MM Hurley

It’s my birthday month! And it’s a milestone birthday! That’s right, folks, this author is turning 40! It’s a big deal, though I won’t actively make it a big deal.

The first set of news is that I created a new “blank book” for my collection of creative journals. It’s called Forever Calendar. There are pages for each month to collect and save dates that never change, i.e., birthdays, anniversaries, and death dates. There are also pages to record memories and big moments. It is a great book to help you remember things you want to recall.

Currently, there aren’t many topics to discuss. I did my first vendor event of the year. I am actively attempting to find more events to attend this year. Right now, for sure, I have an event planned for April. Nothing else is finalized. I have settled on the goal of six. Where did I get that number? Thin air. But I think it’s a realistic goal for myself.

Here is a realistic update to book two. The Education of Emmeline Jones is still in pieces. I have my prologue and epilogue exactly how I wanted them. My chapters 2 and 3 are not going the way I saw them going, and to get from 1 to 4 is just causing me distress. Chapters 5,6,7 are in pretty decent shape. Chapters 8,9,10 just need more of the second point of view that I’m including in this book. Chapters 11 and 12 are strong. I’m really excited about how I plan on ending this book. Yes, folks, this book will have two more chapters than the debut did.

It’s a slow process. And I know there are a few that are very frustrated that it’s taking so long. And I’m almost sorry that I have already published without having the other two finished. I should have done it in one fell swoop. But I am afraid that if I didn’t publish when I did, I may have never done it. And now I know that people are waiting, and that gives me motivation every day. I swear it does.

Now, with all that, this is my next steps, via a list.

Journey/Thoughts/Comments/Q&As
via a list

1. Edits: My edits are still ongoing. I am working as much as I can to get the changes I want made before handing off to an editor. But I have been fighting all sorts of colds, flu, stomach bugs, and exhaustion since January. So it’s a slow process. But there are new pages every week, so I feel like I’m keeping my promise to myself of not giving up.
2. Marketing: I am keeping my social media post going. I am posting to TikTok frequently. I am trying really hard to just keep posting so my face is out there. I don’t know if that will ever translate to book sales, but I do want to just have a nook in the world of the internet to talk about my writing, my books, and my life as an author.
3. Plotting: I’ve put plotting to the back burner right now. Mentally, I’m exhausted. I’ve been sleeping a lot. Like I said in the edits section of my list, I have been very sick, not down and gross, but just exhausted and needing to take the time to rest. Plotting is needed for book three, but book two is just where my focus is.
4. Vendor Setup: I am adding this to this list because I am learning how to set up and basically sell myself at these events. I have to learn how to present myself, elevator pitch my book, and show off my creative journals. I have to be able to patiently wait for someone to come by and then be a person they want to spend their money on. So I am adding this to the list of things I have going on right now.
5. Next Steps: Find more vendor events. Get the draft finished. That the two main goals. And the ones that have my complete focus.

My journey is all my own, and right now it’s just a molasses drag of a journey.

@mm_hurley

so that’s the story behind my debut novella. #thestorybehindthestory #indieauthor #marketing

♬ Im looking for the girls in libraries – City of Marion Libraries

Thanks for following along with the journey.