Another Mile Marker
20/50/100
This is the sixth post in a series dedicated to a self-assessment of my writing journey, particularly as it relates to Core Haven, my new release. The previous posts were:
Overview (Reassessing the Long Game)
My end goal (Milestone)
What I hope to accomplish (One More Rung)
How long I’ll consider Core Haven as a new release (Decision Tree)
How much more time, effort, and money I want to devote to promoting (Patience).
This week’s installment addresses the driver of the indie author bus:
How can I expect to cross those magic finish lines of 20/50/100 reviews on Amazon if I don’t continue actively promoting my new release?
First of all, I’m happy to report that at the time of this writing, here’s where Core Haven stands in the ratings/reviews on Amazon:
That means it passed the first mile marker of 20 & is heading toward the second with a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from customer reviews in tow.
From a self-assessment standpoint, this should be a shining example of how persistence pays off, right? I can be proud of my work, celebrate each new review as another step toward the next mile marker, & appreciate that a plan I set in motion is coming to fruition.
Well, sure, I guess, but...
So what’s holding me back?
My best guess is that it has to do with the kind of writing I’m currently immersed in. I really do enjoy the process I have for posting & reviewing & texting & whatnot; however, none of it sparks the same adrenaline rush I get when I’m in a fiction writing zone.
For instance, till a week or so ago, I was revising the preface & first chapter of my next novel on a daily basis, adding & deleting, going off on tangents, & generally enjoying my favorite part of the writing process.
What changed is that the same pressures dampening my fiction writing sessions are also keeping me from exercising as much, taking care of myself, getting enough sleep, etc.
See, my hunch is that if I don’t stay ahead of the curve with this promotion rigmarole, there’s a good chance Core Haven will follow the trajectory of its predecessor Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown into Backlist Territory.
What’s odd this time around is that the response is overwhelmingly positive instead of mixed, the reviews & ratings are off the charts, & the personal feedback is solidly encouraging me to continue putting it out there.
A notable case in point is Episode 21 of “Talking Indie Books with Lee Hall” from October 2025 focused solely on Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins (see below).
With such a groundswell of positivity, how can I expect myself not to put extra effort into promoting my new release?
Keep you posted.
Drew
P.S. If by chance you’re interested in reading and thoughtfully reviewing either of my two companion novels, please see the Amazon link & my Links Page below. (And thanks so much in advance!)
Lee Hall’s Review of Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins
