Welcome to the June newsletter. Yes, it’s late. What can I say? I’ve been busy. Also, as nobody seems to read this thing, I haven’t felt inclined to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard if we’re being accurate). My motivation to write is low.
Just like last month, let’s talk sales figures first for The Scriptorium Chronicle. Released on April 1st, I can exclusively reveal that it has sold a total of one copy. That’s right, one.
Yep, one. Am I despondent? No. Am I surprised? Again, no. It would have been nice to have had a few more copies out in the big wide world for people to enjoy, but it’s not to be. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m lousy at marketing and promotion, so setting my expectations low (read: to zero) seems like the right thing to do.
Works In Progress
Nobody is really interested in this, but here goes anyway. I’m editing rather than writing new material at the moment. I might enter All Steamed Up” in the Cheshire Novel Prize, not in the hope of it making it to the shortlist but to get feedback on it. I think it’s a good story, but who knows? I thought The Scriptorium Chronicle was good, and look how that turned out.
The Wildflower Meadow & The Kitchen Garden
The wildflower meadow (formerly the front lawn) has passed through #NoMowMay and is now well into #NoMowJune. The spotted orchids are flowering, and I’m pleased that they have begun to spread. There are now four separate plants, so it seems they are happy. Grass seems to be dominating more than anything this year, so I really need to get yellow rattle to grow for next year. The seeds sown last autumn were a spectacular failure as nothing germinated. I suspect a combination of the compost used and a wet winter was to blame.
The tomatoes are coming along nicely, but so far the outdoor cucumbers are a disappointment, as slugs have been having a good nibble on the juvenile plants. More seeds have been sown, but it’s too soon to see if they’re doing anything. Overall, germination of seeds across the board has been disappointing this year as so much has failed to do anything.
What I’ve Been Reading And Watching
As there doesn’t seem to be much on telly apart from the World Cup, I’ve been rewatching Tom Baker era Doctor Who. Don’t judge me.
And Finally…
I’m starting to wonder why I bother. Get a website, they said. All authors need a website away from the social media platforms. Do a newsletter, they said, to keep readers informed. Maybe I need to sit outside for half an hour and rethink my whole approach, as whatever I’ve been doing so far clearly isn’t working.
And so ends this month’s half-hearted newsletter. Sorry.
Mark Weaver 