Hi Reader!
*dusts off keyboard*
I bet you forgot you signed up for this newsletter, eh? This might be a bit long, so I apologize!
What's new?
Uh, hi friends! It's been a hot minute since I've checked in...how is everyone doing? Enjoying your year so far?
On a personal level, this year was off to a rocky start. Family health issues and being sick since the second week of January has really taken a toll on my mental health and motivation.
But, as the days remain a little bit lighter, and we've had our first taste of warmer temps and sunshine, it feels like we're on the upswing and moving on to better things. (We won't mention that we went from 60F (about 16C) to 30F (about -1C) in a matter of a few days...)
Book 2 Updates!
Book 2 is in the works, and I hope to have it ready to release in Spring 2027. I know, I know...that seems so far away! But I want to make sure there is plenty of time to revisit Millwood and our friends, and to make sure it's the best it can be. It is currently around 10,000 words at the moment.
I don't have a title just yet...there are a few I have in mind, but nothing has really jumped out at me yet. Pies, Lies, and Alibis came to almost immediately, and it was one of the things I was most sure about with that book. It's a funny thing - you'd think as the author, I'd be in complete control of the characters, plot, and title, but the books take on a life of their own. Characters develop their own personalities, and no matter how much planning and plotting, the story can take on a life of it's own.
Signed Bookplates!
I am happy to offer signed bookplates for folks who have physical copies of Pies, Lies, and Alibis and aren't local to have their books signed!
There are two options:
- signature only ($1.50 USD + postage)
- signature + personalization ($2.50 USD + postage).
I put together an order form where you can request which option you'd like, provide an email address so I can verify your request and then I'll send a PayPal invoice for the total (bookplate + postage). If you have any questions, please let me know!
Bookplate Order Form
Because they're a bit larger than a standard business card (roughly 2"x3") I can send them in a regular envelope, which also means I can send them internationally!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: I bought the book/ebook, how else can I support you?
A: First, thank you so much for buying my book! There are several ways you can support your favorite authors or creators without spending any money!
- request the book at your local library!
- once the library gets a copy, check it out!
- part of a book club? suggest the book!
- share or repost social media posts
- when interacting on Facebook, 'heart' react rather than just giving a thumbs-up; the algorithm puts more value on a heart reaction.
- if you've read the book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, StoryGraph, etc. Reviews are SO IMPORTANT to indie authors to help keep our books visible.
A side note, if you review on Amazon, please don't mention you know me or are related to me, etc. They have such odd restrictions about book reviews, even going as far as removing reviews if they deem them suspicious (paid reviews, reviews provided without actually having read the book, etc.)
Q: Would you say your first book was a success?
A: Financially? No. (Hey, we're being honest with each other!) Personally? 10000% yes! I am so proud of myself for seeing it through to the end, and for putting myself out there. Writing is a very personal endeavor - it's like wearing your heart on your sleeve. I was very pleased with sales for my first book as a no-name author and with no paid advertising. I am so thankful for your support through the whole process, and I'm excited folks seem to want more from Kendall and the Millwood gang.
Q: Why was shipping so screwed up?
A: That's a complicated answer. While the book appeared on Amazon, it was not actually being sold by Amazon, so you weren't going to get the same Prime shipping you'd normally get. Also, print-on-demand books are high volume around the holidays; I couldn't even get my own personal author copies sooner than 4 weeks! I know there are some folks who don't care for Amazon and I get that. I used a third party platform which also does print-on-demand, but allows for the books to be purchased through other outlets: Walmart.com, B&N online, Bookshop.org, etc. to give those folks an alternative...so that third party handled printing/shipping the books. Short of spilling the tea on the behind the scenes, I'll just say I'm not doing that for the next book.
That's all for now!
Phew! That was a long one! If you made it to the end, you're a star! Is there anything else you'd like to see in these newsletters? I think I might include some more non-writing stuff next time: what I've been reading, other books I think you'd like, etc.
Have any questions for me? Feel free to email me (kim@kimbeattyauthor.com), message me on Facebook or Instagram (linked below)!
Kim
