It was a busy year for me as an indie author.
In 2024, I worked on six new indie books, but unfortunately, I couldn’t publish them due to my ongoing financial problems.
This is the second year I have not been able to launch a new book.
I am hoping that will change in 2025.
I currently have two poetry collections and the novel version of my short story “Jack” ready to go once I have the funding.
I am also editing the sequel to my indie novel, “Life in Public Relations Hell,” and novel versions of my short stories, “Car Dodging,” and “The Gardener.”
I am ten drafts into my PR hell sequel and happy with how it is coming out. I can say the same for my novel versions of “Car Dodging” and “The Gardener.” I have stuck to the core story of the original short stories while expanding upon them where appropriate.
I have also started two new books but am not ready to reveal the details yet.
I am also working on updated versions of my science fiction novel, “Jake’s War: July 4, 2076” and my poetry collection, “The Hollywood Homeless.”
I am unhappy with my current version of “Jake’s War: July 4, 2076.” I also despise the cover. It failed to capture my novel, which is based on the first novel I had hand-written at the young age of 15 while so enthralled with the film, “Star Wars.” I wanted a cover that resembled the science fiction paperback covers of the novels I read in the 1970s. I recently created some interesting AI images based on my book to consider for a new cover. See below. The story also needs a more compelling beginning and updated rewrite. I also want to bring the book out in hardcover.
As for my poetry collection, “The Hollywood Homeless,” I have plans to use these poems as lyrics in some interesting AI and music experiments in the next year or two. These poems were created as lyrics so I am intrigued by the possibilities. The poetry collection also needs an updated edit and I will bring it out in paperback and hardcover with a new cover at some point.
I will eventually bring out new versions of my indie books in all three formats including paperback and hardcover except for my novels, “Life in Public Relations Hell,” and “Robot Troubles, which are already available in these formats.
Although I support AI technology and embrace its possibilities, let me stress again that I will never use AI to write my indie books. The writing in my indie books should always come from me, my experiences, and my imagination.
I recently left Twitter or X for the platform, Bluesky, and I am impressed with the supportive community I have found there. It reminds me of a friendlier version of Twitter circa 2010-13.
The last time I received such an enthusiastic response toward my novels and poetry as I have found on Bluesky was in 2015-16 on Twitter.
It’s refreshing after watching Twitter die as a welcoming community for writers and free thinkers and being disappointed with my short time on Tiktok (Booktok). Booktok was nothing more than media hype for this indie author.
You can find me on Bluesky here: @gpwriter.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/gpwriter.bsky.social).
You can find out more about my 16 indie books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004FBKNHA
I am excited about the potential of Bluesky as I bring out more indie books.
I love indie publishing.
Happy New Year.
GP
Life in Public Relations Hell 