IWSG – July 2021- Overcoming Difficulties

IWSG was created by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh — because Alex understands we need a safe place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds like a good place to be, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a question is announced that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

July 7 question – What would make you quit writing?
My awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, Chemist Ken, and Louise – Fundy Blue!
–namaste
joylene

In May, I announced that my political thriller Kiss of the Assassin was coming out in 2021. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening. The publisher of my ebook Dead Witness, who agreed to publish Kiss of the Assassin, closed their doors due to unforeseen circumstances that I’ll not get into. After spending the first day wallowing in self-pity, I reached out to Lea Schizas, Hank Quense, and Vicki L. Smith for help. Thank you all! Suffice to say, I spent the last week self-publishing Dead Witness and now it’s back up on all Amazon sites.

Lea also helped me create an ad on Facebook which was quite exciting, but it won’t be up for a while because I’ve run into a snag. My payment isn’t going through. That would be weird, except it’s actually a common occurrence in Mexico. Mexico does not like 1-800 numbers either. If you run into a snag in Canada or United States, you simply call a 1-800 number and talk to an actual person. I can’t do that from here. I’ve been trying all morning. Maybe there are no actual people at Facebook, or as Gary Philip Pennick likes to refer to them: Farcebook?

On a related subject: If you’re looking for a competent and professional editor at a reasonable price, please contact me at joylene Dot butler at Gmail Dot com, and I will pass along Kiss of the Assassin’s content editor’s email address. Les Tucker was a pleasure to work with. He was thorough, adamant, kind and clear about what he deemed necessary to improve my manuscript. He was open to discussions. Thank you, Les.

If you’ve ever lost your publisher, you’ll know I’ve lost all my reviews too. This leads me to beg ask if you’ve previously reviewed Dead Witness, would you consider copying and pasting your review at the Amazon site of your choice: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, or Amazon.oc.uk? If you’ve read the book and enjoyed it, would you consider posting a review?

If you’re a non-writer and you’re wondering why this is important, it’s because reviews influence visibility. The more reviews a book receives, the more said book appears in the amazon search engine. IE. If you go to Amazon’s ebook search window and type Dead Witness, chances are my novel won’t appear for 5 or 6 pages. If you type suspense thriller, it will take hundredths of pages before my book showed up. And that’s a shame because Dead Witness is a good read.

(I just tried myself, and Dead Witness appeared on the first page. That’s probably because I’m using my MacBook and I’m logged into my Amazon account)

As for Kiss of the Assassin no longer on the verge of being published, I’m sad, yes, but hopeful. I wrote this manuscript in the late 90s. It’s always been an important part of my life. An epic story. I have faith that I will find it a home.

 

What would make me quit writing?

  1. Illness.
  2. A devasting accident that left me incapacitated.
  3. Death.

 

Comments 28

  1. I’m inspired by how you keep fighting! Hope your hard work fixes all the publishing issues soon.

    I also love the paragraph under your photo. Good words to remember.

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  2. Good for you, Joylene, for moving forward with publishing your book. Bravo! And good for you reaching out to learn how to get your reviews back. What a scary premise for Dead Witness. You are stronger than you believe. More power to you!

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  3. Joylene, try contacting Amazon about those reviews. I got them to carry my reviews over when I lost my publisher.

    Sorry about the upheaval. This kind of thing only makes a writer’s life more complicated, and who needs that?

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  4. Sorry to hear that you lost the book deal, Joylene.
    I’m sure that you’ll find a suitable home for Kiss Of The Assassin.
    I would love to read your books. Just not sure when. I’m wondering if it would be on Book Depository? I’d love a paperback copy.

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  5. My first thought of response to this month’s question was just to write “Death” and leave it at that. I see it’s on your list too! I decided to elaborate however.
    I’m sorry to hear your publisher folded. Damn. But you came back fighting. Good job Joylene! 🙂

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  6. Joylene, contact Amazon and tell them you’d like all reviews to be transferred over to the new publication. In your dashboard at the bottom there’s a Contact Us link.

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  7. I’m sorry to hear about your publishing house closing, but glad you figured out a solution.

    I’m terrible about asking people for reviews. It’s hard to shake the feeling of awkwardly putting people on the spot and coming across like I couldn’t get any reviews without asking. I know those are irrational thoughts, but they still bother me.

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  9. Oooh, Facebook adds. One of these days I’ll have to tackle that subject. Not looking forward to it.
    BTW, have you considered self-publishing Kiss of the Assassin? Dead Witness is, so why not Kiss? Just a thought. I’m sure it will find a good home.

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  11. Hi Joylene,
    What a rough twist of fate. You are a master and turning a setback into win. So typical of you, even in the middle of this stressful experience you are offering a supportive hand to your editor, Les Tucker.
    Kiss of the Assassin is a powerful read. Apparently, it is looking for the right publisher. It will happen.

    This may help someone:
    When calling a US 800 number from MX, dial the following:
    To call a 1-800 number, you replace it with 001 880.
    To call a 1-866 number, you replace it with 001 883.
    To call a 1-855 number, you replace it with 001 884.
    Note: The caller pays for the call.

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  12. Oh, Joylene ~ How discouraging! I will read and review “Dead Witness.” I rarely read ebooks, but for you I’ll do it. Don’t give up on Kiss of the Assassin ~ It will find a home. Sending you a big hug!

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  13. Really sorry the closed! What a bummer. But if it was good enough for one publisher, it will be good enough for another.
    I’ll remember the 1-800 issue if I ever travel again to Mexico.

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  14. Hi,

    I am sorry to hear about your publisher closing down. That hurts and especially when the relationship has been friendly and helpful. However, I am sure you will find a home for Kiss of the Assassin.
    I haven’t read Dead Witness, and I will purchase it and read it and review it on my blog. It won’t happen in July or August but I will make it happen in September.
    Oh, 1 800 numbers don’t work here in Germany either. I have to call as a private individual and pay the cost myself.

    Take care and I’m thinking of you.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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