Anyone who has followed this blog through thick and thin and, let’s be honest, lately it’s been the-kind-of-thin-a-plastic-surgeon-could-work-with writing-times will know that I only blog these days when I have something to record in what is essentially my online writer’s journal. This post is nothing more than a bit of housekeeping for posterity. Despite that, it feels like an important ‘chapter’ of the writing and writer’s life that I’ve been deeply involved in for a number of years.

Of the books I’ve written, the publishing rights of four of them – The three Booker & Cash titles and the fourth and last of the Acer Sansom books – were with two different publishing houses. They are now all back with me. On a deep and satisfying and meaningful level I’m very pleased about that.

Getting taken on by third parties was a huge boost to my self-esteem as a writer and it was a wonderfully exciting adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the overall experience. However, for a while I’ve felt that it had run its course in every way and the time came when I wanted to retake control of my complete ‘artistic canon’.

What do I intend to do with the restoration of complete control? Nothing more exciting than re-self-publish the first two Booker & Cash titles and self-publish for the first time the third Booker & Cash and the fourth Acer. I understand that paperback versions of one or more of the Booker & Cash titles will still be available from third parties. They’re out there and there’s not a lot to be be done about it, except buy them all up. (I’ve got better things to spend my money on.) The only problem I’ll have with that is that I’ll have to still see those rather horrible covers from time to time. I much, much prefer the originals and I’m so happy to be able to see those representing me on Amazon once again.

As for Deep State, Acer Sansom #4, while the cover won’t change, because I had to provide it in the first place, I am pleased to be able to price-match it to the others in the series. It always bothered me that Amazon wanted to charge almost double what the first three books were listed for.

Happy Christmas, and here’s hoping for a better New Year for everyone!