|
A warm welcome to the latest issue of the newsletter!
Before we get into this month’s news, a brief but necessary spot of housekeeping. A couple of readers got in touch with me last month to say that the February newsletter ended up in their spam folder, along with a message claiming that it contained suspicious links. The problem seems to have been a widespread one affecting MailerLite, the platform I use to send out my newsletters. Rest assured, it was a “false flag”. There was no issue with any of the links contained in the email. The issues should now have been resolved – but please let me know if they haven’t! (And if you didn’t receive February’s newsletter, it may be in your spam folder.)
And now, on to the good stuff…
Last week, my regular designer, Tim, sent over the cover for the upcoming fifth Anna Scavolini novel, The Reckoning. Feast your eyes on mockups of both the paperback and ebook editions below – an exclusive sneak preview for Readers’ Club members, shown to you before anyone else. I think we can all agree that he’s delivered the goods once again!
|
|
|
|
As a reminder, The Reckoning is due out on Monday 27 May both on Kindle and in paperback, and can be pre-ordered on Kindle right now. (Paperback pre-orders will go live a little closer to the release date.) You can read the synopsis on my website, with more goodies to follow as we get closer to the release date.
I’ll still need to do a final pass on the manuscript once I’ve received my editor’s feedback – but I feel we’re in a good place and am as confident as any author can be (we’re a self-doubting bunch by nature) that Anna’s latest adventure will live up to your expectations.
In the meantime, if you’d like to be considered for a place on my ARC team, just reply to this email and let me know. Getting as many eyes as possible on the text before it goes out to the wider public is an essential part of the process, both for spotting any remaining typos and identifying potential issues with continuity or logic that myself and my editor might have missed. (It does happen!) All I ask is that you read the book, let me know about any issues you spot, and commit to leaving an honest review on Amazon ahead of the release date.
And if you’re already on the ARC team, I’ll be in touch with you once the manuscript is ready.
|
|
|
|
With the fifth Anna Scavolini novel less than three months away, I thought it would be fun to do a poll to see which of the previous four books people enjoyed the most.
So which has been your favourite? Did you prefer the whodunit mystery of In the Silence, the Zoe-centric political machinations of Cruel Summer, the conspiracy paranoia of The Shadow Men, or the cold case intrigue of Women Who Kill?
Or are you not able to pick a favourite? If so, I completely understand – my own views on the subject are constantly changing. I suppose it’s a bit like being asked to choose your favourite child…
|
|
|
|
Which is YOUR favourite Anna Scavolini mystery?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As a side note, one of the best ways to stay up to date with my books, aside from being a member of the Readers’ Club, is to follow me on Amazon. That way, you’ll get an automatic email reminder whenever I have a new book out.
So, if you’re not doing so already, I highly recommend giving me a follow. Just click the link below and then choose the “+ Follow” button in the top left corner of the page.
|
|
|
Two Indie Authors takeover!
|
|
|
|
Finally, back at the beginning of February, I once again made a guest appearance on David B. Lyons and Robert Enright’s Two Indie Authors podcast. I first appeared on the show back when it was still in its infancy and I was a lot greener around the gills about the whole “independent author” thing. These days, I’m still pretty green around the gills, but I have a bit more experience under my belt, so I jumped at the opportunity to share some insights on how I’ve upped my game over the last few months and begun taking steps to turn my writing into a sustainable career.
Fellow authors who feel daunted by the process or are unsure where to start will hopefully get something out of this discussion. I know, speaking personally, that I find it more helpful to hear from people who are still in the process of finding their way than those who’ve already achieved massive success, because it makes the goals feel that bit more tangible and achievable.
You can find the episode on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your regular podcasting fix.
|
|
|
|
Thanks again to everyone who reads my books and continues to follow my updates. Writing can be a lonely endeavour, so it means a lot to know that there are people out there who are sharing the journey with me, even if we haven’t met in person.
I’ll be in touch again next month with more updates and the results of the poll. Until then, happy reading!
Best wishes,
Michael
|
|
|
|
|
Currently reading
The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Holly Jackson, 2019)
|
|
|
|
|
Last film watched
Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve, 2024)
|
|
|
|
|
On the jukebox
Oppenheimer soundtrack (Ludwig Göransson, 2023)
|
|
|
|
|
|
M.R. Mackenzie
Unit 29574, PO Box 26965, Glasgow, Scotland
|
|
You received this email because you signed up to the M.R. Mackenzie Readers’ Club. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, click the link below.
|
|
|
|
|
