The Awkward Squad
A Readers' Group by Michael Campling
Hello
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Thank you to Andy for sending me the above quote; it really made me think. We all appreciate a bargain, but the word 'cheap' is often a negative one. When we consider parting with our hard-earned money, it's tempting to choose the cheapest, but how often has that led to disappointment?
I know I've been let down by cheap tools, and I've cut myself while using cheap kitchen knives, so those are two lessons I've learned the hard way. Even so, as consumers we tend to weigh up value against cost, and we hate to pay too much or feel ripped off. But how do we judge value? If we're on holiday and want a souvenir, we'll happily pay over the odds for a mug or a T-shirt. At other times, we'll pay more for a product made by a craftsperson because we understand the time and effort that went into making it, and we value its uniqueness.
As a writer, I hope that my work is a little like those handmade items we admire. A lot of work goes into them, and there's a lot of me in every line. But I don't consider myself an artist; I'm a craftsperson and I ply my trade, learning all the time, improving my skills, challenging myself to do better next time.
If you were to compare the process to, say, making a table, you'd be able to look at my first attempt and recognise it. It would have the legs all the same length and the top would be level. My first draft captures the essential elements of the story. The rest is smoothing, sanding down (over and over again), staining, polishing and so on. Only then is it it ready; only then does it have worth.
But I'm not against bargains by any means, and I'm taking part in a couple of promotions on Kobo (details below), because I like to offer good value whenever I can. If I can work with a retailer to give you a deal, I will, and I also hope to attract a few new readers along the way, so if you know someone who might like to meet Dan and Alan while saving a bit of money, maybe you could let them know.
I'd better get on with the newsletter. As always, there are some photos below, but first, here are some words of thanks:
Cheers!
A huge thank you to these kind people who have sent me a mug of tea via
ko-fi.com. I'm raising a mug of Earl Grey in honour of these recent supporters:
Tod
Dave
Anita
Gwen
and regular supporters: Lara, Cynthia, Lynn.
Thank you all for your encouragement and support.
Want to join them?
Featured Photos
The Cycling Frog of Totnes – A Devonshire Town
The Devonshire town of Totnes has a number of unusual aspects. It has a reputation as a home for those who seek, and please forgive the clunky old phrase here, alternative lifestyles. This frog is on top of a high archway, and it marks the approach to the local library.
The market was in full swing, and since there was a craft ale bar and more vegetarian and vegan restaurants than you might expect, I decided that Dan and Alan would enjoy the town immensely.
A Walk in the Devonshire Woods
We visit a nearby wood every now and then, and this one, Bearacleave Wood, is the inspiration for Brandle Wood in The Devonshire Mystery, Mystery in May.
Perhaps you can imagine Dan and Alan marching along the meandering woodland paths in the search for clues.
There are more photos on the site, especially if you take a minute to register as a member (which is free):
NB: If you don't see a confirmation email after signing up, please check your junk and spam folders, and if you still can't find it, please drop me a line and I'll fix it as soon as I can.
Book News
Remember those bargains we talked about? Here are two discounts on Kobo:
March ebook bargains – 30% Discount on Kobo
Kobo are having a March sale, offering a discount on ebooks - lots of genres included. Running from March 16-27, 2023, the discount on offer is a generous 30%, and it includes one of the Devonshire Mysteries, Murder Between the Tides.
The offer is available in Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Mystery and Thriller ebook bargains on Kobo – March 2023
Running throughout March 2023, some excellent mystery and thriller ebooks on Kobo, including Valley of Lies, are in a buy one, get one free promotion.
The offer is available in Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
What's Next?
The finishing post is in sight as far as the first draft of the next Devonshire Mystery goes. It's gone past my goal of 120,000 words, so it's going to be a book with a certain heft, but I think you'll enjoy it. If it's not my best yet, then I'm doing something wrong (no pressure).
There are still plenty of threads to pull together before I can say the story is complete, but I'm hopeful that I can do it.
It's only a matter of time.
The rest is sanding down and polishing.
Happy reading and take care.
All the best,
Mikey C
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