Sneak peek of the canal book cover. Life update and the costs of self-publishing!

Hello, sorry it’s been a little while since my last post. I promise my blogs will return to their regular monthly slots from now on ((Don’t make promises you cannot keep Peachy!)) I know, I should know better but here goes with what’s been going on…

Cruising news…
We are now secure in our winter mooring in Warwick and looking forward to exploring this area. The wonderful part of living this life is being able to stay in different places and call them home. We have a mooring here for five months whilst we top up the bank balance ((I’ve notified the banks to be on high alert for robbers. I told them to make sure they peer over the counter and see if you’re lurking under them!)) How rude, that’s heightest that is Brackets! Just because I’m small. ((Well, to be fair Peachy if they didn’t see you they would hear you. Ohh I’m on fire this month and heightest is not a word.)) I suppose it’s my own fault for not putting out regular blogs, Brackets saves up all the insults.

Anyway, we have a few ideas for income streams. We are not too far away from our YouTube channel being profitable so I’m hoping by next year this should be bringing in a little income. If we don’t reach this stage then I think I will have to stop creating them because it doesn’t make sense to spend 20 hours a week on something which makes no money ((when did that ever stop you. I’ve never known someone work so hard and earn less than a farthing!)) That’s the creative life for you, it’s very hard but I was born and raised not to give up. If being unrealistically optimistic is a disease, then I’m riddled with. ((I’m saying nothing))

Canal book news…
Exciting news! A sneak peek of the WIP book cover…

The book is nearly ready… just typesetting, final editing, book cover faffing and then Lost the Plot, a diary of a narrowboat journey will be ready to sell, sell, sell. In fact, I need to sell at least 300 copies to break even which is a tall order but I’ve planned my first ever book launch and have a stall booked to sell some copies as well as marketing ideas for social media. We will see!

I think this will probably be the last book I self-publish as it’s becoming too expensive and the financial return isn’t justified. You know I do this for the love of writing, with the hope of making a few pennies but the profit margins now the printing costs have increased are just unrealistic. To give you an example…

If I sell a direct paperback copy from Amazon for £8.99 I make… wait for it… 44p! ((WHAT!)) I know, I know. For over 16 months of work! If I sell the book at £9.99 I make around £1.03 profit. It is very hard to persuade people to buy a copy of a book at those costs when they don’t know the author.

I make slightly more if people buy the book direct from me, around £2.50 and the Kindle version will be priced £2.99 and I make around £2.03 profit so all my marketing will be on selling the eBook version of the book to try and break even, which is difficult but we can but try.

So, if you would like a paper copy then please do let me know either messaging me on my blog, Facebook or Instagram if I can get the book to you direct so I know how many copies to order to try and not have too many loitering around. ((If you get desperate Peachy you can use them on the fire!)) Thank you to everyone who is coming to the book launch and have pre-ordered a copy. It means the world. 

Other book news…
My publisher has officially changed their name to The Bombay Circle Press and it’s very exciting to be on this journey with them as they evolve their publishing house. They are focused on promoting Power of Nature and Finding Love and I’m hoping very soon to have a few pennies coming in from the book shop sales in Mumbai. ((This will decide if Peachy buys sachet coffee or proper coffee)) Don’t say scary things like that, Brackets. So, in the spirit of sharing how hard this creative life is I will keep you updated on this. ((If you spot Peachy on a cruise ship you know it’s gone well)) It’s more like it will be a picture out of the porthole in my narrowboat pretending to be a cruise ship.

I was planning a visit to Mumbai but unfortunately it turned out I would need to have many jabs which is difficult to sort when my doctor’s surgery is not local but also the time frame of jabs vs visiting and getting a visa when I have no official address has put this on pause, but one day! My publishers are hopefully visiting London in March so there are plans afoot to meet up there.

The Jersey book is coming along nicely and we are hoping to share the cover very soon which is very exciting. Next stage is book launch plans in Jersey to coincide with my 50th birthday ((Wow, you’re only 50 next year? I thought…)) stop it! Anyway, if anyone fancies a trip to Jersey in late June to my book launch and birthday celebration then I will keep you posted on dates and plans.

Okay then, that’s my news for now. As soon as the canal book is officially signed off and for sale I will let you know. Again, please do let me know if you would like a signed copy so I can organise pre-orders. ((I would buy the kindle it’s cheaper and anyone can forge Peachy’s signature!))

Thanks for reading… until next time. xxx