V.S. Nelson's Blog
February 20, 2025
The Girl Who Sold Time - NetGalley
My next book, The Girl Who Sold Time, is now available for review on NetGalley .
A middle grade science fiction novel about friendship and discovery.
This book has really taken it out of me; it's been a constant fight to get everything completed on time. But we're nearly there with it. The ebook is finished, the files for the paperback are with the printers and the audiobook mastering is 40% completed.
Publication date: 28 March 2025
A middle grade science fiction novel about friendship and discovery.
This book has really taken it out of me; it's been a constant fight to get everything completed on time. But we're nearly there with it. The ebook is finished, the files for the paperback are with the printers and the audiobook mastering is 40% completed.
Publication date: 28 March 2025
July 21, 2023
Should you publish your book for free?
I wrote a blog post about the value of publishing your book for free.
In this blog I cover:
Editing
Cover
Amazon paperback creation
https://vsnelson.com/?p=105
In this blog I cover:
Editing
Cover
Amazon paperback creation
https://vsnelson.com/?p=105
May 31, 2023
Bargain Book Websites - How many copies do you really sell?
Bargain Book Websites - a blog post
I've written a blog post about Bargain Book website and how many copies of The Archivist I sold during a five-day $0.99 promotion.
I looked at:
*Bargain Booksy
*Book Barbarian
*The Fussy Librarian
*Booksends
Possibly of interest to those who write as opposed to just read.
I've written a blog post about Bargain Book website and how many copies of The Archivist I sold during a five-day $0.99 promotion.
I looked at:
*Bargain Booksy
*Book Barbarian
*The Fussy Librarian
*Booksends
Possibly of interest to those who write as opposed to just read.
June 16, 2017
What self publishing has taught me
The important thing is that self publishing has actually managed to teach me something, meaning I'm not as dense as everyone says.
So this is it, the biggest lesson I've learned...
No one is going to buy your book!
Tada! Oh wait...
I'm not saying this with any ill feelings. I went into this publishing adventure prepared to lose everything I put into it. As much as I love writing it is a hobby and I'm fortunate to have a good(ish) job. But, as I have learned a few things I thought I would share them in case any would-be self published authors stumble across my blog.
I chose various marketing and promotional options when creating my self publishing package. Now, several months after the publication date I can safely say that this process is the same as going to a wood, foraging for twigs and sticks, building a fire, throwing all of your money on it and then standing around wondering why your books aren't in shops. Honestly, it did absolutely nothing.
I don't begrudge my self publisher of this. They have a business model that has been designed to make them money. Sadly, that business model also happens to take my money and produce absolutely zero results. They said they'd contact sellers, have my book promoted and send out copies for review (among other things) - all for a cost. I'll be honest, I got much better (as in actual) results doing it myself for free!
What I'd do if I was to do it again.
1. Not pay the publisher to market my book
2. Contact book bloggers and give them free copies in exchange for honest reviews well before publication date
3. Collate all the reviews and create a "Praise for my book sheet" you know, like you see on the inside of some books.
4. Create my own sales pitch that explains: what the book's about: details (length, genre, age rage, etc.), where you can get it from (Gradners, Bertrams): all the lovely things people have said about it (hint! don't include the ones that say it's shit!) and send it to book shops. I used https://www.booksellers.org.uk/booksh... to find out where all the bookshops are.
OK, so even doing this and emailing the bookshops individually, I still got very few replies. But, the important thing is that before I did this, there were no copies of my book in bookshops and now there are. Yes it takes time, but I think it's worth it.
Something else I've done is email council libraries and offered free copies of my book for their libraries. While some of the books I've sent out have been lost to the ether (they've not bothered to put them in the libraries even though they said they would) other libraries aren't a-holes and have stocked the books. I can even look them up on the online catalogues.
I'd recommend doing this. It places your book where lots of people can access it. True, it's not making you money, but that isn't why you wrote a book. You wrote it to be read and libraries are the best place for that!
So this is it, the biggest lesson I've learned...
No one is going to buy your book!
Tada! Oh wait...
I'm not saying this with any ill feelings. I went into this publishing adventure prepared to lose everything I put into it. As much as I love writing it is a hobby and I'm fortunate to have a good(ish) job. But, as I have learned a few things I thought I would share them in case any would-be self published authors stumble across my blog.
