Tom – Page 125

All together now ... on my author's pages — All together now … on my author’s pages

I don’t have the total figures yet, but from 1st – 20th January 2014, my crime thriller, ‘Beyond The Law’ sold 50 copies. I was pleased to see several sales of the romance, ‘10 Days in Panama’, and delighted to see a variety of sales of my poetry anthologies.

Okay, I’m not about to organise a book-signing anytime soon, but that doesn’t bother me. In the first place, you don’t do book-signings for eBooks, and secondly, it would take up time I could otherwise use for writing. Having said that; I’m now investigating the idea of producing my novels in paperback.

The latest draft of ‘Amsterdam Calling’ is going well. It’s another romance, but it’s also an introduction to places of interest, in the city of the same name. There is a lot more to Amsterdam than ‘legalised’ substance smoking, and a well-known sex industry.

To whom would my next story appeal? Anyone who enjoys a modern romance is the first answer that comes to mind. I also believe it will appeal to all those people who say, ‘Amsterdam … I must go there sometime,’ and it will strike a chord with those who have actually been there. If you’ve visited the city, I’m sure it will bring back pleasant memories.

I’ll have to go now, because I’m aiming to publish in June, which means at least another draft, but probably two. In the meantime, if you haven’t checked out my first two novels, you can do so, at my author’s page on: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com. If preferred, you can read the first five chapters of either of my novels; here on my blog, or at my website:

http://www.tom-benson.co.uk/

Yesterday I received my copy of Writers’ Forum through the mailbox, and opened it with the same enthusiasm it produces each month. I thought the ‘Prize Letter’ in the Readers’ Letter page was particularly good, but then I would, because it was mine.

My fuel tank ... and a message. — My fuel tank … and a message.

Apart from having my letter, ‘Chapter and Verse’, published, I had other reasons to be pleased about the event. First, it means I’ve won a year’s subscription to the magazine, but in my letter there is the subtle mention of my thriller, ‘Beyond The Law’, and my website. We need all the publicity we can get – right!

Today, I received an email from Robert Grieve Black, author of ‘Jammy Dodgers’ and several other books, all available on Amazon. Like me, Robert is a Glasgow man, which comes through in his writing. He wrote, in response to my review of Jammy Dodgers, which just goes to prove, you can get feedback on feedback. Check out Robert’s writing.

What am I working on? I’m still giving every spare moment to ‘Amsterdam Calling’. Instead of some simple notes, I’ve written a full cast of characters, a family tree, places of interest, and of course a comprehensive synopsis.

My next coffee is calling …