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One aspect of all this I find somewhat remarkable is that the self-pub indie-author gurus were right. OK, so that sounds dumb. Of course they were right – they’re gurus!

Book I has pubbed, it’s creeping along, advertising has accounted for some sales, I’m losing money on advertising but not that much, and it’s creating awareness of the book, on Amazon and on Facebook. My KU reads have jumped, up to about 2500, which seems to go in synch with the FB ad. I know it’s not going to skyrocket, my preference for that notwithstanding. I know I need to get a second book in the series published, and that’s moving right along. Everything is pretty much going to plan.

There are many more tricks of the trade to learn and practice, but as many of the guru folks say, take on only what I can, and be sure to focus on the next book. All good.

I love the idea behind the book and believe it’s commercially viable. I picture a fabulous film in my mind whenever I think about it. But we’ll let that simmer. I still get weird looks when I talk about the book. I ran into a friend at a restaurant who had heard I had a book out. She asked me as I paused to say hello, “What’s it about?” I said, “I only have 30 seconds now; I’d need two hours.” She said, “Well, just briefly, give me an idea.” I paused, thought, and said, “It’s about queer superheroes.” My friend’s dinner mate dropped her fork and eyes bugged out. My friend laughed and said, “Send me the link!”

That’s the thing, it takes a long while to adequately describe what I’m doing here. I’ll talk more about it here as we go along. Now, back to Book II. Peace

It’s true, learning and doing something new starts slow and hopefully builds to step by step. The marketing has been fun to learn – what little I know. I’ll be relearning and relearning as we progress.

I launched my first Facebook ad, intended to draw interest to the book, and it got its first share with the comment that the viewer didn’t think the ad enticed him to read the comic book about superheroes, and attributed the idea elsewhere. … Okay … But then we have a few likes and other shares, and a funny quip about clothing style. lol

It’s not a comic, though it has comicy cover art. The ad states it’s a novel. Hmm. IDK. I’ll wait a while and see what other response we get.

Well, we’re hoping that folks interested in enjoyable entertainment will read through some pages and take the plunge, as some have. Focus, focus. Focus on the next book. In fact, wrapping up Chapter 3 of Book II, and onward. Am behind intended timing, but well within built in tolerance. Still intending to pub Book II in January.

So…..what are you reading? Please feel free to share in comments. I’m always looking for fun new reads.

That’s it for now. Oh. Right. Yes, well, the book is published, the paperback cover art is fixed (the outfits came out purple initially, instead of cobalt blue), and we had 66 free kickoff downloads, and have sold 6 ebooks and 17 paperbacks. And well over 1,000 pages read in Kindle Unlimited. So glad for all of that! Thank you!! It’s happening as the self-pub gurus said it would.

The way I see it, for less than the cost of a cinnamon dolce latte, which lasts about 15 minutes, you can get my novel, which lasts a lifetime!

Superheroes I is up and running…..the paperback proof copy is scheduled to arrive today, and once that passes inspection I’ll order a box or so of books just to have. Can’t wait to hold it in my hands!

And once that all happens I will commence Facebook promotion of the book. I have Amazon ads running…..still learning my way around that. Because the book defies most genres I remain convinced that I have to generate awareness and build it up online in order to create demand. It actually showed well in a couple of niches – surprising for just 66 downloads and one paperback purchase to date. Which, I suppose, is OK for a first book after just a week. Once we see more activity I’ll broadcast it locally on my own social media and steer interested peops to my new FB page and website. And then what will be will be.

More importantly, I have begun Book II. It feels fabulous to be writing again. Eerily, it feels the same as when I write with my favorite pen in a new notebook I got last weekend – it has creamy textured paper and writing in it is a dream. That’s just I feel typing away in Chapter 1 of Book II. So woo hoo and all that…….onward!

After all the months of, first, writing, then writing and learning more about the indie author biz, then focusing entirely on understanding the indie market (well, somewhat understand), and finally launching this bare-bones website, setting up a Facebook page, and lining up a good email service, I have finally uploaded The LGBT Superheroes, Book I, to amazon.com. The ebook is currently churning there and should be live this weekend. The paperback is also in process and should likewise be live this weekend.

This has been such an exhilarating ride! I’ve not felt so charged up about my writing in ages. The long return to my fiction doesn’t have much sound reason behind it – the long part, that is. Except that I was so turned off by the traditional publishing system that felt like a brick wall the last time I attempted to break into it. I well recall attending a book reading by a top of the line mystery writer back in 2001. He said that breaking into the publishing world was all about who you know. You want to be published? Go to work on developing connections. Blah.

Self publishing no longer means having a few boxes of books printed and attempting to sell from the trunk of the car. Thanks to what Amazon launched, and others also do, self publishing has lost its old, clammy stigma. I read somewhere that something like 40% of the book market is serviced by independent authors self publishing. And many are very successful. I intend to join those ranks and write off into the sunset.

I look forward to the part where I get to post stuff. I look more forward to getting this website built correctly! We’ll be back once that happens.

Update, Sept. 27. OK, so the website is built – it’s basic, serving simple purposes, a home base to list my books (one at the moment, but optimism prevails) in the series and to have the newsletter sign up form (developing an email list of readers will allow me to be in touch with you). And this blog will offer tidbits of stuff that goes on in my head and heart as I work on the project and especially focus on the next novel in the series. I think it’s good for our dear readers to get to know me – the guy who’s writing about LGBT superheroes (I utterly adore my characters) in his attempt to provide readers with enjoyable, meaningful, adult entertainment. As it’s good for me to get to know our dear readers – please leave comments as you wish and we can hopefully have a lovely dialogue.

I will write more in these posts about why I’m writing this series. As my sister, one of my beta readers, said, “funky premise for a presenting cis-het dude to write.”

I have learned that, for me, anyway, writing the book (or rather, telling the story) has been the easier part (I write professionally for a living and have written two other novels – more on that later); the website setup, email service setup, various business aspects of doing this, were all a real learning curve. But the systems work – and I’ve set up a prequel short story as a giveaway to folks who graciously sign up for my occasional newsletter. I will not hound folks with that but will simply be in touch, eventually having the happy duty to inform readers that number two in the series is coming soon, and then, voila, it’s here! Et cetera. (Short hand for yes, please go buy the book and keep the fun happening.)

Till next time – I leave with what seems to have become my credo.

Everyone deserves their very own superheroes. Sometimes you just have to tell the story.