Publication day for The Endgame, two million thank-yous, and flowering rhododendrons

Today my new book, The Repulse Chronicles, Book Four: The Endgame, was published on Amazon. This is the first title of mine that hundreds of readers, in the plural, pre-ordered, and I have spent some moments during the last few weeks being faintly amazed at this response. If you were one of those, then you have my thanks and I hope you enjoy reading the novel as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you’re wondering, I think the series has three more full-length novels, and I will do my best to bring those to you as soon as I can.

I’m not given to authorly navel-gazing, especially in public on this blog, but my books’ gradually increasing readership is really very nice. A clear majority of readers who start at Book One: Onslaught go on to read the following books in the series, and if a writer needs any kind of validation or confirmation, then that is it, right there, when readers continue reading. It’s a feeling I never really expected to be able to enjoy when I started writing science fiction some 17 years ago, and it is as valuable and as appreciated as every sale and every page read.

Speaking of which, this week also saw my books reach another modest milestone:

Two million pages read by Amazon Prime members, which equal about 5,000 actual books. While this is not likely to cause the foundations of the literary establishment to shudder, I remain a lone, self-publishing independent author going up against the big boys—traditional publishing houses who can exercise real muscle in the marketplace that a relative unknown like me just doesn’t have. So, again, if you’re one of those Prime members who’s borrowed and read one of my books while Amazon may have urged you to click on the higher-profile trad books, you have my sincerest thanks.

Okay, did I say ‘Thank you’ to everyone now?

Meanwhile, in the last few days summer has arrived with the rhododendron in the front garden blooming. I love trying to photo the bumble bees as they go bananas collecting as much pollen as possible.

Take care, you lovely people, stay safe and thanks for reading.