Category Archives: Publishing your novel

January 8, 2020 · 12:50 pm

Reflection, In the Moment and Looking Ahead to 2020

A belated Happy New Year to you all!

Reflection

Thinking of my personal journey, 2019 was a tough one family wise, reflecting the state of the nation, but I feel in a stronger and more optimistic frame of mind for 2020.

Back into my writing life in 2019 I worked on:

  •  Preparing my new novel for presentation to the world. Date to be announced shortly.
  • Updating website and social media sites. It’s amazing how quickly it all becomes out of date and a bit tired.
  • Writing regular blog posts once more, particularly enjoying the special ones about our life in Scotland on http://www.selectionsofreflections.wordpress.com . So many precious moments with wonderful friends.
  • Engaging more on Twitter and Facebook, although I have a long way to go on that one.
  • Catching up with what’s new ~ this is a big one. Try https://nicholasrossis.wordpress.com/2019/12/29/how-to-market-your-book-in-2020/ for up to date marketing techniques. It all makes my mind boggle!

I am so aware that everything has moved on since I last published a novel in 2014. Was it really six years ago? I have published a travel memoir with a difference, but this year will be the first full length novel since we moved to Fife.

In the Moment

I aim to be in the moment, be aware of opportunities which come my way and above all try not to plan rigidly so that I am able to be more spontaneous. This means in my life in the community too ~ not having so much on that I cannot respond to where my heart says I should be in the moment.

Ahead to 2020

Being aware of my ‘in the moment’ aim, I am positively looking forward to life, launching my new novel, being there for the family but hopefully not overwhelmed by it and above all  ~ joy!

A dear friend of mine, who usually buys a special Christmas card for me, apologized and said she’d been ill before Christmas and hadn’t got around to sending one. I replied, ‘that’s quite all right, I’ve just opened two cards with the word Joy in large letters on the front. Since it is your surname, I’ll think of you whenever I look at them.’ ~ and I did.

And so I wish you Joy for 2020 too.

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October 4, 2019 · 4:38 pm

Book Launch ~ a Positive Postponement

A sense of peaceA Positive Postponement

I had intended to launch my new novel this autumn. This promise has been hanging over me until just now, when I read one of my favourite blogs for information, hints and advice regarding self publishing.

BOOKSDESIGNER.COM

This suddenly set me free. I’m nowhere near ready for a book launch this autumn and I suddenly decided to postpone it. No guilt, no anxious fretting ~ just peace.

Family Comes First

Family matters have been taking up 90% of my time of late and in the end family comes first. Instead of being disappointed it has made me quite excited, because out of the fog of indecision and thanks to bookdesigner.com I now have a plan to follow.

Proper Preparation for a Book Launch

You see, I’ve been going to write a plan for weeks now, but I have just never found the time or the space to think.

I hope my new novel will be published in the spring of next year but meanwhile I’ll let you know each step I’m taking to make it ready. Instead of being depressed about this I feel empowered.

I hope this post can be an encouragement to others.

best wishes

Diana

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June 16, 2014 · 2:21 pm

A Great Big Thank You

In the last couple of weeks I had the pleasure of meeting up with the students from North Herts College who designed the covers for ‘Murder, now and then’, in a cover competition and it was heart warming to spend some time with them. (once a teacher always a teacher!)DSCN1208

First I met up with William Smith who designed the image for kindle. I asked him what he thought of the experience.

Available on Kindle

Available on Kindle

‘It’s one thing learning at college but it is another thing designing to specifications and deadlines and working with an author to make amendments. The  other good thing was when I had an interview for university, I felt that I had something real and interesting to talk about and it helped. It gave me confidence.’

I wish Will good luck in his next few years at University and I’m so pleased it was such a positive experience. Sorry about closing my eyes in the photo though! I’m always doing that.

 

 

DSCN1230Then last week I had a chat with Emma Black, who painstakingly designed the paperback cover in 3D before having help from a tutor 😉 to do the formatting. She needed to be so patient when it came to amendments and it was not until half way through the process that I realised she was modelling each image before taking photographs of it. Amazing. I asked her what she thought of the experience.

Murder, now and then available on Amazon

Murder, now and then available on Amazon

‘I looked at your specification and I chose the elements I thought were the most important and spent some time thinking about the design. I know you were worried asking me to change parts of it but I just wanted to get it right. I did find the time keeping part difficult, since I had my other course work to do at the same time, and know I have to work on meeting deadlines, but my family are so proud of me now. I enjoyed the experience!’

I am not only thankful to these students, but their tutor Ben Hogan and another tutor and friend Peter Arnold for making it happen.

 

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