In a rut?

No, not really, but I have decided against making a career change.  No, I have not been planning on becoming an astronaut or a road sweeper, merely a best-selling author.  But I've changed my mind.

It all started some years ago.  Perhaps the simplest way of explaining it is to quote from another blog I used to maintain:

This was originally intended to be a sort of journal, a day-by-day and blow-by-blow account of buying a property in France. It was only after I started transcribing rough notes into a semi-readable account that I remembered just how much fun it had been for both Mrs S and me. From there it was but a small step to what follows.

I did consider sending the manuscript of my magnum opus to publishers but, quite honestly - and this is no false modesty, I didn't think in anything other than my wildest dreams that I might become another Peter Mayle.  What I did do was have ten copies printed by a local vanity publishing printer.  As I say, that was all some years ago.  Since then, the file has been sitting gathering dust on my hard drive.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was at a semi-posh Lions dinner (a black tie affair) when I was told how a member of another Lions Club had written a book which he had published as an e-book with all the royalties going to the Lions.  I have investigated since then and find that there is a company which does all the hard work and sells the book as well.  I say "all the hard work" but, of course, it is up to the putative (that's a good word!) author to do the writing, both of the manuscript and the sales blurb.  Amazon just do the rest.

So, I have dusted off the ms and printed it out.  Now I am a little way into the tedious bit - reading with a fresh eye, making alterations and corrections and generally polishing the work.

Being a best-selling author does sound a good idea.  After all, one works when one wishes to, all one has to do is write stories and there are the perks of travel for interviews and book signings...  But no, it's not all wine and roses.  I think I'll just stay in my comfortable little rut.

Meanwhile, though, I'll keep working on the manuscript.  I'll let you all know when it's ready to download onto your Kindles.