A whirlwind first month!
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Here I am (in the check dress) with Sally Lush from Beyond Words Bookshop in Keith, South Australia, my very first stockist!
What a time I’ve had since March 15th 2023 when I published my debut novel, 'The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek'!
When I pressed publish, I was planning to go completely under the radar. I am using a pen name, (although I am still identifiable to people who know me well) so I thought I could just muddle through my first book launch in relative anonymity. That plan was scrapped however when my sister posted about my book on Facebook! At first, I was flabbergasted and wanted her to take it down. However, she turned my own words of wisdom against me, and told me how did I expect to get the word out if I didn’t share it with anyone!
She was right, and since then, I am been amazed at the response I’ve had. Below is just a quick summary of everything that has happened to date:
- Multiple friends and family have shared my book on social media, including many friends I have barely seen since my school days. Their support has been overwhelming.
- I’ve sold over 200 copies of my books, predominantly ebooks, with a good portion of paperbacks.
- I’ve got readers from all over the world, with most from Australia, but many from the US, as well as Canada, the UK, and even Germany!
- I have over 20 reviews on Amazon and over 15 on GoodReads, the vast majority being five stars and from people I have never met.
- Readers (all strangers to me!) have shared amazing reviews on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook which is staggering to me.
- I’ve seen videos and photos of strangers holding my book, and loving it!
- My close friends and family are organising a book launch for me which I am both nervous and excited about.
- The library in the town where I grew up and started my reading journey is hosting a book signing, and kids from the local school are also coming along to speak with me!
- And finally, I have my books in a real, actual bookshop and people having been coming in to buy my book!
All of this is beyond anything I dared allow myself to imagine. Honestly, I thought I would put my book out there, a few readers might find it, but I would focus on writing book two before really sharing both books with the big wide world. To have over 200 people buy it already is simply amazing, and I so greatly appreciate all the support. That being said, I am focused on book two and have nearly finished the first draft. It has been fun to write, knowing that there are so many of you out there who have now met Jones, Autumn, Wren, Atlas, Sybil, Frank, and of course, Hugo.
If you are yet to read ‘The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek‘, you can download the first five chapters for free here, so you can get a taste of what it is all about.
I’m really looking forward to sharing you book two of the Lilly Pilly Creek Ghost Mysteries, and I’m hoping it won’t be too far away from release!
Thank you all for your support of me and my writing journey.