Chapter 11 - My next book

 Who will be the central character of my next book?

As I was writing 'JOAN', ideas for a next book would pop into my mind.  Back stories of each character. I made notes on who and what came into my train of thought. I didn't intend to write another book when I started, but I guess the characters got jealous ha! 

Judy and Mr Punch aka Joan and Pulcinella are characters everyone thinks they know all about already, but not the way I'm writing their story. They're not puppets, like in that film 'Judy and Punch' that came out in November 2018. It was interesting to watch... once, and I 'loved' the twist right at the end giving a reason why Punch and Judy went from being performed with marionettes to being performed with hand puppets - that was a jewel! ha! I won't tell you about the ending, but let's just say it was the best bit of the film... to me anyway! 😊

I might write a short story for each of the characters, their back story, what makes each of them tick. I say short, but that depends a great deal on just how much they want their story to be told, some times they get so self-absorbed you know 😊(No... I'm not crazy, I'm just an author and our characters come to life for us lol!)

As you probably realize by now, my story's theme is the puppet show known as Punch and Judy. It's a traditional iconic show, and a favourite seaside puppet show that's been loved by children for over 450 years, so almost all the characters in my story have their own reason for being, and they have their own back story. The difference is that JOAN is immortal. Her family have a secret that Joan knows nothing about. My story is a mystery waiting to unfold with each book bringing the reader just a little closer to the whole truth and nothing but the truth... in my imaginings at least.👍😉

I don't want the blog to be too long, or for you to get bored with my ramblings, I have got a head cold as I write, so I do apologize haha! 

Remember - Joan is available at many online bookstores already

       Amazon   Blackwells   Barnes & Noble   Waterstones

Memories Of... is still being released and is, at the moment, only available on

Amazon  AllAuthor and Author Central

Oops! I gave it away! 😂👍Hope you like it

Happy Reading and Put on your happy face!

- Happy reading!

Memories Of...: Amazon.co.uk: Mottershead, Carol M: 9798387310867: Books

Chapter 10 - Don't stand and wait!

Don’t Just Stand and Wait!

The first lesson you learn after publishing your book? You can’t just sit back and wait for readers to find it! They won’t buy your book unless you let them know it’s out there—and that’s when the real hard work begins.

At first, I kept things simple, posting on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Then I added LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Before I knew it, I’d discovered even more: Pinterest, Tumblr, Reddit, TikTok… the list seemed endless! It quickly became exhausting. I was spending more time marketing than writing my next book, and it wore me out.

Bryan’s Ad School came to the rescue for a while, teaching me how to choose the right keywords to advertise and—here’s the kicker—make them relevant. What does “relevant” mean? I’m still working that out fully, but here’s the gist: your ads need to reach potential readers in your book’s genre. That’s what Ad School emphasizes. Start running the ads; get your book seen by the right audience (ah, so that’s relevance!).

Like all advertising, it takes time for readers to notice. A key lesson I learned is that readers often won’t buy your book the first time they see it advertised. They might need to see it a few times before their curiosity gets the better of them. The trick is to play the long game. Be patient. As Bryan says, channel your “zen lemur” mindset—don’t expect miracles overnight! After all, no writer becomes famous overnight… right? 😄

So, I launched my ad campaigns on Amazon in both the US and the UK. This time, I didn’t fall into the trap of bidding too high, as Amazon suggests. My first attempt at advertising left me £100 lighter in just two weeks—lesson learned! Bryan’s Profit Challenges recommend bidding low: 34c for standalone books, 39c for the first book in a series. In the UK, he suggests 16p. It’s a much more affordable strategy for authors, though I’m not sure Amazon is thrilled about it, haha!

There’s more to learn in Ad School, but some insights are exclusive to enrolled students, so I can’t reveal everything here. I will say this—his course and methods are brilliant for identifying why a book isn’t selling and what can be done about it. (Why do you think I revamped my book cover and description? 😉)

Looking Ahead Next time, I’ll share some details about my next book, working title: Memories of John Punch.

If you haven’t grabbed a copy of Joan - Put on a Happy Face yet, here’s the link. If you’ve already read and enjoyed it, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review. 👌

I hope you enjoy reading my blogs! While I write them for my own enjoyment, if they help or inspire even one person, the effort has been worthwhile.

