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Too many books!!

Posted on 1st November, 2023

Originally I was contracted by Boldwood to write three books a year and continued to write a Regency which I self published. However, I asked if I could write four books a year for them and they were only too happy to agree. This was a mistake – four books is too many and has changed writing from a joy to a chore. Also, I have fifteen backlist titles coming out in the next twelve months and each one of them involves a certain amount of copyediting, promotion and so on it’s just too much. Most people my age are enjoying a peaceful retirement my life is busy than it’s ever been.

Therefore, I discussed it with a good friend and then contacted my fabulous editor to suggest that I go back to three books and explained the reason why. She was only too happy – they just want me to be happy, to continue writing for as long as I can. Backless book arrived and these are supposed to be returned by the next Tuesday but because I’m still suffering from the after-effects of my covert jab as well as long Covid itself, I doubt that I’ll get them done. Again, both editors are happy to wait until I’m well enough to complete the edits.

I want to enjoy the process of writing be enthused when I sit down in front of my computer, but this past year I found that writing is becoming more and more stressful and less and less enjoyable.

I know that Nora Roberts writes ten books a year – but I’ve no idea how she maintained that sort of output even if she’s not doing that actual writing herself. Boldwood is unashamedly an e-book publisher first and that’s a model that requires as many books a year from each author as possible. I think that’s three is quite enough and will give me breathing space to read more research books and come up with some new ideas for my next series. It might be a continuation of Goodwill House in some form or another, but it might be something else entirely. I’ve now got the time To reflect and consider and not feel constantly pressured by deadlines.

I’ve also got one or two plots in my head for a three book Regency series and I think I might very well write that and have something new to put up on Amazon.

Until next month

Fenella J Miller