Your Friday Tidbit -- Ramblings of a Writer

 

Happy Friday everyone! We made it!! We survived another week! I hope your week went well. I'd like to thank all of you who have been reading my books AND giving me ratings/reviews on Amazon! I appreciate it.💕

When I wrote last week's Tidbit, I was 100 pages into reading book 5 of my Portrait of an Unlikely Affair series, a book called Project Broken Glass. I finished that one by Sunday evening and then promptly went into book six (and series finale) The Disruption of Forever. It only took me less than 24 hours to power read through that one as I could not put it down. I was even to the point where I forgot I wrote it. (True story there.) I forgot about some parts of the book so it was a pleasant surprise to read them. I find reading my own books as a reader allows me to see what you see when you read them. I do hope you enjoy them. If you don't, well, that's okay, I do understand. Either way, remember to let me know so I can have some feedback! 

If you do have my books on Kindle, be sure to go back and look through them because I caught some Publishing Gremlin spots while I was reading and corrected the minor glitches that you may have noticed. (It horrifies me to be reading along when I stumble upon an obvious glitch in the book that I wrote and published and see the word "TO" where the word "THE" is supposed to be and other simple, stupid mistakes like that when I know I have read and reread and then re-reread every manuscript thoroughly before I submitted it.) Anyhow, if you sync your Kindle again, the latest version of the ebooks automatically update so outside of my disappointment, absolute horror, head-hanging shame, and utter embarrassment, the Publishing Gremlins have hopefully been kicked to the curb in those. 

(I hate Publishing Gremlins.) 

So, today I was reminded that I should mention that I have two novels enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program -- Portrait of an Unlikely Affair and Along the Way. I can see that a few of you are taking advantage of it, so thank you. Really, it's funny how that works. Authors can see how many pages people have read of our books on Kindle Unlimited. Part of me wishes I could see how far along every kindle reader is with my books but unfortunately I only get to see how many pages are read each day from the novels that are enrolled in the program. With the rest of the kindle books, I can imagine that you are happily enjoying your journey through my books, curled up in a chair or reading nook, turning pages while envisioning the story in your mind. 

I know to some of you I sound like a broken record with my books but I am constantly trying to find ways to "spread" the word of my books. I figure if I'm going to be all in, I might as well be all in. Not halfway in. Or testing the waters. Nope. I gotta cannonball into the deep end. I also am aware that my books aren't going to be everyone's cup of tea (or coffee) but I do appreciate you giving me a chance by reading them. 

This week I've been pondering whether or not I should join an Author Promotion group on Facebook. From the looks of it, it could be a good move to go in and introduce my work. It has over 80K people in the group, most of whom appear to be self-published authors. I did learn a lot while browsing some of their posts but then there's that part of me that can see the downsides to doing that. I guess I have a little more soul searching to do before I make a move on it. 

I am also considering donating a few books to our local library. I'll add it to my list of things to do because I'll need to make sure everything is perfect on the paperback books and order some author copies (which take WEEKS to arrive) and then make sure those don't have any bends or folds or other blemishes on the cover... And then take the time to second guess myself while wondering if there are Publishing Gremlins who probably made all sorts of mistakes... And then I just know the book is going to end up in the hands of my high school English teacher who is going to get out that ol' red pen and go to town on it.😳 I can hear it now -- "You've been out of school for decades and you still can't tell where that comma goes?!"

LOL, ah yes, I'm sure the psychologists among you can dissect that fear. 

Anyhow, several times a week, while glancing at sales and my advertising on Amazon, I find I have to do mental checks. I have to take a deep breath and consider the extremes in responses I can get in regards to my books. 

First, I take the extreme that I'm ONLY going to receive positive and 5-star reviews which are gushing about how they are the best books in the history of books, that they are amazingly well written, and everyone loves them. You know, the kinds of reviews a grandmother would probably give her grandchild -- Rainbows and unicorns with cupcakes and doughnuts. Magical glitter-filled reviews. 

