Debbie Robson's Blog - Posts Tagged "bookcrossing"
A Lazy Afternoon?
Getting ready for the first bookcrossing meeting for 2010 at Hamilton tomorrow. I have books to register and do the release notes for, I have eight jobs to apply for in the next few days and all I REALLY want to do is curl up with a book for the rest of the arvo. Sigh.
Bookcrossing Novel
I have decided to regularly upload excerpts from my manuscript "Crossing Paths". I'm going to concentrate, for the moment at least on the releases.
Here's how one of my characters, a New Age writer named Jonathan Fairlight, discovers Bookcrossing at Polruan in Cornwall.
"While eating his lunch Jonathan couldn’t help staring at the woman opposite him. She seemed vaguely familiar. Where had he seen her? He was about to give up on the puzzle when he noticed that she had stood up and was walking towards him. She had left a book behind on her table. He got up to move to the back of the teashop to retrieve it when she stopped suddenly at his table and placed another book down near his left hand. He paused to try and read the title but it was upside down and in that moment she was off again, walking out of the teashop. He turned around and grabbed the book from his table and followed her outside into the warm sunshine. Jonathan stopped still and called out,
‘You left your book behind and another one too I believe.’ He watched as she turned to him slowly, in a rather aggrieved fashion.
‘Don’t worry about the other one. What’s it say on the front of the one you’re holding,’ she asked tiredly.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘What does the post-it note say on the front?’
Jonathan raised his eyebrows in surprise and bafflement.
‘What does it say?’ she repeated.
He looked down at the book in his hands. ‘It says, ‘Hi! I’m free. I’m a Bookcrossing book. See inside for details.’ Jonathan read this out slowly and clearly, feeling like a schoolboy.
‘It’s for you.’
Jonathan quickly read the title: 1979: A Big Year in a Small Town and the blurb on the back. It appeared the book was about a young schoolgirl’s coming of age in a small Scottish fishing village.
‘I don’t think so. You must have made a mistake. I mean this book….’
‘It’s for you to take home. I think you may know of someone to give it to.’ And with this she was off towards the quay where he noticed the ferry had returned and was churning towards the wharf.
He ran to catch up with her and as he came up beside her, he remembered where he had seen her: at Mr Bistro with Melloney. She had been two tables away. So the book was for Melloney.
‘I remember you from Mr. Bistro. You heard us talking? So you’re not psychic.’ He voiced the idea that had been running through his head a moment before.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that.’ With this remark she bustled onto the ferry, leaving Jonathan standing bemused, laughing until he remembered his half finished pot of tea and his quiche, which was probably cold by now. He returned to his table having missed by just a minute, an American woman pick up the other book, remarking to her husband, ‘Honey, would you look at this! It’s a Bookcrossing book. Why don’t I take it back home? Won’t that be fun!’
‘They’ll get a heck of a surprise when they see where it’s got to!’ her husband answered. Both of them laughed happily as they left the teashop with Jonathan passing them as he went back in."
Here's how one of my characters, a New Age writer named Jonathan Fairlight, discovers Bookcrossing at Polruan in Cornwall.
"While eating his lunch Jonathan couldn’t help staring at the woman opposite him. She seemed vaguely familiar. Where had he seen her? He was about to give up on the puzzle when he noticed that she had stood up and was walking towards him. She had left a book behind on her table. He got up to move to the back of the teashop to retrieve it when she stopped suddenly at his table and placed another book down near his left hand. He paused to try and read the title but it was upside down and in that moment she was off again, walking out of the teashop. He turned around and grabbed the book from his table and followed her outside into the warm sunshine. Jonathan stopped still and called out,
‘You left your book behind and another one too I believe.’ He watched as she turned to him slowly, in a rather aggrieved fashion.
‘Don’t worry about the other one. What’s it say on the front of the one you’re holding,’ she asked tiredly.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘What does the post-it note say on the front?’
Jonathan raised his eyebrows in surprise and bafflement.
‘What does it say?’ she repeated.
He looked down at the book in his hands. ‘It says, ‘Hi! I’m free. I’m a Bookcrossing book. See inside for details.’ Jonathan read this out slowly and clearly, feeling like a schoolboy.
‘It’s for you.’
Jonathan quickly read the title: 1979: A Big Year in a Small Town and the blurb on the back. It appeared the book was about a young schoolgirl’s coming of age in a small Scottish fishing village.
‘I don’t think so. You must have made a mistake. I mean this book….’
‘It’s for you to take home. I think you may know of someone to give it to.’ And with this she was off towards the quay where he noticed the ferry had returned and was churning towards the wharf.
