It's the 1st Wednesday. Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. And thanks to this month's awesome hosts: Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner!
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There are times when I really don't like being self-published. Everything is on me. I set the deadlines and, foolishly, announce ahead of time when a book will be released. For various reasons like family obligations and, mainly, procrastination, I almost didn't make my December 4th release date for my Christmas story, Romance Rekindled.
Unlike Smashwords, which puts the book up on their website right away, Amazon takes longer. They say 24 - 72 hours. I've never found it take that long. By the skin of my teeth, and with three hours to spare, Romance Rekindled went live on Amazon last night. So I made my deadline. Whew!
Romance Rekindled is a contemporary romance with a bit of mystery. Two couples discover that love is better the second time around.
Blurb:
Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a
successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to
keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas,
she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s
arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create
more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her
dormant feelings?
Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to
a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who
seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend
who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help
her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.
This month's optional IWSG question:
As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?
I wouldn't procrastinate so much. LOL I did publish two books this year, so I'm proud of that. I'm disappointed I didn't get farther along on my science fiction romance. You'll probably read more about that one as my insecurities escalate.
Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.
Thanks for the post, Diane, and a very Happy 🎄 Christmas x
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you, too, Carole Anne.
DeleteWow, 2 books and a Christmas story! I'd say you did quite well. Congratulations and Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bish. Merry Christmas to you, too.
DeleteYay for getting the book up! I'm a terrible procrastinator too so I can relate LOL. I love Christmas stories so this looks like something I definitely want to add to my Kindle. I hope it's a great success for you. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family, Diane!
Thanks, Julie. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas.
DeleteCongrats on getting the book out! I know I need to work on the procrastination issue as well :(. May 2018 work better for both of us! Happy IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie. I hope 2018 is great, too.
DeleteCongratulations on your release! I didn't realize there was a delay in getting something up on Amazon. Hope you have a wonderful festive season.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. Happy holidays to you and your family.
DeleteYour writing is engaging. I've read two of your books. Maybe you should think about sending your next manuscript to a publisher or an agent.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a successful crossover into 2018.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thanks, Pat. Wishing you much success in 2018.
DeleteCongrats on the book. Just in time for the Christmas season. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. Happy Christmas!
DeleteCongrats on your release!! Glad you made it in time. Having everything on your shoulders is one of the downsides to being Indie, but you made it through. Yay for 2 books published this year. I got the one out and did the pre-order for the first time ever. That really locks in your deadline.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meka. I did a pre-order with my book that came out in April. I will probably do it again. Wishing you much success on your own books.
DeleteHuge congrats! And I do understand how self-publishing can be an enormous chunk of responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's is but it's also very rewarding.
DeleteYay for making your deadline! Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chrys. Each book has it's own challenges.
DeleteYou published two books this year?? That's fantastic! We always want to be able to accomplish more and be more productive as writers, no matter how small or big our successes are. Congrats on making your deadline and releasing your newest romance!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liesbet. Happy holidays to your & your family.
DeleteHello--I'm new to IWSG. It's great to find fellow romance writers in the mix! You had a mighty productive year. Best wishes for 2018.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy, and welcome. This is a great mix of writers. Wishing you & your family happy holidays.
DeleteWow Diane! Two books published is no small feat! Congrats on making your deadline! I should probably add procrastination to my do-over list also...it goes right along with my demon - Time Management! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteTime management is my bugaboo, too. I need a schedule and stick to it. Happy Holidays.
DeleteCongratulations on Romance Rekindled! It sounds sweet and lovely, perfect for this time of year. :)
ReplyDeleteWay to go on all that you've accomplished in 2017!
Cheers to 2018!
Thanks so much, Tyrean. I hope you have a great 2018.
DeleteCongrats on your publications! I agree setting up a pre-order is helpful, but I usually set it up about two months out to give myself enough time to finish. Are you familiar with Draft 2 Digital? They distribute to B&N, Kobo, Apple, and several other retailers. You can set up a pre-order with them, and I think they're easier to use than Smashwords.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandra. I've heard other speak well of D2D. I'll have to check it out. Wishing you happy holidays.
DeleteCongratulations on your release! And good luck in 2018!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alyssa. Back at ya!
DeleteI rarely meet my own deadlines.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting the book up and published.
Thanks, Dolorah.
DeleteCongrats on the release. And on getting it up in time, even if it was only just.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aldrea. ;)
DeleteYeh for a new release! And it sounds like you accomplished a lot for someone who procrastinates. :)
ReplyDeletei try. Thanks, Madeline.
DeleteCongrats on your new release! :) Have a fantastic holiday season.
ReplyDeleteThanks and happy holidays to you, too, Christine.
DeleteThat's why I've learned not to make hard deadlines, so when I do miss them, which happens often, it's okay. Heh. Congrats on the book release! I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cherie. I should learn not to announce things until I'm sure. LOL
DeleteI set up print and ebooks for presale and live in fear of not getting the final copy uploaded in time. So far my authors have all returned final edits in on time and I've uploaded 2-3 weeks ahead of the release date.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I did a pre-order, I missed Amazon's deadline by a couple of hours because I didn't know they were on Greenwich Mean Time, not Pacific Time. Learned my lesson.
DeleteWell done for getting two books published this year that is an achievement to be proud of even if you didn't quite get as far as you would have liked. I hope that 2018 is a good one for you and your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne. Wishing you a great 2018.
DeleteCongrats on making your self-imposed deadline! Those can be the easiest to break, so it requires real backbone to hold yourself to promises you made yourself. :-) @mirymom1 from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Thanks, Samantha. It's too easy to keep changing deadlines.
DeleteI would be so bad at setting my own deadlines. I admire the motivation of self-pubbed writers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. That's kind of you to say.
DeleteI think it's awesome that you made your deadline with three hours to spare! Way to go, Diane! Congratulations on your release! You are inspiring! Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Louise. Happy Holidays to you.
DeleteCongrats on your new release, and making your release deadline :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynda.
DeleteCongrats on getting your book up in time! Self-publishing is a ton of work. I'd love to give traditional publishing a go and experience the difference first hand.
ReplyDeleteSelf-pubbing is a lot of work but worth it. I've been pubbed by 2 trad publishers. I prefer self-pubbing.
DeleteCongrats on your new release! Sounds like a great aread. Self-publishers wear many hats. You're doing a good job keeping them all on your head! Wishing you LOTS of sales!!
ReplyDeleteJQ @ JQ Rose
Not so sure about keeping them on my head. Some days they blow off. Thanks, JQ
DeleteCongrats on the new release and meeting your deadline! I'm sure it feels like a great accomplishment, cuz it is. Hope you did something wonderful to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteI wish you plenty of sales.
Thanks, J.H. Does hugging my new grandsons count as celebrating? :)
DeleteCongrats on your new release! I have a big problem with procrastination, so I may need to take that into account when I make publishing decisions.
ReplyDelete