To paraphrase Douglas Adams*, who paraphrased Lewis Carroll**, I’ve done six impossible things this year so now it is time to celebrate those achievements. This is the first one.
The White Queen believed six impossible things before breakfast and the Restaurant at the End of the Universe encourages patrons who have done six impossible things before breakfast to visit.
* “If you’ve done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?”
I’m just not fast enough to do six impossible things before breakfast, instead it has taken me six months! The White Queen doesn’t share her six impossible things, but breaking with tradition, I’m going to share mine. Strictly speaking, my things are not impossible, but they were very difficult for ME – usually due to lack of confidence and no belief in my own abilities. 2026 is turning out to be a year of small steps which have each given me confidence to take another small step, and before I knew it I was on my way!
** “Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
I have purposely avoided selling my books via Amazon for ethical reasons. I rarely buy anything on Amazon, actually preferring to pay a little more elsewhere (“Hello, Robert Dyas on Colchester High Street!”) than add to the already very-full Bezos’ pockets.
So, what changed? The realisation that I want to be taken seriously as an author, and however much I don’t like it, the fact remains that Amazon is the go-to for a lot of (most?) consumers. There is very little profit in books, and to be honest even less when selling through Amazon. However, selling at scale is possible and I’m hoping that selling my books on Amazon will lead to large sales. I’ve yet to see this happen, but I am also working on my online presence (check me out on Facebook and Instagram) which can only help, right?
I’m sure publishing a book on Amazon is simple for many people, but it confused me no end. Probably due, in part, to my reluctance to engage with the platform. So getting Animalympics on there is my first impossible thing.
