Richard Godfray-Hoare's Blog

I have always been a bit unreliable on the blogging front, so I recently researched how often it was best to blog. Daily? Weekly? Multiple times per day, even? There are varying views, but I think it's fair to say that as my last blog post was back in April, I definitely fall outside any of the recommended patterns. Hey ho, not even bothered; I'm just a crazy rule-breaker!

In mild defence, I have been busy writing my new novel, In Darkness, Angels Tread, and that very fact it was has tempted me back into another blog post. Those who know me, predominantly through my preferred platform, Instagram, will know I am a self-published author. In addition to writing, I also design the covers, and I have recently been teasing the new book with a couple of cover reveal posts (new cover on this blog post image).

I am not 100% happy with it at the moment, so I'm likely to make some more changes over the next few months, in addition to completing the novel itself and then ploughing through the joys of the editing process.

It would be lovely to get some feedback on what you think of it while I am still finalising the design, so feel free to leave a comment. I am pretty thick-skinned and can always block you if I take particular offence.

The other message I always convey when discussing my new book is that it is a sequel (of sorts) to my last novel, Enigma: A Twisted Tale of Love and Magic. I say "of sorts" because it could be read standalone, but I think you'd get more from reading them as a pair. In case you are tempted, I have left a link below, and it is free to everyone on Kindle for the next few days, so you have nothing to lose.

https://mybook.to/Enigma-ATwistedTale

Firstly, I apologise; I haven't been a very good blogger lately. "You've never been a very good blogger," I hear you cry - Fair enough, it's doubtlessly true, but I will at least attempt to be more present from now on.

My excuse, should one be necessary, is that despite my innate laziness, I have been swamped, predominantly with work. Real work! You know, the job that pays the mortgage, not all this fluffy arty writing malarkey. That said, I am pleased to add that I have still managed to carve out time to bang away on my MacBook keyboard and am well into delivering the first draft of my fourth book.

"Tell me more! Tell me more!"

Oh, go on then. Well, it is a prequel/sequel to my last novel, "Enigma: A Twisted Tale of Love and Magic", so to take full advantage, you are going to have to get yourself up to speed on that one first (link below - shameless sales tactic, I know). I set out with the intention of writing it as a stand-alone novel, which, although inextricably linked to Enigma, you could read either of them alone or in any order. Honestly, I still think you could, but now I am nearly done, I think you will get more from both if you read them in the published order.

The new one's current working title is "In Darkness, Angels Tread", and I think I'll stick with it, but you never know; things change. I don't want to give too much away, but If you have read my previous works, you will know I like to play with my writing style and do things a little differently. The little concept I have challenged myself to this time is that although it is the second book in the series, I am writing it in a different genre. Enigma is a mystery novel with a love story at its heart; the new one is a supernatural horror, but they come together. Let's hope so, anyway! It will be available later in the year, and you can let me know.

Until next time, keep healthy and enjoy whatever it is that makes you happy.

https://mybook.to/Enigma-ATwistedTale

So, earlier today, I posted a blog about why people requesting book recommendations add the tag "No Triggers" without elaborating on what might trigger them. A simple and polite enough blog, I thought. How wrong I was!

Firstly, I was completely wrong and had misunderstood the tag entirely. When stating "No Triggers", the requester is not letting me know that they want a recommendation that contains no triggers, but rather the opposite. They are declaring that they personally have no triggers and, therefore, are open to recommendations of any and all kinds of debauched depravity. Silly me! It's so obvious when you have it pointed out to you.

A few kind people did politely point out my misunderstanding, but what was much more depressing was the level of abuse the post also attracted. The trolls were out in force. Some had clearly also misunderstood the tag but took offence that I would judge people's triggers and ask them to be more specific. Others reprimanded me for trying to drum up an argument aimed only at increasing my click rate. My favourite was the person who slammed me for being so judgmental in a post that was, well, judgemental. The irony was clearly lost on them.

I never aim to upset people in anything I do, and a little mortified at both my stupidity and the nastiness of the comments, I deleted my posts and removed the blog. Having reflected, I wish I hadn't. I should have left them all online to demonstrate how angry the internet makes people and let others make up their minds about it all.

Therefore, I am now posting this blog as a way of explanation, and I have restored the original blog before it in my thread so you can also check it out. I really don't think it was bad, just ill-informed. My bad entirely, and I shall be more careful in future. More info on me is available below (for the friendly people).

https://www.richardgodfrayhoare.com/ (WARNING: May contain triggers!)

Okay, so as I continue to navigate my self-publishing journey, and more specifically, the promotion of my books on various social media groups and forums, I frequently see requests for "no triggers" from people seeking book recommendations.

Now, I fully understand that some people may have suffered trauma in their lives and wish to avoid certain subject matters in their reading material. Still, I am suspicious that there may also be an element of the ever-growing woke brigade jumping on board without genuinely understanding the whole concept.

Accepting that my use of the term 'woke brigade' may itself trigger a reaction, I will apologise in advance. I use this term only to describe an anecdotal group of people who are perceived to get disproportionately aggrieved on behalf of others when the issue could be more simply avoided, in my opinion. Let me explain:

I am more than happy to see the request for 'no triggers', but surely it needs to be qualified? The term is often used without qualification, so how are we supposed to know what may trigger you? Sex? Violence? Homosexuality? War? Bullying? Racism? Murder? Loss? Divorce? Smoking? (Yes - smoking is now considered a trigger.)

I am not trying to stir any controversy with this post; I am just airing my observation and requesting that, if you have a trigger, perhaps give a little more information so we can advise accordingly. However, if you are so triggered that you can't even bring yourself to state the nature of the trigger, hopefully, the book blurb will alert you to some degree. I find it hard to believe any book would be completely trigger-free. Certainly not mine! More information of which is available below:

https://www.richardgodfrayhoare.com/books (WARNING: May contain triggers!)

Okay, I think I'm having a moment! I am three books in on my self-publishing journey, and I am enjoying it very much, but...

I have been fully committed to the process so far, including creating the covers and doing all the formatting for the various versions myself. I have been lucky to have the support of some good, capable friends for editing feedback, and I am pleased and proud of the work I have published.

So, what's the problem?

It's the age-old challenge of trying to raise awareness and interest in an unknown author in a market flooded with millions of alternate options. It's hard; it's draining; it's not what I want to focus on. I'm ready to write my next book, not spend all my time trying to sell the previous ones! (Don't get me wrong, I want the sales!)

So, is an agent the answer?

I have no idea, but it sounds like it should at least bring with it the machine that surrounds traditional publishing. I understand that getting accepted could be even more of a challenge than self-marketing, but I think I'm going to give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Wish me luck! Any advice is gratefully welcomed.

https://linktr.ee/Richard_Godfray_Hoare

Okay, so if you follow me on social, I am sure you may have noticed from my posts in various states of undress, be it poolside in my Speedos or sipping coffee in my briefs, that I don't generally appear to be shy or of a nervous disposition - probably a fair assumption, even my website makes a feature of me loving to sit and type away in my underpants!

Any such assumption would indeed be broadly accurate. At age 52, I am long enough in the tooth to be comfortable in my own skin and happy to show it. I am proud of my career achievements and even prouder of my relationships, how I have conducted myself over the years, and the family I have around me. It hasn't always been easy, life rarely is, but it's been worth it, and as the time-old cliche goes, I wouldn't change a thing! (Well, you know, maybe a couple of bits purely for salacious means.)

So what is it then that gets me running to the toilet with bowel-disrupting nerves, as depicted in my de-panted blog post picture? (Yes, that's me in my undies again!) The truth is, I get incredibly nervous when the time comes to share my books with the world, and I am currently going through this stress with my new novel, "Enigma: A Twisted Tale of Love and Magic".

When I am writing my books and the only critic is me - and I am self-critical - I have confidence in what I am doing. I think I craft a good story, and I tell it well. I would never claim to be a literary great, but I am a good storyteller and believe I craft original and unusual ideas. And then I have to publish them, and the doubt creeps in. Is it good enough? Am I good enough? What will people say? What if they don't like it?

Thankfully, people are generally kind with their feedback, and as long as something constructive is offered, I can even take the criticism. It isn't going to be for everyone after all. So, if you have read one of my books or think you might like to, I would encourage you to leave a review, and I will endeavour to learn from it just as soon as I've wiped and pulled my Aussiebums back up!

https://mybook.to/Enigma-ATwistedTale

So, I dropped my new book on the world this week via Amazon KDP. I am a proud self-published author with three books now under my wing, and I currently take great pleasure in doing the whole kit and caboodle myself - writing, formatting, cover design, etc... etc... (I do reach out for some assistance proofreading, of course).

Although not perfect, I am sure the result is a very professional and well-received product. I genuinely believe I am a great storyteller able to take the reader on an emotional journey and perhaps shock them a little along the way. The vast majority of reviews have been lovely, and my ego remains intact.

That said, I have not yet quite achieved the pulling power of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, so I have to be practical with my pricing structure. For those not in the know, as a self-published author on Amazon KDP, you have to pay the full print cost of the book, and then you share a percentage of the remainder with Amazon. It is a pretty good deal compared to traditional publishing, although you are left to do most of the marketing legwork yourself, which is a whole other challenge.

As with the rest of life's bills at the moment, print costs have risen, so on this occasion, I have had no choice but to break the £9.99 ceiling and set the paperback price at £11.99. I thought long and hard about it, and it should have been £12.99, to be honest, to take advantage of expanded distribution, but I settled on £11.99 for now.

Hopefully, it doesn't deter too many people. I also remember buying my treasured paperbacks for only £4.99 not so long ago, but I have checked, and that was actually thirty years ago, so maybe bookflation is still pretty reasonable. And it's always good to support a little old independent author, don't you think? https://mybook.to/Enigma-ATwistedTale

So, it's been just over a year since I released my last book, and the time has come to land my third creation upon you all from 23rd May.

This time it is a novel about two schoolboys and their blossoming relationship following a disastrous magic performance at the school talent show by Patrick Morgan, a quirky lad who struggles to fit in.

After befriending Craig Newman, also an outsider but somehow able to avoid the torment Patrick suffers at the hands of the school bully, they form a bond that will last a lifetime, however long that may be.

As the years pass and they work their way through a teenage tragedy, Patrick's magic career develops, and in his twenties, he is driven to appear on Future Stars, a television talent show. His performance wows the audience and judges alike, but there follows some controversy, and Craig is once again required to get them through it.

An m/m romance with more than a sprinkling of the steaminess you'd expect from adolescents discovering themselves, magic too, all alongside tragedy and mystery to boot.

Of course, this is from my twisted mind, so nothing is quite as it seems!!

If happy endings are what get you through the day, then I think you're going to have to rent a Disney movie or maybe book yourself a special massage, but one thing is for sure, reading one of my books is unlikely to tick all your boxes.

I am unsure what it is, but I don't like it when everything ends up neatly tied in a bow. I much prefer some twists, turns, and shocks along the way. I also write about love and kindness but with a good mix of sadness and distress in every story. Hell, let's even kill off the main character if need be. They'll be no happy tears here, thank you very much!

Don't get me wrong; you'll get closure. I'm not about leaving it all open-ended; this isn't a Netflix series vying for another season. But, equally, "and they all lived happily ever after" can be kept for the fairy tales.

I did consciously try and make an exception to my own rule and end my collection of short stories, If I Had Died Last Summer, with an uplifting tale, which I won't spoil for you here, but needless to say, when I sought feedback from my beta-readers they were puzzled as to why I thought that might in any way have been a happy ending.

Hey, ho. I'm twisted, and I can deal with that. If you're also twisted, my new novel, Enigma, is coming soon, and you may just enjoy it.

So, I have been drawn back to my sporadic blogging by some Instagram frustrations...

I am a very keen Instagram user, and I believe I post a good variety of pictures and stories that represent my life, as well as promote my writing. I am currently sitting at just over 8000 followers, some of whom I believe to be actual real people, and I enjoy engaging with them if they have questions about my work. However, of late, there has been a constant bombardment of spam messages from busty ladies wanting to share their sexy photos. And on top of that, I have had three fake accounts set up using my pictures since January!! (included in this blog's photo for anyone who would care to report and block them)

I have reported these accounts as impersonating me, but on each occasion, the Instagram response is that they are too busy to deal with all the support requests they receive, so the accounts have not been removed, and I should block them if I don't want to see their content. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Then I thought, surely this qualifies me for a Blue Tick? I am an author with two (soon to be three) books published, and although I understand I am practically unknown to the world, people clearly want to impersonate my profile online. Three in as many months, in fact. Alas, my last Blue Tick application was declined, but I am trying again today and will reference this blog as one of my justifications. Wish me luck!