Just back from my second Melbourne Supanova and what a weekend.
Like last year, it was a road trip! I teamed up with fellow Adelaide indie authors K.E. Fraser and Kylie Leane for five days of driving, writing and exhibiting.
We bumped in Friday afternoon. I had a great spot in the Indie Press Zone on the corner of two busy thoroughfares. I had Apoc 3 as a new title since my last visit to Melbourne, and really wanted to make the series the feature of my table.
I’m also knee deep in the final stages of the first draft of the finale (Apoc4), so it’s definitely front of mind right now.
The crowd was great both days, through to mid afternoon where it quietened down enough to have a look around. It’s great to see what everyone else is doing, with my exhibitor hat on – there were some awesome looking tables. Before that though, there were people everyone, with plenty stopping by my table. It was great to meet so many new people and chew their ear off about my books. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to have a listen.
I was lucky enough to have a lot of people take a chance on me and my work by buying a book.. or two… or three.. or seven, in one case. Thanks so much for everyone who did, I really hope you find a great read in those pages. Feel free to let me know when I’m back in Melbourne next year 
It was great to have some readers come back after last year, too. Thanks for your continued support – you guys are awesome!
In between exhibiting days, there was the customary dinner at Pacinos on the Saturday night. Always a pleasure to catch up with some of the other indies to find out how their event was going and what else they’re doing in their writing worlds – despite my eyes barely keeping open.
Back at Supanova, Sunday was an even better day than Saturday. It was a great way to wrap up an awesome weekend. Honestly, these events, the people I meet, the readers I connect with and the feedback I get from those who have read, well, it all makes one very addictive cocktail that really keeps me wanting to write new and awesome stories.
…so that’s what I did. I took all that energy and transferred it into my Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor 4 manuscript. I managed to smash out a daily record 6000 words on recovery day Tuesday.
This book represents the end to the series. I’ve felt the pressure of that along the way. It’s challenged me to write something… worthy, I guess you’d say. Obviously, I want that for everyone who’s invested into Jack and his story, I also want that for me… and, maybe, for Jack too. Weird writer alert!
I think it’s shaping into that story, the one I can be proud of and the worthy end to the series. I won’t know until I read the whole thing back after I’ve put the final few thousand words down, but after a bit of reworking, I feel good with it. Hopefully you do too.
Anyway, that’s my next challenge. My date with Sydney Supanova is in late June and the new Apocalypse must be there. It just must be. That’s less than 10 weeks to finish the MS, rewrite, edit, cover design and type set.
Still, I’m full of that post event buzz right now. I’m hoping that gives me all the momentum I need to get it all done because… there’s more of that awesome feeling waiting for me in Sydney.
Thanks Melbourne,
See you next year
M