Last week was one of those weeks—the kind that has you asking big questions. About your writing, your audience, your strategy... and even your stamina.
To coincide with Prime Day, I ran a promotion on my ebook An Irish Mystery, offering it for just £0.99 in both the UK and US from July 8th to 11th. I thought, "Everybody loves a bargain—if I could sell a few books, brilliant!"
And I did.
Exactly four of them.
📉 The Promo Results: A Reality Check
At first, I tried to be positive. Four new books mean four new readers, and maybe, if I’m lucky, a couple of reviews. (And I don’t mean just 5-stars—I'd settle for honest and encouraging.)
But let’s be honest: it stings.
I have over 900 followers on Instagram, over 600 on Bluesky, a 100-person newsletter, and I’m active on X, TikTok, and Facebook. I’ve been promoting, posting, sharing, linking—and still… four sales.
It made me wonder:
Are followers really readers?
If I saw an author I liked offering their book for 99p, wouldn’t I buy it?
Apparently, it doesn’t always work that way.
🧠 Second-Guessing the Strategy
It’s hard not to spiral. One week you’re flying high—like when my blog post “
"Can Indie Authors Compete with £5 Books? My Thoughts on Sales, Royalties & the Road Ahead" had its best day ever. Then a few weeks later, a new post gets eight views.
I’ve talked before about diversifying, maybe even selling direct, and every week like this brings the question back. Is Kindle Unlimited helping me—or holding me back?
If you're an author, what has worked for you?
And if you’re not—what would you try in my shoes?
🤝 BookFunnel and the Hope of Discovery
Alongside my personal promo, I joined two BookFunnel group promotions. Did they help? I honestly don’t know. Maybe one or two of those four sales came from there.
BookFunnel is great in theory—you rely on other authors to promote the group, and if everyone pulls their weight, your book could get noticed. But like all marketing efforts, the results aren’t always measurable.
Still, if one new reader finds me and likes what they read? That’s a win.
🎤 Speaking Gig Jitters (and a Little Nostalgia)
On a brighter note (and a more nerve-wracking one), I’ve got a speaking gig coming up. My mum asked me months ago if I’d give a talk to my stepdad’s support group—he’s part of a community for people who use colostomy bags, and they often have guest speakers.
I said yes.
Now it’s nearly here.
I’m not shy anymore, but public speaking is still a different beast. I can talk to anyone now—but remembering everything I’ve written about my book? Not so easy. I might have to bring my tablet, like a musician with their guitar—a little comfort in case my brain goes blank. It’s about 40 minutes with a Q&A. I’ll report back!
🛠️ The Day Job: Summer “Holiday” Myths
And then there’s my actual job—Site Manager at a primary school. People always say,
“Bet you can’t wait for six weeks off!”
To which I reply:
“I don’t get six weeks off.”
In fact, I work through the summer. Sure, I get to bring Bear (my dog) to work, which is a bonus. But it’s also when all the big projects happen. Contractors, maintenance, deep cleaning—it’s nonstop. And this year, our "six-week break" is only five weeks.
It’s just one of those behind-the-scenes truths no one sees.
💭 Final Thoughts
Last week was tough—mentally, emotionally, professionally. But as I write this, I’m reminded why I share it all here. For honesty. For connection. For the hope that someone else out there might read this and nod along.
If you're an author, how do you handle tough weeks?
If you're a reader, what makes you want to support a writer?
Drop a comment—I’d love to hear from you. ❤️
✨ P.S. A little scheduling update!
From next week, my blog posts will be moving to Wednesdays at 7 am (UK time). I hope this mid‑week spot makes it even easier for you to catch up with my latest adventures in writing, books, and everything in between. See you next Wednesday!
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