365 Days of being a published author....

 Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, it was a drizzly rainy day. I had just watched Along the Way, Wherever It Goes, and Portrait of an Unlikely Affair go live on Kindle. The kids wanted popcorn for a snack so I went into the kitchen to make it. They began to run around the house with the dog chasing them, as they had done thousands of times before. Then there was a crash and bang and then a shriek because someone was bleeding and then there was crying. My youngest had went head first into the corner of a wall, being tripped and pushed aside by the bully of a dog. Her forehead had a gash to it and I knew instantly it was out of my skill set so we raced to town, hitting the obstacles of slow drivers and road construction. We spent over six hours in the ER, with her getting stitches in her forehead. It was busy, they numbed the area around the cut and said they'd be back. They came back over an hour later and tried to stich her forehead with the numbing agent well worn off. To a 4-year-old, it was traumatic and she screamed so they stopped and we had to do a different way. Well...Long story short, it was a memorable day of launching my books on Amazon. 

Fast forward a year later and it is cool but clear blue skies with fall in the air. Thirty-five years of writing has paid off as I have published ten books over this last year.   I have all ten books available on three vendors -- Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and Apple Books. I did advertising on Amazon this year. I know I have a lot of finagling around to do with that. I am on Facebook, Instagram, Blogspot, and substack. I have three books in the public library. I have also spoken to traditional publishers. 

I'm experimenting and for a first year of learning the ropes, I'm not doing so bad.

This second year I have big plans:

• at least three more novels.
• advanced copy readers!
• figuring out my proper category placement for these books.
• advertising on social media 
• using the free public channels such as the local newspaper.
• physical copies in bookstores
• exploring and creating audio books for those of you who really want to be readers but are more "auditory readers." (I get it totally.)
• creating growth 
• being on more platforms
• having fun while doing it.

And of course, following the flow of my writing and seeing where it goes. 

Feedback from others on my books. I do receive most of my feedback in personal texts, emails, and conversation and I appreciate that!!! Here are the comments that I get:

#1 Top Comment: "These need to be movies!"

        Yes. I agree. Anyone know a movie or TV producer? I'm an avid reader and writer who married someone who doesn't like reading or writing so the only way he said he'll read my books is when the movie comes out. And I also promised my bestie that if a movie was made, she could go on set and drool over the cast. 

Other comments include: 

• "They are difficult to put down!"
• "I couldn't stop turning the pages - I had to know what happened next."
• "I stayed up late reading them."
• "After reading your books, it's difficult to pick up a book by another author."
• "I think about the characters long after I've finished reading."
• "They are books I can read again. I've picked up new things reading them a second and third time."
• "OMG! The characters! I love them! I hate them!" (You know you've done well when people are emotional toward your characters.)
• "You need to keep writing."

Thank you to everyone who has begun this journey with me. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next!! I look forward to sharing it with you.

If you've read my books, remember to rate and review them on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, Apple Books, and on Goodreads. The algorithms on those sites respond to the number of ratings and reviews as well as sales. They will begin to recommend and make more books visible to other potential readers. 

If you haven't read any of my books, start today! They are found on kindle, paperback, and hardcover at www.amazon.com/authore/embrooks. On Nook (epub format) and in paperback at www.barnesandnoble.com. And on your Apple Books app (also epub format).  

There is always an adventure in an Em Brooks book.