One Poem = One Book ?

On many of my visits to some online bookstores, I have noticed somewhat of a trend amongst writers to publish 'book/s' containing just one poem or one short story or a story that is extremely short,  and nothing else!

I fail to see the relevance in publishing any of these, and justifying it by calling it a 'book' or the writer claiming to be a 'published author/writer.'

This appears to occur mostly with Indie 'writers' perhaps just 'testing the waters' or having the 'urge' to publish something. I have seen an influx of these types of books in recent times. Personally I do think it undervalues the Indie writing industry.

One poem or one very short story does not constitute a book. I really think there should be a set  minimum word count in order to have a book published by the Indie publishing companies.The word count would be relevant to each genre. It would mean that at least there would be no 'clutter' of these supposed books and would be a good 'tidy up' of the industry, so we can all be taken more seriously by main stream publishers.

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In Other News

Free e-Book Covers are still available but for a limited time. The free e-book covers will be removed by the end of June from this blog  So make sure you get them while you can. 

I have been considering if book reviews are the way to go with this blog. I have read a number of articles about such plus book promotions on blogs, and as a result feel I should either limit these to a handful at a time or remove it altogether from this blog! Will have a think on that.

My next novel is taking shape slowly. I am very happy with how it is turning out, but still have a long way to go with it. I am somewhat reluctant to make pubic any previews or quotes just yet. The book is a totally new territory for me but it has also been the book I have always wanted to write! This book is unlike any of my other published works, in which I always had a running title, had an idea about the cover and knew the full story, just had to write it - but this novel has thrown  me completely I don't have any of those things I had when writing my previous books. There is no title, no idea of cover design, no idea of where the story/characters are taking me. I have never under taken as much research nor have I written character bios, even down to dates of birth, before.  I am taking my time with this book. I am in no hurry to complete the story nor am I publishing any promos, not until the final edit at least. I have had portions of this book read by a couple of beta readers who told me they loved the story. So not leaving it just at that, I want it to be the best one I have written so far and to surpass all my other books. Well I am hoping that's the case!

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The Pages Turn

Note that the FREE eBook Covers are up on this blog. All are still currently available details via top tab on this blog.

Since completing the e-covers., I have gone back to working on my next novel, which is slowly taking shape. Still researching and taking notes. The story is unwinding very gradually.  A short preview will of the novel will be available later this year. Publication is either late this year or early 2015. I am not rushing this book nor am I a book mill.

That's the thing I do not understand how some people can churn our books like switching on a conveyor belt and et voila! I still do not know how they do this! In another blog post I mentioned about how some authors just never seem to be off the Internet. They're always there on social networking sites, yet manage to be a book mill at the same time! It is quite possible they may have someone else to write on those sites, who knows!

For my next book I intend to take as long as I need with it. I am taking care of the story as it is one that I have always wanted to write since I was 17 but never got to do so, until now.  I have no title for it nor any cover, these will come much later. This is the first time for me this has happened, writing a book without having the title or the cover first!

It will all be worth the wait in the end.


 Next blog topic is the  'one poem/one short story 'book'




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The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.- Ursula K. Le Guin

Blog Giveaway - Free eBook Covers! Happening Now!

To get your FREE Exclusive eBook Cover please go to the tab at the top of this blog. All the information and details are there.

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FREE eBook Covers

This post is a day late was meant to have posted an update and information about what's been happening. I have been kept fairly busy with multi tasking my way through a lot of things.


The FREE eBook Covers will be up on this site this coming Saturday 29th March. It is up to you which cover you want and full details of how to get an exclusive cover will be on the tab, which is at the top of this blog, all the information you will need is there.

So keep 'em peeled

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eBook Cover Update

Free ecovers will be available in the next week. These will only be once off and available on a first come first served basis. These will be exclusive. No one else will have the same covers, so the cover chosen by an author is exclusive to that author.

More details in the next few days.


