Why write?

Ok, many fellow authors tell me they write for the love of writing, the passion and the desire to put their own words down on paper. I suppose it's the same as an actor, always wanting to be on stage, but is this true? If one writes a book that no one reads, is it really a book? Or is it simply a waste of time?
Personally I write for gain, I'm being honest, I write books to sell books. I don't seek fame in todays conception of the word, but I would like my writing to be recognised and more important, paid for. I realise this may not be the ideal of an author, picking up quill, pen, typewriter or personal computer, but it is fact. It is a fact for me and if truth be known, it is a fact for all writers.

My latest book is not selling much as yet, but it's barely a month old so that's understandable. My very 1st book, A Fly on the Ward is still selling nicely, obviously I did something right there. But why do I continue to write? In truth I have no idea. Health limits me to what I can and cannot do and writing seemed a possible avenue of funding in order to 'keep the wolf from the door.' Perhaps a gun might be a better idea? For the wolf of course, not me, said Little Red from the Hood.

The book market is swamped these days, anybody and anyone can and will write a book and through the modern ability to self publish, many new authors spring up every day. So why do I write? Any answers yet?
Maybe I don't sell many books simply because I'm rubbish at putting stories on paper? Maybe my eclectic range of books puts people off? I have written humorous short stories, one academic book, two children's books and now I'm editing the second of my science fiction novels. Maybe I should have stuck to funny hospital stories, people certainly appear to like anything related to hospitals? The answer is, I don't know. I decided Animan ll would be my last book, but will it? Ideas abound in the empty space of my mind every moment of the day, surely there's something there worth writing about?
I admit to have enjoyed the purpose writing gave to my life. I am restricted in what I can do and spend a lot of time home on my own with only me for company. Perhaps writing keeps me sane? Perhaps not. What would I do if I didn't write? Probably become addicted to day time television.
Lord forbid!

Sorry, I'm not the world's best blogger so my blogs are random and infrequent. But now I feel I have something to say.
When publishing my books I use two formats, one being digital and of course the other is paper. Until now I have always used a firm called Creatspace, which is an independent arm of the mighty Amazon. Creatspace off a 'pay as you go' type of service,  print on demand. The author gets royalties but Creatspace get the bulk of any profits from sales. That in itself is fine, but now the prices are rocketing.
My latest book, Animan, is a science fiction V's science fantasy book, a totally new direction for me, as I usually write humour. I duly uploaded my script to Kindle as usual, before tackling the book set up on Creatspace. All went fine, I'm an old hand after publishing seven books, until the pricing section arrived.
One can buy a paperback novel in most shops for around five pounds. That price is reasonable and accepted. However, Creatspace put such a high price on the book that even with my royalty of 0.50p the price of the book was near nine pounds!
I understand everyone needs to make a profit but I'm sure Creatspace will soon be out of business as authors cannot sell their books at the prices set buy Creatspace. Animan ll is in the editing stage but may be published in digital only.
I would like to get a publisher but unless one is a seventeen year old pop star writing an autobiography, or a disgraced politician or a footballer, publishers are not interested. JK Rowlings was turned down by many, many publishers so it happens to us all. One wonders how those publishers who refused her feel now?
So I'm sorry if you prefer the printed paper versions of books, but finance denies my own efforts to get my books in print.
Thank you for reading my moans.

New book. Publish now or wait.

I'm just putting the finishing touches to my 7th book and pondering its future. This will be my first full length novel and is in the genre of science fiction. I am better known for humorous books such as, A Fly on the War, but thought it time for a change.

I intend writing a series of three books and as this is the first, I thought I might sit on it for a while. There's nothing worse than finishing a book, only to discover that the sequel will not be available for over a year. I therefore concluded that I would not publish the new book, entitled, Animan, until the second in the series was also finished. The third, if it ever gets written, should then be out not long after.

I hope this is a sensible choice, it's difficult to know what's best for the market. However, the possibility remains that none of the books will grab the attention of the reading public and not sell at all. I however, remain hopeful.

So please watch this space, not immediately of course, but check back in 12 months or so and by then I should have some news.

One Tick of the Clock

A tick of the clock, and a year has passed.

All the worries or joys have faded away

The year has disappeared, gone so fast,

No longer this year, this month, this day,

One tick of the clock and a memory begun,

We celebrate a new year, but life goes on,

No longer will the events of just last week,

Be remembered this year, they have gone.

One tick of the clock and the world has spun,

A second in time, important to many,

Across the planet, last year is done,

One tick of the clock, new hopes aplenty.

Hello again . . . .  anyone there?  Yeah I know it's my fault, I'm not an avid blogger and not much of major interest to the universe in general. But no worries, I'll plod on anyway. So what's new? I hear you ask. Well I can't remember where I got to on my last blog so a quick update is in order. 

