I have made 2 of my ebooks free today on Amazon!
All I ask is that you write a review if you like the books and help spread the word to others (hopefully this will increase sales as total sales in 2 months is currently 1 book!)
free ebboks
head over to Amazon NOW and get the books! if you look closely at the photo you can see my other free book on the bottom left!
click here
Today is a month since my book of poems was published.
For those new to my blog the idea was for a collection of poems written by people with mental health illnesses with 50% of the proceeds being donated to Mind a charity based here in the UK.
I am disappointed to say the least that Mind have not helped me to promote the book, especially as more sales equals more money for them but my last contact with them was on 3rd September so I will assume they have forgotten about me and the book.
In terms of sales here is the breakdown for you – not including the free copies I gave to the people who contributed poems.
Smashwords – 8
Amazon – kindle version – 4
Amazon – Paperback – 22
So a grand total of 34 sales in 1 month which is not to bad really. Hopefully if Mind can get behind me it will increase the word of mouth and get people at the very least aware of the book. I guess I can cope with an average of 1 sale a day over a year that’s 365 books! (see I can look on the bright side)
The only blemish is that on smashwords 38 people were given copies of the book in return for a review to be written and thus far only 5 people have done that. From what I can gather though it is pretty rare for a review to be done anyway so I wont hold it against people because I am nice like that!
The other good news is that my own book is outselling this one and the profits from that one are mine ALL MINE! (evil laugh)
I would be interested to hear if people think having depression has changed their life for the better?
We all know about the negatives that come from depression but there are circumstances that can occur as a result of this illness that may have had an unexpected impact in a positive light. Something that may have happened due to your depression that would not have happened otherwise.
Let me explain
Before being diagnosed with depression I was moody, short tempered, closed off from people – especially my wife, unhappy, unwilling to try anything new that was not mafia wars. My days were basically consisting of sitting at the PC playing mafia wars with the occasional human interaction added in (grudgingly) and lets not forget the suicidal feelings as well
I could barely face up to my own problems let alone think about other peoples. The idea of making myself available to others as a person people could look up to and ask advice from was a million miles from being possible.
I did not really have an idea that I was even depressed, I was aware of some of the symptoms from dealing my Uncle but never took a real hard look at myself and saw the signs until it was almost too late.
I guess the biggest relief for me when the Dr told me I had depression because then I had a reason for my strange behaviour and change in personality. I remember leaving the Drs with a huge weight having been lifted after the appointment and this is why, for me, I find it so important to encourage people to see their Dr and get diagnosed. There is nothing worse than thinking there is something wrong with you but not knowing what it is!
To carry on with my explanation.
Without having depression I would never even considered writing a blog let alone books. The only thing in my BD (before depression) days I would have known to write about would have how to play mafia wars, or how to make money from mafia wars (I once had an online store where I sold weapons, accounts and other items to the tune of $1000 a month!) but now I spend my time researching depression, writing and even trying to be a fund raiser for charity with the poetry book.
This all from a purely about me standpoint if I look at my relationship with Sheryl I would say having depression has helped that blossom as well because she now knows why I was so moody, always so tired etc.
I am blessed to be married to such a wonderful woman, who shows understanding above and beyond expectations. Our marriage has never been better because I took the steps to get help rather than just continuing to deny I needed help. There are days when there is a strain because of my need to sleep when exhausted but she never complains and accepts me as I am these days. She is my best friend and I can talk to her about anything these days knowing she will give me unconditional love and support. The power of talking to your loved one cannot be underestimated especially with something like depression.
I am very fortunate to have her in my life especially as my immediate family are so selfish they don’t ever contact me, in fact in a recent discussion with Sheryl I told her that if anything happened to me that she was not to let them know because they play no part in my life. They would not know if I was dead or alive because unless I initiate contact with them I never hear from them. I do not have people like that in my life.
I feel sorry for Brandon and Elizabeth because they have no relationship with their grandparents, uncles and aunty from side of the family but it is not them missing out. Hell my family did not even congratulate me on writing a book when I told them about it.
