🎢 The Highs, the Lows, and the "Limbo" of February
This month has been a bit of a contradiction. On one hand, things have been great—but on the other, they’ve been... well, let’s just say "poor." To start with the positive: this blog! Switching back to Blogger and securing my dedicated domain was the best choice I’ve made lately. As I write this, I am averaging over 100 views a day. To me, that is unbelievable. So, thank you for reading! 🙏✨
📉 The "Limbo" Period
The frustrating side of things is the sales. This month has been one of the toughest I’ve known. I haven't sold a single book yet in February, and while I saw 516 Kindle Unlimited page reads early on, that stalled after the 2nd.
It’s a bit of a "limbo" feeling. I’ve commissioned the team at BespokeBookCovers.com for An American Treasure, but that design work doesn't start until 5th March. I’m eager to move forward, but for now, I’m just waiting for the next piece of the puzzle to drop into place. 🧩
⭐ The Weight of the 1-Star Review
It isn't just the quiet sales that have been disappointing this month. I always told myself I wouldn’t let bad reviews get to me, but I'll be honest: it’s hard to keep an even keel when the sales are slow and a notification pops up to show a new 1-star review.
I’m usually quite a laid-back person—those who know me would say I’m not one to show much emotion. But this "authorship malarkey" is tough! When you haven’t sold a book all month and those December promotions still haven't resulted in the reviews you hoped for, a low rating makes you wonder if it’s all worth it.
I actually decided to reply to this latest review. I wrote:
"Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for your honest feedback. I’m sorry to hear the story didn't hit the mark for you this time around. I know my books won't be for everyone, but I truly appreciate you giving it a read and sharing your thoughts on where I can improve. Best, D.C. Salmon."
Was I right to reply? I’m not sure. If I had ten 5-star reviews for every bad one, it probably wouldn’t have affected me. But when your latest ratings are a 1-star, a 4-star, and another 1-star, it starts to play on your mind.
People tell me all the time that they loved the book, but in the quiet moments of February, you start to worry they’re just saying it to "save face." If you did love the story, please, tell the world for me! Leaving a positive review is the best way to support an indie author and keep us motivated to finish the next book. ✍️
🌧️ Rain, Rain, and More Rain
Another thing making February even harder is the weather here in Britain. I know people from other countries always imagine us as this cold, wet, grey-skied nation, but this year it has been exactly as people would think!
If you have visited over the last couple of months, you'll know it has done nothing but rain.
I read a news article the other day stating that it has officially rained somewhere in England every single day of the year so far. Honestly, it is depressing. It’s the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up with a good book, yet ironically, it seems to be keeping everyone in a bit of a slump. ☔
🕵️♂️ Book 3: The Title-less Mystery
While I wait, I’ve been busy. I have officially edited the whole of Book 3! ✍️
Interestingly, this has been the hardest book to name. I’ve toyed with several titles, but nothing has "stuck" yet. However, the story is complete and ready for my ARC readers. Revisiting the manuscript was an eye-opener; I discovered a major geographical error!
I had written about a grand house in 8 of the last 10 chapters, but realised the building I’d researched was 4 hours away from where I actually needed it to be (near Paris). I’ve spent the week overhauling those descriptions to get the scenery exactly right. Thankfully, it's all done now!
📧 The Newsletter Debate: 2026 Edition
I’m constantly told that an author’s biggest tool is their email list. I try to be respectful—I usually only send one newsletter a month (on the 1st), unless there’s a big announcement. I see other authors sending 4 or 5 a month, and I honestly wonder: would you find that annoying? 📬
Lately, I’ve been seeing more "Unsubscribe Notifications" than new sign-ups. It makes me wonder if newsletters still work in 2026. If you’re a reader, do you enjoy seeing authors in your inbox? Let me know in the comments!
If you ARE one of the few who’d like to hear from me, you can subscribe here:
"Writing is like any hobby—some people collect stamps, I collect stories. You do it because you love it."
🎨 The "Social Media Game"
I’m still trying to work out the social media puzzle. Do I need to pay for premium subscriptions? Is my content just not hitting the mark? Or am I just the "Dad/Grandad" who hasn't got a clue? It’s probably a mix of all three! 😅
As an indie author, every penny I spend—on covers, programmes, or marketing—comes out of my own wages. Whatever the books earn goes right back into the pot for the next project. I treat this as a hobby because I love it.
An Irish Mystery is less than the price of a coffee—if you’ve been on the fence, go on, treat yourself! You’ll be helping an indie author move one step closer to getting Book 2 and Book 3 on your shelves.
Fuel the Research Trail ☕
Writing The Newman Adventures involves a lot of deep-diving into historical archives and the occasional road trip to track down a mystery. Currently, every cover and advert is funded by my day job wages. If you’ve enjoyed the "Sunday Magazine" feel of these posts, consider buying me a coffee. Every bit of support helps me get the next book into the world that much faster. We’re in this journey together—hell yeah, I’d love to do this full-time!
📬 Want to follow the journey?
I send occasional emails about writing, publishing, and the stories behind The Newman Adventures.
Newsletter subscribers also get an exclusive sneak peek of Book 2, An American Treasure.
👉 Join here: The Newman Chronicle
📖 Enjoyed this post?
An Irish Mystery is a fast-paced historical adventure about stolen treasures, hidden histories, and the cost of obsession.
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👉 Available on Amazon: An Irish Mystery
You can also find me on Instagram / Bluesky / X / Facbook, where I share writing updates and behind-the-scenes moments.
For the readers out there—how much do you rely on reviews before picking up a new book? Does a 1-star review put you off, or do you prefer to make up your own mind? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments.
ReplyDeleteI never look at 1 star reviews. I've never read a book that's worth a 1star. Cover then the blurb is all I care about.
ReplyDelete