He ran to catch up with her and as he came up beside her, he remembered where he had seen her: at Mr Bistro with Melloney. She had been two tables away. So the book was for Melloney.
‘I remember you from Mr. Bistro. You heard us talking? So you’re not psychic.’ He voiced the idea that had been running through his head a moment before.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that.’ With this remark she bustled onto the ferry, leaving Jonathan standing bemused, laughing until he remembered his half finished pot of tea and his quiche, which was probably cold by now. He returned to his table having missed by just a minute, an American woman pick up the other book, remarking to her husband, ‘Honey, would you look at this! It’s a Bookcrossing book. Why don’t I take it back home? Won’t that be fun!’
‘They’ll get a heck of a surprise when they see where it’s got to!’ her husband answered. Both of them laughed happily as they left the teashop with Jonathan passing them as he went back in."
Skive Magazine
I am so excited! An excerpt of (a chapter set in Athens) Crossing Paths is going to be featured in Skive Magazine Future, June 2010.
http://www.skivemagazine.com
I will update when the the Mazagine is online.
http://www.skivemagazine.com
I will update when the the Mazagine is online.
To All Corners of the Globe
Just posted off what should be the second last lot of letters to my BookCrossing helpers. Chapters and release forms have gone out to Greece, France, Belgium, Australia, USA, the UK and Canada.
One helper wrote back saying that the journal entry at the end of the chapter didn't seem to have anything to do with the chapter itself. I wrote back to say that yes, it appears that way as most of the journal entries generally refer to something that is about to happen rather than what has just happened. The whole novel is actually like a large jigsaw puzzle.
In Crossing Paths, 52 books are journalled and/or released. The BookCrossers are generally from geographical locations that feature in the storyline and sometimes the journal entries are actually clues to what is troubling some of the main characters. I have had a lot of fun deciding the fate of those 52 books and the three starring books are: If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, Tell Me the Truth About Love and The Loving Spirit.
One helper wrote back saying that the journal entry at the end of the chapter didn't seem to have anything to do with the chapter itself. I wrote back to say that yes, it appears that way as most of the journal entries generally refer to something that is about to happen rather than what has just happened. The whole novel is actually like a large jigsaw puzzle.
In Crossing Paths, 52 books are journalled and/or released. The BookCrossers are generally from geographical locations that feature in the storyline and sometimes the journal entries are actually clues to what is troubling some of the main characters. I have had a lot of fun deciding the fate of those 52 books and the three starring books are: If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, Tell Me the Truth About Love and The Loving Spirit.
Everything is coming together!
I had a very successful day today at Angus & Robertson bookstore in the Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle. Sold 11 copies of Tomaree, all but two of the last copies they have in stock, which is wonderful and I am in negotiations with two of the stores to conduct book signings for Crossing Paths before Christmas! I am one of their favourite authors for signings.
My publisher is also in the process of mocking up the cover for Crossing Paths and it is looking great!
And thirdly, I am just in the process of securing one of three very important literary permissions to feature several poems and prose in Crossing Paths. This first one is for the use of the wonderful Kenneth Fearing poem "Love 20c the First Quarter Mile". I have also received more than half the permissions back from my bcers.
Everything is definitely coming together!
Stay tuned.
My publisher is also in the process of mocking up the cover for Crossing Paths and it is looking great!
And thirdly, I am just in the process of securing one of three very important literary permissions to feature several poems and prose in Crossing Paths. This first one is for the use of the wonderful Kenneth Fearing poem "Love 20c the First Quarter Mile". I have also received more than half the permissions back from my bcers.
Everything is definitely coming together!
Stay tuned.
Synchronicities
It's all happening on the final run towards publication. Just today I received a postcard from the BookCrosser Angelbird72 who releases the book The Missing Reel in France. She is now IN FRANCE just as I am now tonight reading over the journal entry releasing the book in France.
I have these last few weeks also just sold all but the last four books of Tomaree clearing the decks for Crossing Paths and hoping to also catch a spot at the Sydney BookCrossing Convention in October.
Just approached Alain de Botton for a kind word about the novel (as two of his books are journalled in his pages). He said no but gave me warm wishes and the very best for publication which was nice.
And now back to the grindstone...
I have these last few weeks also just sold all but the last four books of Tomaree clearing the decks for Crossing Paths and hoping to also catch a spot at the Sydney BookCrossing Convention in October.
Just approached Alain de Botton for a kind word about the novel (as two of his books are journalled in his pages). He said no but gave me warm wishes and the very best for publication which was nice.
And now back to the grindstone...
