Hi there,
And a big welcome to all new subscribers! I appreciate your interest in
my work, and I hope you'll find something of interest in this
newsletter. And stay tuned for next month's newsletter. I have a gift
planned for my loyal readers.
But, let's first look back to a busy month. I've been working hard on
the Isolated Futures sequence
<https://koenmartens.nl/isolated-futures-release-schedule.html?mtm_campaign=…>.
First of all, the second installment, /Murder, Plain and Simple/
<https://koenmartens.nl/pages/isolated-futures-2-murder-plain-and-simple.htm…>,
is now available from the usual channels. It's a bit different to the
first, /Forced to be Free/
<https://koenmartens.nl/pages/isolated-futures-1-forced-to-be-free.html?mtm_…>,
and tells the story of a washed out doctor on an interplanetary luxury
cruiser who is tasked with solving a murder.
Meanwhile, I've been getting the third installment, /Cima Peak/, ready
for publication, working with my copy editor and proofreader to polish
the manuscript to perfection and with my cover designer to make it look
pretty too. All the while, I was also working on story 4, /The
Algorithm/, and 5, /Eddy/, and right now I'm working on number 6,
/DingDong by Zumee/. At times, it felt like juggling wild cats.
*Reviews*
One thing that I've neglected to do is invest some proper time in
marketing. I'd like to create some buzz around the first installment of
the Isolated Futures sequence
<https://koenmartens.nl/isolated-futures-release-schedule.html?mtm_campaign=…>,
but to do so I need more reviews. So, if you have read /Forced to be
Free/
<https://koenmartens.nl/pages/isolated-futures-1-forced-to-be-free.html?mtm_…>
(and if you haven't, get your free copy right away), I would really
appreciate your honest review on amazon.com
<https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_othr_d_wr_but_top?ie=…>,
goodreads
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58693884-forced-to-be-free> or any
of the other platforms.
As an independent author, I don't have the benefit of a dedicated
marketing team pushing my work under the noses of thousands of readers.
It's all up to me to make that happen. And reviews help a lot. First of
all, they tell the algorithms that decide what works to show that my
work is worth showing. Second, having at least five to ten reviews will
help me unlock additional channels to promote my work, such as book
distribution lists.
So if you have a minute, you would really help me out with a review.
Book Tips
Book cover for The Minotaur: spaceship against orange backdrop of stars
and nebulae
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/ea0a9704-3b37-11ec-9bce-8308b16f6785>
Book cover for Serial Killer Z: Infection - man in lab coat standing in
lab in green glow
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/32148994-3b36-11ec-bc1c-fb9d9c0fd086>
*Nuclear war wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to the Talzhi...*
The dwarven people of Lincrest have survived floods, volcanoes, and
centuries of war. Now they must endure something no one foresaw: an
alien incursion.
How will the warmongering dwarves react when Earth's survivors come
looking for a place to make their own?
Get it here!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/ea0a9704-3b37-11ec-9bce-8308b16f6785>
Every patient zero has a doctor.
Edward Taylor just killed a man. It wasn’t the first time but it could
be the last. For the last twenty years, he’s been careful, hiding his
true self behind a mask of humanity. But now someone out there knows
what Edward is, and he has no idea what they’re planning to do with that
knowledge.
When he’s approached by a journalist working to bring down controversial
research lab, Hunter Neurologics, Edward’s personal and work life
collide. Cornered, and with his paranoia growing, he’s forced to take
action and triggers a sequence of events that might just unleash a
plague of the dead on the world.
Dexter meets The Walking Dead in this prequel to the gripping horror
series, Serial Killer Z.
Get it here for free!
<https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/32148994-3b36-11ec-bc1c-fb9d9c0fd086>
Music Tips
Album cover showing Dr Lonnie Smith against a backdrop of stars and
nebula
<https://open.spotify.com/album/1VmQzWa2H4IRjpVReN8LDY?si=1PXnzjY3QtytaQUOQE…>
(spotify
<https://open.spotify.com/album/1VmQzWa2H4IRjpVReN8LDY?si=1PXnzjY3QtytaQUOQE…>)
With the passing of Dr. Lonnie Smith, age 79, on 28 September 2021, the
world has lost a legend on the Hammond B3. Self-proclaimed graduate in
'Groovology', Smith has been a prolific musician and a true master of
his instrument (despite being unable to read notes). He started his
career playing in the bands of George Benson and Lou Donaldson, both
great artists in and of themselves. While most known for his jazz
records, he also played with soul artists such as Gladys Knight, Etta
James and Marvin Gaye.
His last album, Breathe, contains live recordings made on his 75th
birthday and two duets with Iggy Pop. Smith is playing with his usual
fervor, grooving along and then, when you least expect it, exploding in
a magnificent and exuberant solo that hits you deep in your soul.
Cheers, Dr.
So long and thanks for all the great music.
--
https://www.koenmartens.nl/
