Abbie L. Martin's Blog

If you had told me this time last year that I would today be publishing my second book, I would never have believed you. I have been dreaming of becoming an author since I learned to read, but I could never finish anything. So the idea that I could get through the whole process and publish not one but two books in less than a year, well it is still staggering to me.

In ‘The Bride of Lilly Pilly Creek‘ we return to The Memory Bank with sisters Jones and Autumn. I had so much fun returning...

What a time I’ve had since March 15th 2023 when I published my debut novel, ‘The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek‘!

When I pressed publish, I was planning to go completely under the radar. I am using a pen name, (although I am still identifiable to people who know me well) so I thought I could just muddle through my first book launch in relative anonymity. That plan was sc...

I did it. I am forty two years old, and ever since I realised being an author was actually a real job, I have been wanting to publish a book (or more!). I have talked about it a lot, so anyone who knows me, knows it has pretty much been my number one goal. Of course, I was never going to stoop to self-publishing. And this is exactly what held me back, because in my mind, I was in no way good enough to get the attention of a publisher, but a ‘real’ writer wouldn’t self publish. Or would they?

Of course they do! And many have become very successful doing so. I now realise that everything I have been doing until now, running my own (not book related) business, having a passion for the business and marketing side of things, plus loving books, means that I have most of the skills necessary to not only self publish, but get my book into the hands of readers.

Do you know what happened when I decided self publishing was acceptable? I jolly well wrote a book – finished a book! – and now I’ve jolly well gone and published it! Yes, it’s real. The lifelong dream I have had has become a reality. And because it has been MY lifelong dream, it doesn’t matter if a publisher hasn’t given it their tick of approval. My goal was to publish. I’ve done it! Yes, I would like people to enjoy it, to write nice reviews, tell their friends. And if I’m honest, if anyone writes a horrible review, it is going to cut me deep. However, if I hadn’t have decided that my goal was to ‘publish’ and not the ‘write a best seller’ I would never ever have achieved this goal.

A big thank you to all my family who are avid readers and have taken the time to provide feedback and editing. One day I hope to have the funds to pay a professional editor, but for now, I am really crossing my fingers that everything flows nicely and there aren’t too many errors (have to tip my hat to the Grammarly plugin for helping me a lot!).

If you have a goal to publish, do it! Do it to the absolute best of your ability where you are right now. As I have heard so many published authors say, (and what I say to so many people thinking about starting their own business in my other life), you learn a heck of a lot more just doing the thing, than you would planning, learning and practicing until you think you are ready.

Life long Goal – Published Author – Unlocked!

If you want to buy my debut novel, The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek, click here!

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After weeks of waiting for my beta readers to finish editing (I am so very thankful to them all!) and one final read-through by myself (where I still found so many more things to fix up!) I have finally just taken the plunge and pressed publish on an eBook and a Paperback on Amazon Kindle. I was so nervous! I presume it’s the same for everyone, but is it the same every, single time?

I’m going to start investigating wider distribution also, especially in Australia where I believe Apple Books is a very popular eBook platform, as well as Booktopia. I haven’t even looked at these as I spent most of my time ensuring I had everything correct for Amazon. Because I want to have a wider distribution I have chosen not to enrol in Amazon KDP select. I hope I have made the correct decision, but I really didn’t want to restrict myself for 90 days from delving into other distribution options.

Have I made the correct decision? I think so, but I would love to hear your thoughts and what you experience has been with Amazon KDP select.

I’m not expecting the book to ‘fly off the shelves’ so to speak. To be honest, I’ve just achieved my number one goal – to finally, finally publish my first book! (This is presuming it is reviewed and approved by Amazon). It’s actually a touch anti-climactic that the book doesn’t immediately appear on Amazon, but I will still embrace the fact that I have achieved a goal I have had since I knew being an author was even a thing. Plus, I have Ann M. Martin, the amazing author of The Babysitters Club for the inspiration for my pen name!

So, the next time you hear from me, I hope I will be announcing that my book is now live on Amazon! And I will be adding more distribution platforms as soon as I can.

Eeek! I really am so excited!

