When you're not being published you look at writers who are and think their life must be wonderful. They've made it. Their book's out there being coveted and they're being told how wonderful they are. They're raking in the cash - go on, you in the know; chortle away at that one.
Then you become one of them and realise life can still be, well not to put it to politely, shit.
So far (I'm expecting more rotten tomatoes) here's the lowdown on my publication hell -
Amazon getting the listing wrong on ALL their sites, so all of my books wouldn't appear on my Amazon author page. I had to contact those sites individually - you can't just contact one, you've got to contact them all - to get the details changed. See What to do when Amazon gets your details wrong post. This was a time consuming process and all because whoever keyed in the details on a book site, couldn't copy information.
The book coming out a month early but the Kindle version not following suit. Result - losing would be sales and losing out on potential readers.
Getting one star ratings from people who complained that the book "didn't contain enough romance."
It's a crime thriller with a bloody handprint on the cover. There's no mention of romance.
Getting two one star ratings on Goodreads from someone who hadn't read the book. One rating was for the Kindle version that isn't even out yet. I contacted Goodreads and they didn't seem to think this was a big deal. It wouldn't surprise me if there's going to be an Amazon review scandal with people leaving malicious ratings and reviews.
My publisher saying my book came out at the wrong time "for the word to have got yet" and the book missed out in being in "some of the trade catalogues" where so many bookstores order their books, so there were hardly any orders.
A writer with the same publisher wanting to exchange likes on Facebook, then pulling out and sending me a sniffy message saying "I don't like your cover." A bloody handprint for a crime novel - why didn't I have a picture of a fluffy bunny? Eh, it's not a book like Living Cruelty Free.
To top it all, I've spent hundreds of hours promoting this book, doing things like setting up a website, a Facebook page, blogging, getting reviews and running a Twitter account, as well as putting excerpts up on Wattpad and Scribd and I'm starting to wonder what the hell is the point? The last time I wrote anything was this blog post. Yet, I've got a heap of writing projects that I could be doing rather than promoting a book I seem to be more invested in than my publisher and fixing Amazon screw ups.
Then today I got a call from my dad to tell me they'd seen a book with the exact same cover in Waterstones. I'm now off to scream into a bucket.
I've had another look at your cover and still can't see why it would make a potential reader expect it to be romantic. Obviously your reviewer doesn't believe in judging a book by the cover - or title, or description, or blurb, or category ...
ReplyDeleteAs ever, I'm confused by some people, Patsy. Bamboozled in fact.
DeleteI'm so sorry you're having such a rough time of it, Jen. Sometimes it really does seem like all the forces of the world are rallied against you. But I think Hell to Pay is a terrific book, and I'm convinced over time it will find its audience. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heath, that's nice of you to say. I guess that's this writing life - highs and lows.
DeleteWhat a flipping nightmare! You poor thing - you've every right to be angry. All those people urging me to self-publish must be talking out of their bottoms!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizy. It definitely makes you think self-publishing is the way to go when writers end up doing everything themselves anyway:)
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