So where's the snow?

Muddling through life from Austria to Wales; God, life and a small black dog

Category Archives: writing


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On writing or not

 

Today, for the first time in six years, I’m sitting at the computer and have no desire whatsoever to do anything with my books. Don’t want to go on with the new one, or the last one sitting ignored in a file. Can’t face the promotion drudge. Right now I could stop it all. Why? Because my sales are nearly zero, and yes,OK, I haven’t done much marketing lately,but the fire’s gone out. I also write in a niche, small market, and to break into something like chic lit is daunting.

I have always felt that my writing is God given, but now maybe it’s time to give up. Maybe this is what he’s telling me inside. I’ve done some author mentoring which I really enjoy, and I’ve got a day in a school coming up, and I can run my first course on self publishing in the autumn. But even so.

I’ve also dropped my volunteering with the RDA as I just got bored stiff with it, didn’t really get involved enough in it.

In the autumn, I’ll be starting a new Toddler group in the church, which will be a blast. I know  God’s given me this to do, and that’s starting to come together, but I need someone else in with me, it’s not a solo job.

It’s the money thing that’s twisting away in me, if the books don’t sell, this makes our income increasingly tight. We have cut things and perhaps we’ll get through to when my pension arrives in 2026. Or I could get off my bum and find a part time job, it wouldn’t take more than something part time to sort things out.  But there’s very few jobs for a 64 year old bat, who has horses, libraries and cleaning holiday houses on her CV. And few jobs in this part of the valleys. And I’ve got lazy, and woolly minded, enjoying so much this semi retired rut. I had planned a huge marketing month, with promotions, give aways, trying Tiktok, doing all I can think of to promote the books, but I feel it will all be just a waste of time.

I love to give my books away, but that eats away at things. If it wasn’t for the money worry, I could blissfully go on, as my books will leave some sort of witness and testimony in time. I could enjoy them again.

So, having got that off my chest, I’ll go and cook some tea, feed the dog, read a book and later spend the evening in front of the TV. I really can’t see how to resolve this.


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My year in books

This year has been full of change with my books. I aimed to spend longer writing and editing my books, to make them more polished, well I tried.

The biggest thrill was joining a local writers’ circle, finding a fellow author just down the road, and going to meetings just to talk about books and the craft of writing. Something that I could never do in Austria, such a joy. I even took some the poetry I wrote in 1998, and they said it wasn’t the rubbish I thought it was.

I did my first book launch with Lamplight to Sunlight, and did a talk on it at the Cynon valley museum. I have two talks with groups in line early in the New Year.

I went to Brecon show with the books, and that was a learning curve, I’m not sure if it’s a good way to sell books, but  certainly had some lovely chats with people.

Two book fairs, one of which I left feeling disgruntled. The people running it treated the main authors there as unimportant and but fell over themselves with the authors who did talks as if they were royalty. The upshot is that with my local writer friend, we’re running the first Pontypridd book fair next May.  We’re funded by the great bookshop there, Storyville books, and I’m so looking forward t that.

I’ve helped a couple of authors with their books, and that’s been an honour.

This summer, I was going to take a break, so God sent me another book, and I spent the summer writing my first full on Christian, no horse book since Tom, see above, out on December 31st

I’ve ideas for new books and feel God leading me to another book, and I’ve got a sequel to my latest one and a children’s book. But  Amazon sales this year are disappointing, I’ve yet to work out whether selling real books is profitable. The trouble is, I need to make a certain amount of money to keep the Rashbrook kitty happy. If it gets to low, I’ll have to find a part time job, and I’d rather write.

 


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Book launch!

I’ve never done one of these, again something to do with living in Austria and not having my books in German! I was a bundle of nerves all day, not helped by realising that the traffic in Ponty at the time we needed to be there was hectic, so I hopped on a train lugging the books in one of those suitcases on wheels. Dave followed in the car  after the rush hour. Got there just at the right time, set up my books,  and tried not to buy any more! Yes, I forgot to get Dave to take photos after he arrived. Jeff, who runs Storyville books was so calming and matter of fact, he really helped.

It was a bit nerve wracking, wondering who would turn up, but they did, even a couple I didn’t know. I talked about my writing background, asked for questions. Read two bits from the book, (trying not to edit them again in my head) and then we had a great discussion on pit ponies, mining and horses in general. The time flew.

Then I made far more sales than I expected, made some new friends, chatted more with some old, and I packed up, buzzing! It was just so good to actually talk to people about my books, and have them interested. I’ve now got a horse show, two book fairs and a book signing possibility. This is so much more fun than just looking at the sales on Amazon, this is what writing is about!


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Need a proof reader?

Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.com

I know many of you on here also write, so I’m doing a shameless promo for a friend who and editor and is just starting her business as a proof reader. She did a great job on my last book for me.  Good rates and as yet,  she’s not snowed under! Here’s her info.

Hello, my name is Gweno Hugh-Jones; I live in South Wales and I proofread text, finding and correcting mistakes.
Proofreading is essential in presenting text to any audience, whether a book, academic paper, job application, blog, website or flyer. Well-written and mistake-free communication shows professionalism.
I will examine grammar, punctuation, confusing sentences, spelling, omitted and repeated words, spacing and format so you can confidently present your work.
I gained a Diploma in Proofreading and Editing from the College of Media and Publishing in 2016.
Fees
0.0125 per word, £12.50 per 1000 words. Final costs will depend on the genre and how many corrections I make.
Contact: pennarproofreading@gmail.com


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NEWLY RELEASED! In Plain Sight

Based on a long hoarded story told from mother to daughter. A family history retold with love for those gone by.

As the dark clouds of WW2 begin to roll away from England’s shores, lives change forever in the Croft household.

Moira waits impatiently to leave her loathed boarding school, dreaming about entering the male dominated world of horse racing. Her brother Peter, an RAF bomb aimer, struggles with both monotony and fear as he flies with Bomber Command over Europe.

Peace finally arrives, and the family moves to a new home, which ever entrepreneurial Father turns into a Country Club. Mother meddles and tries to thwart everyone’s plans with her own.

Can they all build new lives, or is there heartbreak before each one finds happiness in the post-war world?

Free on Kindle Unlimited. Paperback and eBook. 


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Back again!!

As autumn suddenly arrived on the first of September, I finished my book and after some time of catching up, I’m finally free to blog!! It surprised me how I felt a weight was lifted when the second, readable draft was done and I handed it to my best friend to read. My newly born. I’ve an idea of where it needs changing and it is a bit on the short side, but that’s far more fun than having to cut bits!

So now will come loads of posts talking about my summer, its good to be back!

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