Maria Savva's Blog, page 27
August 9, 2014
Thunderclap campaign: ED EGGS
I've just heard about this innovative new app that is being launched by an author friend of mine and her husband.
Andrea Howarth Salazar, is the author of the wonderful novel, Splintered, a heartwarming tale about letting go of the past and the all-encompassing power of love.
You can read more about it and buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Splintered-An...
********
This new app for children has been developed by Andrea's husband with Andrea's help on character design and story boarding, and they've launched a new social media campaign to help with the launch. The Thunderclap campaign doesn't request donations, just clicks.
The app is designed to encourage children aged 4 - 10 to walk outdoors with their parents to earn more points to unlock characters and stories in the game. Andrea says, "It's for the good cause of preventing child obesity and promoting fitness, fun and family time! Supporting this does not cost anything - and the more support clicks we receive, the more advertising tweets we will get when the app is launched on September 1st."
To help promote via the Thunderclap campaign, please follow this link: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/1...
You can follow the Ed Eggs Team on twitter: https://twitter.com/AIDATechnology
Andrea Howarth Salazar, is the author of the wonderful novel, Splintered, a heartwarming tale about letting go of the past and the all-encompassing power of love.
You can read more about it and buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Splintered-An...
********
This new app for children has been developed by Andrea's husband with Andrea's help on character design and story boarding, and they've launched a new social media campaign to help with the launch. The Thunderclap campaign doesn't request donations, just clicks.
The app is designed to encourage children aged 4 - 10 to walk outdoors with their parents to earn more points to unlock characters and stories in the game. Andrea says, "It's for the good cause of preventing child obesity and promoting fitness, fun and family time! Supporting this does not cost anything - and the more support clicks we receive, the more advertising tweets we will get when the app is launched on September 1st."
To help promote via the Thunderclap campaign, please follow this link: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/1...
You can follow the Ed Eggs Team on twitter: https://twitter.com/AIDATechnology
August 6, 2014
An interview with author Eden Baylee
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to the talented Eden Baylee, a prolific author with many books to her name. She has just released her first full length novel, Stranger at Sunset. It's an atmospheric, engrossing mystery that will keep you hooked to the very last page. Luckily, it's the first in a series, so we will be treated to more stories featuring the enigmatic main character Kate Hampton.
Vacation can be a killer.
Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot, Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV game show.
It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review to restore their reputation.
Even though she is haunted by her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers?
Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As Kate's own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at Sunset may be the only one who can save her.
*********
After reading this wonderful book, I was keen to interview Eden about her writing and current plans:
How long have you been writing, and was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
EB: Informally, I’ve been writing since my mid-teens, but I took the leap to writing full-time January 2010. As for any defining moment, I can’t say there was. I know many authors say they’ve known all their lives they wanted to write. I’ve only ever known I had a rich fantasy life, and I’ve always loved to read.
I believe the combination of these two things pushed me toward writing.
How many books have you published? Which was the hardest to write and why?
EB: I have 13 books published. The first twelve are erotica – anthologies and short stories. My latest, Stranger at Sunset is a psychological mystery/thriller.
This last book was the hardest to write because it’s my first novel. I’ve never written anything this long before, so the structure was completely new for me. As a ‘pantser,’ I found it challenging, which is not a bad thing.
Stranger at Sunset is the first in a series, have you written the rest of the series yet, or is that something that you're still working at?
EB: Definitely still planning and writing them! It’s such a fine balance daily of researching, writing, promoting, and reading. I need 72 hours in a day if not more.
Wow! That's definitely a challenge!
Your latest book is a deviation for you as you usually write erotica. Why did you decide to venture into a different type of genre?
EB: When I set out to write full-time, I started with erotica as it was a genre I knew well. I’ve been reading it since I was eleven, but … I also knew I would not write it forever. I have always considered erotica as a short story/novella-length genre. I never intended to write novels of it.
I enjoy reading the mystery and thriller genres. There are many nuances contained in them and different ways to tell a story. I’m not a ‘blood and guts’ storyteller, so I don’t have the stomach to write police procedurals or crime novels. Where my interest lies is in the motivations of people. That is why I classify my book as a psychological mystery/thriller, because much of it is based on intellectual mind games.
The novel starts with a murder, but you don’t know who the killer is or who is killed. That is revealed only much later in the book through the interplay of the characters.
I think you got the balance just right. I often get put off by gratuitous violence in books. Yours was perfectly crafted.
I really enjoyed Stranger at Sunset. There are references in the book to James Bond, and in fact the setting is supposed to be where a James Bond film was made. Are you a James Bond fan, and if so do you prefer the books or movies and what is your favourite James Bond film/book?
EB: Thank you for your lovely compliment, Maria! Sunset Villa, the name of the resort in the book, is based on an actual place I stayed in Jamaica. The name is fictitious, but it was located next to where Ian Fleming lived and wrote his James Bond novels.
I love spy thrillers and James Bond, of course. My favorites are the old films with Sean Connery. I also liked Casino Royale. As for the books, I haven’t read all of them, but I remember being totally engrossed with From Russia with Love. I was a teenager when I read it, and it seemed magical and sexy. I loved the “foreign-ness” of it, both in the language Fleming used and in the story itself.
I saw the films on TV as a child as my dad was a fan, so I have a few memories of them, but quite distant memories LOL.
I understand that Stranger at Sunset was inspired by a trip you took to Jamaica. Tell us a bit about that trip and what you'd recommend people see if they go there?
EB: Jamaica has many attractions and I was close to Ocho Rios. The small villa I stayed at was near Dunn’s River Falls and James Bond Beach. I’d recommend snorkeling and swimming if you love the water. There is also the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, which was established to protect the underwater sea life. I’m not a deep-sea diver, but I’ve been told you can see spectacular species of marine life in certain areas.
It sounds lovely :)
Your main character, Kate Hampton, is a psychiatrist. This involves knowledge about various mental health issues. How did you go about doing your research for this element of the book?
EB: I’ve always had an interest in psychology, and at one time wanted to get into it as a profession. Given that, I still read texts from the field, and one of my go-to books is the seminal work of Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley’s The Mask of Sanity. A professional in the field recommended it to me.
Cleckley was an American psychiatrist, and the book describes his interviews with patients in a locked institution. His detailed clinical description of psychopathy is still relevant today even though the book was written back in the forties.
I was also a student of Freud’s writings, but many of his observations are no longer studied. It all makes for good fiction though.
Are any of your characters based on real people?
EB: I’ve borrowed bits and parts of people, but no character is 100% true to anyone I know. Part of writing fiction is the fun of expanding on certain traits, but there were a couple of characters I had to tone down from real world people I knew. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
LOL, I know what you mean.
Apart from the series, are you working on any other projects?
EB: I don’t write a novel fast enough yet to work on too many writing projects at once. I keep an active blog, promote myself and other writers I respect, and try to do a couple of charity events each year. It keeps me out of trouble.
Do you write every day?
EB: Yes. I think it’s important, even if it’s only a short blog or an entry into a journal. The process of putting words together on paper (on screen) exercises the brain in a way only writing can.
What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
EB: It was Hellgoing by Lynn Coady, a former Canadian journalist. It’s a book of nine short stories. I’d recommend it because she’s a visual writer, and her stories are unique.
I love short stories, so I'll add that to my list!
Which authors have inspired your writing?
EB: Many. In erotica—Miller, Nin, Nabakov. In literary fiction, Bukowski, Fowles, Murakami, Steinbeck, and others. I tend toward the classics though I read a lot of indie authors too, and many have inspired me as well.
Do you have any tips for writers who may be thinking about self-publishing a book?
I’m no expert, and I’ve learned by observing and doing. And making tons of mistakes along the way! The indie community is extremely supportive, and there is a lot of information out there to help a new author. There are more knowledgeable people than me who can talk to the ‘publishing’ side of writing.
My main tip is to keep writing. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned by writing continuously. The fact that I cringe a little by reading some of my older works is a good thing. It means I’ve moved on from there. I feel the mark of any writer, no matter how they are published, should be to improve with each book they write.
I totally agree, Eden
Stranger at Sunset is extremely well edited. Who edits/proofreads your work?
EB: Thank you, Maria, and I’m sure my amazing editor, Annetta Ribken would thank you too. What she does very well is look at the big picture of a manuscript—plot holes, inconsistencies, and problems with story structure. As the author, I can tend to get engrossed in the minutiae of the book because I know it intimately. Annetta has the ability to pull me back, which is tremendously helpful.
We work well together because neither of us engages our egos in the process of editing. Ultimately, we both want what is best for the book.
Who designs your book covers?
EB: JB Graphics in Toronto designs all my book covers and media. His work is clean, spare, and appeals to my sense of aesthetics. I don’t like overly “busy” covers, and he has a way of ensuring the cover sets a mood for the book. I’m a visual person, and I love color, images, and fonts. They all need to blend together well to create a good cover.
You have great book covers!
Do you have any other news for your fans?
EB: One exciting piece of news was the partnership of Stranger at Sunset with iTunes, which I’m unaware another author has done. My book has a soundtrack!
Before the book came out, I used certain songs leading up to its release as clues for the story. It seemed only natural to pair my two loves—music and words. You can sample and buy the play list here:
iTunes Playlist
For now though, I’m working hard to promote Stranger at Sunset while drafting the next two books in the series. I will also be doing some free giveaways of my backlist. Announcements will be made on my monthly newsletter, so I encourage readers to add their names to my mailing list.
Many thanks for the interview Maria. I really appreciate all you to do. It’s been a pleasure to chat with you.
Thank you for being a guest here, Eden!
I love that iTunes idea, and I'm not aware of other authors having done that, either! :)
Author Bio
Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such as: travel; humor; music; poetry; art; and much more.
Stranger at Sunset is her first mystery novel, on the heels of several books of erotic anthologies and short stories. She writes in multiple genres.
An introvert by nature and an extrovert by design, Eden is most comfortable at home with her laptop surrounded by books. She is an online Scrabble junkie and a social media enthusiast, but she really needs to get out more often!
To stay apprised of Eden’s book-related news, please add your name to her mailing list.
Links:
Website: http://edenbayleebooks.com/
Blog: http://edenbaylee.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edenbaylee
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/edenbaylee/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/pub/eden-baylee/31/62...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edenbaylee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/edenbaylee
Get your copy of Stranger at Sunset from Amazon:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranger-at-S...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-at-Sun...
Worldwide: http://authl.it/B00L7BVDFM
Vacation can be a killer.
Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot, Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV game show.
It is January 2013, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane. The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review to restore their reputation.
Even though she is haunted by her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers?
Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As Kate's own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at Sunset may be the only one who can save her.
*********
After reading this wonderful book, I was keen to interview Eden about her writing and current plans:
How long have you been writing, and was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
EB: Informally, I’ve been writing since my mid-teens, but I took the leap to writing full-time January 2010. As for any defining moment, I can’t say there was. I know many authors say they’ve known all their lives they wanted to write. I’ve only ever known I had a rich fantasy life, and I’ve always loved to read.
I believe the combination of these two things pushed me toward writing.
How many books have you published? Which was the hardest to write and why?
EB: I have 13 books published. The first twelve are erotica – anthologies and short stories. My latest, Stranger at Sunset is a psychological mystery/thriller.
This last book was the hardest to write because it’s my first novel. I’ve never written anything this long before, so the structure was completely new for me. As a ‘pantser,’ I found it challenging, which is not a bad thing.
Stranger at Sunset is the first in a series, have you written the rest of the series yet, or is that something that you're still working at?
EB: Definitely still planning and writing them! It’s such a fine balance daily of researching, writing, promoting, and reading. I need 72 hours in a day if not more.
Wow! That's definitely a challenge!
Your latest book is a deviation for you as you usually write erotica. Why did you decide to venture into a different type of genre?
EB: When I set out to write full-time, I started with erotica as it was a genre I knew well. I’ve been reading it since I was eleven, but … I also knew I would not write it forever. I have always considered erotica as a short story/novella-length genre. I never intended to write novels of it.
I enjoy reading the mystery and thriller genres. There are many nuances contained in them and different ways to tell a story. I’m not a ‘blood and guts’ storyteller, so I don’t have the stomach to write police procedurals or crime novels. Where my interest lies is in the motivations of people. That is why I classify my book as a psychological mystery/thriller, because much of it is based on intellectual mind games.
The novel starts with a murder, but you don’t know who the killer is or who is killed. That is revealed only much later in the book through the interplay of the characters.
I think you got the balance just right. I often get put off by gratuitous violence in books. Yours was perfectly crafted.
I really enjoyed Stranger at Sunset. There are references in the book to James Bond, and in fact the setting is supposed to be where a James Bond film was made. Are you a James Bond fan, and if so do you prefer the books or movies and what is your favourite James Bond film/book?
EB: Thank you for your lovely compliment, Maria! Sunset Villa, the name of the resort in the book, is based on an actual place I stayed in Jamaica. The name is fictitious, but it was located next to where Ian Fleming lived and wrote his James Bond novels.
I love spy thrillers and James Bond, of course. My favorites are the old films with Sean Connery. I also liked Casino Royale. As for the books, I haven’t read all of them, but I remember being totally engrossed with From Russia with Love. I was a teenager when I read it, and it seemed magical and sexy. I loved the “foreign-ness” of it, both in the language Fleming used and in the story itself.
I saw the films on TV as a child as my dad was a fan, so I have a few memories of them, but quite distant memories LOL.
I understand that Stranger at Sunset was inspired by a trip you took to Jamaica. Tell us a bit about that trip and what you'd recommend people see if they go there?
EB: Jamaica has many attractions and I was close to Ocho Rios. The small villa I stayed at was near Dunn’s River Falls and James Bond Beach. I’d recommend snorkeling and swimming if you love the water. There is also the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, which was established to protect the underwater sea life. I’m not a deep-sea diver, but I’ve been told you can see spectacular species of marine life in certain areas.
It sounds lovely :)
Your main character, Kate Hampton, is a psychiatrist. This involves knowledge about various mental health issues. How did you go about doing your research for this element of the book?
EB: I’ve always had an interest in psychology, and at one time wanted to get into it as a profession. Given that, I still read texts from the field, and one of my go-to books is the seminal work of Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley’s The Mask of Sanity. A professional in the field recommended it to me.
Cleckley was an American psychiatrist, and the book describes his interviews with patients in a locked institution. His detailed clinical description of psychopathy is still relevant today even though the book was written back in the forties.
I was also a student of Freud’s writings, but many of his observations are no longer studied. It all makes for good fiction though.
Are any of your characters based on real people?
EB: I’ve borrowed bits and parts of people, but no character is 100% true to anyone I know. Part of writing fiction is the fun of expanding on certain traits, but there were a couple of characters I had to tone down from real world people I knew. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
LOL, I know what you mean.
Apart from the series, are you working on any other projects?
EB: I don’t write a novel fast enough yet to work on too many writing projects at once. I keep an active blog, promote myself and other writers I respect, and try to do a couple of charity events each year. It keeps me out of trouble.
Do you write every day?
EB: Yes. I think it’s important, even if it’s only a short blog or an entry into a journal. The process of putting words together on paper (on screen) exercises the brain in a way only writing can.
What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
EB: It was Hellgoing by Lynn Coady, a former Canadian journalist. It’s a book of nine short stories. I’d recommend it because she’s a visual writer, and her stories are unique.
I love short stories, so I'll add that to my list!
Which authors have inspired your writing?
EB: Many. In erotica—Miller, Nin, Nabakov. In literary fiction, Bukowski, Fowles, Murakami, Steinbeck, and others. I tend toward the classics though I read a lot of indie authors too, and many have inspired me as well.
Do you have any tips for writers who may be thinking about self-publishing a book?
I’m no expert, and I’ve learned by observing and doing. And making tons of mistakes along the way! The indie community is extremely supportive, and there is a lot of information out there to help a new author. There are more knowledgeable people than me who can talk to the ‘publishing’ side of writing.
My main tip is to keep writing. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned by writing continuously. The fact that I cringe a little by reading some of my older works is a good thing. It means I’ve moved on from there. I feel the mark of any writer, no matter how they are published, should be to improve with each book they write.
I totally agree, Eden
Stranger at Sunset is extremely well edited. Who edits/proofreads your work?
EB: Thank you, Maria, and I’m sure my amazing editor, Annetta Ribken would thank you too. What she does very well is look at the big picture of a manuscript—plot holes, inconsistencies, and problems with story structure. As the author, I can tend to get engrossed in the minutiae of the book because I know it intimately. Annetta has the ability to pull me back, which is tremendously helpful.
We work well together because neither of us engages our egos in the process of editing. Ultimately, we both want what is best for the book.
Who designs your book covers?
EB: JB Graphics in Toronto designs all my book covers and media. His work is clean, spare, and appeals to my sense of aesthetics. I don’t like overly “busy” covers, and he has a way of ensuring the cover sets a mood for the book. I’m a visual person, and I love color, images, and fonts. They all need to blend together well to create a good cover.
You have great book covers!
Do you have any other news for your fans?
EB: One exciting piece of news was the partnership of Stranger at Sunset with iTunes, which I’m unaware another author has done. My book has a soundtrack!
Before the book came out, I used certain songs leading up to its release as clues for the story. It seemed only natural to pair my two loves—music and words. You can sample and buy the play list here:
iTunes Playlist
For now though, I’m working hard to promote Stranger at Sunset while drafting the next two books in the series. I will also be doing some free giveaways of my backlist. Announcements will be made on my monthly newsletter, so I encourage readers to add their names to my mailing list.
Many thanks for the interview Maria. I really appreciate all you to do. It’s been a pleasure to chat with you.
Thank you for being a guest here, Eden!
I love that iTunes idea, and I'm not aware of other authors having done that, either! :)
Author Bio
Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such as: travel; humor; music; poetry; art; and much more.
Stranger at Sunset is her first mystery novel, on the heels of several books of erotic anthologies and short stories. She writes in multiple genres.
An introvert by nature and an extrovert by design, Eden is most comfortable at home with her laptop surrounded by books. She is an online Scrabble junkie and a social media enthusiast, but she really needs to get out more often!
To stay apprised of Eden’s book-related news, please add your name to her mailing list.
Links:
Website: http://edenbayleebooks.com/
Blog: http://edenbaylee.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edenbaylee
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/edenbaylee/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/pub/eden-baylee/31/62...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edenbaylee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/edenbaylee
Get your copy of Stranger at Sunset from Amazon:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranger-at-S...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-at-Sun...
Worldwide: http://authl.it/B00L7BVDFM
August 5, 2014
Lots of great FREE books!!!
I've heard about a few free book promotions that some of my author friends are doing at the moment. I think all of these will be worth a read, so you should grab them while they're free.
One free promo that is going on only for the next couple of days is: Nine Lives, a wonderful collection of short stories by the brilliant author Terry Tyler.
If you've never read any of her books, this short story collection is a fabulous way to sample her style. She writes contemporary fiction and creates very real characters. She's one of my favourite authors. When I pick up one of her books I always know I'll enjoy it.
Get your free copy of Nine Lives on Amazon worldwide between 5th - 7th August 2014.
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lives-Te...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lives-Terr...
Michael Pugh is giving away pdf copies of all of his books at the moment. I'm not sure how long this offer will go on for, so grab yours now :)
Here's a link to his website where you can read about and download the books:
http://theprojectsofmichaelpugh.com/a...
I haven't read any of his books yet, but they sound great!
Last but not least, Effrosyni Moschoudi is giving away both of her books on Amazon between 7th - 11th August 2014.
I'll be downloading both books. I haven't read her books, but they sound fascinating.
The Lady of the Pier is an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist!
Amazon:
UK: The Necklace of Goddess Athena: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Necklace-Godd...
The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Pier-Ebb...
US: The Necklace of Goddess Athena: http://www.amazon.com/Necklace-Goddes...
The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Pier-Ebb-E...
I hope you'll find some great stories to love, and if you enjoy these books, please think about leaving a nice review on Amazon.
Happy Reading!
One free promo that is going on only for the next couple of days is: Nine Lives, a wonderful collection of short stories by the brilliant author Terry Tyler.
If you've never read any of her books, this short story collection is a fabulous way to sample her style. She writes contemporary fiction and creates very real characters. She's one of my favourite authors. When I pick up one of her books I always know I'll enjoy it.
Get your free copy of Nine Lives on Amazon worldwide between 5th - 7th August 2014.
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nine-Lives-Te...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lives-Terr...
Michael Pugh is giving away pdf copies of all of his books at the moment. I'm not sure how long this offer will go on for, so grab yours now :)
Here's a link to his website where you can read about and download the books:
http://theprojectsofmichaelpugh.com/a...
I haven't read any of his books yet, but they sound great!
Last but not least, Effrosyni Moschoudi is giving away both of her books on Amazon between 7th - 11th August 2014.
I'll be downloading both books. I haven't read her books, but they sound fascinating.
The Lady of the Pier is an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist!
Amazon:
UK: The Necklace of Goddess Athena: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Necklace-Godd...
The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Pier-Ebb...
US: The Necklace of Goddess Athena: http://www.amazon.com/Necklace-Goddes...
The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Pier-Ebb-E...
I hope you'll find some great stories to love, and if you enjoy these books, please think about leaving a nice review on Amazon.
Happy Reading!
August 3, 2014
The Work In Progress (WIP) Blog Tour
I've been tagged by the talented Terry Tyler to take part in this blog tour. Terry's written lots of novels and short stories and I always love her books. You should try one if you haven't yet. I'd recommend 'You Wish...' as a starting point.
Here's a link to Terry's blog post: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/20...
The rules: Provide the link back to the post by the person who nominated you. Write a little about and give the first sentences of the first three chapters of your current WIP, then nominate four other writers to do the same.
Untitled
(Well, that's a bit of a lie as I do have a title for it, but I think I want to keep it under wraps for now!)
My current WIP is a novel. It started life as an idea for a short story, but then another idea was formed, and another, until the only way to fit everything in would be to write it as a novel.
It's part horror, part comedy, part drama, part romance, and part unknown quantity as I am still writing it so I'm not sure where this tale will lead. I'm really enjoying the writing process though, it seems that every time I pick up a pen to continue it, new ideas are born.
Chapter One
‘Can you kill it, Daddy? Please.’
Chapter Two
Abigail set the table as she did every evening.
Chapter Three
‘You’ll never guess what happened this morning when I was taking Robbie to school,’ said Roisin.
**********
I'm nominating the following 4 talented writers to reveal their WIPs :)
Lucy Pireel - http://www.lucypireel.com/
Jaleta Clegg - http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.co.uk/
Bianca Sloane - http://biancasloane.blogspot.co.uk/
Jennifer Lane - http://www.jenniferlanebooks.com/
Check out their blogs and their books!!
Here's a link to Terry's blog post: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/20...
The rules: Provide the link back to the post by the person who nominated you. Write a little about and give the first sentences of the first three chapters of your current WIP, then nominate four other writers to do the same.
Untitled
(Well, that's a bit of a lie as I do have a title for it, but I think I want to keep it under wraps for now!)
My current WIP is a novel. It started life as an idea for a short story, but then another idea was formed, and another, until the only way to fit everything in would be to write it as a novel.
It's part horror, part comedy, part drama, part romance, and part unknown quantity as I am still writing it so I'm not sure where this tale will lead. I'm really enjoying the writing process though, it seems that every time I pick up a pen to continue it, new ideas are born.
Chapter One
‘Can you kill it, Daddy? Please.’
Chapter Two
Abigail set the table as she did every evening.
Chapter Three
‘You’ll never guess what happened this morning when I was taking Robbie to school,’ said Roisin.
**********
I'm nominating the following 4 talented writers to reveal their WIPs :)
Lucy Pireel - http://www.lucypireel.com/
Jaleta Clegg - http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.co.uk/
Bianca Sloane - http://biancasloane.blogspot.co.uk/
Jennifer Lane - http://www.jenniferlanebooks.com/
Check out their blogs and their books!!
August 2, 2014
"Meet My Main Character" Blog Tour
I've been tagged by my fellow author Neil Winnington to take part in a blog challenge.
Here are the rules:
I have to write a post answering seven questions about a main character from one of my novels, then I nominate five other authors to answer the same questions about their main characters.
Here's a link to Neil's blog where he introduces Eva Compton-Snort a main character from his book Religious Pursuits. http://enwinauthor.blogspot.co.uk/201...
The main character I've chosen is Nigel Price, from my novel Haunted.
1. Tell us a little about this main character. Is he fictional or a historic person?
Nigel is fictional. He's a fifty-something man with a dark secret. We meet him at a point in his life when carrying the burden of his secret has become too much to bear.
2. When and where is the story set?
The story is set in London in the present day.
3. What should we know about him?
Nigel is a deeply disturbed man. He has lived with his secret for over 20 years and has already suffered a nervous breakdown years ago. He is a quiet man who likes to fade into the background. He works for a big company, but is on his own for most of the day in a small room where he's responsible for the mail, photocopying, and ordering stationary for the large organisation. He used to be a very successful man. In his twenties he was working as an IT specialist. He used to be loud and outspoken, but his secret has changed him.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?
