F. Scott Andison's Blog, page 4
February 6, 2019
The Morning After (Finishing writing a book)
Yesterday I finished writing my latest book – 'Lost & Found'. I'll print a draft manuscript off today and wait a while before I read it. While the title changed quite a few times over the years, I pretty much stayed true to my original idea for the story which is sort of amazing as it's been inside my head for about forty-five years. I came up with the idea before leaving university and even started writing the book when I really had no idea how to. I've still got hand written chapters from that attempt. Boy it takes me back.
I guess that's why finishing the book was so hard and why this time finishing feels so different. Don't get me wrong, I know there's still tons of work to do editing, revising, and of course the dreaded marketing! But...
When I woke up this morning I realized I didn't have to think about where I was in the story or how I was going to continue on. I also won't have to sit for hours in my tiny office pounding away on the keyboard. The story in my mind has emerged and is now real. It's different than I thought it would be. Things happened that surprised me or at least didn't feel in my control. When the story gets going it tends to write itself. I think that's why I write.
But like everything, this unfolding tale kept sacred by me for so many years comes to an end. I'm feeling a bit down even though I'm pleased the grind is over. It's like saying goodbye to an old friend or even a beloved pet.
We create a little world and play the parts only to have it walk away from us, independent. So wonderful and sad at the same time.
I guess that's why finishing the book was so hard and why this time finishing feels so different. Don't get me wrong, I know there's still tons of work to do editing, revising, and of course the dreaded marketing! But...
When I woke up this morning I realized I didn't have to think about where I was in the story or how I was going to continue on. I also won't have to sit for hours in my tiny office pounding away on the keyboard. The story in my mind has emerged and is now real. It's different than I thought it would be. Things happened that surprised me or at least didn't feel in my control. When the story gets going it tends to write itself. I think that's why I write.
But like everything, this unfolding tale kept sacred by me for so many years comes to an end. I'm feeling a bit down even though I'm pleased the grind is over. It's like saying goodbye to an old friend or even a beloved pet.
We create a little world and play the parts only to have it walk away from us, independent. So wonderful and sad at the same time.
January 18, 2019
My Audience, My Voice and Me
Most everything I've read about marketing a novel you've written talks about identifying the audience you think might be interested in reading it. Sounds simple – unless the books you write are hard to categorize and you don't stick to a particular genre. But let me try to do it, looking at the eight books I've finished writing to date as objectively as I can, and ask the question - who would want to read them? Or, more pointedly – how easy are they to sell?
The first book I wrote, Inner Core, is a thriller about the coming cataclysm in 2012 - but in truth the big story ends up being about the main character getting back together with his childhood sweetheart. My assessment? Subject matter and format appealing to thriller/action/science-fiction readers but content geared towards relationships and romance. Hard to market.
Then came my four novel Urizen Series about the collapse of democracy in America. Each book in the series, despite having lots of action and a number of pretty good twists if I say so myself, is about people getting together, having babies, loving each other then saving America and the World. My assessment? Content probably too mushy for most thriller/action readers. My main character is really tough and a not bad anti-hero but he's not very manly. There's lots of futuristic/science fiction type material in the books but I don't think it would have much appeal to readers of that genre. Kind of a mess actually when you look at selling the series.
Next is The Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle. It was supposed to be one book in three parts, but at over 300,000 words I thought it would be too long to market as one novel (not sure if that's right or wrong). The series follows the life of a girl who has perception and power far beyond that of normal human beings. While, I'm confident Meghan's story is intriguing and will challenge readers, when I go to pick what genre it fits into (from the drop down menus offered) I am truly stymied. So, it's not romance, it's not about the occult or supernatural, it's not religious, it's not women's literature and it's not young reader appropriate. My assessment? The subject matter and even writing tone of the book would be better accepted if written by a woman. I did think very seriously about publishing the series using a female pen name but in the end decided against it. Maybe that was an error – I don't know. Crap, it's really a marketing mess too!
Given my propensity to write adult oriented material that is romantic, and focused on love, relationships and babies, I'm guessing my audience is mostly women over thirty. My voice inside is truly more female than male, though I am obviously male. That, I think, confuses matters and is of course is an entirely different subject for perhaps for another day.
Overall assessment of my first eight books (and ten years of effort)? Not one easy sell in the works.
The genre best suited to my style and focus of writing is probably Romance. It came clear to me one day when I began writing my latest novel, Lost & Found. It's a pure love story and even involves time travel (though it's not set in Scotland). At least it will be easy to categorize! Maybe it will be easier to sell?
