Flash November and updates

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

 During November I took part in FlashNano. Every day I received a prompt via email, which I could use or use one of my own to write a flash story. I've taken part in this for about four years, though I dropped out early on last year. This year (the last year this lady was running it) I decided to stick with it. I surprised myself. I've come out of the month with thirty stories, some of which I am really pleased with, and one I have edited and already sent out. There are a few stories I know will not make it, but most can be edited and hopefully submitted in the future.

Some of the flash stories I've written in past FlashNano's have been published, but I think this year the stories are stronger. But it wasn't plain sailing. At my wits end one day, I just typed a name on my blank screen and then I just wrote without knowing what I was going to produce. It ended up being one of the stories I was really pleased with. Another one began as one thing, but developed into something else, as well as a complete genre change! I quite like writing like this, though it's scary until I get into the story. 

I have to admit I was glad to get to the end of the month, but I have a lot to work with now.

Meanwhile, Tinsel Street has been doing really well as readers have bought copies for friends as Christmas presents. I've been so pleased with the feedback I've been getting from people who have already read it (and relieved...putting your baby out there is always a bit of a gut twister!). People love my characters, saying they are believable, and I'm always interested to see which one of them will come out as being people's favourite. Readers are finding connections with things in their life. 

My book also now graces the English table in the Swiss bookshop Buchhandlung Stauffacher. See photos. This is wonderful because at last I have a book actually on display in a bookshop, and I thank my friend for telling her colleague about my book and for her to order a few copies.

When I was at the library on Saturday, I did my usual check to see if my book was there. It was again absent from the 'seasonal reads' and the main shelf. So, people are still borrowing it. One always hopes that things will go well, but I have to admit that I really didn't think my sales would be this good! My 'aim low' goal setting has paid off, and the result has exceeded my expectations. By bestseller standards this is just a drop in the ocean, but for me, it is a tide!

Now everyone is asking me for a sequel. I just hope it doesn't take five years to get it out, and everyone knows the second book is harder, and no, I haven't started it yet!