An event that happened 20 years before in a moment of rage changed his life for good.
5. What is his personal goal?
Nigel lives from day to day. He wants to get his life back on track, wants to find a way to break through the guilt, and conquer the voices in his head.
6. What are the titles of your novels, and where can we read more about them?
Haunted is my latest novel, and definitely the darkest.
The others are:
Coincidences (originally published in 2001, second edition in 2012)
A Time to Tell (2006) - I'm currently working on a second edition that will be published towards the end of the year if everything goes to plan.
Second Chances (2010)
The Dream (2011)
You can read more about them on my website: http://www.mariasavva.com, and you can read excerpts on Microcerpt: http://microcerpt.com/mariasavva/
I also have lots of short story collections, and you can find out about them on my website, too.
7. When can we expect your next book to be published?
Well, the next book is a collaboration with photographers and other writers. It's part of the Mind's Eye Series. Darcia Helle and I wrote short stories inspired by photographs taken by Martin David Porter, and published Perspectives in April. We had so much fun that we decided to make it into a series of books and invite other authors and photographers. Book 2 will be called Reflections and will hopefully be published by the end of the year. It features more stories from me and Darcia, as well as poems from Ben Ditmars and Helle Gade, and short stories from Jason McIntyre and J. Michael Radcliffe. The photos in Reflections are by Helle and Martin.
Now I'll nominate five other authors... All these authors have written fantastic books and I'd recommend you try them!
Fantasy author, J. Michael Radcliffe, author of the excellent 'Beyond the Veil' series and many short stories. Michael owns 6 cats (although there may be more by now... he seems to get a new one every year!) He also loves dragons: http://michaelradcliffe.wordpress.com/
Talented writer, Laxmi Hariharan, who's currently at work on her Ruby Iyer series and about to release a new novel. She's a supportive writer who I met last year at the TLC writers' conference: http://www.laxmihariharan.com/
The wonderfully creative Julie Elizabeth Powell. Julie has written many books in multiple genres. She has written children's books, fantasy, murder/mystery, horror, and comedy. She is a friendly and supportive author: http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/
Fantasy author and astrologer, Alex Sumner. His 'Magus' series of books is great, and he writes a very interesting blog: http://solascendans.com/
Last but not least, the talented author Eden Baylee. She's written many literary erotica stories, and her latest book is a different genre. A brilliant murder/mystery set in the Caribbean. I have an interview with Eden coming up next week on my blog where she chats about her writing and her new release 'Stranger at Sunset.' Don't miss it!: http://edenbaylee.com/
Here are the rules:
I have to write a post answering seven questions about a main character from one of my novels, then I nominate five other authors to answer the same questions about their main characters.
Here's a link to Neil's blog where he introduces Eva Compton-Snort a main character from his book Religious Pursuits. http://enwinauthor.blogspot.co.uk/201...
The main character I've chosen is Nigel Price, from my novel Haunted.
1. Tell us a little about this main character. Is he fictional or a historic person?
Nigel is fictional. He's a fifty-something man with a dark secret. We meet him at a point in his life when carrying the burden of his secret has become too much to bear.
2. When and where is the story set?
The story is set in London in the present day.
3. What should we know about him?
Nigel is a deeply disturbed man. He has lived with his secret for over 20 years and has already suffered a nervous breakdown years ago. He is a quiet man who likes to fade into the background. He works for a big company, but is on his own for most of the day in a small room where he's responsible for the mail, photocopying, and ordering stationary for the large organisation. He used to be a very successful man. In his twenties he was working as an IT specialist. He used to be loud and outspoken, but his secret has changed him.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?
An event that happened 20 years before in a moment of rage changed his life for good.
5. What is his personal goal?
Nigel lives from day to day. He wants to get his life back on track, wants to find a way to break through the guilt, and conquer the voices in his head.
6. What are the titles of your novels, and where can we read more about them?
Haunted is my latest novel, and definitely the darkest.
The others are:
Coincidences (originally published in 2001, second edition in 2012)
A Time to Tell (2006) - I'm currently working on a second edition that will be published towards the end of the year if everything goes to plan.
Second Chances (2010)
The Dream (2011)
You can read more about them on my website: http://www.mariasavva.com, and you can read excerpts on Microcerpt: http://microcerpt.com/mariasavva/
I also have lots of short story collections, and you can find out about them on my website, too.
7. When can we expect your next book to be published?
Well, the next book is a collaboration with photographers and other writers. It's part of the Mind's Eye Series. Darcia Helle and I wrote short stories inspired by photographs taken by Martin David Porter, and published Perspectives in April. We had so much fun that we decided to make it into a series of books and invite other authors and photographers. Book 2 will be called Reflections and will hopefully be published by the end of the year. It features more stories from me and Darcia, as well as poems from Ben Ditmars and Helle Gade, and short stories from Jason McIntyre and J. Michael Radcliffe. The photos in Reflections are by Helle and Martin.
Now I'll nominate five other authors... All these authors have written fantastic books and I'd recommend you try them!
Fantasy author, J. Michael Radcliffe, author of the excellent 'Beyond the Veil' series and many short stories. Michael owns 6 cats (although there may be more by now... he seems to get a new one every year!) He also loves dragons: http://michaelradcliffe.wordpress.com/
Talented writer, Laxmi Hariharan, who's currently at work on her Ruby Iyer series and about to release a new novel. She's a supportive writer who I met last year at the TLC writers' conference: http://www.laxmihariharan.com/
The wonderfully creative Julie Elizabeth Powell. Julie has written many books in multiple genres. She has written children's books, fantasy, murder/mystery, horror, and comedy. She is a friendly and supportive author: http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/
Fantasy author and astrologer, Alex Sumner. His 'Magus' series of books is great, and he writes a very interesting blog: http://solascendans.com/
Last but not least, the talented author Eden Baylee. She's written many literary erotica stories, and her latest book is a different genre. A brilliant murder/mystery set in the Caribbean. I have an interview with Eden coming up next week on my blog where she chats about her writing and her new release 'Stranger at Sunset.' Don't miss it!: http://edenbaylee.com/
July 30, 2014
Congratulations to the winners of Far Away In Time, and an update!
The giveaway for Far Away In Time is now over. Thank you to everyone who entered. Congratulations to Sarah, Adrian, Maggie, Spencer, and Elliott, who are the lucky winners of signed paperback copies!
I will try to get those in the post for you tomorrow. I hope you enjoy the stories :)
Now, a short update about my writing. What have I been working on recently? you ask.
Well...
My second novel, A Time to Tell, originally published in 2006, is currently with my proofreader Perfect Prose as I'm preparing a second edition. It has been fully edited. I think I'll get the book back from my proofreader in September, then will send it out to beta readers.
Secondly, I'm working on a new novel. It started off as a short story but then took on a life of its own. I am having fun writing it. It has elements of drama, suspense, romance, thriller, comedy, and even horror, with a sprinkling of the paranormal.
Following the publication of Perspectives in April, the second book in the Mind's Eye Series is now almost ready to be published.
It will be called 'Reflections', and feature stories and poems from Helle Gade, Jason McIntyre, Ben Ditmars, Darcia Helle, J. Michael Radcliffe, Martin David Porter, and myself. The stories/poems were inspired by photographs taken by Martin and Helle. The cover has been designed by Jason McIntyre and it's brilliant. Hopefully I'll be able to do a cover reveal soon!
That's all for now. Watch this space for more soon :)
I will try to get those in the post for you tomorrow. I hope you enjoy the stories :)
Now, a short update about my writing. What have I been working on recently? you ask.
Well...
My second novel, A Time to Tell, originally published in 2006, is currently with my proofreader Perfect Prose as I'm preparing a second edition. It has been fully edited. I think I'll get the book back from my proofreader in September, then will send it out to beta readers.
Secondly, I'm working on a new novel. It started off as a short story but then took on a life of its own. I am having fun writing it. It has elements of drama, suspense, romance, thriller, comedy, and even horror, with a sprinkling of the paranormal.
Following the publication of Perspectives in April, the second book in the Mind's Eye Series is now almost ready to be published.
It will be called 'Reflections', and feature stories and poems from Helle Gade, Jason McIntyre, Ben Ditmars, Darcia Helle, J. Michael Radcliffe, Martin David Porter, and myself. The stories/poems were inspired by photographs taken by Martin and Helle. The cover has been designed by Jason McIntyre and it's brilliant. Hopefully I'll be able to do a cover reveal soon!
That's all for now. Watch this space for more soon :)
July 24, 2014
An interview with author M. R. Cosby
I haven't done any author interviews for a while, have I? I've kind of missed it. I'm planning a few in the coming weeks.
Today, I have author M.R. Cosby (Martin Cosby) as my guest. I met him online over a year ago and at that time he was working on his first collection of short stories having had a couple of stories published in an anthology. He's very friendly and very supportive of fellow authors. His debut collection of short stories has just been published.
I love short stories and am always trying to convince people to read more of them. People usually choose novels and the poor short story collections get left behind, but there are so many gems out there. I know that Martin is a big fan of short stories both reading and writing them, so that made me even more keen to invite him here for a chat.
I had the pleasure of reading Dying Embers recently. It's a book that you savour because it's so full of description that makes the stories vivid and come alive in your mind. Martin describes his fiction as 'strange', and I can see why, there is never a predictable ending to any of his stories and many of them involve different dimensions and paranormal elements. If you're a literary fiction fan you should definitely grab a copy of this collection.
Now, without further ado, here's the interview:
INTERVIEW with M.R. Cosby
How long have you been writing, and was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I still don’t think of myself as “a writer”. I do write, of course, but I feel that my L-plates are still firmly attached. All my life, I’ve wanted to write, but it took the passing of many years before I could convince myself I had anything of worth to say.
Hmm... I think that's perfectly normal, most of the best writers I know are not very confident about their writing ability. As Ernest Hemingway said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” :)
Up to now you've only written short stories. What is it about the short story form that appeals to you, and do you have any favourite short story writers?
Short stories appeal to me because not one word is wasted. I love poetry too for the same reason. There are so many short story writers I admire. Robert Aickman is top of the list, followed by the likes of M.R. James, L.T.C. Rolt, John Metcalfe and Eleanor Scott. There’s also a lot going on right now, and my favourite contemporary writers include Kaaron Warren, James Everington, Rebecca Lloyd, Mark Fuller-Dillon and John Gaskin. There are far too many to list here!
I love James Everington's writing, too. I'll have to check out the others!
You've said that your stories are loosely based on your own life. Was that intentional or did your own life find its way into the fiction?
I could not have started to write about anything other than my own life. I began by attempting my memoirs, which gave me the confidence to at least put pen to paper. As I listed anecdotes, it occurred to me that within my experience there lurked some strange occurrences…
Mine is the other way around. I never intentionally put any of my own life experiences into my books, but when I read over them I realise many of them could almost be memoirs!!
Which of the stories in Dying Embers do you think contains the most fact?
All the tales contain a fair bit of my life, as I find it very difficult to “make anything up”. Perhaps the two that spring to mind would be The Next Terrace and Unit 6. In fact the latter is almost all true apart from the precise climax.
You lean more towards 'strange' or 'weird' fiction in your own writing. Do you set out to write those types of tales or is it something that just happens in the writing process?
I confess; at the moment I set out to create ‘strange adventures’. I think it’s been useful for me to be able to place what I’ve been doing into some kind of a compartment. I’m not yet confident enough about my own writing for it to stand completely on its own merits (or otherwise). So to be able to place what I do into a ‘genre’, much as I hate that word, has taken the pressure off.
Do you ever plan your stories or just start writing and see what happens?
I never plan. I like to think of an opening paragraph, which might lead me more or less in the direction I want; then I see what happens. I try to intrigue myself as I write.
Yes, I like doing that too. It's always fun when the story is a mystery to me even as I write it :)
If I remember rightly I think you were intending to self-publish your short story collection, but were then approached by your publisher. How did that come about, and what made you decide to use a publishing company rather than publish on your own?
I was all ready to self-publish, but, as I put some effort into social media, I was ‘followed’ on Twitter by Satalyte Publishing, which was looking for Australian writers. I thought nothing would come of it, but nonetheless I popped all of Dying Embers into a Word document and sent it off to Stephen Ormsby at Satalyte. To my delight he said it would fit in with his schedule for this year. The attraction to me of being published was that I was so new to the scene; so that I felt it would be invaluable to find out how everything worked within the industry. So far, my experience has been very positive, thanks to all at Satalyte.
That's great! I'm glad it's working out well for you.
You've been getting some great reviews for Dying Embers. What is the best thing that someone has said about your stories so far?
Thanks Maria. Yes, I’m very happy with the reviews, and I’m humbled that so many readers have taken the time and effort to write them. To have been mentioned in the same sentence as M.R. James (however undeserved) makes me very happy!
How long did it take you to write the stories that appear in Dying Embers?
A few of the stories had been on the back-burner for six or seven years (Abraham’s Bosom and Necessary Procedure). However, from the time I began The Next Terrace until publication of the collection was around three years. Writing, for me, is very much a secondary activity, as I look after our two children most of the time.
Do you have a favourite story that you've written? If so, why is it your favourite?
Perhaps the story that came together in the most satisfying way was The Source of the Lea. Again, it’s an intensely personal tale, and it took a long time to get the sequence of events working in the best way.
I've heard it said often that readers prefer novels, and short stories are not as popular. What would you say to someone to convince them that they should read short stories?
I believe short stories are becoming more popular. Certainly, a lot of writers are producing a lot of excellent collections and anthologies – I’m finding it extremely difficult to keep up with the reviews these days. I would say this to the reluctant short story reader; by reading short stories, you are experiencing the very essence of storytelling. No one ever wrote a collection of short stories to make any money. For sure, it’s been written for the sheer love of it, and it’s not often that happens these days, is it?
What are you working on now?
I have a number of short stories on the go, which may be linked so as to read as a kind of “novel”. They are similarly dark, but I’m trying to give myself a little more leeway when it comes plot structure. I suppose I’m experimenting a little bit.
Always good to experiment!
When you read, do you prefer paperbacks or eBooks?
I love both. I collect old books (particularly Robert Aickman first-editions) and our house is indeed full of thousands of all kinds of books. However, I also love my kindle. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s changed my life. I have hundreds of books on the thing, and to have them all available to me wherever I am is just wonderful, especially on my frequent overseas trips. The truth is, it hasn’t stopped me from buying physical books as well. I’m willing to risk all sorts of cheaper and more convenient electronic purchases, and that has opened my eyes to many writers new to me.
If you met your favourite author and asked him/her a question about writing, what would it be?
I would ask Robert Aickman about his editing process. Legend has it that he would dictate his stories directly to his secretary, and it would go on to the publisher to be printed without change, not even to punctuation. I would like to know the truth behind this, as my own experience with publication has been, quite rightly, rather different!
Wow! If it is true, he must have been a rare genius!
Do you have any other news for your readers?
I’d just like to say a big thank you to all my readers – and to tell them, if they are so inclined, to keep an eye out for something new from me later in the year.
Wonderful! I'll be looking out for that!
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
You can keep up with Martin's news on his social media sites:
Website: http://www.martincosby.com/
Blog: http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_RCosby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrcosbyauthor
You can buy the book on Amazon:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Embers-...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Embers-M-...
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/Dying-Embers...
Or on Satalyte Publishing's website:
http://satalyte.com.au/product/dying-...
Happy Reading!
Today, I have author M.R. Cosby (Martin Cosby) as my guest. I met him online over a year ago and at that time he was working on his first collection of short stories having had a couple of stories published in an anthology. He's very friendly and very supportive of fellow authors. His debut collection of short stories has just been published.
I love short stories and am always trying to convince people to read more of them. People usually choose novels and the poor short story collections get left behind, but there are so many gems out there. I know that Martin is a big fan of short stories both reading and writing them, so that made me even more keen to invite him here for a chat.
I had the pleasure of reading Dying Embers recently. It's a book that you savour because it's so full of description that makes the stories vivid and come alive in your mind. Martin describes his fiction as 'strange', and I can see why, there is never a predictable ending to any of his stories and many of them involve different dimensions and paranormal elements. If you're a literary fiction fan you should definitely grab a copy of this collection.
Now, without further ado, here's the interview:
INTERVIEW with M.R. Cosby
How long have you been writing, and was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I still don’t think of myself as “a writer”. I do write, of course, but I feel that my L-plates are still firmly attached. All my life, I’ve wanted to write, but it took the passing of many years before I could convince myself I had anything of worth to say.
Hmm... I think that's perfectly normal, most of the best writers I know are not very confident about their writing ability. As Ernest Hemingway said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” :)
Up to now you've only written short stories. What is it about the short story form that appeals to you, and do you have any favourite short story writers?
