I need to stop looking...

Okay, so I will admit it... due to the fact some of you lovely readers out there have actually been buying my books I am becoming obsessed with statistics! Now, seriously, this should be no surprise - I mean, I am supposed to be a maths teacher after all... HA! So, truth - I LOVE IT!

It's been amazing to see my books shoot up and down the charts - THANK YOU!

Every day I think my sales will stop and they don't! TRULY GRATEFUL! Don't worry, it's not getting my head or anything. If sales continue, I really will be in shock.

Moving on... This Monday, I started volunteering at my local library for a couple of hours. I get to help, and am surrounded by loads of lovely books. FAB! Anyway, I saw a book on display that I have actually beaten in the charts at times... this made me smile. So, I have to make a move and donate some of my books to the library so that readers without an eBook can take a look. (Mental note - on "to do" list!)

Yet, I have to admit that I am in awe at the moment... a parent at school, Jane Watson, made the most amazing Gruffalo and backdrop EVER for my daughter's reception class. Isn't this amazing?! WOW, WOW, WOW... Here is an extremely talented, kind and giving parent willing to go above and beyond what certainly I can do. It makes me realise how much other people do out of goodwill. Without the time and effort many volunteers give many organisations would struggle. SO THANK YOU, JANE! 

I have to say that I finally made the decision to give up teaching swimming as a volunteer. There comes a time when you have to say enough, and it had come. I gave nearly 5 years being a member of the committee at first, sorting medals, as secretary, treasurer, and of course, swim teacher and coach for the younger squad members. I have done my bit to "give back" for all the coaches I had when I was a competitive swimmer many moons ago. I wish the club all the best...

As some of you may realise, today is Valentine's Day, I have blogged about it HERE. Make it a good one! (wink, wink)

Enjoy the rest of your day... and a special thank you to Kyra Dune for featuring me in her BLOG today. It's always very special to see my book cover somewhere else...

Have a Gruffalo-tastic DAY!

I am heading off next week with the family to see the in-laws, since it is half-term, so I hope you all keep enjoying my books. Oh, and it would be great to know what you think of them. As of yet, I have no reviews for RETURN on the US site. Of course, I don't want bad ones on amazon... so feel free to comment on here too!

Until the next one, hasta luego,

Vanessa :0) xx

I am in SHOCK!!!

I am soooooo EXCITED!

Last night, HYBRID had over 400 downloads in the space of an hour! This made it rocket to no. 88 in the ENTIRE free charts for Amazon! WOW... But, it gets better... this morning it was at no.70!

I suspect it came about due to the wonderful article written by Elena Scialtiel in the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE.

Vanessa Wester: Evolution of a Writer

When I launched The Evolution Trilogy on the 16th December, 2013, in Gibraltar, Elena asked to interview me.

I met up with her the next day, and we sat on a park bench as she conducted the interview and recorded it. It was an enjoyable experience - I do love to ramble. The article she put together truly encapsulates what I am all about. She got me completely.

All credit goes to her for writing it so beautifully.

It means a lot to me to be featured in this way. In England, I have managed to get some publicity for my book, but it is truly limited, since as an "indie" author I have no idea where to go, or who would be interested.

However, in Gibraltar, I got a TV interview, radio advertising, reviews in the Gibraltar Chronicle and a full page feature.

And now, I am featured in the Gibraltar Magazine!

And they have done this all for me for FREE... in the interests of promoting a Gibraltarian!

Sometimes, there is a hole in my heart that can not be filled in England. It is in times like this that I understand why. To grow up in a community like Gibraltar was not always easy, but one thing I know for sure... it is a community that gives, and gives, and gives.

People from Gibraltar, a tiny Rock populated by around 30,000 people, can do amazing things.

Sports - the entire range...

Drama - fantastic productions...

Food - Spanish, Moroccan, English, Italian cuisine... and those CAKES!

And last, but certainly not least, EDUCATION - a brilliant school system that encourages youth to go to university - FULLY FUNDED!

Without the support and encouragement I got in Gibraltar, I would never have got my education and certainly never gone to university - it would have been too expensive! I did grow up in a 2 bed flat after all!

So, THANK YOU... sincerely,

I am truly grateful to the support you have all shown, and only hope I do not disappoint you with my books.

Have a fantastic day... un abrazo grande ha todos!

La llanita 'Beany',

Vanessa :) xx HUGS

p.s. To top it all... this blog has now reached 10,000 views! Amazing :)

You Tube Advert

I have made a promotional video for the Trilogy... Click on the => LINK

I am very excited since I only put it together last night & today, so I hope you enjoy it.

Let me know what you think & please like it so that it gets lots of  views!

Thank you...
Vanessa :)

A HUGE thank you...

I have just written a melancholy blog post on my main Author blog called "Perseverance" - where I discuss (or talk to myself as I write) my dilemma for the year.

Mainly, the question I ask myself is "should I continue writing or get back to my "real" job?

I don't have the answer to this yet, time will tell... but, from what I know most writers lead a double life - they have their day job and then at night they write.

Either way, I am extremely grateful for the moderate success I have had to date. Since HYBRID has gone free (or permafree - what a word!), I have had sales for Complications and Return. I have not had any new reviews on Amazon though, which makes me think readers don't love or hate it, or just have not read it! But, tracking sales/ ratings is driving me to insanity... I keep thinking "Why does that one sell?" "Why does that one get downloaded all the time for free and mine slips down the ratings?"

I am convinced that publicity and promotion is key, but if I do this all the time when do I actually write?

So, I have made a decision to write - yay! And I will have to watch as my books slide down the charts again - easy come, easy go!

If you happen to enjoy my books, it would make my day if you leave a review - on this blog, amazon, anywhere...

To those of you who have - THANK YOU. You are the reason I have worked so hard over the past few years. I know a lot of you have had enjoyment from my writing and so I know I have some promise. To those of you who don't like my writing - you know what, I respect you for sticking your neck out and saying so. I can be pretty critical too, but find I have to bite my tongue recently or I'll get accused of "jealousy".

Anyway, to anyone who visits this site for the first time... I hope you forgive my rant. Being an "indie" author is really hard, not all of us can achieve the sales Amanda Hocking got - she is what I call a true indie success story. She inspired many of us to give it a go, but I am afraid the bubble is set to burst or perhaps just loose air and fizzle out.

If you are a new writer I suggest you try to get an agent first, they are still looking for new talent. In this current market, they have found their feet and will use their marketing knowledge to sell books in a way indie's will struggle to compete against. Not every book should be represented or published, not every book is a mass paperback, but there is certainly enough out there to know that your book might have a place amongst the big boys! Don't lose faith, persevere... and if nothing works, ask me for help. I might be able to give you a few pointers.

Publishing a book is no longer hard - getting noticed is.

All the best,
Vanessa :)

Featured again - thank you :)

I have been featured in the Gibraltar Magazine... yippee!

When I look at the picture, I wonder if that is really me?

Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that I have written this Trilogy and that I have an online "presence". It makes me smile anyway, I guess I am not just "Mum" anymore... maybe?

My parents & Aunt with me at my
book launch in Gibraltar...

Thank you so much everyone for your support and constant downloads. HYBRID IS FREE!

HUGS

Vanessa xx

CHECK OUT PAGE 63

http://issuu.com/thegibraltarmagazine/docs/gibmagjanuary2014?e=1132895/6160476

On Gibraltar Bookshelves... The Evolution Trilogy by Vanessa Wester

I am thrilled to let you all know that my books are now on sale via Bookshops in Gibraltar... I know, very exciting!

I hope readers enjoy the books, since I have never done a lot to sell paperbacks before. I mainly sold eBooks since I don't keep much stock of my books. This is the beauty is Createspace... You order the amount you want. I think it saves a tree in the process too :)


However, after the official book launch of The Evolution Trilogy in Gibraltar, I was lucky enough to find booksellers willing to stock my books. I was featured in the local press, via The Gibraltar Chronicle,  Panorama, and interviewed on GBC and the local radio. 

I have not had so much fun in years... 

I gave a talk for nearly an hour at the Garrison Library in Gibraltar and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I talked about why I started writing, how I published my books and mainly discussed what inspires me. I also mentioned my Charity anthologies, as well as my disillusionment with traditional establishments who insist on thrusting unsuitable (but profitable) books in our faces...

It's no surprise I was exhausted in the end!

Luckily, Christmas came along and I have had a fantastic rest (eaten a LOT) and now have time to write about it...

So, please enjoy these pictures... This is as good as it gets! Thank you to all my readers and for the support I have received (and still receive) - Happy New Year to all! :)

All the best,
Vanessa Wester :)

On bookshelves... so cool!

And here I am next to "Walk to Freedom".
I seriously do not feel worthy enough to be 
placed next to such an amazing book.

On sale at a Christmas Fair

HYBRID is now FREE...

I did not intend to make HYBRID FREE. I ran a promotion where I gave out a coupon code for smashwords (as you might have seen in previous posts) and then ran a timed FREE promotion on KOBO for 2 weeks.

Now bear in mind that I have had my short story, FIRST DATE, free for months on smashwords & Kobo in the hope it would be price matched on Amazon, but it has never happened.

HYBRID was free on Kobo for less than a week and it was price matched.

So, I took the decision to let it happen.

I have blogged about how uneasy I am about this, but overall I have to be brave. If I want people to read my work it has to be downloaded. And at least, by being FREE this will happen... And I admit, it's so nice to be in the charts (even if it is the free ones).

So, a New Years present for you all...

ENJOY and spread the word...

If you enjoy, fantastic - please leave a review. If you don't like it, please be kind. If someone gives you something for free and it's not too your taste just smile and walk away (unfortunately you can't sell it on eBay later, but hey... be nice - thank you)

All the best,
Vanessa

HYBRID is FREE on Amazon (click on the link below), SMASHWORDS, KOBO, BARNES & NOBLE, edIESEL, SONY


UK

US

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

INDIA

FRANCE

ITALY

SPAIN

BRAZIL

SORRY, Hybrid as not been price matched yet in
GERMANY  MEXICO  JAPAN