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This is literally the first time I have ever put any of my writing out in public. Am I nervous? Yes! Am I excited? You bet I am! I know it’s only the first few chapters of the book, but I wanted to share it with you, so that you may begin to fall in love with Jones and Autumn, and the whole cast of characters of Lilly Pilly Creek (I just love Sybil!), just like I have.

So, to download the first 50 or so page (is that too much? I don’t have a clue but what the heck!) you can click the button below.

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I know all new authors feel the same, but I am both excited and very, very nervous about revealing my cover. Mostly because I have done what many do no recommend – I have designed the cover myself! You will have seen in my previous post where I reveal the evolution of my book cover design, that it has taken a lot of work. First of all, you will note the title has changed! Secondly, the look and feel is completely different now. Previously I was trying to closely match up with the cozy book genre of cover design. But I’m sorry, it just wasn’t working for me. I kept coming back to the look and feel of the cover I finally settled on. I just had to go with something that made me feel good, even if it may potentially impact the success of my book.

Am I happy with it? Yes, I am really happy with it. I have even been playing around with future book covers so that I know I can continue the consistency for further books in the series.

So, is my book ready to buy? As of writing this post, I think I am a few weeks away. I’m trying to decide whether I release the eBook first, then the paperback after I have reviewed a proof copy. Or do I wait and release them both at the same time? Please share your thoughts in the comments below – I would love to hear them.

Tell me, what do you think of my cover? And how did you go about designing your very first book cover?

The post Book Cover Reveal! appeared first on Abbie L. Martin.

As you will get to know, I struggle with paying someone to do something that I feel I am capable of doing myself! Obviously the final result could be improved, and at this stage in the publishing process, I am not ruling out he possibility of having someone else design my final cover.

That being said, I have been having fun (and isn’t this what it is all about) coming up with design ideas in Canva. I use Canva a lot for my business so I am relatively experienced in using the software. I love the ease of the program, the huge amount of free templates, images, elements and photos you can use, and the fact that it was created in Australia!

Below I am going to show you a few design ideas that I have created in the first incarnation, in order of the evolution. I was keeping in mind the usual stylistic qualities of cozy mystery covers, which include illustrations, bright covers, whimsical fonts and can tend towards being quite busy. Obviously there are always exceptions to the rule. As you will see below, at different points I thought I could be an exception to the rule, but I’ve come to realise that this isn’t necessarily the best approach for a brand new cozy mystery author like myself.

*Please note, ‘The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek’ was originally called ‘The Library of Memories’.

So do you have an opinion on what you like best? Do you have some suggestions for me? I find my thoughts changing on a daily basis, so I can only imagine what the final cover will be like – but yes – you’ll be the first to know!

UPDATE – want to see the final cover design? Click here!

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Although I am yet to officially reach my goal of publishing my first book, I am still so much further than I have ever been so far in my writing journey. So, the idea of thinking about book two is flabbergasting! I do I am on somewhat of a roll. I have enjoyed the writing and editing process and am genuinely looking forward to starting my next book.

“So, what’s the problem, Abbie?”

Coming up with an idea! What a classic writer’s dilemma. Fortunately the problem isn’t coming up with one idea – I do have multiple ideas. No, as I’m sure many of you can relate, the problem is choosing which idea should be the second book (or the third). At the moment, the main idea I have relates to a key character. However, this is someone with a bit of a mysterious background, and I want to continue that mystery for at least the next book, if not more. So, their story will need to be at least book three or four. So, the second book? What is the usual next step? Does it need to be ‘more’? More drama, more mystery, more suspects, more tragedy….than the first book? Or do I just continue with the same cozy pace of the first book?

I do want to ensure that, not only are my readers interested and intrigued, but that I also enjoy the writing process, have fun with it and get to be creative.

I’m also waiting on feedback for my first book. I’ve been calling them Advanced Readers but I realise now they are really my Beta Readers. The book will still need some further editing, and I am just crossing my fingers there won’t need to be any major structural changes. At this stage, I feel I need to know what people think of my first book, what they like, what they don’t like, what they want to hear more of, before I start the second book.

So, am I right? Do I wait? Or are these just excuses for me to not actually start?

The post How do I start book two? appeared first on Abbie L. Martin.

I’ve wanted to become an author since I learnt you could actually write your own books. I know, it’s a familiar story for many writers. I imagine it’s also very familiar story that it can take a lot to have the courage to put yourself out there and give it a go.