And Another Synchronicity
Ten days ago I picked up from Cardiff Station, New South Wales BookCrosser Casseopaeia from Cardiff, Wales. As a present she gave me Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold, registered by one of my special BookCrossers that feature in Crossing Paths. The label is a very nice one too so it will be the perfect book to explain to potential buyers not just the concept of BookCrossing but of the novel itself. I can show them a book registered by flambard who also appears within the pages of my book!
Serendipitous!
Serendipitous!
The Book Has Arrived!
Of course I knew it was 600 pages but when you actually see it and hold it and feel the weight, well that's something else. I can't wait for bookcrossers, particuarly the ones featured, to see the book.
The journal entries look amazing and I hope my readers like the way 52 books are reviewed and journalled in the pages of Crossing Paths.
I'm like a kid at Christmas. I can't stop looking at the book!
a very excited
Debbie Robson
The journal entries look amazing and I hope my readers like the way 52 books are reviewed and journalled in the pages of Crossing Paths.
I'm like a kid at Christmas. I can't stop looking at the book!
a very excited
Debbie Robson
The Book is up for sale!
And the publisher just made the deadline of September 2010. I'm so proud of Crossing Paths and it looks great! It's 600
pages of 52 journalled books, a young woman travelling across three continents, poems and excerpts and three sets of lovers. Something for everyone! And here is the code for the discount - E77GWHPV for all my goodreads friends.
https://www.createspace.com/3482229
a very very happy
Debbie Robson
pages of 52 journalled books, a young woman travelling across three continents, poems and excerpts and three sets of lovers. Something for everyone! And here is the code for the discount - E77GWHPV for all my goodreads friends.
https://www.createspace.com/3482229
a very very happy
Debbie Robson
Where all my BookCrossers are within the book
Just for fun here is the list of my 40 real life BookCrossers who appear in Crossing Paths (along with my fictional BookCrossers) and the page numbers their journal entries are on.
TexasWren, page 18, first mention/deenbat, page 61, first mention/Lady-B, page 73/omly, page 86, first mention/minerswifebb, page 98/octoberskye, page 111, first mention/bookfrog, page 134, first mention/bookczuk, page 138/folia, page 159, first mention/thebiblioholic, page 175, first mention/lmn60, page 175, first mention/ottawabill, page 198, first mention/nobodysperfect, page 223/YvetteDownunder, page 226/dawni, page 234/geishabird, page 237/time-traveler, page 291, first mention/Azyade, page 315/bestfriends, page 322/Netstation, page 342/apapsa, page 352/ffc-fan, page 378/Humour108, page 384/asterw, page 395/Skyring, page 400/SwanOfKennet, page 410/flambard, page 416/mississippimom, page 426, first mention/lizzyblack, page 426, first mention/jessibud, page 437/liberliber, page 441/angelbird72, page 475, first mention/gypsyrose02, page 477/lesTomates, page 485/peachy93722, page 492/over-the-moon, page 500/Navig8r, page 529/amberjane, page 539/MissMarkey, page 557/talkland, page 562.
Where I have put "first mention" that means the BookCrosser is journalling a frequently travelled book or they perhaps send another pm. The three most travelled books in the novel are If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, The Loving Spirit and Tell Me the Truth About Love.
Virtual and real world meet!
TexasWren, page 18, first mention/deenbat, page 61, first mention/Lady-B, page 73/omly, page 86, first mention/minerswifebb, page 98/octoberskye, page 111, first mention/bookfrog, page 134, first mention/bookczuk, page 138/folia, page 159, first mention/thebiblioholic, page 175, first mention/lmn60, page 175, first mention/ottawabill, page 198, first mention/nobodysperfect, page 223/YvetteDownunder, page 226/dawni, page 234/geishabird, page 237/time-traveler, page 291, first mention/Azyade, page 315/bestfriends, page 322/Netstation, page 342/apapsa, page 352/ffc-fan, page 378/Humour108, page 384/asterw, page 395/Skyring, page 400/SwanOfKennet, page 410/flambard, page 416/mississippimom, page 426, first mention/lizzyblack, page 426, first mention/jessibud, page 437/liberliber, page 441/angelbird72, page 475, first mention/gypsyrose02, page 477/lesTomates, page 485/peachy93722, page 492/over-the-moon, page 500/Navig8r, page 529/amberjane, page 539/MissMarkey, page 557/talkland, page 562.
Where I have put "first mention" that means the BookCrosser is journalling a frequently travelled book or they perhaps send another pm. The three most travelled books in the novel are If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, The Loving Spirit and Tell Me the Truth About Love.
Virtual and real world meet!