Probably the best way for me to sell my work would be to focus on writing romances. Now I know that may or may not fly either, but I think if that were my focus it would be a good way to approach it. But I'm not going to do that. I'm going to write what I feel like writing. I don't write for an audience – though it would be great to have one – I write for me. My tenth book is going to be written in the first person and present the teachings of an entity beyond our time-space reality.
If I ever garner an audience who consume my work, they'll have to be eclectic and read over a wide spectrum of genres. Maybe they're out there – maybe not. I do care, but I also know that being true to oneself is more important than selling books. Success to me is writing them. Any recompense or recognition that result, merely a dividend.
The first book I wrote, Inner Core, is a thriller about the coming cataclysm in 2012 - but in truth the big story ends up being about the main character getting back together with his childhood sweetheart. My assessment? Subject matter and format appealing to thriller/action/science-fiction readers but content geared towards relationships and romance. Hard to market.
Then came my four novel Urizen Series about the collapse of democracy in America. Each book in the series, despite having lots of action and a number of pretty good twists if I say so myself, is about people getting together, having babies, loving each other then saving America and the World. My assessment? Content probably too mushy for most thriller/action readers. My main character is really tough and a not bad anti-hero but he's not very manly. There's lots of futuristic/science fiction type material in the books but I don't think it would have much appeal to readers of that genre. Kind of a mess actually when you look at selling the series.
Next is The Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle. It was supposed to be one book in three parts, but at over 300,000 words I thought it would be too long to market as one novel (not sure if that's right or wrong). The series follows the life of a girl who has perception and power far beyond that of normal human beings. While, I'm confident Meghan's story is intriguing and will challenge readers, when I go to pick what genre it fits into (from the drop down menus offered) I am truly stymied. So, it's not romance, it's not about the occult or supernatural, it's not religious, it's not women's literature and it's not young reader appropriate. My assessment? The subject matter and even writing tone of the book would be better accepted if written by a woman. I did think very seriously about publishing the series using a female pen name but in the end decided against it. Maybe that was an error – I don't know. Crap, it's really a marketing mess too!
Given my propensity to write adult oriented material that is romantic, and focused on love, relationships and babies, I'm guessing my audience is mostly women over thirty. My voice inside is truly more female than male, though I am obviously male. That, I think, confuses matters and is of course is an entirely different subject for perhaps for another day.
Overall assessment of my first eight books (and ten years of effort)? Not one easy sell in the works.
The genre best suited to my style and focus of writing is probably Romance. It came clear to me one day when I began writing my latest novel, Lost & Found. It's a pure love story and even involves time travel (though it's not set in Scotland). At least it will be easy to categorize! Maybe it will be easier to sell?
Probably the best way for me to sell my work would be to focus on writing romances. Now I know that may or may not fly either, but I think if that were my focus it would be a good way to approach it. But I'm not going to do that. I'm going to write what I feel like writing. I don't write for an audience – though it would be great to have one – I write for me. My tenth book is going to be written in the first person and present the teachings of an entity beyond our time-space reality.
If I ever garner an audience who consume my work, they'll have to be eclectic and read over a wide spectrum of genres. Maybe they're out there – maybe not. I do care, but I also know that being true to oneself is more important than selling books. Success to me is writing them. Any recompense or recognition that result, merely a dividend.
January 14, 2019
The Amazing Depths of My Shallowness
How shallow am I? Pretty shallow it turns out! Getting some ratings from readers on 'Fall From Grace' was really making me feel positive. A couple of 5 star ratings from Amazon, four 5 star (okay one was my wife so one of them really doesn't count) along with one 4 star rating from Goodreads. Not bad! I say I don't care but I have to admit I was feeling pretty good about the feedback.
But now – today in fact - a 2 star rating from a Goodreads reader! I checked the average rating they give out for other books they've read and it's 4.75! A two is less than a pass. A two is well into negative territory. The 2 actually bothered me! How fantastically funny it should matter to me at all. Why didn't they like the book? Did they find it offensive? Poorly written? Seriously though, at least somebody read the book (hopefully all of it) and had a negative reaction. It happens, I tell myself.
I just hope it doesn't happen all too often. It seems I'm not deep enough to ignore it!