For many years I wanted to create an amazing young adult series, in the vein of one of my favourite Authors John Marsden. Next I thought I could do an Australian version of Harry Potter (I mean, seriously!). I always had visions of doing something ‘great’, something ‘amazing’ and when I discovered my writing wasn’t particularly great or amazing, I would give up.

I also had a strong commitment to being a ‘pantster’. I mean, I was good at coming up with ideas, so why hinder that with planning and structure. That’s not how I write! Until I discovered it was. I purchased the James Patterson Masterclass many years ago. I hadn’t even read a James Patterson book at that stage, but the wisdom he imparted in that class had a big impact on me. I finally decided, I was just going to give this outlining thing a go, and see what happened.

The first version of ‘The Library of Memories’ (now titled ‘The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek) was very different. The title was the first thing I had, and I ran with that. The first draft was a lot more fantasy, with a cast of characters, and an intricate system built into my world. I committed myself to just finishing the book, and I did. But this was in the panster phase, and when I went back to read it, I realised there was so much that didn’t work, the plot was weak, and it was going to take me a lot of work to rewrite. I was not enthused at all. Yet wasn’t this the one I was going to finally finished? First I thought Scrivener would solve all my problems. Yes, I loved the software and still use it, but could it solve the problems of a disjointed, unplanned book? Nope.

It was around this time that I reviewed the James Patterson Masterclass again, and, oh my goodness, I also discovered the world of the cozy mystery! These two things collided at just the right time. One there was one more piece to the puzzle. I had also decided to give myself ‘permission’ to self publish. I was one of those who was only ever going to be professional published. I was going to be a ‘real’ author. I’ve most certainly changed my mind on this. If I continued on the path of striving to be professionally published, this was just another layer of difficulty which would only hold me back from actual writing. The self publishing world is a very different beast these days. With my marketing and business background, I find it very exciting, and I am a person who loves to ‘do it myself’. So, whilst I’m still at the very start of this journey, I really can’t wait to learn as much as I can about it.

Now, it was time to commit to actually writing this book. And commit I did. I learnt as much as I could about the cozy mystery genre (although I still have a lot to learn) and spent time outlining the new version of The Library of Memories. I removed the fantasy element and the intricate world, and instead, set it in a familiar location, based on towns I know and love (with a bit of dreaming thrown in). The two original sisters remained, but I added the ghost element which I have always wanted to play with. With this combination of story and outlining, I was finally, finally, able to finish the book! And I don’t want to put this too mildly, this has been a goal of mine since I was a child. The actual, real finishing of a book. Never, ever, have I put the time and effort into a book like I have this one. I don’t mean it is a literary masterpiece, or that it is even a ‘great’ cozy mystery. That wasn’t my goal. My goal was to actually finish a book that I hope others will enjoy reading.

The second part of this goal is yet to be realised. Currently my book is with my three advanced readers. As I assume many of you may understand, the is such a nerve wracking experience. I haven’t really let anyone read my writing since school. I’m pleased with it, even with its failings. I just hope others appreciate it for what it is. I am also looking forward to the feedback, as I know for sure there will be changes I need to make. I am hoping however, that it is still something publishable, readable, and I can finally fulfil my dream of finishing and publishing a book.

In the meantime…..am I supposed to start writing book two now?

The post The Writing Journey So Far appeared first on Abbie L. Martin.

I can’t wait for you to meet Jones, Autumn and their friends as they solve murders in Lilly Pilly Creek! The first book, The Library of Memories has Jones returning to her home town of Lilly Pilly Creek for a funeral, oblivious to the fact that soon she would be front and centre solving a murder.

This paranormal cozy mystery is my very first book, so it has been a journey to get here. If you want to read more about my writing journey click here to find out more.

In the meantime, if you’d like to join me on my writing and self publishing journey, and you would like to be the first to know when The Library of Memories is published, click here to sign up to our VIP Mailing List. I’ll be writing about my experience with my Advanced Readers (The Library of Memories is currently with my three Advanced Readers as we speak), the process of getting my book onto Amazon, researching other publishing platforms, and learning how to market a self-published cozy mystery! Of course, if you’ve been there and done that and have tips for me, please comment below!

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