Anna Jones Buttimore's Blog, page 15
October 18, 2011
What You Might Not Know About Publishing
Some comments on my Facebook page made me realise that many people out there - and some reading this - may know very little about the business of publishing. Many of them may look at JK Rowling, Celia Ahern and Dan Brown and figure it's an easy way to make lots of money - see my tongue-in-cheek previous blog on http://annajonesbuttimore.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-think-ill-write-book.html.
So here are some things which may seem obvious to anyone who has been involved in the business, but which many others don't know about publishing:
Write your book first. Or at least, write most of it. Most agents and publishers are going to ask for a completed manuscript, not a proposal. This means that you may be writing it not knowing whether it will ever be published. Accept that the only person who ever enjoys your book may be you. A full-length novel should be between 75,000 and 100,000 words.Once it is written, you have a choice about how to publish it. The traditional route involves sending your manuscript, or a query letter about it, to agents or publishers. The other option is to self-publish, either as an ebook through something like Kindle Direct Publishing, or via what used to be called a Vanity press, such as Authorhouse or a smaller indie press. If you choose to self-publish, you pay for the publication and you do all the marketing. In most cases you design your own cover, write your own blurb, and have complete control over your book. It won't be edited, and it's likely your "publisher" won't even read it. It's hard work, it's expensive, you will lose a lot of money and your book will have no credibility in the market. I am enormously opposed to self publishing - I have already blogged about it here: http://annajonesbuttimore.blogspot.com/2010/08/vanity-publishing.html and probably will again before long.Assuming you want to be paid for your work, rather than paying for it, you then choose whether to send it to an agent or publisher (or both). Agents will take a cut of your royalties, but they will do all the hard work of selling your book to a publisher, and will probably get you a much better deal than you could get for yourself. Agents tend to be more approachable than publishers, and you will generally need to submit to them by a query letter rather than sending them your manuscript. To get their attention your query letter needs to be some of your best writing.Do your research first. Check out the websites of agents and publishers, and only send your work to those who are open to submissions in the genre you have written. Check what format they want it in and submit according to their guidelines. First three chapters only? Email or hard copy in the post?It's extremely rare to be offered an advance for your book - money up front to secure the right to publish. And advances tend to be relatively small - about £3,000 ($5,000). Bear in mind that this is an advance on royalties. Not only does it not mean that you won't get more money than you would with a normal arrangement, but you will need to check whether you have to pay it back should your book not sell as well as expected.It's more usual once a manuscript is accepted by a publisher to be offered a contract which awards you back 10-15% of receipts, sales or cover price in royalties. But don't plan what to spend it on, because not only is it impossible to predict how well your book will sell and thus how much you'll get, but royalties are, naturally, paid in arrears, so you may not get anything until up to a year after your book hits the shelves. It can take up to a year from your book being accepted to you holding it in your hands, and there's a lot of work involved during that year, mostly editing and advance marketing. Get used to it - you will be expected to put in your fair share of marketing and promotion of your book.You can't get too precious about your book. The publisher will design the cover, ask you to rewrite parts, write your blurb and even rearrange your chapter divisions.Writing will not make you rich and famous. Royalties from most books are not enough to live on, and even Jacqueline Wilson, Children's Laureate here in the UK whose children's books have sold millions, was asked at a party what she did for a living. When she answered "I write books for children," she was asked, "What name do you write under?" If you want to be recognised in the street and asked for autographs in restaurants, act in films, don't write books.
