The 99 cent Plaster Fairy

...or things that occured at the weekend.

I frightened my four-year-old nephew. Not on purpose. He insisted I put another plaster around the three or four plasters he already had on his finger because he was frightened the other plasters would fall off and it would hurt. They're covering a week old papercut. I did so, but told him not to fret, that the Plaster Fairy would remove the plasters when he slept and that it wouldn't hurt. This sent him into hysterics. Warning to parents: don't leave a horror writer in charge of a child. In my defence, the Plaster Fairy tale sounded cute and not freaky in my head. I have been chastisted.

Finished the second draft of 'Barbed Wire Heart' and now I get to do the pretty editing phase. Told my mum, I'd finished (while rewarding myself with biscuits) and was again chastised with, 'What do you mean it's a novella not a novel? What the 'feck' use is that?'

Drew the winner of my Space & Time and Amazon voucher competition - Gary B Phillips - who subsequently decided to do a competition where three lucky souls can win the Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits ebook. How awesome is he...

And the final chastisement came via myself...

I procrastinated and read a bunch of blogs (and blog comments) about 99 cent ebooks. I'm aware that people I respect are anti selling a book for 99 cents (and there are also others who I respect who are pro 99 cent books) and that many think that pricing a book at 99 cents = crap and not worth their time. That bothers me, of course that bothers me. The last thing I want is people to make the assumption my book isn't worth their time--I need their time.

I've been lucky, Strange Men has gathered some fantastic reviews, but the fact is, I'm an unknown writer and selling story collections is hard even for the well established. So, when my publisher asked how much I wanted the ebook priced at (my publisher is so awesome, I get 100% of net electronic sales) I was torn. In the end, I decided on the lower price scale in the hope it would tempt folk to try the collection who may not have otherwise and having liked (she hopes) the book, they may be more willing to give my book 'Theatre of Curious Acts' a try when it is published later this year.

Of course, now I'm aware it has possibly put others off.

(I'll let you into a secret: I care what people think. I care too much and thus I chastise myself)

I'll admit, seeing Strange Men on Amazon.com at 99 cents doesn't bother me (I have had twinges of 'no one will buy the paperback' now, but I think one has sold since the ebook went live - don't laugh, each sale means the world to me), but seeing it at 70p on Amazon.co.uk does. Seventy pence. God, I am cheap. I cost as much as a Galaxy chocolate bar (but I last longer).

For an awesome, more eloquent post about the price of books check out Katey Taylor's blog. I love her analogy. It had me crying 'yes' and 'oh my god' and 'I'm the cheap bottle of wine' and 'but I've gotten drunk quite well on Lambrusco and Thunderbirds and my liver survived'.

Okay, back to writing or obsessing or both.

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles

My four-year-old nephew broke his dad's heart this week when he told him the cheapo bubble blower he received from a pre-school friend was the best present ever. You know after my brother had scoured the four corners of the flat earth for the present he really, really wanted.

I think we're all buying him cardboard boxes next year ;)

Finished the first draft of my novella, Barbed Wire Hearts, yesterday at 24,100 words. Hoping to bury my head in it today and next few days and get a decent portion of the next draft done. Of course, I may end up twittering as per usual but if you don't hear from me here, on twitter or on your blog, then I'm being a very good girl. Will make a change.