Saturday 25 November 2023

The whole trilogy at last ... and a request


It’s a year and a half since I posted anything here. And this will be mainly information for potential buyers rather than a blog chat. So unless you are here to learn about buying one or more of these books, I suggest you skip it! There are far more important things in this world at present to focus on.


Meanwhile, in the years it's taken to get all three books written and published, there have been lots of comparatively tiny hiccups and delays in the process. So I felt it was better not to write anything at all, rather than a series of petty complaints! But my beta readers, and Kate, who designed the covers, and Fliss, who proofread and painted the iconic medallions, were always on hand and enthusiastic, seeing me through frustration after frustration, a Book 3 publication date that could not be pinned down, and a launch that could not happen in the end. 
Thank you all.


For now, I would just like to ask any of my readers who is also enthusiastic about “Time travel to Ancient Greece” to buy one or more of the E-books (available at approximately a third of the print price), read it/them, and review it/them if you feel strongly enough. This will help my on-going, rather amateur marketing efforts immeasurably. 


The situation with the print versions at present is that, without any reviews and almost no orders through book shops or Amazon as yet, delivery times in UK are being given by Waterstones and others as up to 5 weeks! However, the print titles do appear on their websites and on those of the wholesalers who supply your local bookshop (as far as I can discover). On other Amazons, like Germany, Canada and Australia, delivery times differ widely, while in the USA Amazon delivery is 3-5 days. 


Meanwhile, I'm encouraged to be told that the trilogy would make a fine gift for fans of 'ancient worlds'. But please see below concerning Book 1 on Amazon UK (only - not other Amazons or UK bookshops), and please note that, in spite of repeatedly being informed, as yet they have not caught up with the fact that the third book of the trilogy is out and connected with the other two. It still describes them as 1 and 2 of 2! But I've set up my Author Central page on Amazon UK and am expecting eventually to be allowed to reorganise their listings of my books.


As for me, in spite of the above, it’s still a great treat to have copies of all three to line up and gloat over! I can order and receive as many print copies as I have space for, with minimal delay. Perhaps I should set up a 'shop' here - if I can work out how ... 


None of which is, of course, a good sales pitch on my part! However, I must admit that this is not how I make my living. I write because I love writing, and the marketing and distribution have never been a priority. Unlike the extremely capable and efficient providers of marketing advice on social media, I don't feel driven to spend huge amounts of time and money setting up email lists, publicising on-line launches, offering freebies and doing blog tours all at once and immediately. I do intend to get round to some of these as time allows, and I certainly mean to keep posting on LinkedIn, the notorious X, and my professional FaceBook page. I am also making it known that I can offer author visits to local schools and bookshops in the New Year. And I want to give value for money, which is why I suggest the E-book at present - "enthralling" content without the costs of paper and printing!


Meanwhile, thank you to all those who have already been sharing my news, including those who have read one or more of the books and have praised them. 


Lastly, I’d like to draw attention to Book 1, The Boy in Two Minds. If you didn't already know, part of its story takes place partly during the 87th ancient Olympics (432 BCE), and therefore may be of particular interest in 2024, with the Paris Olympics (33rd of the modern era) in July. There are some old but complementary reviews of the original 2012 version (titled The Boy with Two Heads) still discoverable on this page on Amazon. That edition is officially out of print and unobtainable now (although it’s almost the same text as the present Book 1). My thanks to those who reviewed it so kindly in those far off days. 


The three incarnations of 
The Boy ...
In fact, Book 1 has been through three incarnations, and Amazon UK are still offering the middle one shown here instead of the latest (it has the same ISBN). So if you only want to buy Book 1, I suggest you do so now, while their price for it is still less than £5! Once Amazon’s old stock is gone, the version with the new cover at the ‘normal’ price will be £13.99 or so. At least this shows that fiction about Ancient Greece and its Olympics is sales-worthy! Meanwhile, the whole trilogy with its coordinated covers, as in the photos above, is only available from a bookshop prepared to order it for you.


Thank you for reading this rather boring blog post. I’m working on a more interesting one next ... and it will be posted in less than 18 months.




The Connection Trilogy

Paperbacks: 

The Boy in Two Minds trade paperback ISBN 9781838413606

The Girl in Two Worlds trade paperback ISBN 9781838413620

An Ancient Connection trade paperback ISBN 9781838413644


E-books:

The Boy in Two Minds E-book ISBN 9781838413613

The Girl in Two Worlds E-book ISBN 9781838413637

An Ancient Connection E-book ISBN 9781838413651






All photographs © Julia M Newsome unless otherwise credited.