Short stories appeal to me because not one word is wasted. I love poetry too for the same reason. There are so many short story writers I admire. Robert Aickman is top of the list, followed by the likes of M.R. James, L.T.C. Rolt, John Metcalfe and Eleanor Scott. There’s also a lot going on right now, and my favourite contemporary writers include Kaaron Warren, James Everington, Rebecca Lloyd, Mark Fuller-Dillon and John Gaskin. There are far too many to list here!
I love James Everington's writing, too. I'll have to check out the others!
You've said that your stories are loosely based on your own life. Was that intentional or did your own life find its way into the fiction?
I could not have started to write about anything other than my own life. I began by attempting my memoirs, which gave me the confidence to at least put pen to paper. As I listed anecdotes, it occurred to me that within my experience there lurked some strange occurrences…
Mine is the other way around. I never intentionally put any of my own life experiences into my books, but when I read over them I realise many of them could almost be memoirs!!
Which of the stories in Dying Embers do you think contains the most fact?
All the tales contain a fair bit of my life, as I find it very difficult to “make anything up”. Perhaps the two that spring to mind would be The Next Terrace and Unit 6. In fact the latter is almost all true apart from the precise climax.
You lean more towards 'strange' or 'weird' fiction in your own writing. Do you set out to write those types of tales or is it something that just happens in the writing process?
I confess; at the moment I set out to create ‘strange adventures’. I think it’s been useful for me to be able to place what I’ve been doing into some kind of a compartment. I’m not yet confident enough about my own writing for it to stand completely on its own merits (or otherwise). So to be able to place what I do into a ‘genre’, much as I hate that word, has taken the pressure off.
Do you ever plan your stories or just start writing and see what happens?
I never plan. I like to think of an opening paragraph, which might lead me more or less in the direction I want; then I see what happens. I try to intrigue myself as I write.
Yes, I like doing that too. It's always fun when the story is a mystery to me even as I write it :)
If I remember rightly I think you were intending to self-publish your short story collection, but were then approached by your publisher. How did that come about, and what made you decide to use a publishing company rather than publish on your own?
I was all ready to self-publish, but, as I put some effort into social media, I was ‘followed’ on Twitter by Satalyte Publishing, which was looking for Australian writers. I thought nothing would come of it, but nonetheless I popped all of Dying Embers into a Word document and sent it off to Stephen Ormsby at Satalyte. To my delight he said it would fit in with his schedule for this year. The attraction to me of being published was that I was so new to the scene; so that I felt it would be invaluable to find out how everything worked within the industry. So far, my experience has been very positive, thanks to all at Satalyte.
That's great! I'm glad it's working out well for you.
You've been getting some great reviews for Dying Embers. What is the best thing that someone has said about your stories so far?
Thanks Maria. Yes, I’m very happy with the reviews, and I’m humbled that so many readers have taken the time and effort to write them. To have been mentioned in the same sentence as M.R. James (however undeserved) makes me very happy!
How long did it take you to write the stories that appear in Dying Embers?
A few of the stories had been on the back-burner for six or seven years (Abraham’s Bosom and Necessary Procedure). However, from the time I began The Next Terrace until publication of the collection was around three years. Writing, for me, is very much a secondary activity, as I look after our two children most of the time.
Do you have a favourite story that you've written? If so, why is it your favourite?
Perhaps the story that came together in the most satisfying way was The Source of the Lea. Again, it’s an intensely personal tale, and it took a long time to get the sequence of events working in the best way.
I've heard it said often that readers prefer novels, and short stories are not as popular. What would you say to someone to convince them that they should read short stories?
I believe short stories are becoming more popular. Certainly, a lot of writers are producing a lot of excellent collections and anthologies – I’m finding it extremely difficult to keep up with the reviews these days. I would say this to the reluctant short story reader; by reading short stories, you are experiencing the very essence of storytelling. No one ever wrote a collection of short stories to make any money. For sure, it’s been written for the sheer love of it, and it’s not often that happens these days, is it?
What are you working on now?
I have a number of short stories on the go, which may be linked so as to read as a kind of “novel”. They are similarly dark, but I’m trying to give myself a little more leeway when it comes plot structure. I suppose I’m experimenting a little bit.
Always good to experiment!
When you read, do you prefer paperbacks or eBooks?
I love both. I collect old books (particularly Robert Aickman first-editions) and our house is indeed full of thousands of all kinds of books. However, I also love my kindle. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s changed my life. I have hundreds of books on the thing, and to have them all available to me wherever I am is just wonderful, especially on my frequent overseas trips. The truth is, it hasn’t stopped me from buying physical books as well. I’m willing to risk all sorts of cheaper and more convenient electronic purchases, and that has opened my eyes to many writers new to me.
If you met your favourite author and asked him/her a question about writing, what would it be?
I would ask Robert Aickman about his editing process. Legend has it that he would dictate his stories directly to his secretary, and it would go on to the publisher to be printed without change, not even to punctuation. I would like to know the truth behind this, as my own experience with publication has been, quite rightly, rather different!
Wow! If it is true, he must have been a rare genius!
Do you have any other news for your readers?
I’d just like to say a big thank you to all my readers – and to tell them, if they are so inclined, to keep an eye out for something new from me later in the year.
Wonderful! I'll be looking out for that!
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
You can keep up with Martin's news on his social media sites:
Website: http://www.martincosby.com/
Blog: http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_RCosby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrcosbyauthor
You can buy the book on Amazon:
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Embers-...
US: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Embers-M-...
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/Dying-Embers...
Or on Satalyte Publishing's website:
http://satalyte.com.au/product/dying-...
Happy Reading!
July 8, 2014
TLC's Writers' Conference 2014 - How can writers get funding?
At the recent TLC's "Writing in a Digital Age" conference, there was a panel of experts talking about available funding in the UK for writers.
Here's a breakdown of what is available out there:
Society of Authors
They give away £200K per year
Writers in financial difficulty can apply to them for funding. See the terms and conditions and details on their website, including how to apply: http://www.societyofauthors.org/grant...
They also have grants available for works in progress, and various prizes for authors: http://www.societyofauthors.org/grant...
Arts Council
Anyone can apply for an Arts Council grant to, but you have to pitch your project well. You have to demonstrate a good track record and a good reason for needing the grant.
In the past they have given funds to authors who, for example, had to travel abroad for research.
To be successful, you usually have to be endorsed by other organisations e.g. publishers.
Find out more about what they have to offer and how to apply on their website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
The Literary Platform
Website: http://www.theliteraryplatform.com/
The representative talked about two arts programmes they have:
1. The Writing Platform Bursary: http://www.theliteraryplatform.com/co...
2. Annual prize also open to self-published writers - £5,000 to each of the 8 books selected. Find out how to apply here:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/jer...
Other prizes and sources of funding that were mentioned:
Folio Prize. Read more about it here: http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/i...
Guardian First Book Award: http://www.theguardian.com/books/guar...
Royal Literary Fund Scholarship Scheme: http://www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipschem...
The Literary Consultancy has a Free Read Scheme to assess your manuscript. Follow the link for more details: http://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/edit...
IdeasTap Funding: http://www.ideastap.com/Funding
Winston Churchill Travel Fund: http://www.wcmt.org.uk/
Also, all UK writers should make sure they're signed up and have their books listed with Public Lending Right: http://www.plr.uk.com/ and ALCS: http://www.alcs.co.uk/
It was stated that there are more opportunities for funding/grants etc. in the UK than anywhere else in the world.
If you're a writer, have a look at all the sites above and see whether there's anything you can apply for!
Here's a breakdown of what is available out there:
Society of Authors
They give away £200K per year
Writers in financial difficulty can apply to them for funding. See the terms and conditions and details on their website, including how to apply: http://www.societyofauthors.org/grant...
They also have grants available for works in progress, and various prizes for authors: http://www.societyofauthors.org/grant...
Arts Council
Anyone can apply for an Arts Council grant to, but you have to pitch your project well. You have to demonstrate a good track record and a good reason for needing the grant.
In the past they have given funds to authors who, for example, had to travel abroad for research.
To be successful, you usually have to be endorsed by other organisations e.g. publishers.
Find out more about what they have to offer and how to apply on their website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
The Literary Platform
Website: http://www.theliteraryplatform.com/
The representative talked about two arts programmes they have:
1. The Writing Platform Bursary: http://www.theliteraryplatform.com/co...
2. Annual prize also open to self-published writers - £5,000 to each of the 8 books selected. Find out how to apply here:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/jer...