Happy reading—and as always, keep smiling! 😊

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Joan-Happy-face-Carol-Mottershead/dp/B08HTM1M2Q

Chapter 9 The Making of 'JOAN' - Bryan Cohen's Ad School Challenge

Well, Here We Are Again…

I thought I had it all figured out—the plan, the direction, everything. But the reality couldn’t have been further from the truth! After friends and family had done their part supporting my book, sales came to a sudden standstill. I was so disheartened, I almost gave up. What now? Where do I go? Who could I possibly turn to for help?

I didn’t have money to waste, and there are far too many vultures preying on newbie indie authors. Social media seemed like a good idea initially, with its countless groups encouraging authors to join and connect. But many of those so-called “private groups” turned out to be a haven for predatory marketing companies, sliding into direct messages to push their services. It didn’t take long for me to realize these groups weren’t filled with readers—the public, the people I wanted to reach. Instead, they were packed with other authors and opportunistic vultures.

As you can tell, I became pretty disillusioned.

I watched endless videos and sat through countless webinars I’d discovered on social media. They all shared a tiny nugget of helpful advice before diving into their inevitable sales pitch. Every single time.

Then I tried Amazon advertising. It works on a bidding system where you set the price you’re willing to pay per click for each keyword. Well, that turned into a disaster! Nearly £100 spent in just two weeks with zero sales to show for it. Frustrated, I gave up.

A Fresh Approach: Bryan Cohen’s Amazon Ads Profit Challenge

Getting Ready for the 5-Day Amazon Ad Challenge

Months later, I came across Bryan Cohen’s Amazon Ads Profit Challenge. My initial reaction? “Oh, here we go again.” But what did I have to lose besides a bit of time? So, I took the two-week challenge. I followed the homework, watched the suggested videos, and… nothing. At least, not at first.

What sets Bryan’s challenge apart is that he runs it every three months. Authors at any stage of their career—whether they’ve written one book or dozens—are welcome. For two full weeks, participants can ask Bryan’s team anything about their advertising strategy. And the best part? The advice is completely free. Genuine, no-strings-attached guidance for two weeks. That alone felt like a rarity!

I decided to join again for the next session. By then, I’d had a nibble or two in terms of sales, and thanks to Bryan’s more measured, careful approach to ad bidding (what he calls the “zen lemur” method), I could afford to keep advertising longer. Slowly but surely, my book started gaining visibility on Amazon’s digital shelves. It was progress! After all, the point of writing a book is for people to see and read it—not to let it gather virtual dust. Advertising works on repetition; the more people see something, the more curious they become. Eventually, they might just take the plunge and give it a try.

Ad School and Beyond

Ad School sounded like a fantastic opportunity. The level of support and advice offered was intriguing, but I couldn’t afford to enroll. Still, Bryan’s team continues to invite authors back to the free challenge every three months. You can’t argue with that kind of generosity!

Then came an unexpected surprise—I won a spot in Ad School! Me, someone who never wins anything! It felt surreal, and I’ve been with them ever since. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but the support and advice have been invaluable. I’ll keep you updated when I hit the big leagues as a famous author, but for now, I’m busy working on my next book.

Watch This Space!

Joan - Put on a Happy Face is the first in a series 'The Elixir Chronicles', so stay tuned for what’s to come.

Want to ask questions or keep in touch? Feel free to join my email list and email me at authorcmmottershead@gmail.com.

Happy reading, and as always, keep smiling! 😊

Chapter 8 The Making of 'Joan' - Marketing my book

Marketing My Book

Publishing a book with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is just the start. Once it’s live, they encourage you to advertise on Amazon sites. Setting up your sales page is completely free—just like their publishing service—and you only incur costs once your book sells. Even then, the royalties are generous: 60% (minus print costs) for paperbacks and hardcovers, and a whopping 70% for eBooks. Compared to traditional or vanity publishing, it’s an excellent deal.

But here’s the truth—marketing a book is, without a doubt, the hardest part! 

With traditional publishers, they handle the marketing for you: social media campaigns, email blasts, and everything in between. Of course, this comes at a cost, and nothing in the world of marketing is ever truly free. But for independent authors, the challenge is different—it’s all up to 'you' to get your book noticed.

Publishing your book and having it displayed on Amazon’s “shop floor” (your sales page) doesn’t guarantee that readers will pick it from the millions of other titles and buy a copy. That realization hits hard. This is where expenses come into play.

I tried Amazon’s advertising system, bidding on ad space in hopes of boosting my visibility. Let me tell you—it’s expensive! I spent more than I’d hoped and saw little return on my investment. Enter Bryan Cohen’s Ads Profit Challenge—a genuine game-changer. His approach taught me how to advertise smartly, spending less while reaching more readers. While it’s called the “Profit Challenge,” it’s absolutely that—a challenge! But with his insights, I started to see results.