So here are some things which may seem obvious to anyone who has been involved in the business, but which many others don't know about publishing:
Write your book first. Or at least, write most of it. Most agents and publishers are going to ask for a completed manuscript, not a proposal. This means that you may be writing it not knowing whether it will ever be published. Accept that the only person who ever enjoys your book may be you. A full-length novel should be between 75,000 and 100,000 words.Once it is written, you have a choice about how to publish it. The traditional route involves sending your manuscript, or a query letter about it, to agents or publishers. The other option is to self-publish, either as an ebook through something like Kindle Direct Publishing, or via what used to be called a Vanity press, such as Authorhouse or a smaller indie press. If you choose to self-publish, you pay for the publication and you do all the marketing. In most cases you design your own cover, write your own blurb, and have complete control over your book. It won't be edited, and it's likely your "publisher" won't even read it. It's hard work, it's expensive, you will lose a lot of money and your book will have no credibility in the market. I am enormously opposed to self publishing - I have already blogged about it here: http://annajonesbuttimore.blogspot.com/2010/08/vanity-publishing.html and probably will again before long.Assuming you want to be paid for your work, rather than paying for it, you then choose whether to send it to an agent or publisher (or both). Agents will take a cut of your royalties, but they will do all the hard work of selling your book to a publisher, and will probably get you a much better deal than you could get for yourself. Agents tend to be more approachable than publishers, and you will generally need to submit to them by a query letter rather than sending them your manuscript. To get their attention your query letter needs to be some of your best writing.Do your research first. Check out the websites of agents and publishers, and only send your work to those who are open to submissions in the genre you have written. Check what format they want it in and submit according to their guidelines. First three chapters only? Email or hard copy in the post?It's extremely rare to be offered an advance for your book - money up front to secure the right to publish. And advances tend to be relatively small - about £3,000 ($5,000). Bear in mind that this is an advance on royalties. Not only does it not mean that you won't get more money than you would with a normal arrangement, but you will need to check whether you have to pay it back should your book not sell as well as expected.It's more usual once a manuscript is accepted by a publisher to be offered a contract which awards you back 10-15% of receipts, sales or cover price in royalties. But don't plan what to spend it on, because not only is it impossible to predict how well your book will sell and thus how much you'll get, but royalties are, naturally, paid in arrears, so you may not get anything until up to a year after your book hits the shelves. It can take up to a year from your book being accepted to you holding it in your hands, and there's a lot of work involved during that year, mostly editing and advance marketing. Get used to it - you will be expected to put in your fair share of marketing and promotion of your book.You can't get too precious about your book. The publisher will design the cover, ask you to rewrite parts, write your blurb and even rearrange your chapter divisions.Writing will not make you rich and famous. Royalties from most books are not enough to live on, and even Jacqueline Wilson, Children's Laureate here in the UK whose children's books have sold millions, was asked at a party what she did for a living. When she answered "I write books for children," she was asked, "What name do you write under?" If you want to be recognised in the street and asked for autographs in restaurants, act in films, don't write books.
October 11, 2011
Book Review: The Believer by Stephanie Black
I've read all of Stephanie's books, and even though this was her first it was just as good as the others. When did she learn and hone her craft? It seems Stephanie just exploded onto the LDS literary scene fully developed and with as much talent as many writers who have spent years improving book-by-book.The Believer is set in a dystopian society, "New America", set up three generations ago by revered men of high ideals and great ambition. Those who have to live in the society they created strive to be "patriotic" even if this means shunning anyone who has fallen even slightly below the required standard, not making a fuss when your mother is euthanised because the state doesn't have the resources to treat her illness, or even turning over your family for torture, imprisonment and execution for the crime of believing in God.
Stephanie creates a very effective and disturbing atmosphere, partly by having the protagonist, Ian Roshek, someone very ordinary and easy to identify with, and partly through little clues in the text. Whilst it isn't stated outright, it seems everyone lives in strictly-monitored tiny apartments. I found it telling that all the towns and landmarks are named after the man who founded New America, his family and closest associates, but you have to be paying fairly close attention to notice. Little clues like this really help build a picture of New America and what life there might be like.
I suspect there is a political warning message in there somewhere too, but being British it was completely lost on me. Not that that stopped me enjoying the book.
I liked the fact that it is completely unpredictable too. Four pages from the end I still had no idea what would happen. All the way through I expected a romance which never happened (although in my head it does after the book ends) and I was delighted that the book ended on a cliffhanger. All too often it seems that editors and publishers want everything tidied up nicely at the end (I speak from bitter experience, having recently had to rewrite the ending of one of my books), but life isn't like that. Good for Stephanie for leaving the reader to reach their own conclusion about what happens next. I am not going to clamour for a sequel just in case the happy ending (complete with romance) in my head isn't what Stephanie chooses to write.
October 4, 2011
Emulating the Writing of Others
My current work-in-progress is a novel about four very different women who are old school friends and all find themselves single in their forties. They decide to compete with each other to see who can find a "keeper" - a really decent man - first. The losers will pay for the winner's wedding. The punchline, of course, is that they all find a keeper, but none of them realise it.
