Published a book. What now?

An online friend asked 'What now?' after he saw I'd published my book. By the way, he said he's not going to read it (even though he's is in it), or he might 'burst an artery or three.' (Not all your friends will be a fan of your books). I did send him the parts where he's mentioned and he thought it was a fair assessment, neither embellishing, nor demonising.

I'm going to answer some of the 'What now?' in this blog post.

Recent meditative painting

So what NOw?

I'll give my answer to the friend who asked 'What now?' (as I've worked on the book for two years).

I replied: 'I still need to update my website etc to try let people know about it. Archive my files. Then get back to my sequel novel. Although I think I will write a guide for those wanting to self-publish. So just keep busy with other projects.'

That's it. Have a rest, make a list of goals towards my bigger purpose, then get busy. I won't be spending much money or loads of energy on marketing the book but here are some things I still need to do:

• Send a copy of my book to the library that provided my ISBNs (as part of a legal requirement).
• Finish updating my social media & website to reflect I finished the book.
• Archive my digital files in a way that makes sense, so I know which files I ended up publishing.
• Update my page on an indie author directory site. (I'm with the Independent Author's Network). I might also enter my book into their book award's contest.
• Prepare for a promotion.
• In three months, list my ebook with other distributors.
• Change gears to focus on writing a guide for telling your story and self-publishing (given I've done the process four times now, and have some tips).
• Get back to my really big project, of writing my novel, Soar Purpose.
• I'm considering doing some audio books but that requires some equipment and setup I don't have, plus it might be too much of a tangent from my books.
• After I've completed Soar Purpose, who knows? I will have had some other big goals in place by then (from the ideas I have).
• In between all of this, do some visual arts etc. Something lowkey I have been doing lately is using some mandela stencils and dotting tools to paint some improvised patterns (it's a bit messy but it's quite relaxing, without or without music).
• The key to all of this, is purpose. That helps me to get through the challenges I have with my disabilities (I have less severe depression now than I used to).​

In a nutshell, I won't be heavily invested into marketing the book. It was therapeutic to do but it's the end of my 15-year advocacy journey. I will keep busy with other goals. No set timelines, done when they're done.
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Bipolar Courage

Bipolar Courage: Are You Sure You're Not Autistic? is on Amazon as ebook and paperback formats.

The focus is on a mutual attraction and clashes with an autistic man, 'Maxwell'. The subtitle is what he asked me.

One of the themes is: 'Are online relationships real?'

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