Thank you to everyone who’s already picked up a copy of my new book, Walking With the Muse. I’m thrilled to say it’s already surpassing my expectations. It's encouraged me to publish another book next year, which I'm working on now.
If you’ve purchased a copy of Walking With the Muse, I’d be so grateful if you’d consider leaving an Amazon review. Those reviews make a real difference in helping new readers find the book and in keeping it visible over time.
Algorithmic Roadblocks
Speaking of visibility, here's one example of the many challenges indie authors are up against. It's also why I feel such deep admiration and respect for any author who keeps creating and pushing on despite the roadblocks.
I've been on Twitter—now X—since 2012. I've never gained much traction in all those years—but over the past year I've really been putting the work in to grow my audience, to no avail. Today, my posts are lucky to get more than 10 engagements.
Just yesterday @carolkean (who is also connected with me on X) brought it to my attention that my X post announcing my new book was showing up as "sensitive content" for her.
Now, once in a great while, I've been notified on X that one of my posts have been tagged. When it happens I contest it with X customer support and the Sensitive Content labels have always been removed.
This time, I had no idea the post was flagged (and wouldn't have found out if Carol hadn't let me know). Since then I've asked around and people say some of my other posts on X are labeled this way.
Is it a glitch in the algo? Has someone falsely targeted my content?
Hopefully X's Customer Support will respond with an answer and correct the issue soon. For now, it's just another roadblock to sharing my work with the world.
Three Blooms, Four Bees
We were walking the trail the other night I stumbled upon this.
It was nearly sunset and the temperatures were dropping fast. I think these bees were stuck there for the night and planned on snoozing right there on those flowers.
The seasons are turning quickly. Soon all of this activity will grind to a halt and we'll be wishing for it to return, along with warmer temperatures that don't make your face hurt.
This Takes the Prize
I've put together quite a few pieces of furniture before in my life but this storage cabinet takes the prize as THE most tedious thing I've ever assembled. Here are the gruesome stats:
- The instruction manual was 56 pages;
- It took a total of about 7 hours over 2.5 days to complete;
- One vital tool was missing from the box (a Torx wrench);
- It had over 300 individual pieces; and
- Some of the predrilled holes were misalgined, too deep, or not deep enough.
Up until this point the worst thing I've put together was an IKEA armoire a few years ago. It was a massive wall unit, delivered in twelve different boxes but, at least, the IKEA wall unit required no modification and all needed tools were included. The IKEA piece felt like building a shed.
This storage unit drew from all my experience and DIY skills gathered across the last thirty years, a whole lot of patience, and even some Gorilla Glue.
However, as they say, all's well that ends well. I hope I can hang up my furniture-assembly hat for a very long time after this.
All for now. Make this a wonderful day.
