Jack Lench's Blog

As the PM announces his roadmap to freedom this week, it gives me chance to reflect on my own journey over the last month or so and map out a clear marketing and self-publishing route for myself. Last Monday evening, my publisher and I had a great insight into how Paul, from Love Audio narrates and edits my book, Illicit Deception. I had no idea how much concentration is required to get the right continuity, pace and flow. Its only human nature to stumble over a word or two so Paul expertly showed us how he cut, edit and spliced together any bits to get that pitch perfect narration. You can follow Paul on his u-tube channel - Making an audiobook. What's Involved? We hope to be releasing the audiobook in the next month or so. It will be available to purchase from my website as a flashdrive or downloable from a number of online platforms

I'm curently finalising the next Robin Ashurst novel before I pass it onto the capable hands of my editor who will edit, proofread and format ready for publication. 'Six Miles with a Pink Geranium' is the last in the trilogy and starts the final story of Rob at his father's funeral in Tunis. Do we ever discover his father's secret? Yet again, he is drawn into the murky world of international crime.

I have also set up my own u-tube channel so if you want a taster of what the books are about, please subscribe to Jack Lench.

This week I have my vaccination jab (gulp!) Stay safe!

As we embrace the new year of 2021 the thick, deadly fog of covid still envelops the entire world. For me, being confined to barracks is an opportunity to continue writing. My next novel in the Robin Ashurst series, Running Flush is due to be published in January 2021.

For my next series, I wanted a young, strong willed, career driven, female protagonist so I would like to introduce you to Carla Birch. Recently graduated from university with a degree in journalism, she is looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the world, hold the powerful and corrupt accountable and influence public policy. After being fired from several jobs for 'bad attitude,' her old university professor guides her to the idea of being an investigative journalist and suggests doing some research into a family legend to prove its accuracy.

She sets out to find the truth from a family rumour that her own grandfather was a deserter during the 2nd world war and wanted for treason. Her journey takes her to Japan where she finds the memory of a man, who was not a traitor but an honoured and decorated hero, championing the cause of displaced people, specifically Korean women who were taken to Japan and forced into prostitution. The story takes a surprising turn when she finds out why her grandfather was there in the first place. When a 75 year old state secret remains classified, Carla will stop at nothing to discover the truth and unlock the vaults of government departments.

Book 1 is called ' The Honoured One and will be released in 2021.

My first novel has now been on Amazon and Goodreads for a month or so. Lovely reviews are slowly coming in but I ponder on how to reach a wider audience. What or who is my competition? It is a little disheartening to learn that the total number of self-published e-books and hardbacks with a registered ISBN number rose from 1.2 million in 2017 to 1.6 million in 2018. Only a tiny fraction of those ever go on to achieve mainstream success. The hard part for any author is marketing. Success depends on the time and effort getting it in front of readers.

Has anyone been successful, I ask myself? Surprisingly the answer is yes and even more surprising are some of these! When traditional publishing houses said NO, authors went down the self-publishing route.

* Beatrix Potter was told that women could not write books, so she self-published her novel, ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit.’

*‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ by EL James was initially self-published before its meteoric rise to fame.

*'The Martian' started life as a blog by Andy Weir who had no thoughts of making any money. A traditional publisher found it, bought the rights and made it into a film starring Matt Damon.

The message here is to stay positive, keep plugging away, building up a fan base, focus on log term goals and hope that one day, an agent or publisher spots the potential in my novels.

It been three weeks since we went on Amazon with a paperback copy and kindle download. I am pleased to report that sales are steady. Its now become a daily ritual to log onto my Amazon KDP bookshelf to see how many copies have been sold. The other most exciting thing in my life is to see the reviews on Amazon. Im pleased to report that they have all been 5 STARS! My publisher, Sunflower Publications has sent out some copies to bloggers and influencers on facebook and approached a few high profile names to read the book. Through some family contacts who run book clubs in Suffolk and Oxford, we have been invited to give a talk on writing and self publishing so an excellent opportunity to promote the book. Well, it has been a busy time in the publishing world so now I feel a well earned break is in order, looking at the mountains in Abruzzo, Italy.

Today I can start to celebrate as my journey reaches an important destination. The e-book launches on 1 June and already we have had a number of pre-orders! So exciting! We also hope to launch the paperback at the same time so long as we appease the Amazon gods and have the right formatting for submission. Our marketing plan trundles on as we 'go wide' and launch on as many online self-publishing platforms as possible. Here is a short taster of the book. Illicit Deception

As Europe and the UK slowly awake from a deep viral slumber, I feel extremely pleased to report that my novel is now an e-book on Amazon with a launch date of 1 June. I still have much more work to do so the next hurdle is to create a paperback version. I am lucky enough to be working with my partner who does the proof reading, editing and grapples with the mechanics of self-publishing, so I can continue to write. Every now and then, she asks me a question, " Do we go for a royalty scheme of 35% or 70%?" or "What 7 key words should we have to describe the book?" and "How do I put an RSS feed on the website?" I look bemused and shrug my shoulders. The challenge of self publishing strikes me as similar to walking through a maze. You have to negotiate your way through a complex network of passages and paths and hedges to find your way out. Locating the exit seems a logical and simple process yet you hit a dead end at every turn. ,When the way ahead has been blocked for the third time, you cannot remember where you came from and every direction is clearly wrong, it is a nightmare. Most fellow pilgrims are wondering about as confused as you are yet there are always a few dedicated explorers with an inbuilt satellite navigation system who find the way out before nightfall! Patience and a systematic approach to find your own route to the end is the key. A maze or labyrinth is an ancient symbol which relates to wholeness. It represents a journey to our own centre and back out again into the world which is strangely like writing a novel. Ah, at last, I can see the way out!

Europe is still in lock-down due to Covid-19 so being confined to barracks has given me some time to work on new storylines and ideas.

I have started to write the next book called Bullet of Sorrow. Essentially its about how misunderstandings in life can have far reaching consequences. The immediate fall out splits up the family and impacts on relationships

.

On a lighter note, I am ever nearer to publishing the first in the Robin Ashurst trilogy, Illicit Deception. Attempting to navigate the minefields of self publishing has been challenging, to say the least. I have studied formatting, margins, indents and trim sizes until I feel dizzy. The decisions to be made are mindblowing! Should I go 'wide' or stay with one online platform, like KPD select? Do I publish in paperback, e-book or audiobook? I will set my course, put up the mainsail and head into the wind. Just hope I see land soon!!

The road ahead is unknown. No signposts, no traffic, no directions. Destination unknown.

Coming up with ideas for a book and actually writing it, is the easy bit but the way forward? Last week I attended a self-publishing workshop to meet other authors and to pick up some valuable tips. Here they are:

1. Have a marketing plan

2. Have your novel professionally edited and proof-read

3.Network on social media

4. Research and more research

The book is written. Follow me on my journey