I think I mentioned my first two books, A Fly on the Ward and Humanology. Since then I have given birth to others. A Fly on the Garden Wall and A Nautical Novice (A Fly on the Boat) were duly written, published and promptly forgotten in the vast empty space of the ebook ether. That may be slightly untrue, I think I have sold one or two here and there, A Fly on the Ward remains my best seller. I retain hopes for the others . . . . .

But now I have taken a change in direction. With the aid of my 7yr old grandson, I have taken a lunge into the world of children's books. The very first one is awaiting proof but should be available in Amazon in a matter of days from me writing this. The book is a short story entitled; The Little Train Set and Billy the Hero. I have based these books on the criteria required for school reading, though they would also suit any child with an interest or even the possession of a train set. The target age group is 6 to 8yrs and all content research has been obtained with the able assistance of my grandson.

I plan another two of these books before I decide whether to continue or not. The second is written but as yet I have not published it. I thought one new book at a time is enough. The second book is entitled; The Little Train Set and Someone is missing! I have the storyline for the third but have not yet set pen to paper, or finger to keyboard.

Finally, in between children's books, I have begun a science fiction vs science fantasy sort of book. I can say no more about that yet, it's a very new project long in planning but difficult to write. I have never written an actually full length novel before so this is proving to be quite interesting.

That is where I am regarding my writing, four books published, two in the pipeline and one awaiting me to write it. Good huh? I never thought I would actually achieve the published written word and though I have no claim to fame, I have written no huge best sellers, I am happy with what I have done.
I will endeavour to update this blog more often and possibly even try to make it more interesting . . oh hang on, there's a pig flying past my upstairs window!

Bye for now.

I wrote this after a night of contemplation, or was it that I just couldn't sleep? I don't know but it came into my mind anyway.
If you have read my blogs, which I admit not many people do, you will have gained the impression that I have not been 100% fit over the last 10 years or so. In truth my health has been absolute rubbish! But as I lay there in my pit, I realised that all of we sick people rely on a loved one such as wife, husband, partner or mistress and I wondered how they must feel as they watch us suffering from day to day.
So I wrote this little ditty and posted it around where it might just get read. It did and many appeared to like it, so here it is.

Thank you.

We are so often ill, our breath coming in gasps,

We fear for ourselves, plead for mercy,

Those breaths we take fight us with wheeze and rasp,

Our plight is hard; our mood is hard and bitchy.

But wait a moment; pause a minute, look around, do you see?

Those that love us, care for us, nurse us and stay by our side,

Those loved ones, siblings, partners or spouse, standing closely,

Holding our hand, mopping a brow, hiding how they cried.

So while we suffer, puff and pant, do not grumble, do not rant,

There is strength beside us, a hand to support, an ear to listen,

Our loved ones who watch us suffer without showing a tear,

Our life is hard, full of despair, but do we see the eye that glistens?

My wife is my rock, my oxygen mask, my faithful nurse,

I am lucky, I’m not alone, I have someone who cares,

Suffer we do, often it’s true, but don’t moan, don’t curse,

One of us is ill but both feel the pain, the suffering we share.

Friend or family, brother or son, husband or wife,

We all must remember those who hide their tear, hide their pain,

They sacrifice their hearts, to accompany us in our plight,

So keep in your hearts a smile, for those who love us, with nothing to gain.

©Michael K Chapman 2014.

Define pleasure.

It is funny how one book can sell very well but others do little. Why is it that medical stories attract more interest than gardening? I mean most people have a garden and can relate the odd humorous anecdote about events that happened to them while in their rolling landscaped garden or back yard. I had considered this a topic worth covering but now I’m not so sure. While A Fly on the Ward sold well, so far, A Fly on the Garden Wall is no where near being as successful. Why I wonder, is it because deep down we like to laugh at the misfortunes of others and hospital stories meet this criterion?  Could it be that many people have not endured the care of the medical profession and so wish to discover more about a world they have no knowledge of?

Perhaps the subject of gardening is too boring for today’s hyper electronic inhabitants, possibly the hobby or chore of tending one’s garden is not as widely appreciated as the television gardening experts would have us believe?

I admit I no longer find much joy in spending hours rooting around in the earth and removing weeds, or cutting that damn lawn yet again, or being attacked by a rampant rose bush. However I really cannot say I like being incarcerated in a medical meat factory either and would hope I never have to experience the dubious joys of the National Health Service ever again. Given the choice I would avoid both subjects and choose something more pleasurable, and so I have.

My next book which is at present under construction, strain and a pile of waste paper, will be entitled, A Fly on Deck. This time the subject matter will concern the art of sailing, and boating, possibly sinking but certainly all things nautical. Most people envisage a beautiful sunny day, calm seas and a splendid white yacht shining against the golden sands of a small Pacific Island. So surely this will be a happier and more favourable subject than hospital or gardening? One would think so, wouldn’t one?

We’ll see . . . .  watch this space.