October Update

Personal Bits - A Stay in Hay

Hey there my friendly Shorties! How the devil are you? The seasons are on the change, as are the leaves, and it’s almost time to dig out the winter boots and cable-knit jumpers.

Speaking of getting away, (what you weren't talking about it? Well you should be!), the hubster and I took a short trip away to Hay-on-Wye in the deep depths of the Herefordshire countryside. Hay is famous for its annual Literary Festival, which is in May each year, we went in October. In October, hay is much, much quieter (just the one pub open for afternoon wineage) but it’s still perfect for long walks and rambling old bookshops.

In fact, there is literally a bookshop around every corner, some new, some second-hand, but all have nooks and crannies you can get lost in. Perfect for the book-lovers amongst us. The books I picked up were Jane Austen - the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly from the lovely nooky Addymans Bookshop and Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid from Richard Booths (I’ve been meaning to read that one for ages). New books, walking boots, a stay in a quirky cottage* and several glasses of red wine, it was pretty much my perfect weekend.

Publishing News - Hold the Front Page!

I am on the cusp! After various attempts, I managed to get everything successfully uploaded to Amazon. I finally worked out that I have to actually get a book published before I can set up my Author Profile. I thought it made sense to get my Author Profile page set up first and then link up my book, but no, it doesn’t work this way. Firstly, you have to set up your KDP account, upload your ebook, paperback and covers to your Bookshelf, add your prices and your book description.

At this stage, you can preview your book online and order an Author copy so you can do some last-minute checks before finally pressing the Publish button. Only then can you create an Author Profile page and link your books to it. I guess this makes sense as you’re not ‘technically’ an author until you have a published book (ok, us writers know we don’t need this validation). As I’m coming to learn, in this instance, Amazon knows best. They have been doing this a lot longer than I have, after all.

Get ready for the launch!

Now, I had planned a quiet, let it slide, slip by the wayside launch. Have a little smile to myself and start getting on with book 2. Well, I think my girlfriends may have other ideas, watch this space, it could get messy …

*We stayed at Pottery Cottage, Clyro which we found on AirBnB. I highly recommend this for a stress-free, relaxing stay.

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