Five sleeps to go…..
Five sleeps to go until Long Shadows officially launches on Amazon.
Ok, the paperback version snuck out a few days early, but the kindle version lands on 14 February and, in this modern world, that’s the format that readers prefer. Sad in a way as there’s nothing like holding a real book in your hands. I may be ever so slightly biased here.
Yes, I know launching a romance novel on Valentine’s Day is a bit cheesy and it’s also a bit odd to launch one on a Sunday but the date ties in SO nicely with the storyline.
Already the “what ifs” are creeping in…..what if folk don’t like it? What if no one looks at the launch day activity on my author page on FB? What if no one, other than those wonderful souls who have pre-ordered, buys it?…. and so my mind races on and on.
I still find it really hard to believe that I’ve written a five book series. I find it surreal that I’ve written and published any books, if I’m being totally honest! I’ve said it before, but it really is a dream come true.
When I sat down on my doorstep on 8 May 2013 to begin to write the story that grew to become Stronger Within, I had no idea that it would run to five books. In my naïve innocence, I was just writing a story, which at that point I was scared to let anyone read.
That’s a fear that’s never really gone away. I guess it’s a bit like a performer getting stage fright right before they step out in front of an audience. I’d love to say that with each additional book the fear shrinks but it doesn’t really. My hands were trembling as I hit “approve” on the paperback proof recently and I know I’ll be a nervous wreck come launch day.
So, why do I put myself through it?
I guess part of it is that you can’t let your fears rule you.
The main reason though is that I love writing. It’s my escape from this crazy, cruel, fecked up world that we’re living in. In the fantasy world that I write about, there’s no virus threats, there’s no need for masks, folk can still hug each other and they can go to gigs and enjoy hanging out with their music family.
Writing this final part of the Silver Lake series was an emotional journey from start to finish. When I began the story, the world was normal, and we were all going about our daily lives quite happily…then 2020 happened… and the world went to shit. There were times in the latter half of last year that I almost put my pen down and stopped. My mantra is “Dreams get you started Discipline keeps you going” and it has taken every last ounce of self-discipline to bring this one to life.
I didn’t take the decision to end this series lightly. As an indie author, it’s getting harder and harder to win over new readers and to keep book bloggers engaged to review the books etc with each passing book in the series. Five books in any one series is more than enough in my humble opinion. Yes, there are several successful series that have run to more than five volumes but for me five was the magic number.
Without giving away any spoilers, Silver Lake will be back further down the line. Whether that’s in stand alone tales or another series remains to be seen. All I can promise you is that you’ve not heard the last of them…not yet.
For now though, all that’s left for me to do is to check over my launch day plans for the hundredth time and pray that you all love Long Shadows as much as I do when it lands on 14 February.
Long Shadows is now available to pre-order on Kindle worldwide
Here’s the pre-order links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RR1FGLG
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08RR1FGLG
And if you’ve missed the start of the series, it’s not too late to catch up.
Amazon.com links –
Stronger Within – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXDSC1M
Impossible Depths – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C0GS30K
Bonded Souls – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XSQHG71
Shattered Hearts – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZY8ZSDM
Amazon.co.uk links –
Stronger Within – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXDSC1M
Impossible Depths – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C0GS30K
Bonded Souls – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XSQHG71
Shattered Hearts – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZY8ZSDM
Coral McCallum 