Happy new year. Its what you’re supposed to say and of course, it’s a good thing to wish for. Actually ‘being’ happy though, that takes effort and commitment. Once upon a time it seemed to come easily, these days I have to try much harder.

I will do my best.

So, onto my New Year’s resolutions. This is like a trap, it means I can look back on it this time next year and see how I did…

Finish Downstream Season 1 Grow my reader list Sell more books Read more books.

On the last one, a good way of doing this is to track the books you read via good reads. It really helps to remind you of what you have read and what’s next. Also, a lot of people have said to me this year, ‘I don’t really have time to read.’ It’s not like I was trying to persuade them to read mine or anything : ) I can sympathise. I read a lot in my twenties and then fiction kind of took a back seat as work took over. Now, haven taken Stephen King’s advice I have it all figured out. 

Mine was a three step approach based on my excuses.

 

Excuse 1: I’m too busy!

Countered with: Audiobooks.

I am busy. A lot. But when I thought about it there was actually a lot of ‘down time’ in my life (Thanks to Murray Bruton for teaching me this first in a karate sense)

By that, I mean periods of time when I might not be actively engaged, but doing something. For example, walking the dogs, driving, working out etc. So, I signed up to audible and haven’t looked back. Audio books hadn’t interested me before but now, I can’t stop. For me, the experience is different to reading but the end result is very similar. The story, the characters, the craft is all there and when I look back it ‘feels’ like I’ve read a book, and that’s all that matters right?

 

Excuse 2: I’m too tired at night to read.

Countered with: hit the stairs earlier.

Sound familiar? I was going to bed late after fighting tiredness and basically collapsing! Now, I go to bed a little earlier and look forward to getting some pages done.

 

Excuse 3: There’s nothing that grabs me…

Countered with : A kindle.

With the kindle (and oh my goodness the new voyage is lovely) I can try lots of different books and see what does hook me in. Also, as a writer I am interested as to why those books work and how they draw me to them and make me turn the pages. I love books, real ones I mean, but with the kindle I have found I am definitely reading more, often I will have two books on the go PLUS an audio book!

It means that I am immersing myself in fiction. Input and output, and it seems to be working.

 

Talking of reading more… the first episode of ‘DOWNSTREAM’ my kick-ass, time-travel series with extra attitude is OUT NOW! and the best bit? It’s FREE!

 

AMAZON

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00R6XFVPS

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6XFVPS

 

It’s also available for nook and kobo too.

 

NOOK

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/downstream-nick-jones/1120961157

 

KOBO

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-UK/ebook/downstream-episode-1

And also – in the next few days – it should be out on ibooks for any iPhone and iPad readers.

Happy reading and happy 2015.