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Blog
May 2008 It's been a busy few months with my different projects. And to add to that, I'm project managing building works at my home and have just started a new job at my company. So it's been hectic to say the least - but challenging, which is what I like. I've been introduced to this new-ish website called Self Publishers Place whereby Authors can advertise their books for free. Their email to me said "book lovers, independent publishers and self-published authors welcome. For absolutely no fee of any kind you may display your book's cover, a blurb and a link to your own website. Book lovers deal directly with authors cutting out the expensive middlemen. We have a unique sales plan and work tirelessly to help authors promote their books. Our international forum is open to all. Whether you are a writer or a reader please check out our new site and let us know what you think. We value your input."
If you have any websites that you want the writing community to know about then let me know and I'll add them in here and on my writing forums. Hear from you. March 2008 It's 6 am as I write this, still dark, but I can feel the beautiful Spring-like day outside just by hearing the birds happily singing in their trees. It's a calm, fresh morning and this time of the day has to be the best part of any day. Although my husband disagrees with me and says it's still the middle of the night. Yes, Spring is most definitely in the air, but not quite here yet, unfortunately. Yesterday's weather was shocking and it's due to be equally as shocking tomorrow - but hopefully today will be kinder to us and allow us northerners to get some fresh air without being blasted by the icy rain and winds. Brodie is up for Auction again at the MFR's 2008 Charity Auction, so I hope that he raises some more much needed cash this year. The Charity is so important for the Highlands and helps out many causes. The illustrated books continue to progress well. I have also been asked by a third party if I would like to work with them to produce a new fantasy story so that is proving extremely exciting and I have to say, pretty challenging. There is an interesting Article from the Guardian on the growth of self-publishing, and also how large booksellers are moving to cash in on it. What was once seen as very difficult to do - and somewhat frowned upon by the industry, with the use of modern technologies that most of have access to in our homes and sheer determination - publishing your own book is now within your grasp and budget. Have a Happy Easter and ... eat as much chocolate as you want!
January 2008 Firstly, a Happy New Year to you all! Out with the old and in with the new as they say. I've been so busy lately with the day job and a new writing project that I have been letting my websites slide a bit. I'm now cramming my working week into 4 days to give me a longer weekend, so hopefully that will allow me to spend more time on my writing projects and keeping the websites up to date. Over the last few months I have been working with an illustrator on bringing some of the characters he has created to life in some new and zany illustrated children's books. It's been hectic, to say the least, but very exciting to see this new world of characters evolving and developing personalities. I've produced two draft books that are currently being illustrated and I'm onto my third. Working on illustrated books is a whole new world for me. It's also very different working with someone else on a writing project because normally I have my own goals and deadlines - which can slip. So, it's quite motivating really because I know that I can't let the illustrator down by 'lazy spells', and vice versa, so there's always one of us cracking the whip to move forward! So we say motivated. The illustrator (who I will reveal in due course because our work is still under wraps at this stage) has to like the stories I've created for his characters so when I hand over the draft manuscripts, I'm not sure what comments I'm going to get back. He trashed the first book, but luckily the second two have the thumbs up from him and his kids! We are working well as a team because we can both offer constructive criticism and praise on each other's work which is hopefully going to allow us to achieve the desired results. We are currently developing the brand and researching today's changing and highly competitive market for children's illustrated books. There are so many books on the market and it's difficult to know whether to go with the norm or try something a little different. We've gone with something between the two that will hopefully attract the attention of both boys and girls. I'll keep you updated about the new
project. In the meantime, for those writers in the Scottish
Highlands, you might be interested in the Highlands
and Islands Arts Ltd (HI~Arts).
It is a company established in 1990 to promote and develop the arts in the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Hi-Arts runs some workshops and
competitions that may be of interest to you in developing your writing.
October 07 When people hear that I’ve written books, they
automatically think of J K Rowling and ask me to remember them when
I’m rich and famous. I
smile serenely, thank them for thinking that I could be so big through
my writing and reply that if I had a pound for everyone who had said
that to me, I’d be rich now. It’s fantastic that there is such a connection with a
children’s writer. Almost
everybody has heard of her, read her books, or have watched the films. But she is an author in a billion to make it so big.
They are very few and far between. J K Rowling is a global phenomenon and she has
helped to get children’s noses (and many adults' noses) back into
books. Children’s writing
is said to be one of the most difficult to publish because it’s more
difficult to get children interested in reading today – they have so
many easier things to do like running around, annoying Mum and Dad,
watching the television, surfing the internet, playing computer games,
texting on their mobile phones with language that is so far removed from
the English language I was brought up with, etc, etc, etc.
My first bit of advice to you is before you enter
into the world of book-writing, ask why you are doing it.
You should know that there is very little money to be made, and
most Authors have to supplement their income with a full or part-time
job. However, Authors write
because they enjoy it and many of us hope that one day, the hard work
will pay off and we will be the next publishing phenomenon.
Around 98% of submissions to publishers are
rejected, so be prepared for heartache.
But don’t give up on your dream.
Many people, like myself, are turning to self-publishing these
days to be able to get their books into print.
It was once frowned upon by publishers and readers alike, but
it’s like making your own jewellery and selling it.
If it looks good and is fit for purpose – people will buy it.
So goes with your book. It’s
so much easier for people to self-publish today because there are many
companies out there to help you. You
can either do everything for yourself as I did – typesetting,
formatting, proof-reading, editing,
designing the cover, marketing and publishing … or you can
employ the services of people specialised in those areas to help you.
But remember, for everyone you ask to help, it will increase the
price of the finished book. As
I do everything myself (with the help of a few proof-reading friends) I can keep
my book price low and be able to offer my book to the large booksellers.
One of the greatest feelings I’ve had with writing is getting orders from the big players – it’s fantastic. And repeat orders makes it even better. But it’s hard work. Marketing is the most difficult part of it, but for every dozen or so closed doors, there is at least one open door with a warm fire inside. Keep
smiling
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