Over the past few months, I’ve seen writer friends post about giving up, about disappointment in sales figures, about having second thoughts of writing another book, let alone a sequel.

I thought about what they wrote for a long time and sympathised with them. After all, it is hard getting the sales you want – especially for your first book.

Then, this morning, I was looking at a similar post again and I thought: “What’s different about us? Why don’t I feel as depressed as they do?”

And then I realised my reason for writing.

Yes, I want to sell a lot of books. Yes, I’d love to have my books on the best seller charts. But more importantly? More important to me is to get the stories out there. If I sell one, I dance with joy – because it means there’s someone out there who may know me but likes my work enough to buy it. It means that I have either entertained or lightened someone’s day.

After 3 days in the work I’m doing – that’s a big achievement. If I can make someone feel better after reading my books – or give them lots of entertainment whilst reading it, then I’ve done my job. Even if it’s just one person. That’s someone who wouldn’t have read my story if I hadn’t written and published it.

Remember, though, this is only my outlook and not everyone thinks along the same lines as I do. Not everyone thinks or feels like me. So don’t judge a writer who posts that their sales are down and it hurts. That’s how they feel. It’s just as valid as how I feel. Remember, these people write for free until you buy a book of theirs. That’s when the joy comes to the writer.

So, it’s been a while with work being back to 4 days a week and a rotating day at that, but they’ve been kind enough to give me 3 days for the next 2 weeks (can only see 3 weeks of a roster). I thought we would be really busy one weekend but it looks like we aren’t. I should be able to get a lot of writing and art in during those weeks at least! We have a plan at work – this request was for a month, the next request is for 3 months and hopefully after that we can go permanent. But onward and upward.

The side-line that I was talking about has worked in well. Now it’s just a matter of adding the following bits into Dark Reign and we’ll be well on our way!

Finally! I didn’t think it would get here. It’s been a struggle with new thoughts of what to write nearly overpowering going to work, but, hey, we’ve all gotta eat!

I woke on Monday morning with my head spinning with ideas for Dark Reign. And with other ideas for Consequences (in the future). So with these running around and around, I dragged myself away from the computer for 4 whole days! I knew, if I got into writing after work I wouldn’t get anything done – I wouldn’t eat, I wouldn’t sleep, and I certainly wouldn’t be any good at work.

It was a hard decision, but now I have 3 days to work on all those ideas I’ve been buzzing with. I toyed with writing them down, but until today the food court (where I take my lunch to) was really busy and noisy so I held it all in, just making notes.

And here I am, keyboard under my fingertips and my document on the other screen as I impart all this amazing knowledge to you all! (Yeah, laugh, I know it’s not that amazing! hahaha)

But if you find yourself in a similar situation, make sure you weigh up what is more important for the moment – money or writing. Believe me, it’s a hard choice. Now I have the fire to contend with!

I am looking forward to writing an off-shoot to Dark Reign. It may slow the process down but I think I need to do it to get into Troy’s ultimate enemy’s head. And that’s all I’m saying.

So, I had to go back to work and the last month has been very productive for me. However, this week I found that my 3 days a week was only temporary and next week is back to 4 days working. Unless they accept my application that we put in this week. I find I’m more productive both at work and at home in working 3 days a week so I’m hoping they accept my application. Thus with the ups and downs, I haven’t really written anything this week. But I am going through what I have for Dark Reign and that is the important part. I know I’m not the only one who has problem weeks like this but I’m hoping it’s my last problem week.

I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this but I’m trying to decide if I should change Troy’s favourite drink from whiskey to scotch and then tried to remember how I’d spelt it in Dark Dimensions. So, I got out the published version and an hour later realised I should be writing the sequel rather than getting caught in a story already finished. I dropped the idea and opened Dark Reign.

So this is my first attempt at an author’s website, so I’ll ask you all to be patient with me.

I have finished the alpha (hopefully, beta) versions of Consequences and have sent them to beta readers to have a look over. I am hoping to send one of them to the editor (the wonderful Jeanne) by the end of the month (I can see Jeanne’s face now!).

Now that I am in waiting mode, I have returned to Dark Reign, the sequel to Dark Dimensions. I have a page exclusively for Dark Reign and will pop some information in it there.

I do hope to have Consequences out soon for all to read. In the meantime, please keep the word going about Dark Dimensions and, just as importantly, KCEditions, my publisher.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton