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 40th 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!