I chose various marketing and promotional options when creating my self publishing package. Now, several months after the publication date I can safely say that this process is the same as going to a wood, foraging for twigs and sticks, building a fire, throwing all of your money on it and then standing around wondering why your books aren't in shops. Honestly, it did absolutely nothing.
I don't begrudge my self publisher of this. They have a business model that has been designed to make them money. Sadly, that business model also happens to take my money and produce absolutely zero results. They said they'd contact sellers, have my book promoted and send out copies for review (among other things) - all for a cost. I'll be honest, I got much better (as in actual) results doing it myself for free!
What I'd do if I was to do it again.
1. Not pay the publisher to market my book
2. Contact book bloggers and give them free copies in exchange for honest reviews well before publication date
3. Collate all the reviews and create a "Praise for my book sheet" you know, like you see on the inside of some books.
4. Create my own sales pitch that explains: what the book's about: details (length, genre, age rage, etc.), where you can get it from (Gradners, Bertrams): all the lovely things people have said about it (hint! don't include the ones that say it's shit!) and send it to book shops. I used https://www.booksellers.org.uk/booksh... to find out where all the bookshops are.
OK, so even doing this and emailing the bookshops individually, I still got very few replies. But, the important thing is that before I did this, there were no copies of my book in bookshops and now there are. Yes it takes time, but I think it's worth it.
Something else I've done is email council libraries and offered free copies of my book for their libraries. While some of the books I've sent out have been lost to the ether (they've not bothered to put them in the libraries even though they said they would) other libraries aren't a-holes and have stocked the books. I can even look them up on the online catalogues.
I'd recommend doing this. It places your book where lots of people can access it. True, it's not making you money, but that isn't why you wrote a book. You wrote it to be read and libraries are the best place for that!
March 24, 2017
I really don't care who the author is!
On so many books I read descriptions that tell me the author has climbed seven mountains in the Himalayas or backpacked the length of Africa or first built a car from spare parts at the age of seven. When I see this I always think: And?
Really, what does an author's life have to do with how well they can write a story? Yes. they may have swum with sharks and can breath fire, but what baring does that have on their ability to write an exciting story? I just find it all a little bit stupid.
I don't want my authors to be people who have reached the North and South Pole and can talk the language of geese. I want my authors be freaks who spend 23 hours a day in a windowless room where they write story ideas all over the walls, floor and ceiling and shun contact with other people. I want to read stories by people who don't understand the world they live in and so write to escape in.
I don't want to read stories by happy people. I don't trust happy people.
Really, what does an author's life have to do with how well they can write a story? Yes. they may have swum with sharks and can breath fire, but what baring does that have on their ability to write an exciting story? I just find it all a little bit stupid.
I don't want my authors to be people who have reached the North and South Pole and can talk the language of geese. I want my authors be freaks who spend 23 hours a day in a windowless room where they write story ideas all over the walls, floor and ceiling and shun contact with other people. I want to read stories by people who don't understand the world they live in and so write to escape in.
I don't want to read stories by happy people. I don't trust happy people.
March 10, 2017
Cooking the books (and freezing some too)
Like most authors, I've been putting my books in the oven and cooking them. I've even put some in the freezer too. It turn out that freezing them is the best!
So why exactly am I doing this?
No, it's not because I've spent all my money publishing my book and now can't afford food. My cover peels!
Let's take a step back. When I was decided how I wanted my book to look, I opted for a super matte cover. This is a laminate that is placed over the top of the printed cover and removes the shininess while giving it a nice smooth feeling.
The problem with this laminate is that that it peels.
Oh, and not just the odd book.
Every.
&%£$ing
Book.
So when presented with this situation, I decided the best thing to do would be to peel the laminate off.
This worked in that it removed the peeling laminate (Awesome!). The problem was it also removed part of the cover (WHAT!?).
I put my scientist head on to solve this one and quickly realised that the solution would be temperature: I just didn't know if it needed to be hot or cold.
The answer is cold, people. Don't put books in the oven, they really don't like it!