My next novel is coming along nicely albeit slowly. I am winding my way through mountains of research. This is taking a lot more of my time than I have been with writing. I have been drawing up character bios and information notes regarding the places for the story. I have already discovered loopholes with a few characters, which needs sorting out.

Next update over the weekend.

Finding Time - My Next Book Update

As an author I write randomly. I have no set time to write. But the hours seem to whittle away when I get stuck in with writing my books, yet I see a lot of authors/writers who seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on social network sites. Some never seem to be off it for one moment. I am not sure how they can get any work done at all.

Social media, can be a good marketing tool and also where you can meet fellow authors and like minded people. It's great to get ideas or when inspiration is needed, but to spend such a lengthy time on it, it is a wonder how anything is done.

I only go to social sites when I need too, or when I am taking a break and want to catch up on my fellow authors friends etc. Thing is I do not know how those I have seen on some sites get any writing done! I had seen a picture a few days ago about and I quote 'The Bermuda Triangle for Writers' mentioning 'Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter' and not to get caught up in it.

We all know those social sites are good for marketing, promotion and gaining new connections. Yes see it as a business tool, to build your audience. But having said that, there should be some cut off point. Allocate say whatever time to be there and then leave, get back to your work. So just saying, I don't know how other authors/writers do it.

I came across this article. I know it spells out about bad self promotion,  but the topic is about spending too much time on social sites.

 http://goodereader.com/blog/commentary/indie-authors-are-spending-too-much-time-on-social-self-promotion

I probably spend something like a half an hour on media sites, sometimes I can get caught in research for my book and other fact finding missions for my books. I am not saying that social media is a bad thing. It is great where you can connect with fellow creatives as being a writer can be such a solo endeavour, connecting with others really brings the community together and that is one of the best things about it. Spending time is good but in the right measurements, to keep you there can in effect be more valuable than spending a lot more time than necessary and losing time that could have been spent to write that book, story or article you have been meaning too.




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My next book news update

                     I have a mass of research to do for my next book. Never have I had quite such a collection of stuff before. Thing is I am enjoying it despite the amount of work I have to undertake for this book. I am thrilled with the story so far. Yet I have no working title, no name for the main character ( thought I had one and realised it was unsuitable ...for the second time! )

                     I've already reached 20k words but still have way lots more to do. It is nowhere near finished!  Hedging bets it might be somewhere later this year or early next year. I promised myself I would not set a publication date for this book. I don't want to rush it.

                     I love the story but yet have no idea where the story is taking me too. Presently I have at least four companion notebooks for the book filled with notes, ideas, research and other possibilities.  This is and has been so far a tougher challenge for myself and I am loving every minute of it. .

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The Free eBook Covers will be available later this month.

Characters - On your eBook cover or not!

Having been immersed in design for an eBook cover for a fellow author, something popped into my mind, whether to put a face/person on the cover of the book! I thought of the novel, which I am currently writing, whether it is prudent to add such to the prospective cover.

I know it is up to the author themselves as to whether this is a good or bad thing. I could roll out the pros and cons of putting people or faces on the cover.
Let's say you go ahead and do just that. Blazing across the cover of your book is some hunky/fantasy/meaningful/handsome man or a sexy/beautiful/ethereal lady. What does that say to you? Does it give you an idea of what these people are like? Have you thought for one moment, that in doing so, that this could/maybe hinder prospects of getting your book turned into a movie? Why? Because the character/s have a face already, It is not in the readers 'minds eye'/ imagination... Hollywood likes to play around with characters, to find the 'one' that suits. It can also put the reader off, if he/she doesn't like the look of your character on the cover.

So let's say you don't put an image of your character on the cover. The readers will use their imagination to 'dream up' what your characters look like. They can then relate to the characters and probably feel immersed in the book. Books are like mysteries in side the cover. You can either give away the idea of the character from your mind, or you can leave it the reader, it is up to you.

Just think about it before you decide

Happy writing!


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