‘Did I really write those novels?’ comes to mind...
Hi There,
Description
If you appreciate and relish steamy, contemporary romance and suspense novels, my books will resonate with your needs. Full of conflict, passion and deceit, the relatable characters will catch your imagination and keep you turning the pages and on the edge of your seats as you delve into the twists and turns of lustful and forbidden relationships, student abuse, vengeance and emotional turmoil. You will not be disappointed if you enjoy second-chance romances and enemies-to-lovers tropes.
Series
The series has seven books; four have already been self-published with Amazon. Books five and six have been written but are in the final stages of re-drafting and editing. Book five should be published in early spring 2025, and Book six in the summer. The final book in the series, Book seven, has been started, but there is a long way to go, and it won’t be completed until late next year.
Why did I start writing?
My inspiration for writing has come from my teaching career of almost forty years, and when I retired as a headteacher, I missed it terribly for the first year. Then I realised this was my time to please myself what to do. My wife and I travelled abroad and went on a cruise for the first time, which was brilliant. I played golf three days a week, hoping to improve my handicap, but that didn’t happen. I also caught up with all those niggling little jobs that needed repairing or renovating in the home or garden.
But something was missing. I needed to use my brain. I didn’t start writing until a few years after retiring, and I wish I had started immediately. It’s hard work but enjoyable and particularly satisfying when you hold your first published book. Ok, it might not be an award-winning book or even a good one, but you know how hard you have worked to achieve writing that manuscript.
Sense of pride
I often look at my four published books on the bookshelf in my office, and I feel so proud to see my name on them. ‘Did I really write those novels?’ comes to mind. I’m not a natural, creative person. Learning the craft of writing is a long-term process but I think I’m a better writer after publishing my fourth book than when I published my first, and I trust I will continue to improve.
Writing v Marketing
I wish I had known how difficult a writing career was when I started to write. Millions of books are published annually, and finding readers to buy your books is difficult. Competition is fierce, which is why marketing is so important.
I know very little about the marketing process, but it is something I need to grasp if I want to sell my books. Writing seems the easier option compared to marketing which can also be expensive.
As a self-publisher, you have to do everything: format your book, get a website, research your category and keywords, find your audience, blog and start an email list to drive traffic, advertise, analyse your algorithms and metadata, promote your book on social media and elsewhere, claim your author page on Kindle, Goodreads and Bookbub and many other things related to marketing. The list is never-ending and quite confusing!
I’m lucky to have a daughter and son-in-law who are savvier about these things and help me to publish my books. I would never be able to do these things on my own.
Blurb – Tom Steven’s Series
The series follows the life of Deputy Headteacher Tom Stevens and his ambition to become a Headteacher. Handsome, strong-minded and determined, he is dedicated to his profession, dynamic and has all the necessary qualities to succeed.
When a parent of a sixth-form student makes a serious complaint about his son, Tom is put in charge of the internal investigation. The student’s teacher becomes the main suspect because of video evidence, but is it what it seems?
Tom, unhappily married, defies his upbringing and principles and is tempted into an affair with a special needs assistant, throwing his life into turmoil. Unbeknown to Tom, his estranged wife has been cheating on him.
The opportunity of Acting Headteacher arrives earlier than expected when the incumbent headteacher misappropriates school funds and resigns. However, it’s the permanent position Tom wants. Will he achieve the long, sought-after objective of his career?
However, there are obstacles in the way, and he has to systematically dovetail the complexities of school issues and changes in his personal life.
Despite his personal circumstances, Tom has to make crucial decisions concerning serious school issues. The stakes are high, and success depends on Tom’s leadership skills, integrity and tenacity.
Follow Tom Steven’s journey as he navigates from one quest to another, making educated decisions.
As you read the seven-book series, there are subplots and other characters to engage with.
This will be the last blog of 2024. Where has the year gone? At the beginning of the year, I set myself some smart goals to achieve. Some have been achieved, and others haven’t. In January 2025, I will evaluate them more carefully and decide on new ones.
I trust you have enjoyed these blogs. I have tried to make them interesting and meaningful, but let me know.
Enjoy the festive season and all the best for 2025.
Happy reading,
Mansel
Website www.mansel-winter.com