New Bloggy Update! 6/1/23

Yes.

It’s done. It’s available. And now the other work begins.

Anyone who has put out a book knows EXACTLY what I’m talking about. Writing and editing are only part of being an indie author. After you hit “Publish”, a whole slew of “other duties as assigned” come into play. Marketing, trying to stir up reviews, seeking out interviews (on blogs or other places), designing and ordering new swag…

And unless you have a team of folks on your payroll (or happen to be more famous than me and have ‘people’), indie authors do it all. Not that I’m complaining, but lots of folks don’t see all the other time/work/money that goes into the book promotion side.

Here’s a partial breakdown of what it cost me to put out one book: (obviously, these numbers will vary from author to author)

Typesetter/Layout/Cover Design: $800

Bookmarks (100) – $51 (includes shipping)

New Banner – $132 (includes shipping)

Copies of New Book (quantity: 75) – $339 (includes shipping)

Table Fees (for 8 events this year – and this could go up a bit) – $645

Now, add in gas $, food, hotel (if necessary), and you can see how selling a books for $10 a piece isn’t going to make anyone rich! LOL. Again, no complaints. I’m choosing to do this. But I’ve talked to many folks who believe that authorship is a path to riches and wealth. Maybe it is…IF you’re lucky to land a sweet deal. But the chances are better that you’ll break even or end up taking a loss come tax time.

A big question I get asked is…”what are you working on now/next?”

Answer #1: Promoting the newest book.

Answer #2: Nothing – I’m not entertaining another book at this moment. My brain is all squeezed out. 🙂

And speaking of squeezing, I’ve managed to squeeze in some movie/tv watching:

Disappearance (2002) – This made-for-TV movie is a favorite of mine. While traveling through Nevada on a family road trip, Jim (Harry Hamlin) and Patty Henley (Susan Dey), along with their two children and a friend, stumble upon a mysterious, abandoned ghost town named Weaver. After the family enters the town to investigate, they make a series of grisly discoveries. Then, when they try to leave, they find that their car won’t start. As Jim sets out to find help, the rest of the family learns that Weaver may not be abandoned after all. (Google) There’s something creepy and unsettling throughout the entire film. No spoilers here, but even by the end, there are still questions looming…and in this case, it’s okay. The atmosphere, the realism, the subtle (and not so subtle) hints about what COULD be the dangers…well, I just can’t say enough about it. I’m sold. I gave it a well-deserved 8.6. (there are no jump scares or gory scenes)

Breathing Room (2008) – Breathing Room is a 2008 horror film written and directed by John Suits and Gabriel Cowan. Ailsa Marshall plays a woman who finds herself in locked room with thirteen strangers. Forced to play a deadly game, she attempts to piece together who abducted her and why. (Google) This low budget, sometimes hilarious horror movie is part Saw, part Belko Experiment, part Cube, and part Lord of the Flies. It’s not a great piece of cinema. It’s more of a predictable romp that plays out until there’s one person left. The characters are annoying, bland, or stereotyped (expect for one guy who’s the comic relief), and by the finale, I was kind of sorry that anyone made it through. I gave it a likely overgenerous 2.7. Charlie gave it a 1.0.

Knock at the Cabin (2023) – While vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand they make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. Confused, scared and with limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost. (Google) Full disclosure – I read the book a few years ago and am a fan of Paul Tremblay (horror writer). I was hoping the movie would be just as good (or better!) than the book…and it was! I don’t understand why reviews bashed this. I thought it was great. I think this is the kind of film that you’ll either love or hate (for a variety of reasons that get into spoiler territory). I’m on the side of loving it, having given it a score of 8.3. There is some graphic violence, but, you know…it’s a horror movie…

The Whale (2022) – In a town in Idaho, Charlie, a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher, hides out in his flat and eats his way to death. He is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter for a last chance at redemption. (Google) Brendon Fraser won an Academy Award (lead male in a film) for his portrayal of Charlie, the morbidly obese man who teaches English over Zoom. No doubt he deserved it. Sure, the make-up and costume design were incredible, but he had me believing that he WAS this guy. It was uncomfortable to watch, hard to stomach (no pun intended) at times, and extremely depressing. If you’re in a gentle state of mind, don’t watch this. It’s not because it’s bad – it’s because the movie is that good and that real. I gave it a 7.8. Charlie (my husband) gave it a 9.0.

Falling from the Sky: Flight 174 (1995) – Based on the true story of an Edmonton-bound Canada World Airways Boeing 767, which runs out of fuel at cruise altitude and begins to drop out of the sky with 60 people on board. The captain and first officer face a potentially deadly disaster. (Google) We discovered Tubi recently, so I’ve been poking around, seeing what “older” movies I could come up with to watch. It’s free (well, it has commercial breaks), and so far has a lot to offer. I’m watching Columbo episodes (starting with Season One!) and had come across this Made-for-TV movie just the other day. It’s what you might expect – a retelling/reenactment about an airline disaster with a cast of great actors bringing the tension and nail-biting action across the small screen. I only wish they showed the “real” people afterwards/at the end.

Holy Spider (2023) – I know. I was NOT amused to watch something with the word spider in the title. But, thankfully, there was nary a legged critter to be seen. A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so-called Spider Killer, who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners. (Google) A very solid movie with great acting, cinematography, and plots that were clear enough to follow. There’s a good deal of misogyny throughout the movie and some violence, but once again, that’s the story. I gave it a strong 7.5 (and I could have gone to 8.0 had it not brought spiders into the mix…)

This weekend is Cogs & Corsets: Steampunk Event! It’s a three day whirlwind of vendors, teapot races, contra dancing, costumes, goggles, and so much more. If you’re in the area, come see me, check out all the other vendors (and other authors), and have a blast! https://www.cogsandcorsetsil.com/