This book writing thing sure has its ups and downs.

Last night a woman told me, “I really enjoyed reading your book.” She had downloaded it onto her phone and read it on a very long flight. (Let’s face it, once you leave Australia practically every flight is very long.) She said there were a few anxious moments when her phone died and she had to find a charger in one of the stop-over airports. She had to know what happened next. She then said, “I can’t wait to read book two.”

She has no idea how encouraging and re-invigorating it was to hear that. I’d only recently received news that I hadn’t yet sold many books (at least less than 50) and I’d become a little discouraged. It is so gratifying to hear that when people get around to buying and reading it, they really enjoy it.

I also received an email from another author, whom I greatly admire and respect, who said she’d left a review on Amazon for me. She said some very nice things.

‘Beast-speaker’ is an engaging and ingenious tale that can be read on a number of levels. It’s an exciting fantasy/adventure story in which the dragons become as real and as diverse in personality as any of the human characters (for that matter, so do the camels!) and the plotline, of kidnapping and exploitation of children to become part of a war machine, is both fascinating and also challenging. The book also can be seen as allegorical, raising uncomfortable questions for today’s world, and for societies in which the rights of children have been deliberately ignored by brutal authorities who are blind to justice and compassion. Telling the story from two perspectives – by two of the kidnapped boys – gives it further interest, and the whole concept of ‘beast-speaking’ is a satisfying way of developing the action.Thoroughly enjoyable, and hard to put down. Bring on Book 2.

It’s these little (BIG) encouragements that keep me going.  Here are some other quotes from the Amazon reviews:-

*Well written, with great characters , a good story, and hidden depths.
*From the very first page, I was hooked.
*An intriguing story line with frightening parallels to our own indifference and disregard for the plight of stolen children.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post a review. I’m dead chuffed you like it so much.

I’m discovering there are down-sides to publishing only in eBook format.
1. The majority of people still don’t have an eBook reader.
2. There is no publisher who sends copies of the book to newspaper and magazine editors for review.
3. There is no PR machine to help get the word out. (My business/marketting skills are practically non-existent.)
4. You can’t do book signings.
5. You can’t send signed copies as a thank you (and please tell your friends about it) to friends and acquaintances.
6. There are no copies to place in your local library.
7. I can’t show it to my relatives to prove I’ve finally done it.

I wish I could have got a print publisher to take it up because it’s still very much a print book world. But, as one who has always championed the place of the print book over the electronic, I know I only have myself to blame.

Like every other writer, I spend a long time crafting my stories for other people to read. (I think the authors that say they only write to please themselves are talking through their hats.) It is so deeply gratifying when people actually read and respond to what I write. And, it’s deeply frustrating when I can’t get the story out there. Every other writer will give me a hearty, AMEN.

Thank you, dear readers, for being so supportive. If you like it, please share it with a friend or family member. (Please?) Cheers.