The Agony of Hope // Last of the Weekly Emails
Mar 12, 2021 8:35 pm
Hello from London,
As I mentioned last week, this will be the last weekly newsletter, and from here on you will receive these emails fortnightly.
The feedback I received on this move was generally positive. I have a deep respect for those of you subscribed to so many of these independent author newsletters. The tidal wave of incoming marketing must be something to behold. I'm happy to reduce the burden on you ever so slightly, hopefully increasing the quality of these newsletters and the relevance of their content at the same time.
My little monologue this week is about rejection. As a writer you have to get used to a lot of it, particularly if you submit short stories to magazines, as I have been doing, on and off, lately.
My short story, Shadows is currently on it's ninth submission. That means it's racked up eight rejections so far. I've never tried so hard to get a piece published, and the reason I'm being so pig-headed about this one is that I really, really like it, and I want to get it in front of as big an audience as I can.
I could post it here... But...
No disrespect; the six-hundred of you who are active readers of mine are my bestest friends and most loyal companions. But there's only six-hundred of you. My first boss would have called that 'a good start', which was code for 'requires improvement'. If I want to grow my audience, I need to show good writing to people who haven't already read some of my work. To achieve this, I need to piggy-back on the large readership of a published magazine. I promise you'll get it too!
The process of submission to these magazines is mostly one of waiting. Some are quick to respond, but some can take over three months, and none of them accept simultaneous submissions. You can't do anything else with the story while it's with them. It's a very one-sided system that works for the magazines but not so much for the authors.
Most of all, I want to share the story with you because I'm quite proud of it. One day, when I'm sick of 'no-thank-you' emails, I'll publish it myself. Until then... oh, look... another rejection email.
This Week's Giveaway
A collection of science fiction and fantasy novels, short stories, prequels and other giveaways. Something for everyone.
Author Spotlight
Three authors for you today. The links below are to their books on Amazon, although when I checked today, the second book below (The Razvak Hunter) was prices at £0.00 on Amazon UK, and presumably is at zero on Amazon US as well, so grab it before the price goes back up!
Waite on the Ripper by John Campbell
What if I told you that Jack the Ripper is a supernatural predator whose murder spree spans centuries?
Now Jack has come to Austin, and every woman in my city is in mortal danger. I’m Harmon Waite, a homegrown private investigator. I’m supposed to stop the Ripper, but all I’ve managed to do is piss that devil off. As I go from hunter to hunted, I have one chance to survive the night.
Of course, that’s when the fallen angel shows up.
The Razvak Hunter by Arel B. Grant
Before...
As the Fairest One of Vallenthar, Aelwyd commands formidable power. Years of battle honed her into a fearsome warrior who never falters in front of an enemy. However, there are shadows that when they come, they can swallow you whole.
After a hundred years of praying against it, the minute she walks into the chilling scene of death in front of her, she knows her personal nightmare is back. He nearly destroyed her once, but she isn’t a victim anymore. This time, she will stop him, or she will die trying.
Now...
Dalbran knows nothing of friends, joy, or mischief. The orphaned ward of a ruthless warrior woman, his days are filled with battle, pain and exhaustion; savage teachings of how to survive in their harsh world. Nights used to be his only solace. But now something lurks in the shadows of sleep, clawing at him the moment his eyes close. He tells himself it’s okay, that he can handle it. However daunting the voices may be, however cold the hand that chokes him in the darkness, as long as it stays within the nightmare, everything will be all right.
As long as it stays within the nightmare…
The Chronicles of Agartha: Book 1 The Green Boy by Sherif Guirguis
Enter Inner Earth, Agartha, a land where the color of your soul's Aura defines you.
Ethan, a fourteen-year-old young man, discovers he has a green aura, the last of an extinct race. He leaves the secret school of Nafoura in search of the truth of his own origins, in a desperate search to find a home to call his own.
Joined by a girl from our earth, Mara, and an exiled shapeshifter, Darren; Ethan must seek the Chronicler of Agartha, a mythical being rumored to have all the answers.
But there is another who is chasing them doggedly, the woman who killed off the green nation, Ethan's people, and she has placed a huge price on Ethan's capture.
Unaware of the reward for his capture, Ethan rushes forward to his destiny, inadvertently stepping into the web on an ancient prophecy, one that might spell salvation or doom for his and our world.
Will Ethan achieve his goal, or will he doom two worlds in his quest?
Thanks to those of you who responded to last week's email, and as promised: See you in two weeks.
Thanks for reading!
Nick.
FOLLOW ME ON
My Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Patreon