Making 80,000 words out of that premise isn't easy because actually, there's not much action. Sure, there are business lunches and PTA meetings and even dates, but really it's just the minutiae of the women's lives, and that's not all that interesting. So to help me tackle this project I am re-reading some of my Marian Keyes books. Marian is an Irish writer and one of my favourite authors, but nothing much happens plot-wise in her stories.Anyone Out There, for example, charts the recovery from a car crash of a woman who slowly comes to realise and then accept that her husband has died in the crash. And that's it. That's the entire plot. Yet it is absorbing, funny, poignant and beautifully written. To such I aspire with Finders Keepers, so I'm hoping that in studying Marian's books I'll pick up some tips.
The most common piece of advice found on authors' websites is to read a lot. Why? Because reading helps you to recognise and appreciate good writing, which in turn helps you, if not to emulate it, then at least to recognise whether what you have written is as good.
Reading the masters of a particular genre can really help a writer to see what the reader expects from that genre, and some of the tricks and tools the author has used to create the appropriate atmosphere. To prepare for writing Emon and the Emperor I read the Percy Jackson series and re-read some of my favourite fantasy novels from my youth. I discovered that good fantasy was unapologetic and fast-paced, with relatable heroes (they almost always seemed to be male) and a good dramatic ending, preferably involving a battle and the death of a major character.
So now I'm thinking I need to plan to write a heady, angst-ridden, overpowering teenage love story, just to give me the perfect excuse to dig out Twilight again...
Making 80,000 words out of that premise isn't easy because actually, there's not much action. Sure, there are business lunches and PTA meetings and even dates, but really it's just the minutiae of the women's lives, and that's not all that interesting. So to help me tackle this project I am re-reading some of my Marian Keyes books. Marian is an Irish writer and one of my favourite authors, but nothing much happens plot-wise in her stories.Anyone Out There, for example, charts the recovery from a car crash of a woman who slowly comes to realise and then accept that her husband has died in the crash. And that's it. That's the entire plot. Yet it is absorbing, funny, poignant and beautifully written. To such I aspire with Finders Keepers, so I'm hoping that in studying Marian's books I'll pick up some tips.
The most common piece of advice found on authors' websites is to read a lot. Why? Because reading helps you to recognise and appreciate good writing, which in turn helps you, if not to emulate it, then at least to recognise whether what you have written is as good.
Reading the masters of a particular genre can really help a writer to see what the reader expects from that genre, and some of the tricks and tools the author has used to create the appropriate atmosphere. To prepare for writing Emon and the Emperor I read the Percy Jackson series and re-read some of my favourite fantasy novels from my youth. I discovered that good fantasy was unapologetic and fast-paced, with relatable heroes (they almost always seemed to be male) and a good dramatic ending, preferably involving a battle and the death of a major character.
So now I'm thinking I need to plan to write a heady, angst-ridden, overpowering teenage love story, just to give me the perfect excuse to dig out Twilight again...
September 20, 2011
Characters
I've got a new book coming out next month (shameless plug - it's called No Escape, buy it) and part of the fun of editing it is getting to know the characters again - I haven't read the book for a couple of years. I may have invented Michael Boyd, the straightforward New York cop with misplaced trust in his wife and a difficult relationship with his brother, and Catrin Pritchard, the prickly and protective single mum, but in the course of creating them I got to know them, and now I feel as though I'm reuniting with old friends. Until the death of my hard disk a couple of weeks ago I had on my computer the floorplan of Catrin's seaside cottage, her university exam timetable, and a timeline for Michael from his birth to the end of his secondment in Wales.
Although writers mostly work alone in a darkened room hunched over a computer, I have never really felt that I was in this endeavour on my own. Working with characters feels like working with people. And I get quite attached to these people in much the same way I did to those other people I created - my children. (Send for the men in the white coats now.)
Something I really enjoyed about reading the reviews of my last book, Honeymoon Heist,was that all the reviewers really got my characters. They understood that they were both flawed, and weren't well suited to each other, but that their relationship was going to work anyway because ultimately they were both determined and honourable. They got that their past experiences had shaped them, and they noted how they grew in the course of the story. Rodney and Claire are important to me - I spent a lot of time with them - and I really liked the fact that readers related to them too.
I'm currently hawking a 120,000 word epic fantasy around agents and publishers, and I'm very much attached to the characters in that too. Emon is an ordinary lad who gets picked on by his siblings, is none too bright and much too naive and trusting, and just wants to be normal despite the overwhelming evidence that he isn't. Emara is (literally) from another world and has struggled for survival her whole life, but clings to moral absolutes and professional duty so strongly that it seems impossible that her relationship with Emon could survive. This manuscript, Emon and the Emperor, has now been rejected ten times, but one reason I'm not giving up is because I love these characters and almost feel that I owe it to them to let them get out there, see the light of day, and be known and loved by others too. I want them to live, and they can only really do that by being in print and being read and shared.
Michael Boyd and Catrin Pritchard, Rodney and Claire Hewlett, Emon Shipwright and Emara Lann may all be fictional and created by my own mind, but they have nevertheless bought me pleasure and I have enjoyed getting to know them and spending time in their company. And if that sounds a bit deep and bizarre, think for a moment about fictional characters who mean a lot to you. Harry, Ron and Hermione? Edward, Bella and Jacob? Bilbo and Frodo? Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy?
A good writer can bring characters to life, such that it can be a wrench to remember that they don't exist in the real world. Which characters from books have most enriched your life?
Although writers mostly work alone in a darkened room hunched over a computer, I have never really felt that I was in this endeavour on my own. Working with characters feels like working with people. And I get quite attached to these people in much the same way I did to those other people I created - my children. (Send for the men in the white coats now.)
Something I really enjoyed about reading the reviews of my last book, Honeymoon Heist,was that all the reviewers really got my characters. They understood that they were both flawed, and weren't well suited to each other, but that their relationship was going to work anyway because ultimately they were both determined and honourable. They got that their past experiences had shaped them, and they noted how they grew in the course of the story. Rodney and Claire are important to me - I spent a lot of time with them - and I really liked the fact that readers related to them too.
I'm currently hawking a 120,000 word epic fantasy around agents and publishers, and I'm very much attached to the characters in that too. Emon is an ordinary lad who gets picked on by his siblings, is none too bright and much too naive and trusting, and just wants to be normal despite the overwhelming evidence that he isn't. Emara is (literally) from another world and has struggled for survival her whole life, but clings to moral absolutes and professional duty so strongly that it seems impossible that her relationship with Emon could survive. This manuscript, Emon and the Emperor, has now been rejected ten times, but one reason I'm not giving up is because I love these characters and almost feel that I owe it to them to let them get out there, see the light of day, and be known and loved by others too. I want them to live, and they can only really do that by being in print and being read and shared.
Michael Boyd and Catrin Pritchard, Rodney and Claire Hewlett, Emon Shipwright and Emara Lann may all be fictional and created by my own mind, but they have nevertheless bought me pleasure and I have enjoyed getting to know them and spending time in their company. And if that sounds a bit deep and bizarre, think for a moment about fictional characters who mean a lot to you. Harry, Ron and Hermione? Edward, Bella and Jacob? Bilbo and Frodo? Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy?
A good writer can bring characters to life, such that it can be a wrench to remember that they don't exist in the real world. Which characters from books have most enriched your life?
September 13, 2011
Chocolate Book Review no. 3: Climbing Family Trees by Trina Boice
OK, so the book is actually called "Climbing Family Trees: Whispers in the Leaves" and it's by both Trina Boice and Tracey Long, but that would be an absurdly long title for a blog post.
I've been reading fiction books for my chocolate reviews up until now, so I thought this would make a nice change - and it did. I loved it. I'm not involved in genealogy at the moment (too busy with my descendants to have time for my ancestors) but did have a brief foray into it before the kids came along, and I know how exciting and addictive it can be. I went to St. Catherine's House in London with my Dad and pored over the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, and we also went to Heveningham in Suffolk where we found the graves of many ancestors in the parish churchyard. It's exciting and fun, and I'm looking forward to having the time to get stuck in again.
And when I do, you can bet that this is absolutely the book I want guiding me. There's a real risk with family history books that they can be dry and difficult, but this one is superb. The tone is light and friendly, and I loved the activity suggestions, the funny asides, and the true life stories contributed by others who'd had their own adventures in family history. It starts by assuming that you're completely new to the pursuit but does it without being patronising and very quickly reaches a level which even experienced genealogists can benefit from. It's a joy to read, and I raced through it and thoroughly enjoyed it even though I wasn't doing any family history research.
