Despite a few delays...

[Mad Swede]

...the proof reading is done and the galleys are set. The fourth novel is good to go. I'll admit to some nerves, especially now that I know the size of the first print run: 7500 copies. My publishers are expecting to do a second print run, possibly even before Christmas. The first print run would have been larger but for the fact that there are several other books due out in the early autumn and there isn't space in the central warehouse to hold the stocks before all the books start to go out to the shops.

So why the nerves, given my previous sales? Well... I won't know what the critics think until sometime in September, and I won't know what my readers and the wider public think until the sales figures start to come in. There's this feeling of uncertainty, the knowledge that now it's all out of my control. All I can do is hope that what I've written is as good as it could be, that readers tastes haven't changed and that people still want to read my books.

So what to do? Write the next novel...

 

[ThinkerX]

Well, at least you seem to miss out on most or all of the marketing stuff...

 

[Mad Swede]

Well, at least you seem to miss out on most or all of the marketing stuff...

No, that starts in September. That's when the first interviews start, and the first book signings will be in October, with more in November. The interviews are booked, and most are with regional or local newspapers (who also put these out on their web pages) as these seem to have a better strike than the national papers rate according to the publicist. I also already have a fairly good idea of where the first signings will be, and they'll be done in close conjunction to the interviews. And by then the e-mails from readers will be building up.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

Congratulations!

 

[skip.knox]

Congratulations on getting to the point of print. The nerves? Totally natural as I'm sure you know full well. There's no arguing with them. We just let 'em yammer until eventually they slink away.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

GZ For getting the book published or at least finished?

I'd be interested in being walked through the process of getting a book out to print at some point. (I'm not convinced youtube videos on the subject are deep enough research )

But A: I need to finish a dang rough draft already and B: I think my first book is going on Kindle.

If I get that far (putting the thing out there for sale) I'll officially consider myself a 'proper' writer even if my book doesn't make me tons of money.

 

[pmmg]

Congratz on book 4 out the door.