Spotify is playing James Brown, “I Got It (I Feel Good)“

I’ve been suffering from a nasty chest infection since just before I released “Annika Dash and the Unicorn from Space”. This has restricted the amount of dancing around the kitchen with my t-shirt over my head that I can do. Still, it couldn’t dampen my spirits as I watched my first book dip in and out of the top 10 of Amazon’s “Best Sellers in Children’s Science Fiction Comics & Graphic Novels”, achieving #6 on the 1st of April 2024.

[Top Ten 1st of April 2024]

I didn’t expect that feeling to be surpassed, but this has been… twice. First, when I received pictures of a young reader, from the other side of the world in Australia, opening my book. Second, last night I discovered my book received its first review on Amazon. No idea who left this, but I couldn’t sleep last night — I was so excited.

[Independent review 6th of April 2024]

The one sad thing is that, with being poorly, I haven’t been able to present copies to my niece and her big brother. I certainly didn’t want to give them my germs! Hopefully, this is something I will do over the next few weeks. In the meantime… mums the word. It’s still a surprise I want to share.

So, what’s next?

I didn’t do a book trailer for TUFS. But I’m working on one now. It’s really to determine what is possible and what I can do myself. I could release it retrospectively, or save it for Annika Dash’s second adventure. Whatever I do, working on this trailer is an interesting project. I composed the soundtrack, wrote the script and compiled the art and images. I have also had the script performed by a professional voiceover artist. I’d say I have a draft or concept finished, but I’m still considering what to do with it.

What else? Oh yes! I’ve started working on a follow-up story, which I’ll refer to as Annika Dash 2, or AD2, and have a concept for a third story.

The bare bones for AD2 I’ve shared with my posse (Sorry Tim/Tracy, this is way cooler than calling you my trusted beta readers… Note to self – Graydon to change the title of Beta reader messenger group to GJ’s Posse). These are just ideas at the moment, such as, what Annika will do when [insert baddy’s name here] will try to [insert something really awful here], because [insert baddy’s motivation here], and therefore [insert the consequences here]. As you can see, pretty detailed thinking going on 😉

Incidentally, I’m not ordering a yacht, but I have to go to the shops for eggs, milk, and butter. And melon