I try not to be too gushing about books, and generally feel obliged to pick out one thing which could be improved, but I struggled with this one. Perhaps the only thing I can think of is that near the beginning the writers explain what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is and how and why it is involved in genealogy. Yet it then goes on to have contributions from people who are LDS, and to use terminology and talk about doctrines which a non-LDS reader might struggle with. Is it written for church members or not? (Not a very good criticism I know. Obviously the writers are well aware that the majority of their readers will be LDS, but not all, hence the explanation.)
Anyway, LDS or not, experienced genealogist or new to tree-climbing, I heartily recommend this book.
I've been reading fiction books for my chocolate reviews up until now, so I thought this would make a nice change - and it did. I loved it. I'm not involved in genealogy at the moment (too busy with my descendants to have time for my ancestors) but did have a brief foray into it before the kids came along, and I know how exciting and addictive it can be. I went to St. Catherine's House in London with my Dad and pored over the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, and we also went to Heveningham in Suffolk where we found the graves of many ancestors in the parish churchyard. It's exciting and fun, and I'm looking forward to having the time to get stuck in again.
And when I do, you can bet that this is absolutely the book I want guiding me. There's a real risk with family history books that they can be dry and difficult, but this one is superb. The tone is light and friendly, and I loved the activity suggestions, the funny asides, and the true life stories contributed by others who'd had their own adventures in family history. It starts by assuming that you're completely new to the pursuit but does it without being patronising and very quickly reaches a level which even experienced genealogists can benefit from. It's a joy to read, and I raced through it and thoroughly enjoyed it even though I wasn't doing any family history research.
I try not to be too gushing about books, and generally feel obliged to pick out one thing which could be improved, but I struggled with this one. Perhaps the only thing I can think of is that near the beginning the writers explain what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is and how and why it is involved in genealogy. Yet it then goes on to have contributions from people who are LDS, and to use terminology and talk about doctrines which a non-LDS reader might struggle with. Is it written for church members or not? (Not a very good criticism I know. Obviously the writers are well aware that the majority of their readers will be LDS, but not all, hence the explanation.)
Anyway, LDS or not, experienced genealogist or new to tree-climbing, I heartily recommend this book.
August 30, 2011
The Whitney Awards
Two people (that I know of) have nominated Honeymoon Heist for a Whitney Award, and I'm thrilled. While it's still a long way from being shortlisted or - dare I dream it - winning, it's still wonderful to know that people enjoyed it enough to think it deserved some sort of recognition.
The Whitneys are an awards program for novels by LDS authors. Elder Orson F. Whitney, an early apostle in the LDS church, prophesied "We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own." At an annual gala, the talent of LDS authors is recognised and celebrated. I generally agree with the decisions regarding the winners, especially since Stephanie Black wins the mystery/suspense category each year.
The lifetime acheivement award particularly highlights the successful authors who are household names and also happen to be LDS. Orson Scott Card and Shannon Hale have both won in the past, and I wonder whether Stephenie Meyer will be up for this award this year.
If you'd like to nominate a book - any book - go to http://whitneyawards.com/wordpress/. It's not the Booker Prize, but it's a lovely way to let your favourite LDS author know that their efforts are worthwhile.
The Whitneys are an awards program for novels by LDS authors. Elder Orson F. Whitney, an early apostle in the LDS church, prophesied "We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own." At an annual gala, the talent of LDS authors is recognised and celebrated. I generally agree with the decisions regarding the winners, especially since Stephanie Black wins the mystery/suspense category each year.
The lifetime acheivement award particularly highlights the successful authors who are household names and also happen to be LDS. Orson Scott Card and Shannon Hale have both won in the past, and I wonder whether Stephenie Meyer will be up for this award this year.
If you'd like to nominate a book - any book - go to http://whitneyawards.com/wordpress/. It's not the Booker Prize, but it's a lovely way to let your favourite LDS author know that their efforts are worthwhile.
August 22, 2011
Chocolate Book Review no. 2 - Curse of the Elfs by Anna del C Dye
I love fantasy literature. I love it when authors unapologetically create amazingly original worlds and invite us to escape to them for a while. And this is just the sort of book I enjoy most, with fully developed elf and mankind folklores peopled with intriguing characters with wonderful names. It positively oozes romance - between Lathanyl and Katelynn, then Lath and Yasmeen - all set in an ethereal utopia (which I suspect is one big metaphor).