Other prizes and sources of funding that were mentioned:
Folio Prize. Read more about it here: http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/i...
Guardian First Book Award: http://www.theguardian.com/books/guar...
Royal Literary Fund Scholarship Scheme: http://www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipschem...
The Literary Consultancy has a Free Read Scheme to assess your manuscript. Follow the link for more details: http://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/edit...
IdeasTap Funding: http://www.ideastap.com/Funding
Winston Churchill Travel Fund: http://www.wcmt.org.uk/
Also, all UK writers should make sure they're signed up and have their books listed with Public Lending Right: http://www.plr.uk.com/ and ALCS: http://www.alcs.co.uk/
It was stated that there are more opportunities for funding/grants etc. in the UK than anywhere else in the world.
If you're a writer, have a look at all the sites above and see whether there's anything you can apply for!
June 27, 2014
TLC's Writers' Conference 2014 - A look at the past 12 months in the publishing industry
At the recent TLC writers' conference there was an interesting discussion chaired by Claire Armitstead of The Guardian about the changes that have occurred in the past 12 months in the book publishing world and a few predictions for the coming year.
Steve Bohme from Nielsen Book started the discussion by providing some figures about books sales and current trends. The information was taken from Book Scan data, which is the long-scale tracking of print book sales. He confirmed that Nielsen will shortly be introducing this for eBooks. Information was also provided by reference to customer surveys about book-buying habits.
Here are some of the results from 2013 (based on UK data):
1. In the UK in 2013 323 million books were bought. The book sales market is stable. There was a 4% decrease in sales overall compared to the previous year, but it's believed that was due to the phenomenal success of 'Fifty Shades' in 2012 boosting sales for that year.
2. There was a decrease of 10% in the amount of printed books bought in 2013 but an increase of 20% in the purchase of eBooks. There is a definite shift in book buying habits from print to digital.
3. Interestingly, there was a 79% increase in purchases of self-published books. In 2013 18 million self-published books were bought. This is a fast growing part of the market.
4. 5% of all books bought last year were self-published (it was pointed out, however, that it is sometimes difficult to track self-published books).
So what types of books are people buying?
Top genres for UK fiction in 2013 were Thrillers overall, whether print, eBook, or self-published.
Overall, the top three genres were: Thrillers, Biography, General Fiction
The least popular overall were Romance, Historical fiction, and Food & Drink
However, things change slightly when you look at just eBooks. The top three popular eBook genres were: Thrillers, General Fiction, and Crime, with the least popular being Erotica, Children's books, Classic literature
There are different results if you just look at the most popular self-published books. Top three: Thrillers, Romance, Crime. The least popular for self-published fiction: Historical fiction, Horror/Ghost stories, Erotica.
How much are people paying for books?
Self-published books have lower prices on average between £3 and £3.99.
eBooks are mostly priced up to £5.99.
Most of the self-published eBooks are priced at around £2.
Most commonly eBooks are being bought for about £1, so probably when there are special deals on Amazon, but there are also quite a lot being bought for between £5 and £5.99.
Discovery of Books - 2013
How do people discover the books they choose to buy?
The most popular way overall is that they have read another book by that author or the book they buy is part of a series. The second most popular is by browsing in a bricks and mortar bookstore. Browsing online comes in third.
Looking at the data for only eBooks (both traditionally published and self-published), the most popular way is the same i.e. the reader has already read another book by the author or the book is part of a series. The second most popular way is browsing online, and interestingly, the third is 'following' the author on social networking sites e.g. Twitter. This shows the importance of authors building a following online.
When you look at how most self-published books are discovered, the most popular way is by readers browsing online. So online presence is very important for self-published authors and their books.
Other popular ways people are discovering books by self-published authors are by recommendations, following the author e.g. on Twitter, and by an advert or book trailer.
Browsing habits and discovery of books
For print books the most popular way people end up buying them is by searching for a specific book.
For eBooks, people browse by author.
For self-published books, people browse the recommendation sections and browse by subject/genre.
The fastest growth in browsing trends is people looking at the offer sections for the best deals in self-published books.
The data shows that planned purchases are less likely for self-published books, the most common factors for someone making the decision to purchase a particular self-published book will be the description, the author, the price.
The fastest growth is in readers becoming more familiar with some self-published authors and going on to purchase another of that author's books.
What influences the decision to buy a book?
Overall the three most popular factors will be 1. Author, 2. Subject, 3. Price
Other factors include, the book being part of a series, the blurb, characters, gift appeal.
For eBooks the findings are the same, except that eBooks are not working as gifts at the moment. Instead another influencing factor there might be the extract that is available online.
For self-published books the top 3 influencing factors are: 1. Price, 2. Blurb, 3. Subject.
Other influencing factors for self-published sales are: the book is part of a series, the reader is familiar with the author, extract available online, characters.
One major growth area is the trend for people buying more book series.
Who is buying books?
Buyer demographic for UK 2013:
60% - female
40% - male
Females over the age of 45 make up 25% of the book buyers.
Looking at the figures for self-published books alone, this changes. 70% of those buying self-published books are females and 32% are over 45.
52% of the buyers of self-published books are heavy readers, those who read lots of books, and they're most likely to try books by less well-known authors.
----------------------
The panel members for the discussion were invited to talk about how the industry has changed in the past 12 months.
James Gill, from United Agents said he thought the past 12 months were characterised by a narrowing of market channels. He thinks that more well-known authors can do well, better than they could have ten years ago, but less well-known authors will do worse than they could have ten years ago.
Stephen Page CEO of Faber & Faber, says the business of publishing is changing and the author has more choices. Self-publishing is a real option.
He says that for the past 20 years the publishing industry was trade-focussed, but this has been changed by the Internet. Now, it's a more customer-focussed industry.
He says that the obscurity factor is the biggest problem for self-published authors. Publishers can help with this because they are skilled in search engine optimisation, packaging, producing multiple formats, creating value to help sell books.
He says that Faber are still investing in authors and pay three million in advances per year.
Diego Marano of Kobo Writing Life said that because of the changes in technology an author/creator can deal directly with consumers and produce a book as good as a trade-published book. The key word is flexibility. He says, publishers wanted to do what they've always done, but that's no longer possible as things are changing. The business should be ready to embrace flexibility.
Some other interesting highlights from the discussion were:
1. Stephen Page wondered whether this is the greatest revolution in the industry since the printing press.
2. Publishers are changing the services they offer. For example, Faber launched a creative writing school 5-6 years ago as a service to writers. He thinks publishers now need to offer more.
3. Self-published books are getting more recognition in the media. For example, The Guardian launched the self-published book of the month.
4. Stephen Page said that the high street trade for publishers doesn't exist anymore, not as it did 20-30 years ago. Some areas of publishing are under threat.
5. Growth over the past year has been seen predominantly in self-published books.
6. Books are now being created in many different formats including as apps.
7. Agents and publishers want books to be commercial. Most 'literary' fiction only sells small numbers unless a book wins a major prize, like the Man Booker Prize and then can sell hundreds of thousands of copies overnight.
8. Traditional publishers are still taking months or years to provide authors with sales data, whereas with self-published books Amazon sales can be seen almost immediately.
-----------------------------
To sum up, the main concerns raised by those on the panel are of a dying high street book market and perhaps technology going too far and changing books into apps and videos rather than written word. On the bright side, there hasn't been a decline in book sales in the UK, people are still reading. A shift from print to digital can be clearly seen, with more recognition for self-published writers.
Steve Bohme from Nielsen Book started the discussion by providing some figures about books sales and current trends. The information was taken from Book Scan data, which is the long-scale tracking of print book sales. He confirmed that Nielsen will shortly be introducing this for eBooks. Information was also provided by reference to customer surveys about book-buying habits.
Here are some of the results from 2013 (based on UK data):
1. In the UK in 2013 323 million books were bought. The book sales market is stable. There was a 4% decrease in sales overall compared to the previous year, but it's believed that was due to the phenomenal success of 'Fifty Shades' in 2012 boosting sales for that year.
2. There was a decrease of 10% in the amount of printed books bought in 2013 but an increase of 20% in the purchase of eBooks. There is a definite shift in book buying habits from print to digital.
3. Interestingly, there was a 79% increase in purchases of self-published books. In 2013 18 million self-published books were bought. This is a fast growing part of the market.
4. 5% of all books bought last year were self-published (it was pointed out, however, that it is sometimes difficult to track self-published books).
