Jean Mead's Blog
March 17, 2013
Novel Publishing
Thoroughly disgruntled with the two publishing companies that have traditionally published my novels, I decided to build my own publishing company.
Novel Publishing aim is to publish 6 books annually. Kate's Secret is the first.
I'm delighted with the printer, the editor, and hope to enrol a proofreader very soon.
Novel publishing is small and will stay that way, we have no flash ideas of becoming a major player. What we do want is to be fair and upfront to the few authors we do publish. To publish a few dazzling novels that readers love.
So would really appreciate a hand-clap for Novel Publishing.
Novel Publishing aim is to publish 6 books annually. Kate's Secret is the first.
I'm delighted with the printer, the editor, and hope to enrol a proofreader very soon.
Novel publishing is small and will stay that way, we have no flash ideas of becoming a major player. What we do want is to be fair and upfront to the few authors we do publish. To publish a few dazzling novels that readers love.
So would really appreciate a hand-clap for Novel Publishing.
January 8, 2013
Ebook Give-Away
The final tally of free downloads for Kate's Secret is 1720.
882 America/India
789 UK
24 Germany
The few remaining scattered between Italy, Spain, Canada.
Hard to judge success at this time. I will measure that on how many fair reviews the novel gets on amazon and Goodreads.
The plus side, at least the novel has 1720 people now likely to read it and these readers may go on to read one of my other novels.
Whatever the outcome, it was very pleasant being in the Bestsellers Top 100 if only for a few days.
Hope this information is useful to other authors marketing books.
882 America/India
789 UK
24 Germany
The few remaining scattered between Italy, Spain, Canada.
Hard to judge success at this time. I will measure that on how many fair reviews the novel gets on amazon and Goodreads.
The plus side, at least the novel has 1720 people now likely to read it and these readers may go on to read one of my other novels.
Whatever the outcome, it was very pleasant being in the Bestsellers Top 100 if only for a few days.
Hope this information is useful to other authors marketing books.
January 6, 2013
Free ebook
Kate's Secret is entering the third day of the 'free to download' on amazon.
Almost a thousand copies are now downloaded. With thirty-six hours to go before the end of the promotion I expect more readers will take up the free offer.
Ranking 9th in the 100 bestsellers for the suspense genre.
Thrillers 17th.
Mystery 37th.
Overall ranking on bestsellers ebook is 244.
The Best Sellers 100 list is so near -yet, so far.
Will post information again as it may be interesting to other authors considering a free download promotion.
Almost a thousand copies are now downloaded. With thirty-six hours to go before the end of the promotion I expect more readers will take up the free offer.
Ranking 9th in the 100 bestsellers for the suspense genre.
Thrillers 17th.
Mystery 37th.
Overall ranking on bestsellers ebook is 244.
The Best Sellers 100 list is so near -yet, so far.
Will post information again as it may be interesting to other authors considering a free download promotion.
January 2, 2013
Free - Kate's Secret
Kate's Secret will be free to download from Amazon on Friday 4th January - Saturday 5th - 6th Sunday and Monday.
This is the first time I have considered giving a book free for a few days.
I will try to encourage the publisher of The Widow Makers and Freya 800 AD to do a similar promotion
Will report back.
This is the first time I have considered giving a book free for a few days.
I will try to encourage the publisher of The Widow Makers and Freya 800 AD to do a similar promotion
Will report back.
December 30, 2012
Writing in a different genre
My security blanket is historical fiction, it's the genre I am comfortable with. The wind buffeting the old dormer window of my office is silenced as I slip back into a bygone era and the characters of The Widow Makers trilogy reveal their lives.
Keeping abreast of the many new inventions of the mid-19th century as the industrial revolution moved on a pace does require continual research and readers should expect facts to be accurate. Research slows down progress dramatically.
So coming to a genre, where it would seem wise not to reveal new technology for fear of dating the book has simplified the writing. But building characters, making them three dimensional is more demanding without the wonderful backdrops of gorgeous mansions, and the poverty of old cottages. A bricks and mortar suburban house requires a dollop of colour. Tensions and emotions of modern life would seem to be different too. There's a lot less of the stiff-upper-lip, just get on with it attitude we are used to reading about our Victorian forebears. The research for a contemporary book is easy peasy.
So has writing a modern fiction drawn me away from historical? I can't honestly say. The jury is still out.
Keeping abreast of the many new inventions of the mid-19th century as the industrial revolution moved on a pace does require continual research and readers should expect facts to be accurate. Research slows down progress dramatically.
So coming to a genre, where it would seem wise not to reveal new technology for fear of dating the book has simplified the writing. But building characters, making them three dimensional is more demanding without the wonderful backdrops of gorgeous mansions, and the poverty of old cottages. A bricks and mortar suburban house requires a dollop of colour. Tensions and emotions of modern life would seem to be different too. There's a lot less of the stiff-upper-lip, just get on with it attitude we are used to reading about our Victorian forebears. The research for a contemporary book is easy peasy.
So has writing a modern fiction drawn me away from historical? I can't honestly say. The jury is still out.
