A New Year, A New Way of Living the Author Life…

First, I want to wish my followers a very Happy New Year! We finally made it into the mid-20s, and sooo much has happened in the last five years. A pandemic knocked us flat on our butts, and made us take stock in how we were living our lives. Though there was a lot of pain, suffering, and heartache, there was also tremendous growth and change too. People worldwide were starting to find their voices, and not put up with the outmoded ways of the ‘old guard’ anymore. From Black Lives Matter to Iranian women refusing to wear their hijabs, the world as we knew it changed before our eyes. And I changed too.

During this past year (2024) I realized that there is no ONE way, only YOUR way, and what’s best for YOU. I wrote a post last year about being true to yourself by staying in your lane. You can find it HERE. I decided to pull out of the hustle culture in 2021, feeling as if my electrical circuits were on all the time and ready to blow. I had to slow down and choose to do the necessary inner work. This ‘writing career’ that I put my blood, sweat, and tears into was not what I thought it would be. So, I experimented with Facebook ads, running them for 10 days at a set price, then switching that ad out for a new one for the next 10 days. I did this consistently for almost four years. My reach got larger and larger, topping 19 million at one point…then something happened. The ads didn’t seem to have the same reach anymore starting in the winter/spring of 2024. Even the book sales never reflected the amazing reach I garnered, and I discovered a lot of spammers had infiltrated my Author Facebook page feed. Augh! I had to quit cold turkey on those ads. I changed lanes and looked into doing Amazon ads, but got a sticker shock with the amount of money to run these ads: about $300-$500 per month. Wait, what?

I did the math. It seemed like the whole book marketing industry was rigged in their favor—just like going to a casino and finding out that the house always wins—so I stepped away, pulled the plug on advertising, and took back my power. It felt rather weird at first. Like a boat adrift with no port to dock at or no destination to sail to. I kept showing up though. Shared, Tweeted, and LinkedIn my book series ads faithfully every week. Blogged every Monday. Worked on, and finished, Sticks and Stones, the third installment in Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls teen psychic mystery series. Submitted this book to my publisher, and then took a well-deserved break for the summer and fall, and enjoyed the time e-biking with hubby, and hanging with my family. The weather applauded my decision, and I took full advantage of relaxing on our patio, and sipping on my favourite brand of single malt scotch. Wink.

Then came the death blow at the end of this past December that changed the trajectory of my author life. My publisher, Mirror World Publishing announced that they would be closing their doors at the end of this year. My heart sank. I succumbed into grief. I’ve been here before, so it’s not my first publishing rodeo. Still, there was also so much emotional investment with this publishing house too. Ten years worth. Though, I completely understand their reasons for shutting down, and if I’m honest with myself, I’ve probably been living in my comfort zone for far too long. Sigh. Guess it’s time to stretch my wings, and see what the next chapter looks like for me, as I affirm every morning: “Everything happens for me, and through me, not to me.”

On a positive note, I did manage to get a refreshed book trailer done for The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis to replace the outdated versions on my website. Care for a peek? Click the link below… 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oczrgVYJo6proAJqRTyPuOdbsfdhNYPk/view?usp=drive_link

So, what’s next for me personally? I’m on the list for a knee replacement this year, which should be happening in the late summer or early fall. Hubby and I will also be celebrating our 40^th Wedding Anniversary in August, which is a huge milestone for many couples these days. Unfortunately, we can’t make any plans or book anywhere to go because of my impending knee replacement. We’ll just have to give ourselves a vacation raincheck. On the happy news front, we’re expecting another grandchild in the late spring! Woohoo! As for my author life’s future, it’s going to be determined by the choices I make, and actions I take within the next six to twelve months. No pressure, right? LOL! I kind of feel like I’m visiting my fictitious town of Fairy Falls, and waiting for the unexpected to happen! Wish me luck in my uncomfortable endeavors!

How was 2024 for you? Any milestones? Did you need to take a welcome break from all the craziness we’ve endured the past five years? Have you been in your comfort zone far too long? Would love to read your comments! Cheers, Happy New Year, and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

Update in My Author Life…

 

Ah, a new year, and new plans. So much hope, and so much faith in new beginnings. A clean slate, a fresh start. As I went through my business plan and goals for 2023, I was pleased to find that I managed to complete them all, save for nabbing a foreign rights agent. But, I realized that goal was totally out of my control, with the exception of sending out queries. Among my other lofty goals were creating a writing resource PDF I called, Tips, Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer and putting it up on my website as a free download, connecting with the local libraries to see if they’d purchase and carry my books, and finish writing the third installment of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls called Sticks and Stones. Done. Done. Done. Well, the libraries never got back to me, so I assume it’s a flat no. Sigh.

I guess authors nowadays have to try many possible avenues to get their books out there. Shows. Events. Ads. Giveaways. Bribes. Begging. Sorry, got carried away. LOL! Actually, I was lucky enough to attend a couple of events in the fall of 2023. One at our town’s bookstore, River Bookshop, who hosted a Local Author Book Fair, and another with my publisher, Mirror World Publishing at a Local Author Christmas Book Show. I love events that only allow authors and publishers, as opposed to anything-goes craft shows, because you get actual readers wandering the aisles instead of people looking aimlessly around at the different tables. Plus, we get to network with other authors, and learn what book promotion strategies work for them, and what doesn’t. A win-win in my eyes.

