It seems that my apology wasn't taken for what I wanted it to be taken for. So let me try a different way of explaining things and see if I can make it more clear.
I am not a very good author. I realize that and want to apologize for that. I am far too wordy and redundant. I repeat scenes and put in details that are best left out.
Not a lot of responses so I'm guessing I already know this idea is dead in the water, but I figured I would give further explanation so people know exactly what I'm talking about.
I'm taking a straw poll. Would anyone be interested in an audio version of my books. The ones I'm thinking of are God Bless the Child (the whole trilogy), Wrestling Against Myself, and Unreachable. I don't want to start the process if there isn't interest.
I've come to realize that I have a curse upon me. I don't know which witch doctor from which tribe or perhaps an old Sicilian gypsy that my Great Grandfather stole sardines from, but it has become evident.
There is quite the balancing act going on with my new post: Unreachable. It seems that there are some who are really enjoying the story and I wish I could just throw it all up at once, but it really is too long (180k+ words). Add on top of that that I'm selling it on Amazon and it leaves me in a bit of a lurch. Of course I want to sell books, it helps with the bills, but I also like sharing my creations as well. I also like reviews and comments and kudos in abundance.
It's been a while. A long while. But finally my illustrator is devoting a whole week to doing the drawings on the children's book "But I'm not a boy." There are two pictures already posted but this will be the complete thing. I've had others turn me down because the girly activity the main character wanted to do was too stereotypical. Oh well. Onward and Upward.
So here I am, watching the read totals pile up on Unreachable but the kudos staying put and feeling sorry for myself. I tend to compare myself to others and how they are doing far more often than I should.
So I do what I normally do. I check other numbers: namely sales and reviews. For kicks, I go to goodreads and come across a review that leads to a link that leads to a greater review. All I can say is WOW!!!! Did they give me the royal treatment and I didn't even ask.
I wanted to share the link out of courtesy and maybe those who get ebooks can look at other reviews.
So I'm sitting here debating whether or not I should post the unreachable on the site. The problem, it's long.... really really really (don't make me write it 100 times) long. It comes in at 185k words. The transgender part doesn't show up until 150k words in. So I'm wondering if I should or would people think it a big waste of time.
I just posted the last of God Bless the Child and published Unreachable. That is going to be it for me. It has been a great ride. I had some laughs, shed some tears, but I'm really not cut out to be an author. I don't have what it takes and it has become obvious. There is a certain level of attention to detail to produce a good story, and I don't have that ability. It is more than just not getting reads and comments and kudos and reviews.
I am pleased to announce the release of my new book "Unreachable". It may be my best story yet and considering God Bless the Child and Finding Jenny, I think that is saying something. There isn't the religious overtones like there were in Wrestling Against Myself, so it should appeal to all.
As some of you may or may not know, I've been working extremely hard on the next great trans novel. It is a good story, about a middle school teacher and a troubled student with a panache for misbehaving. They butt heads in the beginning of the book until the teacher realizes the kid is harboring a secret and his tough guy image is just a facade to keep people from finding out the truth about him.
I'm really starting to get frustrated and I am on the verge of lashing out. My neighbors are becoming insufferable because they have issues with the fact that I am trans.
When I wrote God Bless the Child way back in 2002 my goal was to write a mainstream story that gave some insight to the plight of a transsexual. The story, which few would doubt is gripping, reads like a Lifetime- made for tv (good pun)- movie (still waiting on the deal).
Okay, so maybe not a great author, but I got you to check out the blog, how about checking out the clip and telling me what you think. If for nothing else, you get to see and hear what I look like. I am out there and there might not be any bringing me back.
Yesterday I got interviewed on Transition TV on the NotStr8 television station (now available on Roku). I will post the link as soon as I get it. After the show goes live, they edit and then post a cleaner version.
Being interviewed was quite interesting. Part of me wonders if I am playing make believe with some of the stuff that's been happening in my life. I feel I backdoored my way into the interview, but I guess I'm okay with that.
This is a good day, kind of. I am no longer in the writing phase of my next novel. I wrapped up the first draft earlier to day of "Unreachable"" (I dropped the word "The" from the beginning). and now I am onto the tedious part of editing. The book is 240k words long, so a bunch is going to be cut off to get it to a respectable length. I overdid the beginning and I think I can lose that without hurting the story.
It has gotten to the point where authoring is no longer a hobby. I have money coming in and money going out and I need to do a better job of keeping track of everything. Now that I am advertising I have money going all over the place and when tax time comes, I'm going to be screwed if I don't get things in order.
In a few weeks I have the opportunity to follow up my radio interview with an internet TV one. This would be an hour long (I thought the half hour would be long but I didn't even touch on everything I would have liked).
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
