Ouch Jaythro. Hope I'm not peeing you off for real.
Wish I had more chance to be just me on the forums. I do read a lot of the posts but never reply unless I have something useful to say - not often
The rest of the time I'm either article or book scribing or on the road to and from somewhere. But I understand. Perhaps I should back off. I'll do it. Don't want to be seen to be taking the mick.
I am working hard at promoting the books now though, so perhaps that's what's going wrong here. Trouble is, I wrote and we produced all 4 books in a 6 year period and that didn't allow much time to get the word out. Need all the help I can get now, so I really value the help of the forums. Whose permission I have asked. Wouldn't be posting otherwise...
Tis the price of self publishing - no marketing team of experts behind you to do this stuff, or a huge marketing budget. When the publishers told me my first book wouldn't sell because I'm not a media personailty, I set out to have a go at proving them wrong. Overlanding and adventure travel, to my mind, are not the sole domain of the famous. Most of us are ordinary people who have been lucky enough to escape no? And well, here we are, 4 books on - most of which have sold through word of mouth. The forums are very helpful for this. Perhaps I've even helped publishers to see that you don't need to be a star, just have to have a good tale and be able to tell it.
In return for all the help I have had over the years, I have spent quite a bit of time encouraging and informing others who have been on trips how to go about getting their manuscripts into print. Not easy and there's lots to learn. It's a completely new adventure but well worth following.
If you have the time and energy. The day my first book Into Africa became a success, for me, was when I had an email from a guy who'd made it down as far as Kenya. Quote,
'I'm here and having a brilliant time. I thought if an idiot like you could do it, so could I. Thanks!'
Free chapters? Great idea - guess all the extracts on the website for the books aren't enough eh. Have you got a Kindle or an i-pad? If you have, we have the books set up in e-book format now and you can read the first chapters of each of the books before deciding whether to buy or not. Hope that helps. e-books are a great way to take a read out with you on a bike trip. OOPS
here I go again.
But here's an idea. In conjuntion with Kite Studios of Cambridge, we have been recording the first chapter of Into Africa. That's due to go onto the website shortly. No need to read it even then. Shall I post to let you know when that's up?
Callum's Road? I've not heard if its being put into print. It should be though eh. Inspirational story. I hope it makes it.
And now I've realised that I've been rattling on
Sorry. I talk a lot as well as write a a lot...
Anyway, if I am ticking people off by posting news on the books - just say and I'll back off. Like I said - really don't want to take the Mick
Cheers for now,
Sam
I'm really happy to have this review.
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