Releasing my first novel

Following the Amazing Franchise Novel Disaster, I spent a week sitting on the beach in Argelès-sur-Mer thinking about what to do next. Jörg Tittel suggested I release the book for Kindle, not knowing it hadn’t actually been written, but this reminded me I do have a completed novel I could put out now.

I started it eight years ago. It fetched me a handful of stock agency rejections when I tried to sell it before it was finished. The last edit was completed in 2008, the year we launched VG247. Needless to say, I haven’t looked at it since.

It’s a surreal horror mystery I pushed out in the period immediately after I stopped drinking. I started reading it again this week, and it’s fairly unpleasant. Frenzied writing soaked up the new sobriety, and going into it again was like visiting the mad old relatives you pity and love, but sort of wish were dead. I produced screaming pages.

You’ll be able to see for yourself soon. I’m going to charge £2.99 for it. That’s $4.77, or less than 400 Microsoft Points. It’s hundreds of hours of work, so I think I’m entitled. Consider it an “indie release for XBLA,” or whatever. You can get a Kindle app for pretty much any screen you own, so don’t be a twat: buy my book and one less bottle of wine that week. Afford me closure.

Then with this out of the way I can start prepping for the next attempt at a franchise project and think seriously about writing another full-length original novel.

This is exciting. I might publish it next week. Might not. Try not to splinter the edge of your seat.