A Writing Adventure
One thing that I'm enjoying about putting my novels up on Substack with the audiobooks is reading over them and making minor edits (Minor since they can't be altered too much from the audiobook as the format is a read-along.)
I wrote the mermaid story Pouraka, (Poor-ah-kah means cradle in Maori) in 2015. I can see where I started out way too slow. The real story doesn't happen until chapter 15 and builds up speed there. If I were going to write the book over again, which I might someday, I'd probably do less introduction of characters and build from the part of the story where the mermaids are discovered by the fishermen.
You can read and listen to Pouraka on Substack for free!
The same is true with the adventure fantasy Ian's Realm Saga, which has gained popularity over the years, and we're still working on the screenplay and will hopefully be successful this year in pitching it to a producer. I've half a mind to go back over the book because I'm making some adjustments in the script that creates stronger characters in both Ian and his father.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is these stories, for me, are never really finished. I know a lot of writers edit and edit and revise over and over again and have to come to a point where they say the novel is done.
But then if you go back to that book seven years later after honing your skills you want to touch things up again. I do, anyway. I find my mistakes are now a misrepresentation of me.
Maybe that's why I decided to give away some of my backlists in the form of serialized work in my newsletter.
You can read the comedy about a dysfunctional vampire family, An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody on Substack also, but it's a paid subscription for $2.50 a month or $15 a year. You'll get the audio and the novel, and in the latter part of the year, I'm thinking of putting the historical fiction novel based on letters written during WWII Where the Yellow Violets Grow with the audio in Substack too. So you can't really lose with that deal. Plus you'll be getting Pouraka for free.
And I may be releasing the dystopia novel I wrote, Altered, on Substack, although I don't have audio for that book unless I read it myself. Haven't decided.
Anyway, these are just some things on my mind. I'm inviting you to join me in my new newsletter adventures.