@66e742bb Yes, the more I write the more I appreciate each moment I'm alive, and vice versa. I had other close calls in my life and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay that back by sitting in front of the television until someone discovers my corpse. I didn't fight my way back for seven years after the '09 scare to not make life count. 😃 

 @66e742bb I saw one as big as my hand in a house in Florida once. My entire body went rigid except for violent shaking. I literally couldn't move. 😱 

Yet, there was the time I discovered a tiny one in the bathtub. There was no saving it because it went completely wild when it realized it was discovered. So, I washed it down the drain. I then sat on the side of the tub and cried because it'd fought so hard to live. 😢 

I'm complex. 🤔 

 @66e742bb Impressive resumé! 👏 😃 

 @bad99022 By all means, get them out! 😃 

 @66e742bb What about her? 🤔😆

Their first encounter—whew!—talk about a storm (actually, there’s one happening). Pamatha disparages her attire & off we go as she discovers Tharlise can wield a sharp tongue like a surgeon.

Thing is, over time there’s growing mutual respect, despite how there’s also mutual stubbornness (& deceit on Pamatha’s part). In truth, Pamatha is also smitten. They’re a fun, tempestuous pair, two sparring partners who wish their relationship was simpler. 😃 

 @a3976b27 @ce78dee8 The nice thing about publishing these days is that your books and your site and all that you've built is always there. Once someone steps into what you've built and decides they like it, they settle in. Well done! 

 @a3976b27 @ce78dee8 There's so much conflicting advice that, in the end, the best approach is the one you're most comfortable with. You'll be more inclined to follow through in your efforts. Your prices seem reasonable.

I've heard from a lot of professional sources that, for self-publishers, it takes, on average, about five books before they start to gain traction (assuming the books are worth buying...that's another story). 

 @ce78dee8 @a3976b27 That works. I think, in the long run, that what's most important is taking an approach that we're comfortable with. It's possible I'll take steps later that I'd never consider now. 

 @a3976b27 @ce78dee8 I won't do free, but I will heavily discount the first book in the series, then slightly discount the second, and so on. None will be high priced. I want to make it easy for people to sample my work.

I have a short story and a flash fiction on my site and plan to add another short story soon (linked to Book 1). As I approach a year-out from publication, I'm stepping up my efforts. I'll then publish on a regular, and relatively quick, schedule. 

 @ce78dee8 That's how it works, create interest just being you. "Buy my book" posts rarely work because they don't hook. Sharing facts & excerpts that hook those interested can work. I've had people ask where they can get my books, which is encouraging. 

 @ce78dee8 I think of the ads as posting "Buy my book," but paying to do so. At least, it feels like that, especially because in this day and age, people have become really good at not seeing ads. 

 @66e742bb Just being visible goes a long ways. 😃 

 @66e742bb It certainly does. 😃 

 @ce78dee8 The unexpected is always good. I like having an element of mystery so much I started writing Pannulus mysteries. 😃 

 @20d89eae Totally agree. 😃 

 @c09f86d3 I agree. No matter the plot, it's the characters that matter and the MC who matters most. That's why I start every story with the MC, including my series. 

 @21149f3e The upper classes have been finding ways to turn the abused lower classes into pitchfork toting mobs since the beginning of time...

You've tapped into a historical truth, that's for sure. The spark(s) that change everything always make for a great story. 😃 

 @a3976b27 Exactly. That's the beauty of modern day publishing where more authors make a modest income. They write to a modest audience that before self-publishing were frustrated in their efforts to find the books they liked.

I know because I was one of them, which is why I write what I do.

I like/dislike according to my tastes and will defend those to the death, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize and respect other authors and readers. 

 @4f83c065 This is just my own theory, but I like to think of a strong prologue that's untethered from the rest of the story by time or space as existing as a short story. Does it hold up on its own, even if it ends with a cliffhanger that requires the main story to resolve (AND the main story also needs)? Does it provide background that's critical to the main story on PAGE ONE? 