Unfortunately the language jarred somewhat for me. The elfs (I had always thought the plural was elves, and so does my spellchecker) sometimes spoke in an approximation of old English, with the occasional "thee" thrown in apparently at random and phrases like "Forget it not, daughter", but were also quite likely to say "For starters" and "It's awesome". I'd have liked it better if they could either speak consistently in old fashioned language or be entirely modern. The book was also extremely dialogue-heavy. At times I wondered whether the author would be more comfortable writing a screenplay, since much of the action came through the speech.
There was also some very poor editing, with a "summersault" and "undo attention" surviving the cut, and similar cringeworthy errors on almost every page. Whoever edited this book, they are being paid far too much for a job they really cannot do.
It was a sweet story, however, with some interesting twists (like killing off the narrator partway through!) and ultimately was very satisfying, if predictable, with an overall sense of wonderment and a beautifully created atmosphere of mystery and enchantment.
Unfortunately the language jarred somewhat for me. The elfs (I had always thought the plural was elves, and so does my spellchecker) sometimes spoke in an approximation of old English, with the occasional "thee" thrown in apparently at random and phrases like "Forget it not, daughter", but were also quite likely to say "For starters" and "It's awesome". I'd have liked it better if they could either speak consistently in old fashioned language or be entirely modern. The book was also extremely dialogue-heavy. At times I wondered whether the author would be more comfortable writing a screenplay, since much of the action came through the speech.
There was also some very poor editing, with a "summersault" and "undo attention" surviving the cut, and similar cringeworthy errors on almost every page. Whoever edited this book, they are being paid far too much for a job they really cannot do.
It was a sweet story, however, with some interesting twists (like killing off the narrator partway through!) and ultimately was very satisfying, if predictable, with an overall sense of wonderment and a beautifully created atmosphere of mystery and enchantment.
August 16, 2011
"I think I'll Write a Book"
I need a new car and writting a book could be a quick way to make money. I've not tried to write a book before, and I don't achally read many books, but I used to be quite good at writing stories when I was at school. If it's too diffacult I could write poems instead. I think lots of people would want to buy my poems. I will spend a couple of weeks writting my novel. It'll be based on my life which has been really intresting. I'll change the names tho so people don't sue me. No need to do any reserch becos I know all about that stuff anyway. It'll be a really amazing book, the best anyone has ever read._____________________________________
I've writ my book now. It's 30 thousand words long - I've never writ anything so long before! It only took me a month aswell. I'm not going to bother going back through it again because I know what I writ was great. Someone said I should get other people to read it, so I gave it to my mum and she said it was fantastic. So now I'm sending it to the publishers. I can't decide whether to send it to Harper Collins, Random House or Penguin Classics. I need to find out which one will pay me the most. ______________________________________
I sent it to all of them in the end. I thought it might be good to have a bidding war between them for my book. But two of them have already writ back and said they don't want it! They can't have read it properly, so I have writ to them agen and told them how stupid they are not to see how good it is. If I keep pestering them they will give in and give me a million pound advance for it.
______________________________________
It's five months later and none of the publishers wanted my book. But I saw an advert in The Sun which said "Authors -Your book wanted" and so I sent it in and they will publish it! They want me to help with the cost of printing and distribution, tho, so I am sending them all the money I was saving up for my new car, but that's OK becos my book will be a bestseller and I'll get all the money back.
I've writ my book now. It's 30 thousand words long - I've never writ anything so long before! It only took me a month aswell. I'm not going to bother going back through it again because I know what I writ was great. Someone said I should get other people to read it, so I gave it to my mum and she said it was fantastic. So now I'm sending it to the publishers. I can't decide whether to send it to Harper Collins, Random House or Penguin Classics. I need to find out which one will pay me the most. ______________________________________
I sent it to all of them in the end. I thought it might be good to have a bidding war between them for my book. But two of them have already writ back and said they don't want it! They can't have read it properly, so I have writ to them agen and told them how stupid they are not to see how good it is. If I keep pestering them they will give in and give me a million pound advance for it.
______________________________________
It's five months later and none of the publishers wanted my book. But I saw an advert in The Sun which said "Authors -Your book wanted" and so I sent it in and they will publish it! They want me to help with the cost of printing and distribution, tho, so I am sending them all the money I was saving up for my new car, but that's OK becos my book will be a bestseller and I'll get all the money back.
August 3, 2011
Chocolate Review no. 1 - Time Will Tell by Julie Coulter Bellon
WARNING: Contains spoilers.
