It's been a while since I wrote a blog, and I figured I would write an update to what I've been doing. After being frustrated over not having many reads for Guilty Deceptions I vented on a Facebook group I'm a member of. Genre Writers of Atlantic Canada. The members and Admin were so supportive, and they helped me find what was "wrong". While I'm still in the process of making that happen. I haven't donated copies to the Library yet, and I haven't gone wide with the book yet. I've made extreme changes to Guilty Deceptions. It's the same story, just has a new cover, new blurb, new categories, and hopefully a brand new start.
I plan on running a promo for the book sometime this week, and making the book free for a limited time. If you've yet to get your copy of Guilty Deceptions it might be a good place to start.
The new cover, as much as I loved the cover my son made me the cover was lacking. It didn't fit the genre I was writing which is historical mystery. There was too much blood on the cover which would turn off some readers, and it looked homemade. So, I found something that to me, works for this book. Hopefully others will think the same. The new cover, I love it and feel that it fits with the story.
You can view it here:
With the new cover, I needed a new blurb, something that I thought would catch the readers attention. It took some time to figure out how to write this in the first person, and what I come up with I feel works perfectly. You can read the new blurb here:
I held a man's life in my hands...
I'm Sheriff Dawson, and things are usually quiet in this small town. Let me tell you why September of 1869 changed my life. Young Caroline found what was left of the poor souls in Willow Grove, leading to the most complex investigation I've ever seen let alone investigated. There are times I think I'll never find answers as I try to make sense of this case. Even the clues that point to the prime suspect, a famous architect, complicate things. Now, I must prove his innocence before it's too late!
I'm charging $0.99 for the book because right now I'm looking for readers, and not money. Hopefully with a little time and effort, things will start looking up.
New Me
So, with all these changes there has been a determination to see this through. So, I'll be working hard to find the right readers for this little gem. I call it that because that's what it is and undiscovered gem that I know readers will love - once they actually read the book. These changes have given me more confidence in my work, and hopefully with good reason. With these changes I feel a sense of calm, and I believe things are going to work out for the best. Just got to keep trying and promoting my book the best I can, hopefully then the reviews will start coming in, and things will be better when it comes to the books success. Which I believe it will get, once it gets a few readers.
New Projects
In the meantime, I'm working again. On two projects, though I shelved my Romance for now and have been focusing on my second historical mystery based on true crime. It's in the beginning stages, I'm still working on the first draft. This book again is set in the Saint John/Willow Grove area, and will bring back many characters from Guilty Deceptions. I'm enjoying working on it, and hopefully it won't take me as long to write, as Guilty Deceptions took me. We'll see how it all goes, but hopefully, the second book will be released sometime this year.
Until next time, D.C. Malcolm
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