​🎄 Merry Christmas & A Look Behind the Scenes

Merry Christmas! I wasn’t sure if I should post a blog during the holidays, but I cannot help but write when ideas are floating around in my head. It has been a whirlwind week. We have topped 150 new readers this month, with 133 books downloaded via FREE promos and paid sales. Another 24 paperbacks were shared with my local book club, bringing the total of new readers this year to over 200.

​​​​📈 What's Next for An Irish Mystery?

I’m watching the data closely. While I’ve smashed my original target of 100 downloads for the month, sales on Amazon have stalled since the 12th of December. Ads are running and people are clicking, but the "buy" button isn't being hit quite as often right now.

​📚 The Power of a Good Cover

However, Bookfunnel has been a revelation. Being 2nd in views out of 105 books—some by Amazon bestsellers—proves one thing: my new cover and blurb work. They are converting interest into readers.

​⭐ The Review Waiting Game

​I am currently in that "lag" phase where results follow effort. These downloads need to turn into reviews. As an indie author, this is an uncomfortable place to be; bad reviews can feel like they derail everything, but credible reviews (like my current 4.3-star rating) are what make a book trustworthy to new readers.

​🗓️ Looking Toward the New Year

The Smashwords end-of-year sale and the Bookfunnel promo both wrap up as we hit 2024. January will be entirely about promotion and encouraging those reviews.

​🇺🇸 An American Treasure

Book 2, titled An American Treasure, is ready and waiting. The only thing holding it back is the cover. Now that I know Bespokebookcovers.com created a winner for Book 1, I can’t wait to work with Peter on the next one. However, it’s Christmas, and I don’t think my wife would be too happy if I spent a large sum on a new cover right this second!

​☕ A Little Help via Ko-Fi

I’m not one for asking for help, but if you enjoyed Book 1 and are eager for Book 2, you can support the journey via my Ko-Fi profile.

​❓ What is Ko-Fi?

It’s a simple way for fans to "buy a coffee" (a small donation) for creators they support. It’s not a subscription; it’s just a friendly way to help me fund the professional costs—like that upcoming cover—of getting the next Newman Adventure into your hands.

​🤖 The "AI Scam" Laugh of the Week

I’ve written before about the scams authors face, and I got a classic one this week. It was so obviously written by AI that the sender forgot to fill in the placeholders!

You can read that blog post HERE!

​📧 The Scripted Email

​"I just came across An Irish Mystery... and really enjoyed how you [specific praise e.g., crafted a suspenseful plot]."

​It just goes to show that while I'm working hard to build a real community, there are plenty of bots out there trying to sell "systems" they haven't even proofread themselves!

​Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

​​📚 What Am I Reading? 

​🕯️ Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn

​I am currently reading Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn. It’s a high-stakes quest to find 12 ancient stones before a fanatical enemy can use their power for dark purposes.

​I’ve reached the 30% mark, and I am really enjoying the ride so far! It has a very similar feel to Steve Berry’s The Templar Legacy, which is right up my alley. My only struggle lately has been finding the time to actually sit down and get lost in it over the past few weeks. However, the tension is definitely building, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the mystery unfolds!

​🎁 December Promotions: Grab An Irish Mystery For Free

You can get my book for free on both BookFunnel and the Smashwords End of Season Sale. Both promotions run all month long!

​You'll find loads of other great books alongside mine, so you can easily load up your e-reader for the holidays.

• ​BookFunnel Promo: "Free Tickets to Mystery & Adventure!"
  • ​Find my book and 104 others available for free download (totaling 105 books in the promo).
  • ​Link: [https://books.bookfunnel.com/thecountdowntoexcitementstartsnow/rloq3hpfgf]
• ​Smashwords End of Season Sale:
  • ​Smashwords has many free books (including An Irish Mystery for the rest of this month) and books reduced from 25% to 75%.
  • ​Link: [https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1864930]