But now – today in fact - a 2 star rating from a Goodreads reader! I checked the average rating they give out for other books they've read and it's 4.75! A two is less than a pass. A two is well into negative territory. The 2 actually bothered me! How fantastically funny it should matter to me at all. Why didn't they like the book? Did they find it offensive? Poorly written? Seriously though, at least somebody read the book (hopefully all of it) and had a negative reaction. It happens, I tell myself.
I just hope it doesn't happen all too often. It seems I'm not deep enough to ignore it!
January 1, 2019
2019 New Year's resolutions for writing
In keeping with a writing theme here and not digressing into my personal life, my writing resolutions for 2019 are as follows (in order of priority I believe):
1. Finish writing 'Lost & Found'. It's been a bit of a slog to be honest. During this fall I experienced as close as I've come to writer's block. Some days it was hard to get out 500 words! When I stopped writing at Christmas I was nearly three quarters of the way through – just shy of 60,000 words. I figure I should be able to finish writing the book by the end of February. It's about time too as I've been writing it (under various titles) for more than 40 years!
2. Add to/Edit/Revise the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne series ('Redemption'). I'm really looking forward to working it even though I know it's going to be a lot of work. I was planning on doing the third book as well in 2019 ('Ascension') but as a result of being a little behind schedule already I don't think that's going to happen.
3. Work on marketing 'Fall From Grace'. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this but in putting it down as the third priority I hope it'll make me give it some attention!
4. Edit 'Lost & Found'.
5. Self publish 'Lost & Found'.
6. Self publish 'Redemption'.
7. Keep thinking about how to present the next book I plan to write. Probably in 2020. I already have the title 'Dreaming at the Speed of Light' and know it's going to be written in the first person but that's about it. I've had lots of ideas how and what to put in the book. When I'm bored with all the other things I'm working on, I let my mind play with ways to let the story come out.
That'll be all for 2019. It'll be interesting to come back at the end of the year and do a reconciliation!
1. Finish writing 'Lost & Found'. It's been a bit of a slog to be honest. During this fall I experienced as close as I've come to writer's block. Some days it was hard to get out 500 words! When I stopped writing at Christmas I was nearly three quarters of the way through – just shy of 60,000 words. I figure I should be able to finish writing the book by the end of February. It's about time too as I've been writing it (under various titles) for more than 40 years!
2. Add to/Edit/Revise the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne series ('Redemption'). I'm really looking forward to working it even though I know it's going to be a lot of work. I was planning on doing the third book as well in 2019 ('Ascension') but as a result of being a little behind schedule already I don't think that's going to happen.
3. Work on marketing 'Fall From Grace'. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this but in putting it down as the third priority I hope it'll make me give it some attention!
4. Edit 'Lost & Found'.
5. Self publish 'Lost & Found'.
6. Self publish 'Redemption'.
7. Keep thinking about how to present the next book I plan to write. Probably in 2020. I already have the title 'Dreaming at the Speed of Light' and know it's going to be written in the first person but that's about it. I've had lots of ideas how and what to put in the book. When I'm bored with all the other things I'm working on, I let my mind play with ways to let the story come out.
That'll be all for 2019. It'll be interesting to come back at the end of the year and do a reconciliation!
December 29, 2018
Giveaway for Fall From Grace
The giveaway is over! Thanks to everyone who requested a copy. Hope those who won enjoy reading the first book (of three) in The Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle.
December 17, 2018
To Buy or Not to Buy
Last time I talked about getting feedback and editing assistance from family and friends. This time I want to talk about paid assistance. This is best accomplished by describing my experiences going in chronological order.
My first foray into this nebulous world was with a neighbor who offered her services for a very reasonable three hundred dollars. She was a sometimes professional editor, had several published articles to her name and talked herself up pretty good. At the time, I was still double spacing at the end of sentences and she put me straight on that. And that was pretty much it other than telling me it was pretty good other than sometimes using “that” when I shouldn't or sometimes not using it when I should. No specifics or any mark on the manuscript. Three hundred bucks. Wow!
My second attempt to pay for help was with a relative of my wife's. I think I paid six hundred dollars not realizing he was going to charge me about one hundred and twenty five an hour for the honor. This guy was an editor by trade, having just left a newspaper to move to Victoria with his family. It was a misunderstanding to be sure but I got less from him than I did from the first debacle. I got the feedback during a coffee meeting – that I paid for thanking him for doing essentially nothing. Wow! Wow!
