What I Didn't Do This Past Summer

This is not what I had intended to write.

Originally, as soon as Mel published Is This Seat Taken? I was going to talk about her experiences, both good and bad.  Then I meant to post these past few months.

Obviously, none of that has happened.

I’ll give you a quick synopsis of that first publishing venture back at the beginning of January:  it was exhilarating, terrifying, and involved eating a gallon (no kidding) of homemade Chex-Mix over a week’s period.

Mel and I have been paying for it ever since.

I keep reminding Mel that self-publishing really is a marathon, and not a sprint.  Mel dutifully repeats this to any person who questions why she’s not a best seller.

As for published works, well, they’ve been slow in coming.  There’ve been the essays, of course, and a few short (and I do mean, short) stories, but over the past month, Mel has produced Penny, a young adult humorous novelette, and And Then He Bit Me, which debuted just a few days ago.  That’s the one Mel’s worked on for ages, with several different versions, and then numerous drafts.  Now the world can embrace a vampire romantic comedy, if they so wish, in a novella format.

Why have things been so slow?  To be honest, real life during spring and summer was one of the Nine Circles of Hell.  Normally, I would be horrified to be speaking so frankly, but it’s the truth.  Mel has asked me not to give out personal details, so I’ll respect her wishes.  Now that things are hopefully settled down, Mel’s been able to play catch-up.

This was supposed to be a funny post.  Sorry about that.  I’m afraid that all of my humor has been temporarily used up helping Mel.

So in keeping this brief, because I’m trying to help Mel finish the ghost story she’s publishing next month and getting the already-finished Claus & Frost detective story ready for November.

For anyone who has purchased a Kate Russell ebook, thank you.  You didn’t have to spend your hard-earned money on Mel’s work, but you chose to.  If you checked out a sample or just thought nice things, thank you.  Again, you didn’t have to.

This self-publishing venture is going to be full of highs and lows.  It’s reflective of real life, I suppose.  That’s why Mel and I continue to embrace it.

Until next time, which will be much shorter—I promise,

Cordelia