One of the eternal mysteries for an author is why some books become popular and others don’t. In my case, after eleven books I can honestly say that my own favourite story is one of my worst sellers. Perhaps It’s the genre, the cover or one hundred other possibilities, but for some reason it just hasn’t been read by as many readers as I would have liked.
Not being one to give up however, I have decided to give HAL a long FREE weekend. HAL will be available for free on the Amazon Kindle Store from Friday 4th May through to Sunday 6th May. So if you haven’t read my favourite story, why not get over to your Kindle Store and grab HAL.
Oh and of course, if you do happen to enjoy HAL as a free offering, any reviews would be extremely welcomed by his author!
Need more info? Well here’s the guts of HAL’s story.
Millions of years before February The Fifth, Gloth was making a nice little profit from the planet Erde, with the help of some cunning Popes and the very, very secret Star Chamber.
Being disowned by his father and booted out of his family manor in England, then transported off to the distant sun drenched shores of Australia didn’t sound like such a bad punishment for Hal. All things considered. Sydney however, didn’t prove to be his cup of tea, but a quick move to Brisbane leads Hal to a wonderful new life full of friends, back yards, barbecues, beer, surfing, The Breakfast Creek Hotel and Narelle. The idyllic life.
For a short time unfortunately, as so often happens just when you think things are beautifully perfect, someone or something comes along to throw a spanner in the works. In Hal’s case, his idyllic life gets hit my a number of airborne wrenches. Then when he thinks things are are about as bad as they can get, they of course get a whole lot worse.
Afflicted by an allergic reaction to dust and scary things, Hal does a lot of sneezing as he goes about trying to make the whole lot worse a whole lot better.
I hope you enjoy reading HAL. My favourite story.
HAL also free on Amazon UK, Amazon DE and Amazon FR
As a bonus, MILO MOON will also be available for FREE on Saturday 5th May and Sunday 6th May! Get a copy from:
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Anne Drennen
04/05/2012 at 9:40 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Derek, I have come across the same thing in my Art Photography, for example, I recently gave someone a gift set of my Art Cards. She looked at them all and declared the one I almost didn’t include as her favorite! I really love some of the others I presented to her, but, not the one she chose.
I guess it’s like years ago, when I was buying clothing for my Dad’s store, I had to step outside myself and not order just to my taste. I will read Hal write a review. Of course, I am loving Vandalism of Words, reading passages while I wait for computer maintenance, etc. Next, I have One Last Love beckoning me… ~Anne
Anne Drennen recently posted..Happy 93rd Birthday Pete!
Derek Haines
04/05/2012 at 9:48 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Oh Anne you have made my day!! But I have to tell you a secret. Ssshh. I never expected anyone to read Vandalism of Words and yet it continues to receive more reviews and ‘popular highlights’ on Kindle than any of my books. And I can’t even bring myself to call it a book. Then when I just checked, another 60 copies have been downloaded from the Kindle Store just today. Guess I’d better go off and write something I don’t like again huh? lol
Derek Haines recently posted..Slap An Indie
Andrew Claymore
09/05/2012 at 5:27 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Derek, I had started Hal months ago but I was reading it on my smartphone. I had bought the Amazon version because I had every intention of getting a kindle. Then, for Christmas, my wife gave me a shiny new Kobo…
I finally had to stop because the tiny screen on my smartphone was giving me a headache.
Sunday night, I finally gave in and ordered a Kindle. I need to review my own titles in their natural habitat and I haven’t been loading them to Indigo lately.
Now, my tracking report shows that my brand new Kindle Touch has arrived at the distribution center in Calgary. In a few short hours I will be loading my Kindle books onto a proper, eye-friendly reader and I will re-start Hal from the beginning. I have a hard time understanding how it could be your worst seller. Maybe the cover?
I really did love the half that I’ve read so far. Hal is a great character and the story has just the right touch of humor. I think I might pick up February the Fifth and read it first.
Looks like I won’t get much writing done this week!
Andrew Claymore recently posted..Hints and Memes at the London Book Fair
Derek Haines
09/05/2012 at 10:18 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Well Andrew, you may have given me just enough impetus to get around to finally finishing the third and definitely last Glothic episode.
)
Derek Haines recently posted..Your Final Draft Is Unacceptable
mistidebonno
09/05/2012 at 6:13 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I have to admit to being a great fan of Hal. Though If Im honest I struggled with the first few pages, basically because I was too stupid to appreciate what I was reading. As the story progressed I guess I was lost in the romance of this crazy man with his sneezing affliction and laid back approach to life and I longed to get to that happy ending that seemed so elusive for Hal… By this time, I had mastered the Glothic side of the story and was intrigued by the notion of such planets. Without ruining the story for anyone I will say the ending is awesome and I have gone on to purchase more of Derek’s books, I only wish I had a mind as talented as his…
Derek Haines
09/05/2012 at 10:22 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Thank you Misti
You have absolutely made my day!! *atchoom!* 
Derek Haines recently posted..Your Final Draft Is Unacceptable