News: Bad and Good. And a plea.

Over a year ago I posted to this blog to tell you that I’d been struggling with my health, but that I thought things were looking up. I’m sad and humbled to come back and tell you that feeling of well-being was overly optimistic and... it didn’t last. I continued to wrestle with fatigue, weakness, lack of concentration, and brain fog. 
 
It’s hard to describe accurately. It’s deeply personal. And I don’t think there’s any need to go into all the details, but I’m sure you can imagine that it was difficult to write under those conditions—the fear of producing an inferior product that would ruin my career was very strong and very real. I continued to seek answers with my doctors, but with symptoms that vague it can be very difficult to find answers.
 
I do see light at the end of the tunnel now, however, and it seems to be lasting.
 
The good news is that I received a new medical diagnosis in January. I am receiving treatment that has helped a great deal. Since January I’ve been slowly seeing my concentration come back, my problems with finding words slowly receding, and the general feeling of malaise easing. This new treatment has made a world of difference. 
 
I am writing. It’s slow-going, however I’m hopeful that I can deliver Convergence in early 2021. I’m still not fully recovered. I’m still pursuing further diagnosis and treatment, but I’m able to write again.
 
Now, to the plea...
 
I’ll cut to the chase and just be honest: If I’m not publishing new books regularly, I’m not making money. We’ve put on our grown-up pants and cinched up our belts, but it’s becoming rapidly apparent that is not enough. If I can’t find a way to generate some income I will have two choices: sell my house or get a job outside the home. Both options would be disruptive to my health, my family life, and my writing.
 
If you’re here, it’s because you’ve enjoyed my books. And I know there are other readers out there who would enjoy them too—they just haven’t heard of me yet! I’m going to ask you to help me find them… in a rather round-about way. 
 
(The direct way—telling friends and family—is always welcome too!)
 
I’ve created an omnibus of the first three books in the Confluence series, plus the three related short stories. It's called Confluence Codex 1, an Omnibus of the SciFi Series, Books 1-3. It’s well over 1000 pages of content, some of it never published outside of anthologies before. Perhaps some of this is new to you! Picture Normally, I will sell the digital version of the omnibus for $7.99 US (less than the cost of my first three books combined), but for a short time—just 48 hours—I have marked this collection down to $0.99 for my most loyal readers and I really hope that you’ll consider buying it while it’s set at that low price.
 
I know you probably already have all three of these books (Fluency, Remanence, and Inheritance), but you may not have read the related short fiction: “The Fall of the Percedus,” “Carindi,” or “The Grove.” And I believe that 99 cents is a very fair price for roughly 100 pages of story about some of the concepts and people you’ve come to love in my universe.
 
I have never set up a Patreon page because I felt that fulfilling monthly pledge requirements would take away from my writing time. But now I’m asking you to support me. I’m asking you to buy this book while I have it on sale for 99 cents.
 
How will such a small sum help me? Two ways.
 
First, it will tickle Amazon’s algorithm. It will show Amazon that there is interest in this book so that the Almighty Zon will start showing it in search results. If that were to happen, the effect could snowball, and when the omnibus returns to full price, it could continue selling well on its own—helping me find new readers who will hopefully go on to buy more of my books over time.
 
Second, I’m also hoping that you’ll find it in your heart to leave a review (an honest one, of course!). I’d like to be able to advertise this omnibus as soon as possible—but the best marketing I can buy requires that the book has enough reviews to display a kind of social metric. I could wait for those to populate organically, but honestly if this gambit is going to work, I don’t have the luxury of waiting months and months for that to happen.
 
So, if you can, please help me out and spend the 99 cents on this omnibus. Then consider leaving a verified review about the collection. I’ll do the rest. And I’ll keep working away at bringing you Convergence, which I believe will surprise and delight you. 
 
It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but I hope you’ll consider it—but only if you can. Times are tough all around right now. If you’re struggling too, please put your family first. 
 
99 cents. For you, the price of a candy bar. For me, if enough of you choose to help, the chance to keep working on my dream—writing more books for you to enjoy.
 
If you can’t help—I still thank you. You’ve purchased my books in the past. You follow my social media. You’re curious about me and my life. That’s more than I could ever have asked for. I know these are hard times. I’m grateful for each and every reader.
 
I wish all the best for you and your loved ones during this troubled time and I sincerely appreciate your support.

​Convergence in 2021!
 
Read on!
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Published on August 04, 2020 21:40
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message 1: by Aysha (new)

Aysha I love your books, and so I was wondering if you have any plans to make hardcover versions?


message 2: by Ray (new)

Ray Love your work & would hate to see it end. Wish U all the best with your trials & kudos for reaching out. Would like to chip in even though I have the main books as well as Grove i think. At 99c is a small ask & more than happy to review but either I'm too late or it is not working across Zon intl sites. The link opens for me to /gp at $7+ not sure on currency. If I search in my app AUS it comes up as free for KU or $11AUD+.... :/


message 3: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Wells Hey, Aysha! I'll look into it again, but the last time I looked, there weren't any viable options. That may have changed. Good suggestion! Thanks!


message 4: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Wells Ray wrote: "Love your work & would hate to see it end. Wish U all the best with your trials & kudos for reaching out. Would like to chip in even though I have the main books as well as Grove i think. At 99c is..."

Hey Ray! The sale ended a few days ago. If you have KU, reading through there really helps. If not, no worries! I appreciate your support!


message 5: by Elisabeth (new)

Elisabeth I have read and loved all your books. Hoping good health and help finds you soon.


message 6: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Wells Thank you for the well-wishes Elisabeth! I'm doing much better these days and still diligently pursuing a better diagnosis and treatment. <3


message 7: by Nickolas (new)

Nickolas Taylor Hey, I just want to make sure you're doing well. There hasn't been an update in awhile and I know the pandemic hasn't made things easier. Reading through this blog, I'm sorry to see you're having those issues.

I'm getting ready to publish my first book this month and I found this group through a self-published author friend that I think you could benefit from joining. It's on Facebook and called 20BooksTo50K. They have a ton of resources and members that all help each other with lots of guides for everything you may encounter. I feel your series is great and deserves more recognition. They have information on everything from ads and the various platforms to run them on to BookBub information and much more.

I'm a member and they've been so helpful. I looked through the membership and didn't see you unless you write under a pen name. Just wanted to give you some tools to help you reach the recognition you deserve. And I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay.


message 8: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Wells Hi Nickolas!

I'm doing great. I was just thinking I really need to update that blog. A lot of things have changed. For one: I went back to school. I'm working on my MFA in creative writing so I can teach college kids. (Not gonna lie--also hoping to level up my writing too.)

I know the guys at 20Bt50K. I'm not a member but a lot of my friends are. I've hung out with them a few times at the Nebula award conferences and such. When I'm done with school I may join because the industry is changing soooo fast and I have not been keeping up with those changes. First because I wasn't well and now because of school.

As far as getting the recognition, I appreciate that. Thank you. But all the recognition I need is nice messages from people like you (and enough money to keep my family comfortable). :)

Anyway, thank you! You really made my day.

AND--all the best to you and your new novel. What an exciting time for you! I hope it's everything you desire.


message 9: by Nickolas (new)

Nickolas Taylor I'm glad to see you're doing well. Didn't see anything from you since 2020 and with COVID I feared the worst!!!

And thank you! I'm really excited for my book launch. I have ADHD and find it difficult to finish things and this was the first book I've been able to finish. But getting it edited has been even more of a hassle as my attention span is akin to a toddlers, haha. I have so many started books that range anywhere from a couple thousand to tens of thousands of words just sitting there unfinished. I wish I could focus better. I'll be trying a new medication soon so there's that. Hopefully this one works better for me.

Anyways, I'm glad to hear from you and really do wish you all the best. Can't wait for book 6 too! So excited to see how you end it.

Be well.


message 10: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Wells Nickolas--

It's interested that you mentioned ADHD. I'm currently in the process of being tested for that, among other things. I'm trying to figure out why my productivity has been so low when the desire is so high. (I can't be certain it's ADHD, buuuuuut it's probably ADHD + 3 other things. My luck, you know.)

Don't be so down on yourself! You finished a book! That is NOT a small feat. Everyone has unfinished manuscripts. It's a neat trick to keep yourself obsessed with one for long enough to finish. I try to always make sure that I'm excited to write every scene I plan (I'm really a pantser--so that's never set in stone :P).

ADHD can be daunting, BUT people with this "disorder" (I think it's a brain type, not a disorder) are more creative than most. There are advantages!

There certainly were advantages for prehistoric man, which is how this ended up in our genomes and was never lost. We were the ones who noticed the saber tooth tigers before everyone else. Squirrel! my ass.

Keep trying whatever you can, be that meds or techniques. I've heard good things about meditation. The idea sounds ridiculous, but I'll try it anyway. And keep talking to your providers. Sometimes there can be more to it. (more than one issue--sometimes they mask each other or other fun stuff). You'll get there.

Persevere!
Jen


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