It’s been nearly a year since I seriously considered walking away from writing and blogging for good. We all have those moments where we question the path that we are on and whether or not it’s ‘worth’ continuing.

The real honest truth is I wasn’t happy with where this journey of writing was heading. You could say it was down to lack of ‘sales’, reviews, followers and even readers; this was especially so after churning out 4 books in 2 years and not having much to show for it. That story telling fire inside of me began to fade.

Even now I still don’t know what I really want from writing and maybe I’ll never know. All I actually know is that I want to tell stories and that is something I love doing. Even back last year when that fire in me almost died I never stopped writing, even during my most darkest of hours last year, whether it was my next stage play or a book, the truth is, it put me back together in a sense and I did a lot of soul searching. I eventually accepted that my ‘success’ as a writer isn’t actually down to me, it’s down to everyone else, and then came the ultimate realisation;

It doesn’t matter if I ever reach a pinnacle moment of success in writing, I do this because I love it,

and 

If I can’t help myself as an author then why not help others? 

And so I got to work. What started out as an initial plan to review a few indie books in order to get some reviews for my own stuff exploded before my eyes.

People, good people, bloggers, writers, reviewers and everyone else in between started to take note of my efforts. It turns out the answer to all my writing success woes stood right in front of me, don’t be an island and my actual success doesn’t matter. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the creating and now above everything enjoy the words of others! I couldn’t list the sheer amount I have learned from reading fellow indie books!

My motives for reviewing indie books changed from a vain attempt to get more book sales to an unconditional act in supporting story tellers who deserve to be read. On that journey I have found all of you, loyal wonderful followers who are now 400 strong.

To get an appreciation for how much this has quickly exploded, I celebrated 200 followers for this Hall of Information back in March! In that time that following has doubled.

My whole faith in this and all of my creative fire has been restored this year because of people like you. And so it is with that in mind I would like to officially announce my next book release will happen this December. I’ve decided to do this super last minute for a few reasons but the only reason you need to know is that I am releasing book number 5 for all of you; followers, readers, supporters and everyone during this journey that has become my friend. It is you guys that put my faith in this back together. 

‘The Ghost Beside Me’ is a totally unique paranormal romance written in the style of a diary that see’s a paranormal sceptic convinced to believe in not only the forces that aren’t of this mortal world but in love also, that is in order to no longer be alone. Whether or not you find companionship in a ghost or a physical being isn’t the point, love doesn’t discriminate, even in mortality. Even if people are ‘gone’ they never leave us. 

It’s kind of a Christmas story as well and in a sense I think Christmas ghost stories are far better than Halloween ones, there’s more of a meaning to them. Although I think it has potential to be incredibly powerful it is quite short, I’m talking less than 15,000 words in length but it’s still a book.  

I promise you’ll be hearing a lot more about ‘Ghost’ soon; this is a completely solo project apart from Design for Writers who will providing the awesome cover art. I am soon going to reach out to a few people for a beta reading opportunity.

To everyone who follows this blog, all 400 plus of you, thank you, rock and roll man!