From the writer's desk... New Year, New Plans

I am not a backward looking person, so I won't check out the rearview mirror. 2016 is over and even though I had published a lot (Pieces of Trouble, Five for Forever, Troubleseeker and two large print editions of my German young adult novels Piratenjunge and Piratenkapitän), revenue-wise the plan is not where I want it to be. All in all—tax season coming up and I already prepared my author income statement. Revenues and costs are not in the black figures. Marketing myself and my books is still a hurdle. I could risk going public with my writer's identity and draw more sales through friends, colleagues and their respective networks. But I guess 2017 is not the time and place, yet. 

 

So, what's in store for 2017? As a side project I am working on a new set of "Pieces of Trouble", some more short stories from the Troubleshooter universe. I'll have to look at some magazines or eZines submissions that can generate interest in the series, so the Novellas are a good tool. Three of those stories are already in a good shape. One story centers around General McAllister, one story describes how Paul needs to handle a bunch of Kindergarden kids during a mission, and the third one follows Amy and Tom—Paul's underappreciated sidekicks—on a mission where they are without Paul's safety net.

Full time novels are some in the works, though I have not decided which one to finish. I have this high octane over the top science fiction horror teen military action drama that I would like to finish for two years now. As this one is a stand-alone story.

During the fall I had been writing on a new romantic comedy, though the tone is not there where I want it to be, yet. The setting are three girls who run a start-up from idea to go-public and their adventures with men on the way. I constantly find myself enjoying writing the business part of the book, neglecting the romantic part, and even worse, not getting a real grip on the comedy part. Dammit! 

Last but not least, I am considering another German story, this time a crime book. German for two reasons: the tone of the story I have in mind is a very German one: set in a small German village with eco-system and specific Bavarian cultural traits. Which I feel I can capture better in German language. The second reason is a private one. My mother has requested a German book, so that she can also read one more of my books. That is a strong argument. The story I have in mind is a bit more complex with a lot of players. Unfortunately for my mom, also with a lot of planned ugly violence. Working title is "Der Metzger"  / "The Butcher".

A third "Brilliant" book is also due. But with only two full size books per year, the schedule is already packed. Let's see. The good thing in all of this is that I have no schedule to keep, no contracts to fulfill. It's my making from A-Z. 

How I love that! Happy New Year to me...  And to all readers.

 

Wattpad Special — Troubleshooter Chapter by Chapter

Hi everyone, happy New Year, may the force be with you and all that...  To kick off the year and maybe generate some new Paul Trouble fans, check out the chapter-by-chapter reissue of "Troubleshooter" over at Wattpad. 

There are around fifty chapters, so for the next half year, this should do it. Chapters 1 and 2 are up,  I'll try to stick to a Saturday / Wednesday cycle.  

Alex Ames Troubleshooter at Wattpad

Happy Holidays — Why not check out "Trouble at Christmas" for a festive short read!

Just to remind you, my short Troubleshooter Novella "Trouble at Christmas" is still out there. Set right after the Troubleshooter ends, Paul returns home to Welcome, Montana, to visit his dad and old hometown friends. But of course, Troubles get into trouble constantly, and his father is no exception.

You can read it in different form or sizes, here are your options:

Alex Ames Pieces of Trouble Cover Front RGB Small 2016.jpg.jpg

Make my day option: Buy the short story in my Troubleshooter Novella collection "Pieces of Trouble", available online at almost every book and eBook outlet (among it Amazon, Google Play and Apple iBooks). It collects four short stories from the various life stages of the onehanded ex-spy Paul Trouble. Among it, of course, "Trouble at Christmas"

 

 

The support the artist option — "Trouble at Christmas" was the first novella. I just published it as a sort of promotional article as a stand-alone novella. You can buy it at Amazon.

 

 

 

 

The cheapskate version: head over to the online reading platform Wattpad. I have some stories published there to tease readership, among it the very short story "Trouble at Christmas". For free. Really. No strings attached. Like I wrote: the cheapskate version.