Adventures and changes

Needless to say, it has been a busy few weeks promoting the first in the series Origins Of The Magdon: Vercovicium but also preparing for the release of Book 2. I know it is difficult to justify releasing the second in the series with moderate sales for the first series but the story is more important than sales. This journey is about the story being told and anything else that comes from that is a bonus.

To that effect Origins Of The Magdon: Valley Of The Kings (Book 2) is set to land on the 8th September and continues Archy’s adventures.

At quite the last minute I decided to change the cover of Book 2 from how I had planned (a simple subtle change to something more distinctly individual for each entry into the series but all following enough of a theme to know they come together! Changing the covers was a big deal for me as I had planned everything around the old cover that suddenly I realised did not quite do my book justice.

So the journey began to create something new and thanks to the contacts I am making online with other authors and (potential) readers feedback was taken and changes made until I managed to create the new finished product of which I am very happy with.

Outside of writing and designing I have spent some quality family time clambering mountains with my son which has allowed a big amount of time to just let the addled brain relax a little. Instead of swimming with ideas they were very much washed away by the natural beauty of the mountain. It was some bonding time allowing freedom, relaxation and reflection thus charging my creative batteries a little.

Writing can become so absorbing but what I am learning is that writing the book is only the start. It’s all about marketing and whilst I have remained determined at this time not to accept the contract I have been offered for my manuscript it is still hard deciding how best to get support and momentum for the story. That said those I am connecting with as readers are investing in and enjoying the story which fills me with the confidence that there is something in the story to keep trying to get the world to notice.

I have struggled to find the right “compartment” into which the story fits as I have written it for such a wide-ranging audience. Adults, children, parents, grandparents, mid-grade, teens….everyone can enjoy something from the story and that is how I want it to be.

Someone asked me why I wrote the story and the only way I could explain it was like this:

I remember watching films like Indiana Jones as a kid and wanting to embark on some epic adventure into history. This story arc for The Magdon Series is my way of rekindling that childish sense of excitement and adventure, that escapism from the real world to question the world and imagine the what ifs. This is a story to encourage a sense of fun, excitement and give you that little tingle when you put yourself in Archy’s place and think “what if”. It’s really my mad way of keeping my childhood alive even though I am, supposed to be a responsible adult these days.

What I really need to try and get done is get myself featured and interviewed somewhere so I can be that human face of the story, explain in my own peculiar way why I do what I do and what brought all of this about.

It’s tough, it’s confusing but it will be worth it in the end.

Also in view of Book 2 coming out you can get Book 1 FREE from Smashwords using the code VK43P