Outpost 9, the Tangible Edition
Writing the book was the easy bit.
Today is the 1st June 2024. I’m in Crete. It’s 31 degrees here, which is about 10 degrees higher than the maximum temperature my brain can cope with if it needs to be used. I sound ungrateful, it’s probably 15 degrees and pissy wet drizzle back home in Cumbria. Here I have sun, sand, time to think and time to plan, and my brain is so full of hot fog I can’t think past the next coffee. But that is more than ok. It’s much more important to Be Here Now.
The niggle is, and it really is just the teeniest of niggles, I had initially planned this post to be a hopefully helpful work up of traditional publishing vs self publishing, the decisions I’ve made, when I made them and why. Over this past year I have received so much support (not least from
and ), I wanted to give a little back… but instead I’m giving you a crumbly rundown of what’s happening with my book, and a fumbly shout out for my new Insta feed (as Insta will be my main platform for marketing).To back pedal slightly on the above - if anyone does have any questions about publishing please do comment below, I’m more than happy to share what little I know. I am just currently lacking the brain power to lay it out here. (The very, very abridged version is SETTING UP THE BOOK FOR PRINT WAS A NIGHTMARE! I will be forever grateful for my geek streaked DNA, I saw it through and I learnt a lot. )
The Incredible Machines of Thinkery: Outpost 9 is with IngramSpark as I type. The paperback weighs in at 270 pages which - I hope/feel - is a decent page count for a first timer, and for a book that started life as a one page exercise, waaaay back in the summer of 2023.
With Outpost 9 ‘processing’, my attentions are focusing on a launch date, to happen at some point in the middle of July (more precision needed here, methinks). This is where the wheels will fall off, as this is the part where I will have to say to folks ‘I wrote this. I think you’ll enjoy it.’ Maybe even ‘Please buy it.’ Every cell of my body will be guiding me towards saying something more along the lines of ‘I wrote this. Don’t bother reading it. Sorry.’ I will avoid eye contact and mumble into my flowery Doc Martens ‘It’s probably total rubbish, sorry. Really sorry.’
Writing the book was the easy bit.
The cover I am very happy to share and shout about, as it’s not all me me me. (cover design by me me me, illustration credit Sam Wooldridge)
Also very happy to shout about and share this wonderful map of Vlieland which will be included in the book (credit Dennis Sisterson, check out Dennis on Insta ). I absolutely love how both of these have turned out. It does all feel very real and exciting… it feels like a proper book.
All the marketing advice I’ve received or sought says I need to sell me me me, as well as the book. Toe curling. But the big girl pants have been donned and I’ve made a start. If you would like to follow the story of Edwin Cooper, venturing away from the first tentative paragraphs shared on here, towards to holding the paperback in your hands (an ebook will also be available, smooth drop right there!), please do pop over to Instagram* and tap Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/linnheharrison (very new feed, I have about 2.5 followers so if even just a few folks hop over from here you are increasing my confidence by 200% - thank you 🙏 )
*may also include photos of me being delighted by discovering matching cafe loo/holiday outfit combos and ukulele videos.
There is also a baby Machines of Thinkery website. It’s a bit naked at the moment, but it will grow with time and news:
And finally… My other ‘Stack - the creative writing/travel/film photography effort - has sadly been as neglected as this one. But I have promised myself to get back into writing short pieces to post on there. You can find it here:
Thank you so much to you all for sticking with me. For your encouragement, support, ❤️s and Restacks. May your words flow freely and your typos be naught.
✌️
Linnhe