Dreams are not Dreams

<i>Dreams are not Dreams</i>
Dreams are not Dreams

Sunday, 27 August 2023

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.

Monday, 21 August 2023

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!

Thursday, 29 June 2023

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!

Saturday, 24 June 2023

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


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!

Thursday, 8 June 2023

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! 

Friday, 19 May 2023

That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES - Part 6: The finale

 That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES - Part 6 - The finale

The final chapter of That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES, is now available! In chapter 6 of That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES, Brad wakes to the realisation that he lost the Soccer Commando II Tournament. Things go from bad to worse, however, when he has an unexpected urge to do something he really shouldn't...

During the run-up to the release of puppet | STRINGS, the first full book in the Dreams are not Dreams series, the short prequel story That's THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES will be published chapter-by-chapter on this blog over six weeks.

I proudly make the first four chapters are available for reading now:

In addition, the full ebook of this short story can be pre-ordered from Amazon and now also from kobo and Barnes & Noble so that it can be a permanent part of your collection!

If you have read it and enjoyed it, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review on your favourite bookshop's website.


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!