I also bought a program that helps authors create ads instantly. If you’ve never heard of BookGraphix, I
urge you to check it out if you like doing your own ads to share on your social media accounts. The program allows authors to place their book or books (up to three) in images that are appropriate for your audience, create content, and download them to your computer. They also have holiday inspired ads as well, and you can do trailers, cover reveals, and other creative stuff. For the last three and a half years, I’ve been steadily running Facebook ads for ten days, and rolling over a new ad when one finishes. This strategy has garnered me a reach of over a million people for many campaigns that I’ve run, and about two to five thousand clicks on the links I provide. I use my Amazon Author link with all my books, and my website books page for those links. It’s certainly been an investment for sure. The trick is to get those link clickers to buy one of my books instead of click and go. It’s a patience game for sure!

As for my plans for 2024, I’ll be revising and editing Sticks and Stones so it’s ready for publication either late this fall or in 2025. Yup. That’s how the publishing game works! Slow, but sure. I’m going to continue to query foreign rights agents seasonally until I attract the best one for me (fingers crossed), as well as run my ten day Facebook ads to extend my reach and hopefully connect with readers throughout the world. It’s also my intention to start gathering research and plotting the story for the next installment of The Last Timekeepers time travel adventure series, which will be in Treena Mui’s point-of-view. Should be a blast!

On a personal note, my hubby and I got e-bikes from Santa for Christmas in 2022, and have been riding our butts off all spring, summer and fall, in an effort to put a lot of mileage on them. Best. Presents. Ever. Plus, it’s great exercise and gets us outside in nature. For more current news, please check my blog, as I periodically give updates to what’s going on in my author life. So how about you? Do you have any big or small plans, goals, desires you want to make manifest in 2024? Dream big, life is short. Would love to read your comments. Cheers and Happy New Year! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

Hear ye, Hear ye…Sharon Ledwith’s Updates and News…

Well this has been an interesting 2015 so far. Never saw what has happened coming, but life is full of surprises, isn’t it? It began with the closure of my former publisher, Musa Publishing at the end of February, which took all their authors by surprise, including me. Rather than rushing to self-pub and get my two time travel books back up on Amazon and my website ASAP, I decided to contact a new publisher I met at the Windsor-Essex Book Expo last fall. My intuition paid off because I was signed within the week, and found a new home for my MG/YA series with Mirror World Publishing.

A few other Musa Publishing young adult authors have signed on board with Mirror World Publishing, so I’m looking forward to reconnecting and working with them!

Re-release Dates are as follows:

The paperback and ebook for The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis will be released on June 17, 2015, through Mirror World Publishing. I will add the new buy links to my website when available.

The paperback and ebook for Legend of the Timekeepers with be released on August 1^st, 2015, through Mirror World Publising. I will add the new buy links to my website when available.

NOTE: Both books will be available EVERYWHERE in the world. Yup, you read that right! So you can go into your local bookstore (chain or independent) and ask to order my paperback if you wish. Or if you’re a lover of ebooks, go to Mirror World Publishing’s Web Store or Amazon and grab your virtual copy there. Gotta love technology!

Book Blog Tour Announcement:

I’ve set up a book blog tour with Sapphyria’s Book Promotions from June 17 to June 26^th to help spread the word about the re-release of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. It should be a blast with prizes to be won (signed paperback, Babel necklace) new readers to meet, and getting back out into the published world again. Looking forward to reconnecting with my audience!

Goodreads Giveaway in June:

Love doing these! I’ll be setting up a Goodreads Giveaway for multiple copies of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis during the month of June to celebrate the re-lease of book one, so stayed tuned!

Local Stuff:

I thought I’d stretch my sales wings and join Mirror World Publishing at their book during the Art in the Parking Lot craft show on Saturday, May 30th. Great place to meet local readers and enjoy the weather! Plus the show is only a few weeks before my book is re-released, so it’s a win-win for sharing my wares and getting back into the spotlight!

Updates:

This month has been hectic! It started out with half the family getting together for Easter dinner, followed by my hubby and I going to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs (our favorite NHL team) play the Columbus Blue Jackets. Um…yeah. Need to find another favorite hockey team. On the book business side of things, I’ve been busy tweaking and editing my paranormal romance/suspense for my agents at Walden House (Books & Stuff) due mid-April. My agents also have Lost and Found, book one of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series in the hands of a list of traditional publishers. Unfortunately, Disney Books passed on the series after serious consideration saying they liked my writing and the story, but it didn’t make the final cut. Oh well, I believe things happen for the best. Chin up, and keep smiling!

I’ve got edits due May 1^st for The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, so I’ll be busy the next two weeks getting those done for my new publisher. After finishing up with these changes, I’ll be back in the writing saddle again to work on book two of The Last Timekeepers saga, which is tentatively called The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret. I’ll be glad to start creating fresh stories for my readers who have been so patient! Big hugs to all of you! Cheers!