This is the view as I finally start typing this late blog post—a view I’ve earned after a rough week. For those who follow me, you know I’m heavily involved with my local roller hockey club. Today was our first EC1 (Eastern Counties Division 1) seniors game day, but the season has delivered some tough hits.
We managed a hard-fought goal with twenty seconds to go in the first game I coached, pulling us out of a 2-0 deficit. But the joy was short-lived: two of our players picked up injuries that weekend, and we later found out one has a fractured thumb and the other a broken hand (huge sympathy to Jake, the barber, who can’t work for a while). With another player injured in our first Premier league game of the season and another player already serving a ban, our game this weekend is canceled. It's tough news for the club, but it unexpectedly frees up my weekend for writing and reading!
🎨 The Long-Awaited Cover Transformation
Next Monday, the company I chose will finally start designing the new cover for An Irish Mystery. I am so ready for this change! The book needs that Adventure/Thriller feel, moving away from the "Mystery Irish Detective" look it currently has.
I was surprised last month when I did sell books despite cutting back on advertising. This month, however, feels different. We’re already halfway through October, and I haven’t sold a single copy. I know this is a result of stopping advertising due to the confusing cover, but it’s still tough. Everything is part of the master plan... or so I keep telling myself!
The Review Roadblock
The worst part is that reviews have stalled. It feels like forever since I last got a review on any network. I recently tried Booksprout, offering the book for free in exchange for an honest review, but that was another disappointment: one claim, and the review date has passed without the review being left. This makes you question everything: Was Booksprout the wrong platform for my genre? Or was it indeed the current cover giving off mixed vibes that turned readers off?
What review platform would you use for an Adventure/Thriller book? Let me know!
🚀 Book 2 Excerpt: Delayed but Not Forgotten
I was hoping to release the excerpt of An American Treasure today, but unfortunately, a nagging migraine knocked me out and threw off my schedule. If you suffer from headaches and migraines, you know exactly how that goes.
The good news is that with the cover starting next week and my weekend now unexpectedly free, I am determined to use this time to get the excerpt ready for you. Fingers crossed I have more updates on both the design and the sequel next week!
📚 What Am I Reading?
I'm still fully immersed in Everybody Lies by L.J. Breedlove, and I am now 48% through the book!
However, my progress has been slow this week due to the persistent headaches I've been battling. As you know, reading when a migraine is looming is next to impossible. Despite the slow pace, I'm genuinely enjoying the mystery. It’s proving to be a highly descriptive, engaging thriller that constantly keeps me guessing. I'll be sure to update you next week on where the plot has taken me.
If you want to see my reading progress, along with all my past reads and reviews, you can always follow me on Goodreads or Fable (or both!).
What thriller or mystery is keeping you guessing this week? Let me know in the comments!
About Me:
Hello and welcome to Swmming Upstream the home of my blogs. I am D.C. Salmon and I write pulse-pounding adventure thrillers that blend real-life unsolved mysteries with modern-day action.
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