Hmmm I seem to have gone off point again…
So as I was (attempting) to say I can look back at the last 6 months since officially being diagnosed as the most productive in my life. Without suffering from depression I would not be a blogger, an author, a confidante to others and for that I can say I am grateful that depression, and my fight against it, has helped to mold me into the depressed moose I am today.
What good has happened to you?
I will readily admit that I like a moan, heck it helps me get it out there and off my chest so I can move on to the next thing I can find to moan about.
This is something that has bothered me for a week or more though and to be perfectly honest it has really pissed me off!
I don’t swear very often in my blog, as opposed to real life where every other word would make a nun blush. I make the effort not to curse in my writing because I don’t want people to be offended so excuse the odd one now and again.
My poetry book had submissions from 41 people. Each of them was sent a message when the book was completed to give them access to a free copy as a thank you from me for sending a poem in.
Out of those 41 people a grand total of 6 people actually sent me a reply saying thank you for all the hard work I had put into editing and formatting the book for kindle, for smashwords and for paperback versions. Each one required a different format and it took plenty of hard work and long hours from me to actually get it finished.
Now I was not expecting them to name their first born after me or anything extreme like that but surely I am not wrong to be upset that they couldn’t be bothered to reply saying thank you?
I also asked if they would write a review on the book and apart from one person (Debbie) that has yet to be done despite the fact that 33 people have purchased their free copy of the book.
I feel like I wasted my time with this project and don’t understand why those who got involved wont help me by spending a few minutes to write a review that would help other people decide if they want to buy the book or not.
Or maybe I just expect too much from people…
Anyhoo now that’s off my chest I feel better
I did it, I DID IT!!
I have published a second book. It is the poetry book that I was talking about has been uploaded to smashwords and is alive!!
over 40 people have contributed poems to the book and I am very very very proud of myself today! This book will hopefully raise some money for Mind from sales as well.
The book can be found here please help spread the word!
Today my open letter to depression was featured on the Mind website as part of their blog http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/7248_my_letter_to_depression
The response has been wonderful, full of support and to be honest better than I ever anticipated.
It is great when something you have written speaks to so many people, or inspires them to do something.
When you feel low yourself but know that you are helping others is a great feeling. I am so incredibly proud of myself today.
Hopefully people will check out my book now as well… at smashwords you can preview the first 20% of the book before you decide to buy it https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/213574 is the link for those who asked. Have a read of it you will not regret it. You will also be contributing the new tattoo I want if you buy it 🙂
And the poetry book is getting more submissions by the day I cannot wait until this gets finished and published!
Today I can look forward to what is about to happen with a sense of achievement rather than the usual doom.
My romance book has 10000 words written and the feedback from that has been remarkable.
Todays scoreboard reads Depression 0 Garry 1
So being inspired by so many people and with an urge to help others with depression I have come up with the idea of publishing books written by people with Mental Health Illnesses. There are lots of books written by medical professionals, especially self help style books but from my limited research not much written by us sufferers.
I am starting with poetry as I feel it can be the sincerest, most honest way of expressing our feelings but imagine if this was successful we could extend the range and add images, short stories anything creative that helps us in our recovery and everyday lives.
This is where you come in! I need help with spreading the word to get this book up and running with submissions, creative input, suggestions and anything else you can offer to keep me motivated.
The book is going to be called “Stepping into the light – Poems from the Darkness
Please send your submissions to me thedepressedmoose@hotmail.com with a brief background of your story
example Garry 33 suffers from Depression and Anxiety.
I reserve the right to not include any poetry submitted and by submitting your work you give me the right to use it for publishing if I so wish.
The last date to submit your poetry is 30th August as I am looking to publish this via smashwords on 1st September.
Idea for book cover
Above is the idea submitted by “K” for a cover please feel free to come up with your own suggestions or edits of this version. Ideally I would like to add “The Depressed Moose Presents” in front of the title.
The charity Mind will receive 50% of the money raised, 30% go to smashwords as publishers and 20% goes to me to cover my time and work.
The Depressed Moose 