My third experience was a little more successful, but with a nice little twist – like of the knife. A friend's sister was in the business and a novelist to boot. I paid her I believe a reasonable three or four hundred dollars to read my book and for the first time I got back something meaningful I could use to improve it. In the course of this work however, I was accused of being a pedophile because of the way I wrote an episode in the book involving that horrific behavior. This was particularly irksome as my intent was the exact opposite. Finding myself having to explain that was to say the least embarrassing too. Jeez!
To try and take Fall From Grace to the next level I hired a real working professional in the business and got her to review the book. She gave me detailed notes I found very useful. There were some things I ignored and others where I think she was outright wrong but overall the feedback was very useful and made the book much better. Now I paid about twelve hundred dollars overall – a test run of the first hundred pages for three hundred bucks and the rest of the book later for nine hundred. It was a lot more money but ended in a lot more useful result. The book could use another edit I'm sure and having a good editor working with you would be really wonderful. Maybe some day.
Useful feedback on a novel from a real pro is going to cost anywhere between fifteen to twenty five hundred dollars at a minimum and go up from there. I'm not talking a detailed heavy edit either. This is high level impression and comments stuff. And I understand why. At $30 to $50 an hour (and up) it doesn't take long to add up.
Will I do it again? I'm really not sure. My conclusion at the end of the day? You get what you pay for plain and simple.
My first foray into this nebulous world was with a neighbor who offered her services for a very reasonable three hundred dollars. She was a sometimes professional editor, had several published articles to her name and talked herself up pretty good. At the time, I was still double spacing at the end of sentences and she put me straight on that. And that was pretty much it other than telling me it was pretty good other than sometimes using “that” when I shouldn't or sometimes not using it when I should. No specifics or any mark on the manuscript. Three hundred bucks. Wow!
My second attempt to pay for help was with a relative of my wife's. I think I paid six hundred dollars not realizing he was going to charge me about one hundred and twenty five an hour for the honor. This guy was an editor by trade, having just left a newspaper to move to Victoria with his family. It was a misunderstanding to be sure but I got less from him than I did from the first debacle. I got the feedback during a coffee meeting – that I paid for thanking him for doing essentially nothing. Wow! Wow!
My third experience was a little more successful, but with a nice little twist – like of the knife. A friend's sister was in the business and a novelist to boot. I paid her I believe a reasonable three or four hundred dollars to read my book and for the first time I got back something meaningful I could use to improve it. In the course of this work however, I was accused of being a pedophile because of the way I wrote an episode in the book involving that horrific behavior. This was particularly irksome as my intent was the exact opposite. Finding myself having to explain that was to say the least embarrassing too. Jeez!
To try and take Fall From Grace to the next level I hired a real working professional in the business and got her to review the book. She gave me detailed notes I found very useful. There were some things I ignored and others where I think she was outright wrong but overall the feedback was very useful and made the book much better. Now I paid about twelve hundred dollars overall – a test run of the first hundred pages for three hundred bucks and the rest of the book later for nine hundred. It was a lot more money but ended in a lot more useful result. The book could use another edit I'm sure and having a good editor working with you would be really wonderful. Maybe some day.
Useful feedback on a novel from a real pro is going to cost anywhere between fifteen to twenty five hundred dollars at a minimum and go up from there. I'm not talking a detailed heavy edit either. This is high level impression and comments stuff. And I understand why. At $30 to $50 an hour (and up) it doesn't take long to add up.
Will I do it again? I'm really not sure. My conclusion at the end of the day? You get what you pay for plain and simple.
December 13, 2018
To Share Or Not To Share
To share or not to share – that is the question. Over the years I've shared my writing with friends and family members and that's what I'm talking about here. Not about buying a service or paying someone to do it – that's for another day.
So this is an analysis, at least for me, of whether it's been worth it – or not.
Okay, I did it at first because I was unsure. Can I really write a book? Really? Like anyone could tell you. Anyway I shared raw material. This was a mistake. I tended to shape my first book according to some of the feedback. All of it really unspecific and not helpful in the long run. Maybe if you had a really good editor (I wish – it is my dream) it would be okay.
Asking people to read something they haven't chosen for themselves is a problem. Like most grade school English teachers I have learned this over the years. Crap, I don't blame them. Here, waste some of your precious hours reading my drivel. Yes I realize you only like non-fiction but what the fuck. And then of course look for some meaningful feedback. Pipe dream. The only person who bugged me to get a draft copy of one of my book's ended up totally fucking me over. We were to exchange drafts of our books – I was actively working on mine – and I lived up to my end but never received his. Then, for almost two years afterwards every time I saw the guy he'd apologize for not having read it. Over and over until I made it quite clear I didn't give a shit what he did and left him with the impression if he asked about it again that I'd tell him to shove the manuscript (which I paid $40 to photocopy and bind) up his inadequately proportioned ass.
