The Author’s Log: Inside the Process

This isn’t just a collection of articles; it’s a transparent record of the work.

I believe that the best way to learn is by watching someone else solve the problems in real-time. This log is where I document the parallel paths of my creative journey: from the late-night drafting of my Noir trilogy, The Phantom Mask, to the physical discipline required for my fitness photoshoot and YouTube launch.

Below, you’ll find the raw entries of my progress—the KDP strategies that worked, the draft chapters that fought back, and the lessons learned while balancing a 9-5 with the demands of an indie author.


  • Training for the Lens: Why the Gym is Part of the Script

    The Context I’ve spent most of my life behind a desk or buried in a draft, but as I’ve started building the That Jamie Bloke YouTube channel, I realized something: Confidence is a creative tool. It’s easy to give advice from the shadows, but showing up as a “Big Brother” figure for other self-published authors…

    A Different Kind of Mystery: The ‘Who Saved It’

    Most noir stories start with a body and a question: Who did it? While The Phantom Mask has its share of shadows and secrets, I’m approaching this draft from a slightly different angle. The Premise: The city of London is a place that has learned to look away. Especially after The Battle of London at…

  • One Epic Year: The Story So Far (And How to Join the Crew)

    The Concept One Epic Year isn’t a standard anthology. It’s a living story that features on the holidays it represents. Each day having a different genre. The goal was to create a gritty, real-time reading experience that stays with you throughout the year. So far, the journey has been intense, and we’re only just reaching…

    The Day I Realised She Was the Brand

    The Day I Realised She Was the Brand — And Why It Changed Everything Introduction When I started Aunty Sadie Reads, we hid behind the character.She was warm, playful, and instantly recognisable — but the face wasn’t real. Even if the voice was. I thought that was the safest, most professional way to build a…

    What Writing a Trilogy Taught Me About Leadership

    What Writing a Trilogy Taught Me About Leadership – And It’s Not What You Think It Is Introduction When you think “leadership,” you probably picture boardrooms, team meetings, and quarterly targets — not an author hunched over a laptop, juggling fictional characters. But after writing and publishing the One Epic Year trilogy, I realised the…

  • Why Most Self-Published Authors Struggle With Marketing

    Why Most Self-Published Authors Struggle With Marketing (and How to Fix It) Introduction There’s a common strategy in self-publishing that I like to call “Write, Publish, Pray.”You pour months — even years — into writing a book. You upload it to Amazon. You post about it once on social media. Then you sit back and……

    My Step-by-Step Amazon Book Launch Plan

    My Step-by-Step Amazon Book Launch Plan — The Exact Process I Used for One Epic Year Introduction Launching a book on Amazon isn’t just about hitting “publish” on KDP. If you want your book to rank on day one — and stay visible — you need a structured plan that covers everything from metadata to…

    How Storytelling Sells — Even When You’re Not an author

    When most people think of storytelling, they picture novels, screenplays, or children’s bedtime tales.

    But storytelling isn’t limited to fiction. It’s one of the most powerful tools in marketing — whether you’re selling a product, pitching an idea, or building a brand.