Back Temporarily

The other day fellow author and friend Anny Cook blogged about the decrease in sales and whether or not it’s worth continuing to bust your butt to put out stories that people just aren’t buying.
Like Anny I began tracking my sales in a spreadsheet at the beginning of the year. Let me just say sales aren’t what they used to be. I didn’t write as many stories as I had last year, but it shouldn’t make a difference. Everyone said you need a backlist. Well, I have one – 25+ books long.
I do have two books that sell well – Adrift and Gettin’ Lucky. Two different publishing houses and two different stories. So why do they sell so well? Beats me.
Then yesterday I received 4 reviews for 3 different books. The first one was really good for Hit Me. The next three came hours later and within minutes of each other. Each was not so great. Hit Me, Chasing Forever and Just Another Rainy Day. So maybe it’s my writing. Maybe because I’m not grieving as much I’ve lost something in my ability to write a decent story. Could be I’ve lost my mojo. ;o) Whatever the reason things are not panning out the way I thought they would by now.
I couldn’t write full time if I wanted. Where I once made $500 a month I’m lucky if I get $100…and that’s from 4 publishers. I want to be able to spend more time with my new daughter. I’d like to quit my day job, but again, the money just isn’t there right now.
So where does that leave me? To focus more on my non-fiction writing. It’s more productive and lucrative. I’m going to finish the one book I’m writing because it’s contracted. Not sure how long I’ll be on hiatus. At least until the writing bug strikes me again or I feel I just have to write.
I’ll continue to blog here if I have something to write about or something worthwhile to share.

Sick

Sick and in bed....sorry I can't blog today. I do have a new release from Loose Id called Hit Me. www.loose-id.com if you want to check it out.

Writing?

Not I...In fact my mind has been wondering What’s that? I’ve certainly forgotten. In the last few weeks I wrote 1200 words. All my self imposed goals and deadlines went straight out the window. Instead I’ve been doing nothing. When I say nothing I mean nothing. Until this morning.
I received final proof edits this morning for Hit Me coming from Loose Id on May 17th. The next few weeks should bring edits for Sex on the Beach, which will be published with Ellora’s Cave. So I HAVE to do something.
I decided to set aside Looking Thru the Glass. I’m about 14k into it, but I’m not feeling the characters right now. Maybe that’s the reason I’m not writing.
This morning I started a new story for a theme line EC is doing. The story I Wanna Sext You Up flowed nicely. I managed to get a little over 1k on paper. Now if I can keep the flow going only 20k more to write…I’m sure it will be longer, but I have a tight deadline.
In between writing I’m concentrating on planting flowers and picking out paint. The DH put five colors on the wall yesterday. As they were drying I liked two. This morning I didn’t like any of them. Off the paint store for more samples!
Hope everyone else is having more productive times than me!