To My Loyal Supporters
- Mj Pettengill
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
To My Loyal Supporters: The Book of Numbered Souls is coming soon.
I am a successful Indie Author, and I didn't expect what has emerged in this world, but it is what it is. The technical side of self-publishing has become more frenzied than I could have anticipated. I think rogue is the proper term.
The Book of Numbered Souls is the fifth book in the Etched in Granite Historical Fiction Series. I have been here before. However, instead of becoming faster and more efficient, the process is dense and rigid—more complex and flooded with countless scams hidden within fake possibilities. I could hire an assistant just to clear the daily piles of garbage in my inboxes.
Companies and platforms that worked well in the past are now glitch factories. These technical flaws wait around every corner—every paragraph—ready to slip by the gatekeeper, in this case, me. To receive the first round of formatting with 2,555 misplaced apostrophes and paragraphs gone wild is enough to send me deeper into the woods.
It's hard to believe that ten years ago, self-publishing was a walk in the park compared to what it is now. The last basic, simple process was when Down from the Tree was published in 2019. After that, it's like tubing down Niagara Falls in a barrel. Hold on!
Even this website platform has become difficult to navigate. Sure, for many people, having everything done for you is great, but for the visionary soul who likes creating, when it is no longer permitted, we have a problem. I will and have relied on AI for certain administrative tasks, and it works well in those instances. But I am not okay with total replacement.
The purpose of this blog post is to notify my supporters that I completed The Book of Numbered Souls months ago. I am still in the process of getting a clean manuscript from one of the leading independent publishing companies in the industry. I never dreamed that I would have to put so much effort into checking for mistakes made by outside sources, which has caused delays. It gives polishing and editing new meaning, and I appreciate your patience as I navigate these hurdles.
I come from good, hardy stock. Many of the characters in my books are inspired by such strength and grit. I will prevail. I have several books waiting in the queue. I may go to a local printing press from this point on. Time will tell.
Sincerely,
Mj Pettengill
P.S. Click the arrow below... ;-) Hopefully it will work. Be well!
P.S.S. I get a message saying that this page couldn't be found. May we all be found when necessary. May we truly have each other's backs.