Still, my sales mostly came from word of mouth, and even that has its limits. I wondered, “What’s wrong with my book? Why isn’t anyone buying it?”

Bryan Cohen’s Ad School helped me dig deeper and pinpoint the issues. The first hurdle was figuring out the right genres for my book—a daunting task given that "Joan - Put on a Happy Face" covers so many tropes.

Some examples include:

- A young girl loses her mother at an impressionable age.

- She defies her father’s wishes by marrying an older, vagrant actor.

- As a young mother, she battles postnatal depression while her husband is consumed by work.

- She uses play therapy to help her son express himself.

- A shy girl transforms into a fierce, confident woman through her experiences as a travelling performer.

- Her husband falls into addiction, becoming irresponsible and lazy.

- He strikes her, leaving her for dead and abducting their son.

- Guilt over killing his best friend pushes him into madness.

- As an immortal, he grapples with PTSD, unable to find peace or death despite his yearning for it.

And the list goes on. Identifying a starting point was overwhelming, but I took it step by step.

Next, we evaluated my book cover. Sometimes, the cover itself can affect sales. After much thought, I gave my book a makeover, and the new cover captured its essence more effectively.

Which Cover Do You Prefer?

Let me know in the comments, email authorcmmottershead@gmail.com—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

In the meantime, here’s the link to the paperback version:  

"Joan - Put on a Happy Face" by Carol M Mottershead

Happy reading!

Biographical Historical Fiction: Why should I read it?

Biographical Historical Fiction - Why should I read it?

If you're looking for a genre that combines history with a fascinating story, look no further than biographical historical fiction!

This genre offers readers a chance to immerse themselves in another time period and learn about real people who lived through incredible events.

Here are just a few of the many reasons to love biographical historical fiction:

-You'll gain a new perspective on history

-You'll be inspired by the stories of real people

-You'll learn about different cultures and time periods

-You'll be transported to another time and place

So if you're looking for a genre that's both educational and entertaining, make sure to check out biographical historical fiction!

Check out 'Joan: put on a happy face' by Carol M Mottershead out in paperback now

Joan: Put on a Happy face: Amazon.co.uk: Mottershead, Carol M: 9798683476625: Books

Chapter 7 The Making of JOAN - So you think it's all over?

So You Think It’s All Over?

My journey into authorship has been nothing short of fascinating. To my surprise, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, even discovering an unexpected passion for history—something I never cared for in school. I thought my work was done once the story was written, my journey over. But it turned out to be just the beginning…

The Business Side of Authorship: Marketing

Like many novice authors, I believed the hardest part was writing the story, turning it into a book, and putting it out into the world. I thought readers would naturally gravitate toward it—how wrong I was! Initially, I relied on family and friends for support. Surely, they’d read it, offer reviews, and help spread the word, right? While their help was invaluable, there came a point when I needed to reach beyond my immediate circle. My book needed new readers—new blood, so to speak.

Joan - Puton a Happy Face is now available on over 17 Amazon sites worldwide, some managed by Amazon USA, others by international branches I’m still learning about, even five years later.

My next move was to join Amazon’s Kindle Select program. With thousands of Kindle devices sold every year and a vast subscription library—the largest eBook collection in the world—it felt thrilling to think my book was part of that immense catalogue. Millions of books and mine among them! But being on a digital shelf doesn’t guarantee readers will find or choose your book. The real challenge? Standing out in the crowd.

Libraries and Expanded Distribution

Determined to expand my reach, I explored getting my book into local libraries. That’s where Kindle Direct Publishing’s (KDP) ‘expanded distribution’ came into play. While it didn’t cost anything upfront, it meant sacrificing an additional 20% of royalties, bringing my share down to 40% (after print costs). However, the chance to get my book into more hands made it worthwhile—or so I hoped.

Unfortunately, libraries and bookstores outside Amazon often hesitate to stock indie authors' works, seeing them as competition. But I wasn’t ready to give up. There had to be another way—and there as.

Through KDP’s expanded distribution, details of my book were sent to various channels. Customers could purchase or stock the book like any other title. While I’m still waiting for that magical breakthrough sale, I remain optimistic, keeping faith in the process.

I also attempted to get my book into the British Library, believing it would make Joan - Put on a Happy Face available to libraries across the UK. While the British, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Cambridge, and Oxford depositories accepted my book, I later discovered they could only make it available for on-site reading, not for lending libraries. Another hurdle to overcome.

