Hugo Smienk's Blog
March 28, 2024
Another round on me!
Hey there, did you happen to enter the giveaway where we generously handed out 100 e-books to those who participated in this Goodreads-organized extravaganza?
But luck wasn't on your side?
No worries, my friend. For a limited time only, we're giving away The Broken Traveler: A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Adventure for Free!
What's the catch, you ask?
This offer might stretch the budget a bit, so it's exclusively for Amazon Prime Members.
Just click on this link .(Grab Your Free copy Now!) right here. And if this is your kind of read, I'm sure you'll repay the favor with an honest review.
That way, we both come out on top.
Thanks for taking the time to read The Broken Traveler.
Yours faithfully,
Hugo Smienk
Adventures of a Globetrotter
But luck wasn't on your side?
No worries, my friend. For a limited time only, we're giving away The Broken Traveler: A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Adventure for Free!
What's the catch, you ask?
This offer might stretch the budget a bit, so it's exclusively for Amazon Prime Members.
Just click on this link .(Grab Your Free copy Now!) right here. And if this is your kind of read, I'm sure you'll repay the favor with an honest review.
That way, we both come out on top.
Thanks for taking the time to read The Broken Traveler.
Yours faithfully,
Hugo Smienk
Adventures of a Globetrotter
March 21, 2024
Hurray! I've got mail!
And when I say that, I mean it quite literally. I received a kind email with a question. The question inquired about the other titles listed on Goodreads.
Since this marks the first email I've ever received, I thought, why not turn this into a topic or a post on Goodreads? After all, as far as I know, it's the only site where all my published titles are displayed.
The answer to the question is straightforward. I've already written back to the kind lady who reached out to me. Although, it just occurred to me that I forgot to ask her if she's read my memoir: The Broken Traveler.
But I don't want to seem pushy, so I won't write to her again.
What I firmly believe is that the 13 years it took for the story to mature, along with all the hard work and tears shed, will eventually be embraced by the universe.
Readers will discover the essence of the story, which I didn't write solely for myself, but more so for you.
Returning to the question (I'm still beaming from having received an email), as I mentioned, the answer is simple.
From 2008 until 2011, I was traditionally published in the Netherlands. My debut was a hardcore crime story called BMK. Strangely enough, the publication of that book led to a TV portrait, interviews in newspapers, magazines, and with all that attention, we believed we were off to a good start.
The second book is the only one that didn't make it to the National Library. Strange, isn't it? Because it's one of my favorites. And guess what? Yes, this particular story is the one we're working on to publish in the English language. I've just realized that this post is turning out to be a treasure trove of information.
The third book, titled Solitary Lock-Up: The Shanghai Connection, is a thriller with a few steamy sex scenes, but mainly focuses on a topic that years later became quite relevant.
And last but not least, Golf Wives is a book I wrote on commission. The copyright for that one belongs to somebody else.
So there you have it, my friends.
Clarification about the other titles.
A golden nugget regarding the next book... and hopefully, a nice story that will incentivize you to talk about The Broken Traveler. Because, let's be honest here, I still need a bunch more sales, and all this could be kickstarted with some nice reviews.
At your service and until next time, Hugo
Since this marks the first email I've ever received, I thought, why not turn this into a topic or a post on Goodreads? After all, as far as I know, it's the only site where all my published titles are displayed.
The answer to the question is straightforward. I've already written back to the kind lady who reached out to me. Although, it just occurred to me that I forgot to ask her if she's read my memoir: The Broken Traveler.
But I don't want to seem pushy, so I won't write to her again.
What I firmly believe is that the 13 years it took for the story to mature, along with all the hard work and tears shed, will eventually be embraced by the universe.
Readers will discover the essence of the story, which I didn't write solely for myself, but more so for you.
Returning to the question (I'm still beaming from having received an email), as I mentioned, the answer is simple.
From 2008 until 2011, I was traditionally published in the Netherlands. My debut was a hardcore crime story called BMK. Strangely enough, the publication of that book led to a TV portrait, interviews in newspapers, magazines, and with all that attention, we believed we were off to a good start.
