What I have learned this week

Last week saw the official launch of the paperback edition of my comedy/fantasy book, Pike's Quest . There was no major party - that seemed a little pointless, as it's been on Kindle since October. 


I made an offer to my local writers' circle: if they let me know in advance, by e-mail, I would take some copies to the end of season bash and they could have them at a discounted rate. I posted this on the official blog page of the circle, then on the hidden "members' area", my Facebook Page, the Pike's Quest  Facebook page, and the circle's Facebook page ... and I had no requests for copies. 


Dutifully, I turned up at the bash with  no books. I had no intention of taking some on spec. and sitting in the corner, looking embarrassed when no one bought a copy. Anyway, nattering to members I found that most people hadn't read these messages and at least four people told me I should have taken some copies with me and they would have bought one! 


ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! Information super highway? Read the road signs, people!


I'll take some copies to the unofficial meetings we hold over the summer, and hope I don't end up looking like the sad sap I was trying hard not to look like.


Moving on ...


I am partway through writing the sequel to Pike's Quest - named Pike's ReQuest, and I'm not moving very quickly. This is  due to the fact that I have, in recent weeks, formatted the paperback, done the artwork, edited a very lengthy manuscript for my thriller,  Rathbone Kydd , created the cover for said thriller, and also had several hospital visits regarding my Achilles tendon operation.


What  I have  learned this week 
1: It's all very well multi-tasking, but doing half-a-dozen things at once means doing half-a-dozen things slowly . 
2: No matter how plain your message may be, you can't force others to read it.