Dear Reader,

I started this blog in December of 2009, nearly twelve years ago, when I published my first mystery novel, Maids of Misfortune. At the time, I had no idea if I was going to continue writing this blog, because I had no idea if this book was going to be the last book I published. I confess, my writing has been much more consistent than my blogging in the last few years, but both certainly out-performed my expectations.

I am currently writing the eighth full-length novel in my Victorian San Francisco Mystery series, Entangled Threads, which explores the female occupation of woolen textile factory workers. If all goes well, the book should be published by January, perhaps up for pre-order before that. This book, along with 8 short stories and 2 novellas, brings the total books in the series up to 19, plus I have written three novels, a novella, and a short story in my science fiction series, for a total of 24 stories–certainly more than I ever expected to write in this, my retirement career. In case you are interested, I recently did a podcast about my journey as an independent writer that talks about those early years.

As for this blog, I initially wrote most of my posts for other authors, especially those who were independent authors, sharing my experiences using this relatively new option for writers. My most successful blog pieces addressed some of the basics, like how to create keywords and categories that would make it easier for readers to find your books, how to use short stories and short term promotions to persuade readers to take a chance on unknown authors, and how to determine whether or not to enroll in KDP Select or “go wide,” by publishing in multiple ebook stores. For readers, I tried to write blog pieces about the history behind some of the books I was writing and, of course, mention when books were on sale or a new book came out.

As of late, the blog has dwindled to sporadic mentions of periodic promotions. My last substantial post was in the spring of 2019, when I wrote about new opportunities for creating and marketing audiobooks. The reason I don’t do advice blog pieces as much any more is that there are so many more sources of good advice out there, written by people who have devoted themselves to the subject. Now, if someone needs advice, I send them to places like David Gaughran’s Let’s Get Digital or Kristine Katheryn Rusch’s Business Musings, or the Alliance of Independence Authors. Instead, my marketing is done primarily through my monthly newsletters, and the main place I reach out to readers is with my daily FaceBook posts.

My point? I need to stop feeling guilty about the infrequency of my blog posts, knowing that most of you would prefer me to spend my time writing my fiction, and that you all, both as readers and other authors, can always reach out to me directly if you have a question, or sign up for my newsletter or follow my author facebook page for frequent updates.

For today, since I am posting, here are some of the discounts you would hear about in my newsletter, which comes out next week.

Every Fall, I like to discount Uneasy Spirits, the second book in the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series, because it is set during Halloween. So this year it is $2.99, on all eretailers. The audiobook edition of Between Mountain and Sea, the first book in my Caelestis series trilogy is also discounted all month to $1.99 on Apple Books and Chirp.

I also have books participating in month-long promotions of Historical Fiction and Audiobooks of all types.

Finally, here is a look at my current work in progress. I hope you will all stick around–or join my newsletter or FaceBook page–to hear when it is finally available to buy.

Entangled Threads: A Victorian San Francisco Mystery (Book 8)

“Oh what a tangled web we weave. When first we practice to deceive.” –Sir Walter Scott

San Francisco, 1882

Annie and Nate Dawson have finally found a good balance between the demands of family and work. Nate has an interesting legal case defending a young woman who has been left out of her mother’s will. Annie is looking into whether the financial difficulties facing the Potrero Woolen Mills are caused by bad management or bad luck. For her own reasons, Biddy O’Malley is eager to help Annie with her investigation. What none of the three of them could anticipate was how secrets and unexpected interconnections would complicate their search for the truth.

Entangled Threads is the eighth full-length novel in the USA Today best-selling author’s Victorian San Francisco Mystery series and it is due out in the winter of 2021-22.

M. Louisa Locke, October 11, 2021