Still not idle...

Hi all,

sorry that updates have been thin on the ground as of late. Behind the scenes, I've still been working furiously.

Since my last update, I've penned another couple of short stories ('The Note', 'Home Assistant') and a flash-fiction work ('# sync;sync;halt'). I'm continuing to submit these short works to Sci-fi periodicals, and I am awaiting responses. 

Similarly, I'm still playing the waiting game with my search for an agent to represent 'puppet | STRINGS'. 

As there seems to be an awful lot of waiting going on, I've started work on a new book! This one is a police/detective story, still set in the Dreams are not dreams setting, and features Luna Police officers Sergeant Collins and Constable Lee, who were introduced in 'puppet | STRINGS' and also featured in 'the EGG MEN'. It's likely to be a shorter work than 'puppet | STRINGS' or 'STRINGS | cut' but the creative juices are flowing nicely, and I like the way it's shaping up.

Stay tuned... No flipping!

Not idle...

In my last post, I wrote that I had reached a decision to remove by work from sale. Well, I followed through with that and have spent the last couple of weeks being a busy little beaver!

I have:

• Sent querying letters to several (probably too many!) literary agents,
• Polished up and submitted a few short stories to prestigious Sci-Fi fiction sites,
• Completed my own reviews of the follow-up book to puppet | STRINGS, which will be called STRINGS | cut,
• Sent STRINGS | cut to a couple of fellow writers for beta-reading,
• Drafted the outline for Book 3 of Dreams are not dreams, which has a working title of cut | LOOSE,
• Noted several ideas for other stories, some short, some which could become novels in their own right.

So, hopefully, you can see that my decision to withdraw puppet | STRINGS from sale wasn't me quitting, but rather a 'reset' or 'reboot' of my approach to publication.

Still here, still writing, still hopeful.

Big decisions...

 I'm in an odd place.

On the one hand, I'm enthused. Since putting puppet | STRINGS on sale, it has been read and reviewed by several people. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive (I'll post a few on the blog soon).

On the other hand, I'm depressed. I have worked hard to publicise the book, yet sales have been very poor. I have run Amazon advertising campaigns (both in the UK and the US), discount offers (via 'Hello books' and others) and heavily posted on both Facebook and Twitter. I have literally spent every spare penny I have (and more), but currently my return is a fraction of a fraction.

Before deciding to take the self-published route, I had queried literary agents in the UK but met with very little interest. This is, I believe, par for the course, but still demoralising.

However, in the light of the positive reviews I have had, by belief in the book itself has been thoroughly rekindled (no pun intended). 

I've decided to pull puppet | STRINGS from sale on Amazon, Kobo, B&N and Google and go back to querying agents again. 

Wish me luck - things could get bumpy!

puppet | STRINGS - Officially launches TODAY!!

I am proud and excited to announce that the formal release of puppet | STRINGS is finally upon us.

Writing and publishing this book has been a labour of love for the past two years so, as you can probably imagine, I am beside myself with joy. 

puppet | STRINGS was originally intended to be a self-published e-book, but I am buzzing with excitement to say that I have decided to also make it available as a paperback.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get a copy!

• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Amazon US
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Amazon UK
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Kobo
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Google Play Books
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Barnes & Noble

puppet | STRINGS - Seven days until launch

Exciting times! The first full Dreams are not dreams novel, puppet | STRINGS is rapidly approaching its formal launch date of July 1st.

The story picks up where That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES left off; Brad Kimball's attempts to become a world-famous (and rich!) e-sports gamer have failed. Someone or something is interfering with his mind, embedding impulses which compel him to carry out crimes, stealing complex electronic components. 

But who is this mysterious puppeteer, and why are they pulling Brad's strings?

puppet | STRINGS is now available for pre-order, with a release date of 1st July 2023

• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Amazon US
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Amazon UK
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Kobo
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Google Play Books
• Browse puppet | STRINGS on Barnes & Noble

Sign up to my mailing list and get a FREE copy of my short story, The CORRIDOR. 

Immediately after signing up, you will receive an email allowing you to download a copy of the book. You download it as either a .epub or .mobi file.

Sign up (on the right-hand side of the screen) now!

Free ebook!

 Join MY MAILING LIST

Sign up to my mailing list and get a FREE copy of my short story, The CORRIDOR. 

On the right-hand side of the screen is a box that looks like this:

Simply fill in your email address and click [Subscribe] and you will receive an email allowing you to download a copy of the book, as either a .epub or .mobi file.

Best of all, I will be able to keep you posted with information about my upcoming release, puppet | STRINGS. 

Need more incentive? Okay:

• I hereby solemnly swear not to spam your mailbox with junk mail. 
• Maximum one mail per week. 
• I promise.

Sign up now! 

Free Shorts!

 No, silly person! Not:

I meant this:

Get 'em while they're hot at the following links:

• That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES on amazon.com
• That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES on amazon.co.uk
• The EGG MEN on amazon.com
• The EGG MEN on amazon.co.uk