K word novel into a short, snappy description to interest a reader, but it must be done.

I'm looking forward to sharing the next step with you all. I'm learning as I go, so it's both interesting, daunting and exciting. Not sure my nerves can take it.

Don't forget, if you would like to stay updated on the progress of my novel, and gain access to special offers once it's published, you can sign up to my mailing list. I promise I won't spam you.

My Publishing Quest.

Part 1 EDITING.

I have begun.

I am embarking on the process to publish my first novel, Deadly Secrets.

I find the steps to publishing overwhelming, but am taking them one at a time to give myself time to think and learn along the way. I want to be sure that I create a quality novel to offer readers. I want readers to find my story compelling and enjoyable and the best it can be; to look, feel and read like a professional piece of work. This requires time, effort and money.

The positive feedback and encouragement I've had from readers along the way has spurred me forward to publish and my recent success with two short stories has also encouraged me. One, 'Unforgivable' appeared in the Writers' Magazine (UK) October 2019 edition, and the other, 'The Present of Presence' has been published in a UK Anthology 'When Stars Will Shine' compiled by Emma Mitchell and features a number of terrific authors. (It's available on amazon UK and amazon USA: the link is on my website).

The beginning

I found a professional editor drawing on word of mouth and social media recommendations. I developed a list of possibles especially after hearing authors' stories of paying substantially for an edit, only to get a mistake-riddled manuscript back, I was wary. I approached professionals, was realistic about the cost and took the time to discuss what I wanted and how they worked. I think I have navigated through the selection process to find a good fit for my novel and feel confident of my choice.

I have spent years (more time than I should) refining, rewriting and editing. My writers' group has critiqued the DEADLY SECRETS in it's entirety, resulting in yet more rewriting and refining.

Many of you know that I loaded DEADLY SECRETS onto the Inkitt site, where readers gave me detailed feedback, both at the end of chapters as they read, and at the very end. The reviews validated the hard work and time I had put in so far. Some kindly sent me messages to point out any typos or errors, which meant I again spent time fixing the manuscript. I also got valuable feedback about readers' reactions, and their positive response has pushed me towards publishing.

Some readers reviews for DEADLY SECRETS posted on Inkitt are featured on the book page of my website but other comments are: 'A thrilling read', 'This was a great book from beginning to end', '...a powerful story', 'an intense page-turner', 'comprehensive thrill ride,' and 'a gripping plot'.

This is the cover I used for Inkitt (but, I am having a cover designed for the published book)

The next step:

I am currently DEADLY SECRETS editing and rewriting after receiving the first run though edit from my editor. I have heard many published authors say the editing process improved their book, so I am hoping it proves the same with mine. We'll see.

The first suggested book covers look fabulous and that is the next focus, along with writing a strong blurb.

Great Writing on Inkitt

As you may already know, I have had my novel up on Inkitt for just over a year. This site offers readers access to thousands of novels for free, and for writers, it offers hope of getting the necessary reviews and votes to satisfy the analytics and be offered a publishing contract. I live in hope.

Over the year, I have read a lot of novels and written reviews for other writers and so, have come across a number of terrific novels. You may be interested in who these writers are. If you love to read, are happy to read books that are not yet professionally published, but are good quality writing and great stories, why not give these authors a try. You can be part of their success story.

Besides the novels written by 2 of the prolific and wonderful writers Barry Litherland and Greg McLaughlin (I've featured them on previous 'blogs') there are also others I recommend. They are Drama, mystery or romance genre (Fantasy and romance feature highly on Inkitt).

Memoir of a War Resister - A novel of the 1960's
by Trudy Knowles

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/drama/...

This was a terrific read. It is under the Drama genre, and it is based on real life. I gave this drama a 5 star rating and my review read:

,,A fabulous book

This memoir takes the reader back to the heady days of the protest movement and their fight against the Vietnam war. The action is seen vividly through the eyes of Becky, the main character, and her friends and extended 'family'. We experience first hand, her wins and her dramatic and painful losses. All the characters are very real, with their good and flawed characters beautifully drawn. The story is beautifully told, moving, expertly written and poignant. It details the personal struggle using very real and three-dimensional characters, and accurate historical data. The Soldier tally at the end of each chapter brings home the cost of war, especially the Vietnam war, in a devastating way. The modern-day story is only touched on, but the story of protest and drama reminds the reader that the fight is never finished, it just moves on to the next issue. I highly recommend this novel and I hope it will be published someday. I'd love a signed copy when that happens. Thank you for sharing this extraordinary story with me (us).

I highly recommend this novel - it's a must read.

The Pinkie Promise by Kelly Reigner

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/myster...

A wonderful mystery/drama interweaving the past and the present. My review called it:

,,A real page-turner

This well-written mystery story is well paced and ramps up the intrigue as you read, hooking the reader in to keep turning the pages to find out what happened. The shifts between past and present happen smoothly, helping the reader to understand the chain of events by a slow reveal. The main characters are strong, three-dimensional and well drawn, we feel we know them or have met them for real. Their interrelationships and group dynamics play out well both in the past, when they first get to know each other, and later, when they have not seen each other for some time but still feel their connection from long ago. The subject matter touches sensitively on troubling societal issues and handles them well. The title works well. The references to it are scattered throughout the story and tie the different parts of the novel together. Good choice. This was an enjoyable read, it kept me hooked and I would definitely recommend it.