Not ready to quit, I attended a webinar with local librarians to better understand the system. Tight budgets meant libraries were hesitant to invest in unknown indie authors’ books, fearing they might sit unread on shelves. When I suggested donating copies, I learned I’d have to contact each central library individually, submit a copy for review, and wait for their decision. It was a painstaking process, but persistence paid off.

Small Wins and Big Lessons

Today, my book is held in Thornaby, Middlesbrough, and Brent Libraries, with more awaiting fulfillment. It’s also available as an eBook, paperback, or hardcover on Amazon, Blackwell’s, Waterstones, and other online bookstores.

To aspiring authors, my advice is simple: “Don’t give up on your dream.” The road may be challenging, but the rewards are worth every effort.  Happy reading—and remember, as Joan says,

"Put on a Happy Face’ and keep smiling!"

Joan: Put on a Happy Face (Where historical fiction meet true events) (The Elixir Chronicles Book 1) eBook : Mottershead, Carol M: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Part 6 The Making of JOAN - The book is writ - now what do I do?

The book is writ - now what do I do?

I had written a story—a story I never imagined I’d write in my wildest dreams. Night after night, I felt compelled to put these words to paper, as if possessed. But now, having finished it, the question loomed—what was I going to do with it?

First, I sent my manuscript to family and friends who kindly agreed to read it. Their feedback ranged from helpful to, well, less so. After four rounds of writing and rewriting, I finally felt satisfied with the final version. I meticulously checked for story content, grammar, and edits. My book was ready to send to literary agents.

Self-publishing through KDP wasn’t my initial plan. I was adamant that vanity publishing wasn’t for me. My reasoning was simple: If I couldn’t find someone to believe in my story enough to invest time and money into it, I wasn’t going to pay just to feed my ego. My goal wasn’t to write for myself, friends, and family—I wanted my book to tell its story and share its message with the world.

“I want to do this properly,” I thought. My vision was to find a literary agent who would handle the hard work: securing a traditional publisher as enthusiastic about my story as I was, managing the marketing, and, yes, even paying me for the privilege! Only after trying this route did I come to fully appreciate just how challenging it is to market a book in today’s saturated market. There are so many books out there—how do readers even choose? What are they searching for? What draws them in? I felt utterly overwhelmed.

I emailed several literary agents, sending them my story synopsis, an elevator pitch designed to ignite interest, and the first three chapters. Then I waited. Weeks passed. Rejections trickled in—polite, but rejections nonetheless. Eventually, I conceded defeat.

Enter fellow author and comedian Lester Crabtree. During lockdown, he’d written a book about his life as a comedian “Born to Die” [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Die-Real-Life-Comedian-ebook/dp/B08D1H2G93] and he introduced me to KDP Publishing. I was sceptical, but I decided to see what they had to offer. Through KDP, I could professionally publish my book as an eBook, audiobook, and paperback, all tailored to my specifications with their guidance. Best of all, there were no upfront costs. KDP only earns when a book is sold.

In September 2020, with their support, Joan - Put On A Happy Face was officially published through Amazon.

I’ll admit I had reservations about self-publishing. I’d heard the horror stories—poor royalties and wasted time. However, with KDP’s royalties offering 70% on eBooks and 60% (minus print costs) on paperbacks, I thought this arrangement was quite reasonable! No upfront costs were another major bonus. Of course, traditional publishers cover all costs, taking the financial risks themselves—but that wasn’t an option for me. Vanity publishing? Out of the question! So, KDP Publishing was the path I chose.

To my relief, KDP proved incredibly supportive throughout the process, offering prompt responses to my queries. While the technology initially intimidated me, they guided me through it with patience. Their marketing tools, such as free promotions, countdown deals, and “click-to-view” ads (which I haven’t tried yet), add another layer of accessibility for authors.

I wholeheartedly recommend KDP Publishing to anyone struggling to find a traditional publisher. Unlike vanity publishing, there are no upfront costs. However, I can’t stress enough the importance of editing. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, ensuring proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation is crucial. Sloppy, error-ridden books tarnish the reputation of independent authors and discourage readers from giving our work a chance.

Today, I am a published author, and there’s no feeling quite like holding your first book in print. It’s simply marvellous!

Take a “look inside” my book courtesy of Amazon, or visit my author page. Whatever you choose—happy reading! And as Joan says, “Put on a Happy Face” and keep smiling