I owe my "Books for Chocolate and Reviews" idea to Julie. A Facebook thread about Canadian chocolate led to my sending her some British chocolate, and, in gratitude, she sent me this book. I think I got the better end of the deal there.
I was fascinated by "Time Will Tell" from the outset because the action opens in London, just half-an-hour down the road from where I am sitting right now. I am always interested to read books set in Britain but written by Americans (and Canadians!) because a) it's fascinating to see how they view us and b) it's fun to pick out the bits they got wrong.
So I had a lot of fun with this book - sorry Julie! For example, the singular of "pence" is "penny" so you cannot toss "a pence" into the Thames. I have never heard of a house being called a Parish before - a parish is a church geographical district, like a ward. And they seemed at one point to fly from an airport from which (before take-off) they could see Big Ben, whereas all five of London's airports are a long distance from the City. Neither does London have a "downtown".
As I said when I reviewed English Trifle by Josi Kilpack and Pursued by Lynn Gardner, anyone wanting to set a book over here, have me proofread it first. (Hoping for yet more free books...) None of my four books are set in America because I would just get it so, so wrong and be the cause of much hilarity and reciprocal fun. (Having said that, I've just remembered that part of my next novel is set in New York, where I've never been, but the action is at least confined to one apartment interior. Fingers crossed!)
But actually none of that matters, because the bulk of Julie's readers are American and they will love it. Julie is a real master of the intricate and unexpected in her plots, and I was constantly surprised by new developments all the way though. In particular, I thought by about a third of the way through that the rest of the book would consist of our hero and heroine chasing the thumb drive across Europe. Not so. And just when I thought a particular bad guy was getting pleasantly menacing and would in in the final standoff, he got killed.
The writing style is fairly simple and basic, but that's fine because I wasn't looking for high literature and because it makes it easy and accessible for all levels of reader, including young adult. It is very fast paced - sometimes so much so that I lost track. The characters are wonderful, and it was great seeing non-cliched characters - a very capable, independent and confident woman (gotta love her, especially when she lost both her son and her heartless husband in the first chapter and still comes out fighting) and an honourable non-LDS man. Even better was the genuine and compelling romance between them when they were both in their forties, or even fifties.
If you like romance novels this book doesn't disappoint. And if you like international action thrillers then this one is as uncliched and entertaining as they come and includes some really wonderful exotic locations. Like Utah.
I owe my "Books for Chocolate and Reviews" idea to Julie. A Facebook thread about Canadian chocolate led to my sending her some British chocolate, and, in gratitude, she sent me this book. I think I got the better end of the deal there.
I was fascinated by "Time Will Tell" from the outset because the action opens in London, just half-an-hour down the road from where I am sitting right now. I am always interested to read books set in Britain but written by Americans (and Canadians!) because a) it's fascinating to see how they view us and b) it's fun to pick out the bits they got wrong.
So I had a lot of fun with this book - sorry Julie! For example, the singular of "pence" is "penny" so you cannot toss "a pence" into the Thames. I have never heard of a house being called a Parish before - a parish is a church geographical district, like a ward. And they seemed at one point to fly from an airport from which (before take-off) they could see Big Ben, whereas all five of London's airports are a long distance from the City. Neither does London have a "downtown".
As I said when I reviewed English Trifle by Josi Kilpack and Pursued by Lynn Gardner, anyone wanting to set a book over here, have me proofread it first. (Hoping for yet more free books...) None of my four books are set in America because I would just get it so, so wrong and be the cause of much hilarity and reciprocal fun. (Having said that, I've just remembered that part of my next novel is set in New York, where I've never been, but the action is at least confined to one apartment interior. Fingers crossed!)
But actually none of that matters, because the bulk of Julie's readers are American and they will love it. Julie is a real master of the intricate and unexpected in her plots, and I was constantly surprised by new developments all the way though. In particular, I thought by about a third of the way through that the rest of the book would consist of our hero and heroine chasing the thumb drive across Europe. Not so. And just when I thought a particular bad guy was getting pleasantly menacing and would in in the final standoff, he got killed.
The writing style is fairly simple and basic, but that's fine because I wasn't looking for high literature and because it makes it easy and accessible for all levels of reader, including young adult. It is very fast paced - sometimes so much so that I lost track. The characters are wonderful, and it was great seeing non-cliched characters - a very capable, independent and confident woman (gotta love her, especially when she lost both her son and her heartless husband in the first chapter and still comes out fighting) and an honourable non-LDS man. Even better was the genuine and compelling romance between them when they were both in their forties, or even fifties.
