Hello Everyone.
So, I self-published my first book, The Unknown Man, (Book 1 in the Keepers of the Orbs Series) back in 2012. I had no idea what I was doing and the book was nowhere near ready, as I quickly found out. However, this turned out to be the best learning experience I could’ve ever imagined. When I published it, I was in a unique spot in my life. I had just started working again after being unemployed for 2 years, had my second child, and was in school full-time working on my Bachelors Degree. My wife and I literally had no money and I couldn’t afford to pay an editor. I relied on family members to edit the book who were much better at it than I was, but they’re not professional editors. I think this is reflected in my books. Regardless, I spent the next 2 1/2 years revising that book (I think I’m on version 20 something now) and finally reached a point where I couldn’t do anything more to it, other than send it to a professional editor.
Since then, I have published 3 more books (the next two in the series and a standalone) as well as a short story, but considering that when I finally got a job half way through 2011, I went with the best organization to offer me a job. However, it was in a new industry for me and I accepted an entry level position that only paid roughly 60% of what my job paid me pre-2009 when I was laid off. It didn’t matter, my wife and I struggled for a couple years, but were able to remain afloat, not lose the house or cars, and have some semblance of discretionary funds so we could afford to eat out or go to a movie every once in a while. As a result, when I published the next 4 books, they were also self-edited. I think the books and my writing have improved, but I still need that professional touch.
Anyway, I’m sure you’re wondering why I am going on this long diatribe. Two and a half years ago I accepted a new position that allowed us to pay off the small amount of debt we accumulated while I was laid off/starting over in an entry level position and I’m finally in a position where I can spend some money. My next book, an Urban Fantasy/Vampire book, is currently with…. a PAID EDITOR and will be the first book to receive this treatment. I am so excited, but it is only the beginning. I plan on submitting everything else I have released to the editor as well over the course of the next several months. So I was just looking at my Amazon account and noticed I hadn’t done a free promotion on any of my books in almost a year. Since they’re all eligible, and since I am going to be paying for an editor for all of them before I re-release them all anyway, I figured I would just go ahead and list all of them for free for the next 5 days (10/27-10/31). It may not be the best marketing strategy, but what the hell, right?
So if you’re interested, feel free to hop on over to my Amazon account and download a copy of one or all of them. They’re not perfect and will get better, but I know this and just gave you a heads up. 🙂 Click Here
I should hopefully have some news on Vampire’s Curse by the end of November. I planned on releasing Book 4 (the final book in the Keepers of the Orbs Series) in December, but now I am going to wait until books 1-3 are edited first. So that will be early 2018 now. After that I will focus on my Sci-Fi book, Saukarian Children, which is completed, but I will re-work it and submit it to an editor before I do anything with it. Then I have about 12 other ideas, so stay tuned.
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J.G. Gatewood Blog 