So what types of books are people buying?
Top genres for UK fiction in 2013 were Thrillers overall, whether print, eBook, or self-published.
Overall, the top three genres were: Thrillers, Biography, General Fiction
The least popular overall were Romance, Historical fiction, and Food & Drink
However, things change slightly when you look at just eBooks. The top three popular eBook genres were: Thrillers, General Fiction, and Crime, with the least popular being Erotica, Children's books, Classic literature
There are different results if you just look at the most popular self-published books. Top three: Thrillers, Romance, Crime. The least popular for self-published fiction: Historical fiction, Horror/Ghost stories, Erotica.
How much are people paying for books?
Self-published books have lower prices on average between £3 and £3.99.
eBooks are mostly priced up to £5.99.
Most of the self-published eBooks are priced at around £2.
Most commonly eBooks are being bought for about £1, so probably when there are special deals on Amazon, but there are also quite a lot being bought for between £5 and £5.99.
Discovery of Books - 2013
How do people discover the books they choose to buy?
The most popular way overall is that they have read another book by that author or the book they buy is part of a series. The second most popular is by browsing in a bricks and mortar bookstore. Browsing online comes in third.
Looking at the data for only eBooks (both traditionally published and self-published), the most popular way is the same i.e. the reader has already read another book by the author or the book is part of a series. The second most popular way is browsing online, and interestingly, the third is 'following' the author on social networking sites e.g. Twitter. This shows the importance of authors building a following online.
When you look at how most self-published books are discovered, the most popular way is by readers browsing online. So online presence is very important for self-published authors and their books.
Other popular ways people are discovering books by self-published authors are by recommendations, following the author e.g. on Twitter, and by an advert or book trailer.
Browsing habits and discovery of books
For print books the most popular way people end up buying them is by searching for a specific book.
For eBooks, people browse by author.
For self-published books, people browse the recommendation sections and browse by subject/genre.
The fastest growth in browsing trends is people looking at the offer sections for the best deals in self-published books.
The data shows that planned purchases are less likely for self-published books, the most common factors for someone making the decision to purchase a particular self-published book will be the description, the author, the price.
The fastest growth is in readers becoming more familiar with some self-published authors and going on to purchase another of that author's books.
What influences the decision to buy a book?
Overall the three most popular factors will be 1. Author, 2. Subject, 3. Price
Other factors include, the book being part of a series, the blurb, characters, gift appeal.
For eBooks the findings are the same, except that eBooks are not working as gifts at the moment. Instead another influencing factor there might be the extract that is available online.
For self-published books the top 3 influencing factors are: 1. Price, 2. Blurb, 3. Subject.
Other influencing factors for self-published sales are: the book is part of a series, the reader is familiar with the author, extract available online, characters.
One major growth area is the trend for people buying more book series.
Who is buying books?
Buyer demographic for UK 2013:
60% - female
40% - male
Females over the age of 45 make up 25% of the book buyers.
Looking at the figures for self-published books alone, this changes. 70% of those buying self-published books are females and 32% are over 45.
52% of the buyers of self-published books are heavy readers, those who read lots of books, and they're most likely to try books by less well-known authors.
----------------------
The panel members for the discussion were invited to talk about how the industry has changed in the past 12 months.
James Gill, from United Agents said he thought the past 12 months were characterised by a narrowing of market channels. He thinks that more well-known authors can do well, better than they could have ten years ago, but less well-known authors will do worse than they could have ten years ago.
Stephen Page CEO of Faber & Faber, says the business of publishing is changing and the author has more choices. Self-publishing is a real option.
He says that for the past 20 years the publishing industry was trade-focussed, but this has been changed by the Internet. Now, it's a more customer-focussed industry.
He says that the obscurity factor is the biggest problem for self-published authors. Publishers can help with this because they are skilled in search engine optimisation, packaging, producing multiple formats, creating value to help sell books.
He says that Faber are still investing in authors and pay three million in advances per year.
Diego Marano of Kobo Writing Life said that because of the changes in technology an author/creator can deal directly with consumers and produce a book as good as a trade-published book. The key word is flexibility. He says, publishers wanted to do what they've always done, but that's no longer possible as things are changing. The business should be ready to embrace flexibility.
Some other interesting highlights from the discussion were:
1. Stephen Page wondered whether this is the greatest revolution in the industry since the printing press.
2. Publishers are changing the services they offer. For example, Faber launched a creative writing school 5-6 years ago as a service to writers. He thinks publishers now need to offer more.
3. Self-published books are getting more recognition in the media. For example, The Guardian launched the self-published book of the month.
4. Stephen Page said that the high street trade for publishers doesn't exist anymore, not as it did 20-30 years ago. Some areas of publishing are under threat.
5. Growth over the past year has been seen predominantly in self-published books.
6. Books are now being created in many different formats including as apps.
7. Agents and publishers want books to be commercial. Most 'literary' fiction only sells small numbers unless a book wins a major prize, like the Man Booker Prize and then can sell hundreds of thousands of copies overnight.
8. Traditional publishers are still taking months or years to provide authors with sales data, whereas with self-published books Amazon sales can be seen almost immediately.
-----------------------------
To sum up, the main concerns raised by those on the panel are of a dying high street book market and perhaps technology going too far and changing books into apps and videos rather than written word. On the bright side, there hasn't been a decline in book sales in the UK, people are still reading. A shift from print to digital can be clearly seen, with more recognition for self-published writers.
June 20, 2014
TLC's Writers' Conference 2014 - DRM: what is it, and do you need it?
The Keynote speech from the TLC writers' conference this year was from Cory Doctorow a successful Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author.
His speech centered around the use of DRM in digital publishing and he says we don't need it and shouldn't use it.
What's DRM?
When you publish an e-book you have the option to 'protect' the content with Digital Rights Management. This means that your book will be effectively locked and no one can copy the words and steal it. Well, that's the theory anyway.
This part of Cory's speech stood out for me because as an independent author I have always been concerned about piracy and I always check the box when I publish on Amazon to make sure my books are protected with DRM.
The truth is DRM doesn't make it impossible to steal the words. I have always been aware of the existence of software that can remove DRM, but I thought it's better to have the protection in the first place because any pirates might only target text that is easier to get hold of without having to go to the bother of getting software to remove the DRM. After hearing Cory's speech, I am left thinking that it probably doesn't make a difference whether you have DRM protection or not. The fact is your e-book is vulnerable to piracy either way.
Not only that, Cory thinks that you're actually giving away control of your work to the book seller e.g. Amazon, when you allow them to 'lock' your product.
Cory Doctorow says there are 3 things that publishers must understand for digital success. He calls it 'Doctorow's Law':
1. When someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you and won't give you the key, there is something wrong and it's not there for your benefit.
So this goes back to the DRM issue. It is illegal to remove DRM protection unless you're the company who published the product, so once you've given the go-ahead for DRM protection, you can't then change your mind with that particular product. However, pirates happily remove DRM immediately, and very easily.
Cory Doctorow is adamant that DRM doesn't prevent piracy.
2. Fame won't make you rich, but you'll have a hard time making sales if no one's heard of you.
Cory believes that the problem most digital publishers should be more concerned of is obscurity, not piracy.
It's becoming more common for publishers to approach and offer publishing deals to authors who are successful on Kindle.
Piracy can actually help you get noticed. It only takes one person to read your book and become a 'super-fan' and that may help with promotion. People who download from pirate sites will always be downloading that way, whether or not a book has DRM doesn't make the decision for them. Potentially, you are missing a market by 'locking' your books.
3. Information doesn't want to be free but people do
Cory says DRM hands over control to the companies that publish the digital material.
Information that’s supposed to be free and public is shut away, where it’s kept under lock and key. There is a law that prevents companies telling people about the flaws in DRM.
He says that his publisher (a Macmillan imprint in the US) has dropped DRM and hasn't seen a resulting fall in sales.
Cory says that most indie authors are naive about DRM.
*********
It was an interesting speech and definitely made me think.
One of the audience members did make a comment after the speech that perhaps the use of DRM has prevented large-scale piracy.
I'm not really sure where I stand on this. As an author, of course I don't like the idea of anyone getting my writing free when I hardly sell any books. Writing is hard work and authors deserve to be paid for it.
What I'm now thinking, though, after Cory's speech, is maybe I'm losing out on reaching a wider audience by insisting on DRM protection of my work.
It would be interesting to hear other authors' views on this topic.
________________________________________________________
I'll be posting some more stuff from the conference soon...