Then I take the other extreme and imagine the review that my worst enemy in the world would give me, or perhaps one made by the most bitter person on the face of the planet who thrives in making your life hideous and horrible and enjoys making children cry. That soul crushing review -- "This book sucks. You wasted hours of your life for nothing. You suck as a writer. Quit writing them. It's full of mistakes and your imagination sucks. I don't even want to give this a star but I have to so I can tell you how bad you suck."

Then I have to take a deep breath and let it out and go for the second worst possible scenario -- a 2 or 3 star review. "Eh. It was ok. I read it. It had its moments but, eh, whatever. It was too predictable and I only sort-of liked the characters. The story was eh. Blah. Just, yeah, blah. I stuck with it because it wasn't completely a train wreck but I did invest time in it so I was just waiting to see if it got better...At least I was hoping it would. Well it didn't totally tank so...🤷"

With the three most likely scenarios now behind me, I can focus on attracting readers who are into books like mine and happily give those 4 and 5 star reviews. Then I can pick myself up off the floor, brush myself off, and sit back at the computer. I have to remember that there are so many popular books out there that people have RAVED to me about, gushed over, and just go on and on about. I read them (or tried to read them) and really tried my darnedest to like them, but in the end, yeah, I just don't see what the big deal was about (insert Vampire romance novels in this category along with that thriller writer who has so many best sellers and movies based on his books, and several other books like that.) I think it is good to figure out where your mind is and how to quell the demons within. Insecurity is a sucky thing and if you are constantly worrying about what other people think of you, well, that just adds to the misery of life. 

Heck, I actually look at reviews and ratings as "WOW! Another living person ACTUALLY read my book!!!!!" And then I get all giddy and dance around because someone out there, in the REAL WORLD,  who I may not even know, FOUND my book and READ it then left a REVIEW or RATING!!!!! OMG, that's like HUGE!!!!! (I have to laugh here because it sort of reminds me of being a teenager in school again, when you have a crush on someone and then one day, this crush actually smiled at you or even looked at you and it made you all giddy and excited because your crush actually NOTICED you existed if only for a second, and it made your whole day. Yup. Walking on cloud 9 there. But then, of course, when you get older, you roll your eyes at how silly that all sounds. Huh? What do you mean you don't remember feeling that way about crushes? What? You mean you actually just walked up and talked to them? Nah. What? Really? You mean, you weren't all tongue-tied and nervous and spent hours practicing the perfect thing to say just to look like a complete moron? Really? Huh.🤔) Yeah, and if you think that sound pathetic, you should see how excited I get when I find out that someone BOUGHT any one of my books!!!  

It's the little things in life. 

Are writers really that fragile of people that they do silly things like that?

Well, yeah. Most writers are introverts. Our characters are our friends. (So what if they're imaginary?)  Writers are also people who are used to being rejected by publishers, they're used to being told their writing is all wrong by editors, and they will go for months and years before they actually get to the point where they are ready to share their writing with other people.  

Which brings me to my next point of business. I am currently deciding which novel to work on next. I write on whichever one speaks to me. I have two novels -- a haunting mystery and a tease of another installment of Allegheny Chronicles -- and collection of short stories in the works. 

What do you think of haunting mysteries? Do you like it extremely spooky or do you like a Haunted Mansion type of ghost story? What is the best ghost story you've read? What is the scariest one you've ever read? 

What is your opinion on short stories? They are short, they take less commitment than a novel to read, and they're usually just a tease. They can be on any subject, written at any time, and then stuck together.

They're all going to be published but I'm curious as to which one happens first. 

On that note, I'll let you get about your day. Thank you for hanging out with me today, and entertaining my ramblings. I appreciate it! As always, there are tons of books out there for you to read and I am honored that you take the time to read mine. They grow on you. Trust me. I know some people are what are self-labeled 'slow readers' and are taking their time reading through them. I also know I have the fast readers who get caught up and just fly through them. It doesn't matter what kind of reader you are, I am glad to have you here. To me, you're all wonderful just the way you are.

Until next time, enjoy! Have a great weekend! 

Visit me on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/embrooks today!