This novel has 35 reviews and has a five star rating overall, so well worth checking out.

The Remainders by Matthew Arnold Stern

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/drama/...

A beautifully told story. With human interest and relationships at the core of this drama.

An intensely moving story

Matthew Arnold Stern has created a complex and believable cast of characters. The main characters, Dylan and Oliver are both written in first person which brings the reader in close to their experiences and troubling thoughts, Their deeply personal struggles lead them through a series of life-changing events which build to a very satisfying ending. The supporting cast consists of both likeable and not so likeable characters, all of which are three dimensional, real and believable.
Dylan's life is uprooted when his mother and step-dad throw him out. It is the beginning of a massive learning process but also a discovery of the kindness of strangers. Oliver's struggles with his personal failures and traumatic past brings his life to a climax and eventually to realistic change, I was engrossed by their plight that I found myself cheering for these characters.
The setting is a diverse and contemporary society. The writer skilfully weaves a backdrop that resembles life as it is today, complete with political and religious hypocrisy, hardship and striving to make a good life even when the odds are stacked against them. We see the best and the worst of people .
I enjoyed this story immensely. The writing style keeps the reader involved and guessing, while eagerly wanting the characters to find what they need. It is well told, and the gentle romance is so real and touching. Overall it is a moving tale.
I highly recommend this story. It's a great read and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.

Another wonderful story. I gave it a 5 star rating and highly recommend it.

Gathered by the Fire by Mark Mijuskovic

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/drama/...

This gentle drama and romance keeps you guessing as the many layers of the story are peeled back.

,,A multilayered tale

This novel is beautifully written with rich descriptions that summon vivid visual responses. It is the kind of story you can immerse yourself in, it's slow and gentle with pockets of drama that keep you engrossed and beckon you to take your time and peel back the layers of the story. The cast of characters are intriguing with villainous villains and well drawn, real and multi-dimensional characters. We follow their journeys and feel for them when they hurt. The backstory chapters are woven in and give depth and meaning to the story-line. Overall I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was an interesting story with a great cast of characters whose life stories were complex and real and easy for readers to relate to. Thank you for sharing this on Inkitt.

Another story that I recommend as great reading.

These four stories (along with those I have previously mentioned and of course my own 'Deadly Secrets') that are bound to give you hours of enjoyable reading time. Give them a try. I enjoyed them and I'm sure you will too, and don't forget, if you enjoy them, please leave a review and vote for them. It will help the writer take their novel to the next step.

Inkitt Authors - Greg McLaughlin

I am amazed at the high quality books I've read on Inkitt, for free, and to help these writers gain the analytics to maybe receive a publishing contract I'm going to give them some publicity. In the year that my novel has been on Inkitt, I've read quite a few novels and I wanted to share my thoughts about those I've enjoyed.

Once such Author is Greg McLaughlin. He is a prolific author and I have only read two of his books to date but am looking forward to reading more.

Book 1 - Second Coming

My 5 star review said:

This is a complex and suspenseful novel. It envisages a second coming and it's impact on the current world. The premise is bold, but the story appeals even to those who are not religious. The writer draws a strong cast of characters , giving us insight through backstory and intimate glimpses into their journey. The story builds and pulls the reader into the lives of the key characters, and then unleashes an action packed finale. It is a deep and satisfying story, the plot is complex and realistic, providing a reflection of the social fabric of our times.
The writing style is crisp and uses evocative images and analogies to bring the story to life.
Overall, this is a well-written and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.

Book 2 - The Third Party

This political novel is a great read and does what others don't, actually feature a politician with scruples and a desire to do what is right for the country. It's not a fantasy genre but......

Highlights from my 5 star review read:

Greg McLaughlin has done it again. He has written a terrific story with stunning characters and a plot that keeps you turning the page. Well done.
This well-written novel is steeped in action and perfect pacing. The plot kept me intrigued and reading to the end (I couldn't stop long enough to add comments at the end of the chapter even!) and the conclusion was satisfying and rewarding. The writing flows and takes the reader in close to the action, keeping us on edge and delivering suspense and intrigue along the way.
The characters are three dimensional and feel very real. It is unusual to have principled politicians. Who knew a writer could create a politician that I would be cheering for? The 'bad guys' are also too real (are they based on any real life examples?) and together the story takes us on a fraught and intense ride. Your writing made me really care about the fate of the protagonist.
The story is a terrific read, it kept me engrossed in the plot and the characters you created. Well done.

And there's more

Greg has been prolific. At the time of doing these screen shots he had the following novels listed, available for reading but since then he has added another. You are sure to find one (and more) that you enjoy. His novels are also available in hard copy from Amazon. I highly recommend his novels, so try them out, you won't regret it.