The second book is the only one that didn't make it to the National Library. Strange, isn't it? Because it's one of my favorites. And guess what? Yes, this particular story is the one we're working on to publish in the English language. I've just realized that this post is turning out to be a treasure trove of information.
The third book, titled Solitary Lock-Up: The Shanghai Connection, is a thriller with a few steamy sex scenes, but mainly focuses on a topic that years later became quite relevant.
And last but not least, Golf Wives is a book I wrote on commission. The copyright for that one belongs to somebody else.
So there you have it, my friends.
Clarification about the other titles.
A golden nugget regarding the next book... and hopefully, a nice story that will incentivize you to talk about The Broken Traveler. Because, let's be honest here, I still need a bunch more sales, and all this could be kickstarted with some nice reviews.
At your service and until next time, Hugo
March 7, 2024
Help!
Hey there, and a big thank you to everyone who joined in on the giveaway for The Broken Traveler.
Thankfully, it wasn't too much of a hit on the wallet, but it does make me wonder: how close are we to that tipping point? And why the somewhat plaintive title, "Help"?
Hey, it's Hugo here. Even though my days are jam-packed, I figured I'd squeeze in a quick update for Goodreads.
Now, you might be wondering why I'm always pressed for time. Well, on one hand, I'm knee-deep in trying to drum up some buzz for The Broken Traveler, and on the other hand, I'm deep in the trenches of novel writing, aiming to get it out by the year's end.
But let me explain why I titled this post "Help." I've been wondering: where are all the amazing folks who snagged the free Kindle version of my memoir?
The giveaway meant a lot to me for two reasons:
Firstly, I'm hoping it'll get more eyes on the story. I won't lie, if this is your kind of read, you're gonna love The Broken Traveler. Maybe it'll even shine a light on something for you.
And secondly, by handing out a hundred free Kindle copies on Goodreads and Amazon, I was hoping to rack up some reviews. Turns out, reviews are pretty darn important for getting noticed on Amazon.
But here's the thing, The Broken Traveler is still flying under the radar. Let's change that. Let's bring this story out into the open, where others can discover it, talk about it, and hopefully, enjoy it.
So, my friend, that's why I called this post "Help."
Feel free to share this around and get more people in on the conversation.
Got any questions? Shoot!
Catch you later, The Broken Traveler: A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Adventure
Hugo Smienk
PS check out my site: https://hugosmienk.com
Thankfully, it wasn't too much of a hit on the wallet, but it does make me wonder: how close are we to that tipping point? And why the somewhat plaintive title, "Help"?
Hey, it's Hugo here. Even though my days are jam-packed, I figured I'd squeeze in a quick update for Goodreads.
Now, you might be wondering why I'm always pressed for time. Well, on one hand, I'm knee-deep in trying to drum up some buzz for The Broken Traveler, and on the other hand, I'm deep in the trenches of novel writing, aiming to get it out by the year's end.
But let me explain why I titled this post "Help." I've been wondering: where are all the amazing folks who snagged the free Kindle version of my memoir?
The giveaway meant a lot to me for two reasons:
Firstly, I'm hoping it'll get more eyes on the story. I won't lie, if this is your kind of read, you're gonna love The Broken Traveler. Maybe it'll even shine a light on something for you.
And secondly, by handing out a hundred free Kindle copies on Goodreads and Amazon, I was hoping to rack up some reviews. Turns out, reviews are pretty darn important for getting noticed on Amazon.
But here's the thing, The Broken Traveler is still flying under the radar. Let's change that. Let's bring this story out into the open, where others can discover it, talk about it, and hopefully, enjoy it.
So, my friend, that's why I called this post "Help."
Feel free to share this around and get more people in on the conversation.
Got any questions? Shoot!
Catch you later, The Broken Traveler: A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Adventure
Hugo Smienk
PS check out my site: https://hugosmienk.com
