When you Get Tired & Your Forehead is Practically Making Love to your Desk

I am tired. I am irritable. And I am grumpy. In a nut shell. I'm in That Place where you're working your ass off, but still being moaned at ... or still have a million things to do and no time to do it.

Demon Day was approved by Smashwords this morning. I got an email from Mark Coker last night, apparently Sony asked them to put a rush on it *puzzled* Did not think Readers at Sony were that thrilled with my book. So it looks like as planned it will be in Nook, Sony Reader and iBooks by June. Thank you god, because people were starting to get rowdy. It's constant. Twitter, Facebook, email, reviews in eStores, all with the purpose of asking where the sequel is. At one point I was looking at it all in disbelief then remembered I had to actually respond to all these people. I'm kind of used to it now, but I struggle to explain to readers what being Indie, and the distribution limitations are when they have no concept of self publishing at all.

And I'm terrified people won't like it. It's like when you watch a movie and you're like, oh my gosh, the sequel is going to be awesome, then you see it and your like, WTF. I am worried my book will be like that ... even though most reviews right now in Kindle are positive. I have a mini heart attack each time I see the review number go up.

It managed five days in the Kindle UK Top 100, but I put the book to $2.99/£1.50 and it's dropped ranking's to hover in the 190's in UK and 1,900's in US. 


Lunar Light is doing better than I hoped for, but has had some crazy reviews the last fortnight, which I think is mainly down to cabin fever about Demon Day. One said too much romance (for a book in the romance section), another simply refused to believe I wrote it, another called it werewolf porn ... which confused me as there are no werewolves in said book. *Sigh* The worst was simply a one star and the line; "Where is the sequel to Demon Day?" *facepalm* In fact no, I have no energy for that. *headdesk*. Ah. That's better. These reviews have not hurt my average stars or rankings in anyway, but it still smarts to see them, you know?

Anyway, there were some really amazing comments from readers this week, but the sweetest goes to a young woman named Madiha:

Warning: If you have not read Demon Day (and wish to) SPOILERS AHEAD:

Hi! 

Loved your books as I said on Facebook! I just had a random thought. I was wondering if you could do a short story on Tomas' character? As in his view from both books from the moment he was stalking Rae untill he died? I was so sad he died, I cry my eyes out each time I read that part. LOL. I know Breandan is the main character, and Rae's mate, but I just feel so sorry for tomas. I know I might sound loony as he is just a fictional character, but I've got a soft spot for him, and would have liked to read more about him. So ... if you do get a chance in the future I would love to read it!! 

Thank you for taking time out to read my email! Keep up the great work, can't wait for Demon Dark! 

Take care. 

Madiha

How sweet! Right? I was already planning to do a novella from Breandan's point of view, but it was such a sweet request that I've actually started writing a short for Tomas. I'll just post it on my website or something for people's enjoyment.

Other great reviews were received this week too, but the ones that stood out for Demon Girl and Demon Day really made a few dark clouds float away.

Blog posts from other writers I read that brightened my week were Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse, read if you want a major giggle, and The Dark Side of Writing, which made me pause and think about the whole writing for others and yourself thing.

There are some book covers which make you weep with longing. This is one I saw this week, and when I have butchered some more of my TBR list I'm coming back for you Oasis!








Books I finished reading this week for the Indie Book review: Shimmerspell by Kimberly Spencer, Blood of Requiem by Daniel Arenson *book swoon*, Stay by CC Jackson, The Goblin Market by Jennifer Huddock. I am reading The Converted by C. R Hindmarsh.


Here is a Kindle freebie if you want to grab it when you can (I got it yesterday). Diary of the Displaced by Glynn James. Amazing opening paragraph!

Have a great weekend guys!

2 comments:

  1. Well done Pene, you've got fans who adore your work and are begging for more! Just what every writer dreams of :)
    Re-edited vsn of The Arrival now up and just .99c for May ONLY

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  2. Thank you! I dream of it too ... I am thrilled deep down inside (I just needed a bar of chocolate to cheer me up).

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Ta!