At times I wonder why I'm drawn to solving mental puzzles of my own design like plotlines & character arcs. Maybe it has to with spending untold hours in days gone by sprawling on the living room floor, organizing thousands of puzzle pieces into piles by patterns & shadings, then meticulously nudging them together clump by clump.

So my current self-publishing strategy feels oddly familiar—one pile of pieces having to do with whether to go with the countdown deal or free promotion days; another with alternate promos; another with advertising platforms; another with pricing.

From the very beginning of this project, I've embraced the challenges of an uphill climb, so I haven’t noticed any surprises in that respect. What did catch me off-guard a bit was the level of positive attention Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown initially received since I'm well aware it's not every reader’s cup of tea. That wasn't at all my intent—it’s just that it doesn’t fit most genres, Pearl’s narrative voice can be challenging for some, & the fictional world doesn’t exactly promote hope or redemption.

Or does it?

Anyway, stay tuned for Part 2 on how reframing comes into play in all this.

Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown