I’ve written and either self-published or had published, several books. (Hey! Get me! I’m an author, dahling.)

I don’t write to make money (just as well) but because I enjoy it. I like to learn new skills; I like the challenge and I like the sense of achievement when I finally type the words, ‘The End.’

And I usually feel pretty positive about the whole thing when I’m finished.

That, though, was most certainly not the case after my latest effort. Oh no, no, no.

Let’s forget the sad, and slightly worrying trend of family members dying just after I published and then re-published the book under a different title. I’m fairly sure this must have been an unfortunate coincidence.

What is it, though, with people trying to cash in on a writer’s hard work? And what about those t***s that rate your book on Amazon as a 1-star, but don’t take a minute to say why? (I’ve only had one of those, I’m pleased to say.)

Or what about the scammers who say they’ll promote your book to their 2,000-member ‘Book Club?’ They’re so dumb, they all use the same AI generated language to try luring the vanity clamoring writers: ‘your writing is so engaging’; ‘I love how you use humor …’

Oh, do me a favour! I have over 150 of these emails in my ‘spam’ file. You want to help? Just buy a chuffin’ book, will you? Just one.

And Amazon are as guilty of cashing in on a writer’s desperation as the rest.

Amazon Ads! Don’t get me started!

I mean, it’s very clever and all that, and once you get the hang of it, it’s rather interesting, I’ll concede. But it’s expensive! Terribly!

Most of the estimated 44 million books (yup – you read that correctly) are written by folks like me; authors who are happy to acknowledge they’re not the ‘next big thing.’ If we make enough money to fund publishing our next effort, then I imagine we’re happy. I certainly am.

Yet those who fall for the scams, the vanity hybrid publishing deals or the exorbitant Amazon Ads when they have only a limited budget to play with, will inevitably become disillusioned. And poor.

The beauty of self publishing is the control it gives you as a writer. That, and the freedom.

However, check this out. The two little books I ‘ghost wrote’ for Summersdale Publishers? With their backing by way of reputation, budget, distribution, marketing both seem to have sold well, with ‘How to Survive Being a Grandparent’ at one point I saw, reaching an Amazon ranking of @ 1500 out of that 44 million I mentioned earlier.

I was happy with that.

So that’s it. In 2026 I am not spending my time on writing another book to self publish. I do have a small sort of novelty book almost ready to go, and I will likely hawk it around to see if any publisher is interested.

If not, I will self publish again. With my usual tight-fisted budget.

But I’ll not be looking for any random book club promos. Nor will I be shelling out for expensive adverts. Or paying to have my work published.

I know my place – and it’s about 43.5 million places behind Freida McFadden.

But I’m OK with that.

🙂

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