 @4f83c065 Unlike many who refuse to even read them, I do read them. My attitude is, an intriguing prologue hints at a good book, a boring prologue warns of a bad book. I've read a handful that were outstanding, where they provided insight before the reader knew they needed it. They then linked to later in the story as a twist. 

 @ce78dee8 This is literally the lens of perception moving ever closer to reveal more details. Excellent. That's a great way to keep heightening reader interest with each book. 😃 

 @ce78dee8 You make a good point that, despite someone's best efforts, they may come across to people in a way that's different than what they intended. 

 @ce78dee8 Thank you! If I'd had more room I'd have added the officials he's corrupted. It's a complex question when someone works hard to paint a public persona that's different from the truth. 

 @c09f86d3 Yes, I want to become invested in the first character introduced. When that isn't the MC there'd better be a good reason because it otherwise feels like the author is trying to create false tension by making me wait. 

 @ce78dee8 If they serve a purpose I don't care what they're called. 

 @66e742bb I've seen a lot of this. Some authors are so paranoid about calling it a prologue that they call it Chapter One, 60 Years Before. Whatever works. If it gives me a glimpse of needed insight I'm onboard. 😃 

 @b7ab5d68 Hope you’re okay soon and that’s all that’s wrong. Take care. 🤗 

 @66e742bb A clean killer. People should take pride in what they do. 😃 

 @d73175df It always comes down to skill. 😆 

 @66e742bb Excellent, a weakness! 😃👍 

 @d73175df For me, it depends. If the antagonist is an active character in the story then I usually do. 😃 

What I don't like (and most people SEEM to like so I'm in the minority), is the killer POV in a mystery where each of their chapters is purposely vague so you can't guess who they are. 🤔 

 @d73175df Which is always fascinating, though I haven't done it that many times since my antagonist is more often part of the mystery. 😃 

 @21149f3e You cause me to look at another element, which is how we experienced these people and the emotions we carried away. My writing is very much steeped in my experiences, so while I may not base a character on one particular person, I will draw off the residual emotions from that person (and others). 

 @d73175df Interesting point, that any antagonist is portrayed as the protagonist views them. 😃 

 @d73175df Yes. It's always easier to do what you do when your public persona is charitable. He spun his wife's disappearance so he became the tragic figure while persecuting minorities & committing other atrocities. It helps when you can pay off politicians. Yup, sounds familiar. 

 @66e742bb Is the person he's most in love with himself? 🤔 

 @f3529b85 Glad you enjoyed it! 

 @21149f3e I don't have anyone to tell me that. Is that good or bad? 🤔 🤣 

 @5a43dd67 Me too, so it's strange that I've come to the ironic conclusion that by writing I'm actually doing everything. Each character does things I could never hope to do, or dread doing. And that's just the storytelling part. I have to have some kind of organization, I make maps, etc.. As a writer, we live many lives. 😃 

 @f3529b85 The relationships that never were...that strikes a chord with me. 😃 

 @ce78dee8 "The chance to live a thousand lives." Well said. I feel the same. 😃 

 @66e742bb I have a brass owl in the living room and a small, plushy owl that sits on my desk (he's named Yuba after an owl character). Owls don't put up with excuses, I've discovered. They're taskmasters. 😆 

 @66e742bb The power of tapping into the imagination. The reality is most people don't have it. That makes us as rare as the gifted in my world. Leaving childhood with our imaginations still intact is a gift indeed. 😃 

 @21149f3e I'm glad you did, and that you're finding satisfaction and happiness. I put in far more hours on writing and related tasks than I ever put into a job and I cherish every one of them. 😃 

 @21149f3e I do it daily, and have since 2020. Another reason, and maybe the bigger reason, is because I have issues with neck aches otherwise.

Like—I don't know—someone who spends too much time working at the computer? 🤣 

 @ebd90c48 I'm in alignment with that! 😃