The Magic of the Pre-order Period

There's a particular kind of hush that settles over my writing desk during the last weeks of a pre-order period. It's not the hush of finishing a book. That's a different sensation, often a peculiar mix of bereavement and terror if one stops to think too long about the next phase in the book's life.

The pre-order period might be similar to putting together the launch pad for a spacecraft: A hush of anticipation. An unspoken fear of a crash and burn. Last minute confidence lapses when the most common thought is, 'have I done enough, is this book good enough?'

But like the spacecraft the story is complete and ready to go. Endless checks and refinements, otherwise known as editing, have happened. The characters have said what they needed to say (for the moment), and now the only thing for an author to do is try to reach the best possible audience. Readers who will welcome the new book and its characters into their hearts and be hungry for more.

That is where I am now, and this blog post is a blatant attempt to find more readers who enjoy historical fiction, rich in atmospheric detail and historical facts, yet with very human central themes... love and loneliness and the challenges that life constantly throws at a person, no matter how privileged that person might be.

The 16th Earl's Only Love is just such a book, now in its last pre‑order weeks. I've set the early price at £3.99 as a thank‑you to my loyal readers and those who'd like to support the launch.

Pre‑orders are small but mighty things: they help the book find its footing, signal to retailers that readers are interested, and give me a little burst of joy each time one arrives.

Over the next few days, I'll be sharing more about the earl, his world, and the spark that inspired this story. But for now, if you'd like to be among the first to read it, you can pre‑order your copy here:👉 https://books2read.com/u/49E7EW

Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey. Writing is solitary; publishing is communal. I'm grateful every day for the community that is growing around my books.

How far will you read before you work out who this person is?