The title of this post might seem odd since I live in Oregon. You might not know that it doesn’t always rain here. We have long, dry summers, and by September Oregon is parched and ready for an end to the drought.
Flowers grow beautifully in the September sunshine, and gardeners who tend them (like me) have hoses and irrigation at the ready. It is the trees that are impatient for relief. You can feel their exhale when Mother Nature finally gives them a good soaking in October. “Ahh,” the trees will say to the wind, “now we can display our colors.” Jack-o-lanterns against such a backdrop are fantastic. This is usually when I turn my attention back indoors, back to my desk and the unfinished business there.
Full disclosure—It is raining at the moment, but not yet a soaking. It is still a shock after the warm weeks of mid 80-degree weather to then need a sweater. That unexpected shift has me back at my desk today (and earlier in the kitchen, baking bread).
In other news . . . Did you know next year will be the 10th anniversary of the first The House of Baric novel? Since 2015, indie publishing and book selling industries have exploded. As a minow in the vast ocean of book selling, my ten-year anniversary goal is to have my fourth book ready to go in 2025 (although I fear my next publication will be more a labor of love than the opportunity to quit my day-job).
I am encouraged when I see statistics that all three House of Baric novels are being read via Kindle Unlimited, and people are still purchasing e-books and paperbacks of the novels. If these stats include you, then I have a few questions to ask:
Are you actually reading The House of Baric books once you get them? Are you enjoying Mauro’s and Resi’s story? Did you read to the end of the trilogy? Did I make you laugh, make you cry, make you put the book down in boredom or hurry in suspense to know the ending?
In the first few years I used to get all sorts of feedback from readers, but it seems people now have “review fatigue.” I do too, sometimes. The constant requests to give stars or to review every little item one buys is annoying. Should I review the pack of AAA batteries I bought from Home Depot, or the laundry bag found on Wayfair? Big merchandise sellers have big budgets to promote their wares, and I cannot compete with that. I count on you, the readers, to volunteer your thoughts about the Barics’ story with future readers. And I thank you for doing just that!
What I have learned in my ten years of being on the receiving end is that a short comment added to a star rating is gold for me as an author. Briefly explaining a low rating is as important as your comment of praise for a book. Those who scroll the reviews when deciding what to read next also appreciate the time you take to leave a review.
As I dwell on this blog post, the rain has stopped. I think I’ll step outside a moment and listen to the trees while my bread cools. Whatever your day brings, I hope you enjoy it! ~ Jillian