And if you have to ask people to read your shit what do you expect. And really, what if they do read it and think it stinks. How can they say that? Or what if it's just barely tolerable. At the point I'm at I rather have somebody tell me what they don't like about the book than an insipid, useless remark. “It's... a... book” was one of my very favorites. I've also learned that getting people to help proof read is a losing cause. They just won't do it even if it means just making a little mark in the margin. Why? Because it's shitty work and it takes your mind away from the story. So that's another thing I'll never do again.
And asking people what they think after you've given them a book (draft or self published) is the worst. If they haven't done it they feel bad and usually apologize. Or maybe they started it and put it down. Or maybe they actually read it and it doesn't do anything for them. You don't always end up liking the books you do pick for yourself if you're anything like me. The worst is no comment at all. Did they read it and hate it? Did they start but found themselves unable to finish? Is it still sitting on their bedside table? Did they forget I gave it to them?
Now this is a depressing fact, but nobody, other than my wife and one or two others, has actually asked to read any of my books. I usually ask them if they'd like to but again this is a practice I mean to stop. It puts them in a bind. And hell here I am giving away ten and twenty dollar bills - and it's like they're doing me a favor. One of my recent experiences is having somebody, an old friend, cast doubt on me regarding the number of errors still remaining in my latest book although I really did go over and over it. Thanks. I didn't need that, but what was I looking for. I guess if I'm honest I really wanted that person to say “wow, what a creative story, I'm impressed”. But of course I also don't like to be patronized either. My but I'm hard to please!
I've had a few general comments about first drafts of books that have been helpful – really helpful so I don't want to throw away the baby with the bathwater, but overall I'd say giving drafts and finished books to friends and relatives is a big mistake. If they're truly interested, they can buy one. My success or failure (at selling books) will not depend on my siblings, children and friends making purchases.
So my conclusions? First, no more torturing people I know and love by asking them to read my stuff. Second, if I want help proofreading other than what my wife and I can do I'll pay for it (it's fairly reasonable). Third, stop looking for legitimization outside myself – talk about a boxer leading with their chin. Fourth, figure out how to get some feedback from the marketplace where the books will be selling (there are some sites that let you share and allow people to comment).
So this is an analysis, at least for me, of whether it's been worth it – or not.
Okay, I did it at first because I was unsure. Can I really write a book? Really? Like anyone could tell you. Anyway I shared raw material. This was a mistake. I tended to shape my first book according to some of the feedback. All of it really unspecific and not helpful in the long run. Maybe if you had a really good editor (I wish – it is my dream) it would be okay.
Asking people to read something they haven't chosen for themselves is a problem. Like most grade school English teachers I have learned this over the years. Crap, I don't blame them. Here, waste some of your precious hours reading my drivel. Yes I realize you only like non-fiction but what the fuck. And then of course look for some meaningful feedback. Pipe dream. The only person who bugged me to get a draft copy of one of my book's ended up totally fucking me over. We were to exchange drafts of our books – I was actively working on mine – and I lived up to my end but never received his. Then, for almost two years afterwards every time I saw the guy he'd apologize for not having read it. Over and over until I made it quite clear I didn't give a shit what he did and left him with the impression if he asked about it again that I'd tell him to shove the manuscript (which I paid $40 to photocopy and bind) up his inadequately proportioned ass.
And if you have to ask people to read your shit what do you expect. And really, what if they do read it and think it stinks. How can they say that? Or what if it's just barely tolerable. At the point I'm at I rather have somebody tell me what they don't like about the book than an insipid, useless remark. “It's... a... book” was one of my very favorites. I've also learned that getting people to help proof read is a losing cause. They just won't do it even if it means just making a little mark in the margin. Why? Because it's shitty work and it takes your mind away from the story. So that's another thing I'll never do again.
And asking people what they think after you've given them a book (draft or self published) is the worst. If they haven't done it they feel bad and usually apologize. Or maybe they started it and put it down. Or maybe they actually read it and it doesn't do anything for them. You don't always end up liking the books you do pick for yourself if you're anything like me. The worst is no comment at all. Did they read it and hate it? Did they start but found themselves unable to finish? Is it still sitting on their bedside table? Did they forget I gave it to them?