If you like romance novels this book doesn't disappoint. And if you like international action thrillers then this one is as uncliched and entertaining as they come and includes some really wonderful exotic locations. Like Utah.
August 2, 2011
The Importance of Reviews - and Chocolate
In my last blog I talked about the expense of publicity and why, therefore, it is important to attract readers through other means. Social networking, blogging and and just being "out there" apparently helps people to know your name and have an interest in your work. A gripping, intriguing and well-written back cover blurb is vital, but personally I think you can't beat reviews and recommendations. If someone else has read the book and loved it - especially if they are someone I know and trust - then there's a good chance I'll want to read it too.
When a potential buyer is considering the book on Amazon a good review might be the difference between clicking "buy" or not. To this end, I have a proposal.
The "Chocolate and Reviews for Books" proposal
Here's how it works:
You, the author, email me a word document of your book (to anna [at] buttimore [dot] org [dot] uk - and include your postal address in the email).
I post you a bar of British or Swiss chocolate (your choice) to say "Thank you".
I read your book.
I post a review of your book on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Goodreads, Shelfari, my blog, and anywhere else you would like me to promote it.Questions?
If I email you my book, you're not going to buy it and I will lose royalties!
Yes, that's true, but the fact is that I can't afford to buy books at the moment anyway so without this deal I wouldn't get to read your book at all. And I'm hoping that my review will mean that you sell more copies. I really love reading, and this was the only way I could think of to get access to good clean literature. The libraries here in the UK don't stock LDS books.
Why British or Swiss Chocolate?
I wanted to sweeten the deal, and British chocolate is the best in the world, with Swiss a close second. If I send you a bar of Galaxy or Milka you will love me forever. And you'll be more likely to send me your next book too. Or possibly your entire back catalogue.
Will you guarantee a glowing five-star review?
Um, unfortunately I have to be honest. But even if I hate your book I will try to focus on the parts of it I did like, or put aside my personal preferences and recognise what its strengths were. I promise to write the best review I can whilst maintaining my interity.
So... it costs me nothing?
Not a penny. You get chocolate and reviews for the time it takes to send an email. It will cost me about £3 ($5) to send you the chocolate, but that's considerably less than the £7 ($11) it would cost me to download your book or, if it's not on Kindle, the £10 ($15) plus $25 shipping. So I get to read books I can't afford to buy, and you get chocolate and reviews. Everyone wins!
I'm open for business! Send me your book!
When a potential buyer is considering the book on Amazon a good review might be the difference between clicking "buy" or not. To this end, I have a proposal.
The "Chocolate and Reviews for Books" proposal
Here's how it works:
You, the author, email me a word document of your book (to anna [at] buttimore [dot] org [dot] uk - and include your postal address in the email).
I post you a bar of British or Swiss chocolate (your choice) to say "Thank you".
I read your book.
I post a review of your book on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Goodreads, Shelfari, my blog, and anywhere else you would like me to promote it.Questions?
If I email you my book, you're not going to buy it and I will lose royalties!
Yes, that's true, but the fact is that I can't afford to buy books at the moment anyway so without this deal I wouldn't get to read your book at all. And I'm hoping that my review will mean that you sell more copies. I really love reading, and this was the only way I could think of to get access to good clean literature. The libraries here in the UK don't stock LDS books.
Why British or Swiss Chocolate?
I wanted to sweeten the deal, and British chocolate is the best in the world, with Swiss a close second. If I send you a bar of Galaxy or Milka you will love me forever. And you'll be more likely to send me your next book too. Or possibly your entire back catalogue.
Will you guarantee a glowing five-star review?
Um, unfortunately I have to be honest. But even if I hate your book I will try to focus on the parts of it I did like, or put aside my personal preferences and recognise what its strengths were. I promise to write the best review I can whilst maintaining my interity.
So... it costs me nothing?
Not a penny. You get chocolate and reviews for the time it takes to send an email. It will cost me about £3 ($5) to send you the chocolate, but that's considerably less than the £7 ($11) it would cost me to download your book or, if it's not on Kindle, the £10 ($15) plus $25 shipping. So I get to read books I can't afford to buy, and you get chocolate and reviews. Everyone wins!
I'm open for business! Send me your book!
