Finding Dead Things: Readinary 2023-05
Finding Dead Things: Readinary 2023-05
Creating a new home for Dead Things and other titles
Last month I migrated my website over to Shopify. For years I’ve cobbled together my website based on WordPress, eventually using Woocommerce to create my online shop. It worked, mostly, but not right out of the box. It also proved expensive since most of the functionality I wanted required purchasing annual or monthly subscriptions for extensions to add those features. Adding more capabilities meant more expense. As the time for renewal of several of these core extensions came up, I looked at what I was paying and getting for my money and decided it wasn’t worth it.
So I switched. Shopify’s core functionality offered (almost) everything I wanted—plus excellent analytics, marketing, and integration features. It also has an addon market for additional features and enhancements, true, but out of the box it was ready to go for any key functionality I wanted.
Switching wasn’t all that difficult. I set it up initially using the automatic Shopify domain. That gave me time to set up my existing digital titles and integrate the shop with BookFunnel to deliver my books. Then I transferred my domain over to Shopify to host and handle the registration. I did need to set up a 3rd party host for my email too, but that process also went smoothly.
I still want to learn more about the platform, particularly about options for handling physical items so I can offer print copies of my work, and more about the marketing and other features available. I’m also curious to dig deeper into the development side of Shopify. I’m interested in creating some addons to provide additional functionality for writers in particular. I don’t have a timeline for any of that, but it’s something I’d like to explore as time allows.
Writing and Creating
I’m also writing more these days. I’ve completed the first draft of a new novella and nearing the end (I think) of a new novel. We’ve been dealing with different health-related issues over the last year, so it feels good to get some of these projects written. There’s still a lot of work to do before they’re released, but finishing the writing is an important milestone!
This month I’m spending more time on artwork and publishing tasks. It’s daunting at times, seeing how much needs to be completed, but I’m making progress. I’ve been working on the new cover for Shermmies’ Planet. I’d love to say that it’ll be out this month—I don’t know if that’ll happen. When the new edition is done, then I’ll be able to set an actual release date.
Then there’s my YouTube channel. As I work on these other projects, I’m also recording videos so I can create more content for the channel. At this point I’m planning more cover illustration process videos. I’ve also thought about doing videos documenting the creation of a series bible in Plottr. What would you like to see on my YouTube channel? Let me know in the comments!
Booktalk: What I’m Reading
In print, I’m still reading the articles written by pulp fiction writers from the last issue (The Penny-a-Word Brigade: Pulp Fictioneers Discuss Their Craft). The tools and markets are different today—but so much is still the same.
I’m listening to The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter.
Terry Pratchett started working on this, getting about 40,000 words written before setting it aside. Years later he collaborated with Stephen Baxter on the book which became the first of five books in the series. Imagine parallel Earths, each a “step” away. Earths like this one, except there’s no people. And with each step the worlds become more and more different.
It’s a fantastic concept and a book I’m enjoying so much that I can’t wait to read them all—and I don’t want it to end either.
Meanwhile, in e-book, I recently finished a new release by a favorite author of mine, Darcey Coates’ The Twisted Dead.
I’m not surprised at all that it’s currently the #1 title in “ghost thrillers” on Amazon. The third book in the Gravekeeper series, it picks up right after the last book and held me until the end. All I wanted to do was keep reading the book—which I would have done if other things hadn’t interrupted. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until next year for the next book. Don’t let that dissuade you from picking up this series—you can always read them again when the next book is out!
That’s what I’ve got for this issue of READINARY. I’m looking forward to better weather (eventually, right?). Hopefully we’ll get past all of the health issues. It’d help me focus on more creative projects. I appreciate your support. If you’re interested, consider becoming a paid READINARY subscriber, or hop over to my shop and pick up copies of my books. If you use the links to pick up the books I share here, I also earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Finally, if you know another reader who might enjoy this newsletter, share it with them.
If you want. No problem if you don’t. I’ll likely be back in a couple weeks with another issue.
Best wishes, always—Ryan