Now this is a depressing fact, but nobody, other than my wife and one or two others, has actually asked to read any of my books. I usually ask them if they'd like to but again this is a practice I mean to stop. It puts them in a bind. And hell here I am giving away ten and twenty dollar bills - and it's like they're doing me a favor. One of my recent experiences is having somebody, an old friend, cast doubt on me regarding the number of errors still remaining in my latest book although I really did go over and over it. Thanks. I didn't need that, but what was I looking for. I guess if I'm honest I really wanted that person to say “wow, what a creative story, I'm impressed”. But of course I also don't like to be patronized either. My but I'm hard to please!
I've had a few general comments about first drafts of books that have been helpful – really helpful so I don't want to throw away the baby with the bathwater, but overall I'd say giving drafts and finished books to friends and relatives is a big mistake. If they're truly interested, they can buy one. My success or failure (at selling books) will not depend on my siblings, children and friends making purchases.
So my conclusions? First, no more torturing people I know and love by asking them to read my stuff. Second, if I want help proofreading other than what my wife and I can do I'll pay for it (it's fairly reasonable). Third, stop looking for legitimization outside myself – talk about a boxer leading with their chin. Fourth, figure out how to get some feedback from the marketplace where the books will be selling (there are some sites that let you share and allow people to comment).
December 7, 2018
Update #5
Some good progress on the new book! Went past the 1/2 way mark early in the week (40,000 words). My revised goal for completing Lost & Found is mid-February. I should be able to get to 60,000 words or 300 pages by Christmas. Another 6 or 7 good days of writing will do it. The book is coming along quite nicely. I am jumping out and around my writing key but that's cool. I love it when the story starts doing stuff on its own.
Another step forward was that I got back the review from GoodbbooksToday and it was very positive. Almost too postitive really. Anyway it gave me some words to use to promote the book that I'd have trouble writing about myself. Now I'll let them put that review on their site and also for doing a giveaway on Goodreads. I'll try a Kindle version and give away 88 and see what kind of luck that number brings! It's the same cost for 1 or 100 so what the hell!
Another step forward was that I got back the review from GoodbbooksToday and it was very positive. Almost too postitive really. Anyway it gave me some words to use to promote the book that I'd have trouble writing about myself. Now I'll let them put that review on their site and also for doing a giveaway on Goodreads. I'll try a Kindle version and give away 88 and see what kind of luck that number brings! It's the same cost for 1 or 100 so what the hell!
November 26, 2018
Update #4
I've decided to call them updates as calling them progress reports seems a tad optimistic. BookBub rejected the first book in my Chu series - Death of the Republic. The good news is I won't have to pay for them to promote my book (being given away for free). Bad news is it isn't deemed worthy enough by them to be paid to give it away for free! I'd like to say that it doesn't smart a little but I cannot.
On the writing my new book front - Lost & Found - I am very close to the half way point so I almost made my goal for the week. No way will I be done before Christmas (unless I really get on a tear) but it should at least be close. Right now I'm on chapter 17 of 34. A thousand more words and I'll hit 40,000 which also happens to amount to about 200 pages (New Courier 12 font).
That's it for now. Still waiting on the GoodbooksToday review of Fall From Grace. After I get it I'll do a Goodreads Kindle giveaway.
On the writing my new book front - Lost & Found - I am very close to the half way point so I almost made my goal for the week. No way will I be done before Christmas (unless I really get on a tear) but it should at least be close. Right now I'm on chapter 17 of 34. A thousand more words and I'll hit 40,000 which also happens to amount to about 200 pages (New Courier 12 font).
That's it for now. Still waiting on the GoodbooksToday review of Fall From Grace. After I get it I'll do a Goodreads Kindle giveaway.
November 20, 2018
Progress Report #3
Well this last week wasn't as productive writing wise. Got a little bit done and put my first book in the Derrik Chu Series Death of the Republic for consideration by BookBub. If I'm lucky they'll let me pay them to include my book in their email. Wow. I've read a few accounts from people who say it actually works. It's kind of like feeling great when an unexpected bill comes along. Anyway, Fall From Grace should be to GoodbooksToday by now. Interesting to see the review. I found two I did with them before not bad but one was definitely from a person who was under 20. Not that that's bad it just I could tell. I digress as there was not much progress. Maybe by the end of this week I'll be half way. Did I say that last week? I'm not going to bother checking.
