really have a lot going on now

First off, here is what I accomplished on my list of goals. Green highlights are goals achieved, yellow highlights were worked on, red print were not even looked at.

1) Write 500 words per night for five nights on the new novel. Nope. And I have to say, that with the first novel coming out soon, I need to concentrate all my efforts on that, and put the second novel away for a bit.

2) Polish the Press Kit. Yep.

3) Start contacting places for book signings and / or readings, only after I get the release date from my publisher.  So, this is why nothing else got done. I got the release date. Yeah! September 1. Yet, I didn’t contact anyone.

4) Non-writing things to do:

a. Secure one venue for a craft sale for the Nonprofit. Yep. August 5 at the next town over.  

b. Scan a dozen of my mom’s old pictures into the computer. Only did seven pictures. They were all of my cousin who passed away this last Monday. After looking at all the pictures of her which I had, I was kind of whipped.

c. Clean out one box of my mom’s other stuff. Nope.

d. Finish reading “Wild”. Yeah! Finished it and started reading “On Writing” by Stephen King.

My cousin, who passed away last week, at her bridal shower in 19070.
That's me on the right and my sister Pat behind me looking sneaky. 

As you already know, I discovered my novel listed on Amazon last Sunday. I spent a frantic week promoting it on my social media. I also updated my other blog, the Dino Chronicles, with the new book listed. Today, I have to update this blog as well.

Here’s what else I need to do this week:

1) Print out my Press Kit in anticipation of handing it out. I don’t know who that might be, but I think it’s nice to have it on me.  

2) Contact three places for book signings and / or readings.

3) Update my website, with the new book. I’ve been trying to do that all week, but am locked out of my account, so I need to call customer support.   

4) Non-writing things to do:

a. Secure another venue for a craft sale for the Nonprofit.

b. Scan a dozen of my mom’s old pictures into the computer.

c. Wash four windows in my house. They all have to get washed by the end of August, so I need to start.  

d. Read half of “On writing” by Stephen King. I don’t know how people read a book or two a week. That is one goal I won’t have on this list.

Just a reminder, to any readers out there. Amazon.com currently has the market on book sales. Sad fact, but true. The other fact is, as with anything else, the more books which are sold, the more books will sell. As more books are sold, that book’s ranking goes up, so that more random people just looking at random books, and not necessarily searching for yours, might stumble upon your book. The same is true with reviews. With each review, the book is also pushed higher up the ranking chain, and I believe that is the case whether good or bad reviews. I could be wrong on that. But as we all know, bad press is still press and will get you noticed.

All that being said, if my book sounds like something you might like, download it, read it and write a review for Amazon. But don’t just do it for me. Do it with other books and authors you like and want to support. Advertising is expensive, and hardly any authors can afford to do it. Free word of mouth is what sells books these days.

 Thanks! And have a great week.