The cold makes the adhesive in the laminate brittle and (we're going to get technical here) less sticky. This meant that I could easily peel the covers off. Huzzah!
The only problem is I now have to do this to all of my books....
I'm sure the trials and tribulations of the self published author will continue.
So why exactly am I doing this?
No, it's not because I've spent all my money publishing my book and now can't afford food. My cover peels!
Let's take a step back. When I was decided how I wanted my book to look, I opted for a super matte cover. This is a laminate that is placed over the top of the printed cover and removes the shininess while giving it a nice smooth feeling.
The problem with this laminate is that that it peels.
Oh, and not just the odd book.
Every.
&%£$ing
Book.
So when presented with this situation, I decided the best thing to do would be to peel the laminate off.
This worked in that it removed the peeling laminate (Awesome!). The problem was it also removed part of the cover (WHAT!?).
I put my scientist head on to solve this one and quickly realised that the solution would be temperature: I just didn't know if it needed to be hot or cold.
The answer is cold, people. Don't put books in the oven, they really don't like it!
The cold makes the adhesive in the laminate brittle and (we're going to get technical here) less sticky. This meant that I could easily peel the covers off. Huzzah!
The only problem is I now have to do this to all of my books....
I'm sure the trials and tribulations of the self published author will continue.
February 5, 2017
Money money money
I was 18 when I decided I wanted to write stories and now, 13 years later, I have a book out there that people can actually buy and read. Hurrah!
So, it has been one week since the publication date and I can confirm I have made.... £1.98.
£1.98! I can nearly buy a hoisin duck wrap from M&S. I have to tell you, these are exciting times, people!
OK, I'm being facetious - I often am. I just thought I'd write a little post about this. After writing for so long and getting nowhere for so long, it's amazing how underwhelming being published (admittedly self published) really is. Thankfully, I'm not doing this for the money. I wanted to put out a story for people to read, and even if people are reading it for free from a review copy or goodreads giveaway, they're still reading it and that never would have happened if I hadn't decided to do this. That I've written something that people I don't know are reading, and in some cases actually enjoying, is really rather humbling.
In other news, it appears that I am the kind of person who blogs. Who knew? I promise not to spam you with posts, though. No one wants that.
VS
So, it has been one week since the publication date and I can confirm I have made.... £1.98.
£1.98! I can nearly buy a hoisin duck wrap from M&S. I have to tell you, these are exciting times, people!
OK, I'm being facetious - I often am. I just thought I'd write a little post about this. After writing for so long and getting nowhere for so long, it's amazing how underwhelming being published (admittedly self published) really is. Thankfully, I'm not doing this for the money. I wanted to put out a story for people to read, and even if people are reading it for free from a review copy or goodreads giveaway, they're still reading it and that never would have happened if I hadn't decided to do this. That I've written something that people I don't know are reading, and in some cases actually enjoying, is really rather humbling.
In other news, it appears that I am the kind of person who blogs. Who knew? I promise not to spam you with posts, though. No one wants that.
VS
January 21, 2017
Hello
I don't think I'm the sort of person who write a blog. I've tried in the past, but it's never been something I've stuck with. The main reason for my lack of effort is that I always ask myself the question "who cares?"
I think that question still stands, even if I have published a book. I don't read blog posts by authors I like so why should anyone read mine?
However, I will say something now to avoid any confusion. I am not the V S Nelson who writes erotic fiction. I will also never become a V S Nelson who write erotic fiction. I despise erotic fiction! This isn't because I'm a prude, I just think it's an awful genre and one I don't understand the need for. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it!
I will, however, write stories for children and, in the future, young adults. The stories may be a little odd and will definitely by complex, but at no point will they be erotic.
I hope that clarifies things!
I think that question still stands, even if I have published a book. I don't read blog posts by authors I like so why should anyone read mine?
However, I will say something now to avoid any confusion. I am not the V S Nelson who writes erotic fiction. I will also never become a V S Nelson who write erotic fiction. I despise erotic fiction! This isn't because I'm a prude, I just think it's an awful genre and one I don't understand the need for. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it!
I will, however, write stories for children and, in the future, young adults. The stories may be a little odd and will definitely by complex, but at no point will they be erotic.
I hope that clarifies things!
