An Update and Coming Attractions
Why I skipped Monday, what I'm working on and what I'm planning. Also, a poll.
Hello hello.
Apologies to anyone out there who is actually reading along with Flesh and Blood for not posting a new chapter this week. My husband and I have both been sick and I just couldn't muster the energy to pull a post together. I don't know what we're sick with, whether our turn to get hit with the C-bug finally came around after managing to avoid it for so long, but this is some kind of lingering crud that seems to get better and then whammies us again just when we start to feel normal.
Anyway, I'd hoped to be able to send it out by midweek, but obviously, that didn't happen, and now that it's Friday already it makes the most sense to just skip this week. Mostly because there are only two chapters left of this first novella and I could use the extra week to figure some things out. And here's where I'm going to do some thinking out loud about what comes after, so bear with me.
When I wrote this back in 2019, my plan was to write and release this series as a series of novellas, planning to publish it on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, and then compile every three novellas into a full novel-length volume. Of course, now that I'm publishing it here on Substack, that leaves KU out.
When I decided to publish it here, I was thinking I'd more or less stick to the same plan and release this first nine-chapter novella for free, and then, if it generated enough interest, continue the rest of it behind a subscription paywall.
Now that I'm up to the moment of decision, I can't actually tell if there's enough interest to even justify continuing to write this series, let alone to lock it behind a paywall. When I publish a book, even if I don't get reviews I can at least track book sales (or KU page reads) to see if anyone is actually reading it. Here on Substack, I can see that a certain number of people are opening each e-mail I send out, but that's it. Apart from one guy who leaves comments (Hi Will!) I have no idea whether anyone else is actually reading this story or cares if it continues. Going by the number of unsubscribes I get every time I send out a new chapter, it really makes me think people are hating this story. As much as I'm loving it, I don't want to waste my time writing something nobody but me wants to read. I can tell myself stories in my head and it’s a lot less work.
So I'll tell you what. If you're actually reading Flesh and Blood and want it to continue, just answer the poll below to let me know. If I get a decent response, I'll not only keep going with it, but I'll keep the entire first full-length novel free until it's all done. The posting schedule will probably slow down, though. I've got a couple of chapters of the next act written, but once these last few chapters in my queue are posted, I'll be posting as I go. I might also take a break to write (and post) some new short stories that are floating around in my noggin.
So tell me real quick: do you want Flesh and Blood to keep coming?
In other publishing plan news, my back catalogue is finally free from KU jail. So I'm going to be releasing them wide again (making them available to booksellers other than Amazon, and also libraries). I'm also going to be publishing them here, or at least the novellas. Those, I'll probably release here free for a limited time and then put them behind the paywall, where paid subscribers will have access to all my archives all the time. I might also do something like releasing first to paid subscribers, then to free subscribers a few days later. As for my full-length novels, probably what I'll do is publish them here and make them available all at once to paid subs, but dole them out chapter by chapter to free subs.
Of course, that's all going to be very time consuming, so it will take a while, and that's also assuming I'll even have any paid subscribers. If you are interested in a paid subscription, which will include full access to the archives, a first look at new fiction, full novels (from my back catalogue*) released all at once, complimentary e-book copies of my existing books and any future books I publish, private author Q&As and more, you can pledge below to let me know. Once I turn on paid subs, I'll probably price it at $7.99 a month, which is less than a Kindle Unlimited subscription and not that much more than a Starbucks drink.
*This won't include Restless Spirits -- at least not yet. My contract with Vinspire is in the process of expiring, so I'm hoping to get back the publishing rights to that series fairly soon.
As for the non-fiction side, I also really, really want to post more content here like my ghost post. That post got a great response and turned up some excellent discussion in the comments. I want to use this space to delve into more fringey topics along those lines and explore them from a Christian worldview. I'll likely keep those free, but if you like that sort of content and want to see more, those paid subs would certainly make it easier for me to make time to research and write it. I'm also kicking around the possibility of doing a podcast along those lines.
So that's all what's coming down the pipe as fast as I can manage it. Which probably won't be very fast.
One final note -- if there's certain content you don't want to get in your inbox while still getting other kinds, you can click through down in the footer to manage your subscriptions and just unselect the content you don't want to receive from me, without having to unsub from the entire publication.
If you do decide to unsub, you can still follow me on Amazon and on Bookbub (ignore the pen name confusion, I'm working on getting that sorted) so you'll get notified whenever I release a new book.
I will endeavor to resume my regular posting schedule for Flesh and Blood on Monday. I hope spring has sprung wherever this finds you, and if you celebrate Holy Week, that yours is full of joy and all the hope-filled anticipation that the week represents.
Later taters!
Jean ♥
Also, sorry you guys have been feeling poorly. Being sick sucks…..
And, the “business” side of writing sounds exhausting. Good thing I’m not very good at it 😂 I’ll keep playing in the dirt to earn my living.
I got to the poll and started this comment, I’ll finish reading the post in a moment.
Absolutely, please finish it?!? Even if it’s just this one. I just released the third part of my story, I am also writing to a very small audience. It’s weird. BUT, if I was writing it on a typewriter, on a MAC, or with a quill, I would be writing it for myself first and THEN for the audience to find at their leisure.
Fuck the social media aspect of Substack. Write your story. I’ll read it if no one else. Because I AM enjoying it.
❤️👻