Hello! This Blog was intended as a ‘recap’ (or the blog equivalent of a clipshow?) but a few new things have cropped up. I’ll do a quick recap first, and keep you waiting for the new info (unless, of course, you scroll down…)

I can’t honestly tell you how the book has been selling - it’s been up and down the Amazon charts like a yo-yo! As you know, it’s still only in two bricks and mortar shops (Henry’s Books and Waterstones - Hexham), so it’ll probably just be bought by people who are specifically looking for it… Perhaps I’ll get paid any royalties in loose change!

I still have no real printed reviews. I’ve got a few mentions on the internet (aside from the Trashionista review that you know about) but these are mainly from people on forums that I belong to. These are generally positive, apart from the one that said Karma was predictable…but I KNEW she was going to say that! Ha, ha! By the way, the competition to win a £15 Amazon voucher is still running: just submit your review for the chance to win. It would be nice (although I realise now that it’s close to impossible) to get a review in a women’s glossy or a national newspaper. We can live in hope…

You’re all well aware that I’ve had little support from local quarters (except Henry’s Books, Waterstones - Hexham and the Sunday Sun) - that theme continues. I’ve had most publicity from sources I’d never anticipated ie ME Essentials, That’s Inspiration, etc. I’ve come into contact with a lot of nice people I would probably never have met, had it not been for the book - so that’s been a positive thing.

At the end of the day, I still don’t feel like I belong in the writing community. I joined several groups, but feel unable to contribute as I am clueless about the business. I feel out of my depth when they talk about PR, agents, promos, workshops, conferences, prizes, BSPs (what the heck is a BSP?), submissions - the list is seemingly endless! Even the so-called ‘newbies’ know more than me.

One thing I’ve never been short of is support…from all sorts of people and places! Hope you all know who you are and how grateful I am. Finally, for this recap, I’ll answer the question I posed in my first ever posting: it’s not impossible for one little tired woman to take on the task of book promotion in a competitive market, but practically impossible!

Now to new things. I was contemplating being in my fourteenth minute of fame, and winding things down when I got some advice from an unexpected source. I got an email from Adele Parks! I’d contacted her as part of my ‘enquiring minds wanna know’ phase a few months ago, and she actually replied - how nice was that? Soon afterwards, I got a call from my publishers saying that the Kindred Spirit magazine may be interested in running a story on me (www.kindredspirit.co.uk). I love alternative and holistic therapies, so I am delighted that they are considering interviewing me for their September/October issue. I began studying to be a Massage Therapist a looonnnnngggg time ago, as I thought that when I was well, I’d be able to start my own business. Maybe it will still happen - who knows???

Excuse the French but, for some obscure reason, everything apart from my typing is appearing en Francais. There’s also an odd message that I can’t get rid of from someone telling me to “have a great time when Emily is here and a wonderful time when you go to Canada” - if anyone can enlighten me on why this may be happening, I’d be interested to know. I don’t know a single Emily and have no intention of going to Canada at all! C’est tres strange, n’est pas?

Back to the reason I posted: a quick scan of the forums I look at showed that someone (not naming screen names) is finding my novel predictable. I am a little saddened by that, as sometimes, the characters even surprised me…I never knew what they’d be getting up to next!!! Is that a failing of mine, or is the reader just very astute (that’s not quite the word I wanted to use, but I can’t think properly today as the dog kept me awake half last night). Oh, that word is really bothering me. Maybe I mean she’s “insightful”… You get my gist, don’t you???

I have to go now, as it’s my wedding anniversary and I have a special meal to microwave (bless Marks & Spencers and their ready meals). Then a lovely dessert. Mmm…profiteroles (doing my best Homer Simpson impression…without the drooling!)

Only a short message this time, as I’m not feeling up to writing tomes. Just wanted to say that I received my copies of ME Essentials newsletter this morning, and Tony has written a fantastic article. I’m very pleased with it, and was (surprisingly) happy with the cover. There’s a shot of the magazine in the ‘March & April’ section of my photo albums. No disrespect to anyone who’s supported me, but it’s nice to get a mention in a magazine where the readers really appreciate how much it took for me to complete the book…and to keep plugging away, trying to get Paige & Co noticed!

That’s all for now. Retiring back to my sofa and Sweet Baby James (on TV, unfortunately, rather than my sofa). Speak to you all soon.

PS A comment from the good lady, Dubai Reader, made me wonder why you are all such a quiet lot. I know from the web stats that quite a few of you pop in every day. Why not introduce yourself? I don’t bite. Promise.

Had a good old email-moan at Natalie about all things book-related (she probably dreads seeing my name popping up in her Inbox). Anyway, all is sorted with distribution to the distributors, and Natalie’s spoken to the nice lady at Waterstones Hexham (although it sounds to me as if Newcastle branch and Borders Gateshead seem to be avoiding Natalie’s calls - and that’s AFTER me leaving a free book for the Borders lady to read…not a great sign, is it?)

Seems like my book might be appearing on Amazon.com in the near future, so it will be available in the US (like the other Discovered Authors’ books), and it WILL be on the Bookforce stand at the London Book Fair, which I believe is next week and is a big event. Natalie explained why my book wasn’t on the LBF website: they were only allocated space for five books, so they chose the most recent. Sounds fair enough. Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive again, as I’ve been feeling a bit second rate compared to the other winners (more to do with my own poor self-esteem than any favouritism, I suspect).

I’m fast running out of ideas as to how I can raise the profile of my book - yep, Mrs I.M. Creative is indeed running out of ideas (and energy, in this rotten heat). There is the odd thing in the pipeline, but it’s pointless mentioning them until they come up. The person who approached me about doing an interview for a Uni mag in Scotland never got back in touch with me, nor did the Essex DJ who mentioned doing a radio interview for his show (and that was also AFTER he was sent a book, so it’s got me wondering…) Anyway, I may be a little down, but I’m not out!

Oh, and I had my annual ‘prophetic Grand National dream’: I dreamt that I’d shown someone my sketch book, and it suddenly dawned on me that my portraits and drawings were absolutely rubbish! I was really embarrassed, as I had given some of my drawings away to people. So, when I woke up this morning, I had a look through the horses’ names to see if anyone of them fit in with my dream - the closest one I could find was GRAPHIC Approach. I also chose Homer Wells, for entirely unrelated reasons. Neither my horses nor hubby’s were even placed! Maybe my dream was just telling me that my art-work is lousy!!!