David Roy's Blog, page 8
January 27, 2022
The Holocaust
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. Seventy-seven years ago, the Red Army liberated the most notorious of the Nazi concentration Camps, Auschwitz.
Of eleven million possible subjects, the Nazis managed to exterminate six million. Many died in Auschwitz.
Six million Jews.
Almost the population of London.
The Jewish people have suffered throughout their existence and do so still, but nothing really compares to the Holocaust, which gave us a new word, Genocide.
I have visited Auschwitz and another camp, Dachau and I have read extensively about the Holocaust. Perhaps there is nothing more to say on the matter. Perhaps all that is left is to remember what happened and learn the lessons of history.
Never again...
Of eleven million possible subjects, the Nazis managed to exterminate six million. Many died in Auschwitz.
Six million Jews.
Almost the population of London.
The Jewish people have suffered throughout their existence and do so still, but nothing really compares to the Holocaust, which gave us a new word, Genocide.
I have visited Auschwitz and another camp, Dachau and I have read extensively about the Holocaust. Perhaps there is nothing more to say on the matter. Perhaps all that is left is to remember what happened and learn the lessons of history.
Never again...
January 25, 2022
War. What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing.
I am of the generation which grew up seconds away - maybe minutes - from nuclear war. The acronym MAD stood for Mutually Assured Destruction and each side had enough nuclear weapons to destroy life on Earth many times over. It was said that in the event of such a war only cockroaches would survive.
So, you can see that quite a lot of thinking went into this non-event. It was the Cold War and thankfully never went 'Hot', despite many possible triggers - Korea, Vietnam, Cuban Missile Crisis - to name but a few.
When I was in the Army we trained for war with the Communists and had a little book called 'Survive To Fight', which was essentially the bible on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare (NBC).
It had guidance on going to the toilet during a chemical attack and what to do when a nuclear warhead was detonated. It was a great read. Cheery.
Anyway... are we on the cusp of nuclear war?
No.
Possibly.
I am of the generation which grew up seconds away - maybe minutes - from nuclear war. The acronym MAD stood for Mutually Assured Destruction and each side had enough nuclear weapons to destroy life on Earth many times over. It was said that in the event of such a war only cockroaches would survive.
So, you can see that quite a lot of thinking went into this non-event. It was the Cold War and thankfully never went 'Hot', despite many possible triggers - Korea, Vietnam, Cuban Missile Crisis - to name but a few.
When I was in the Army we trained for war with the Communists and had a little book called 'Survive To Fight', which was essentially the bible on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare (NBC).
It had guidance on going to the toilet during a chemical attack and what to do when a nuclear warhead was detonated. It was a great read. Cheery.
Anyway... are we on the cusp of nuclear war?
No.
Possibly.
January 20, 2022
Diet
Years of unhealthy eating have caught up with me - I have high cholesterol in my blood. I can't say I'm surprised. I have altered my food intake to cut down on fat, so let's see what happens.
Yesterday was spent editing a couple of books we hope to publish soon. These are Fightback by Thomas Meyer - a ripping WW2 yarn and The Steinberg Diamonds by Marc Brosnan, a crime caper.
In other news... as Russian forces build up ready to invade Ukraine, the UK is fixated on the PM's illegal drinks party at No.10. No comment on that one.
Have an above average weekend.
Yesterday was spent editing a couple of books we hope to publish soon. These are Fightback by Thomas Meyer - a ripping WW2 yarn and The Steinberg Diamonds by Marc Brosnan, a crime caper.
In other news... as Russian forces build up ready to invade Ukraine, the UK is fixated on the PM's illegal drinks party at No.10. No comment on that one.
Have an above average weekend.
January 17, 2022
Blog
I still get a vestige of the Monday morning blues even though I don't have to physically leave the house to go to work. It's all okay once I get going. This is my dream job but it came to me quite late in life after years spent in that supposedly rewarding profession of teaching.
Often it is anything but rewarding. My wife is still a teacher and that serves as a reminder of how lucky I am.
Over the weekend I completed the task of adding email addresses of indie bookshops to our spreadsheet. It is now down to our technical department (Adam) to send out our catalogue to them. It's small - just ten titles so far - but each one is a little, literary gem in its own right.
Happy Monday everyone.
Some of our books are 99p on Kindle
Often it is anything but rewarding. My wife is still a teacher and that serves as a reminder of how lucky I am.
Over the weekend I completed the task of adding email addresses of indie bookshops to our spreadsheet. It is now down to our technical department (Adam) to send out our catalogue to them. It's small - just ten titles so far - but each one is a little, literary gem in its own right.
Happy Monday everyone.
Some of our books are 99p on Kindle
January 14, 2022
Inputting
Today will be spent inputting email addresses and telephone numbers for the independent bookshops in UK and Ireland into a spreadsheet. In one sense it is the sort of basic, repetitive task at which I excel and in another it is a severe drain on my motivation glands.
The idea is that each suitable bookshop will be sent an electronic copy of our latest catalogue.
So, this is what it's like to be a publisher.
No complaints. I am sitting down, I'm warm, fed and I'm not getting my hands dirty.
Have an above average weekend everyone.
The idea is that each suitable bookshop will be sent an electronic copy of our latest catalogue.
So, this is what it's like to be a publisher.
No complaints. I am sitting down, I'm warm, fed and I'm not getting my hands dirty.
Have an above average weekend everyone.
January 11, 2022
New Post
For those of you who read my last post, the Doctor didn't get the letter.
For the past few days, Adam and I have been collating a list of independent bookshops in UK and Ireland with the intention of seeking their support in stocking our books. Until now the response has been poor.
The list of bookshops we are working from has stretched the definition of bookshop to almost breaking point. One of them was an anarchist collective and several have been craft shops. Another sold antique hand tools. Anyway, let's hope some sort of alliance results from our latest marketing push.
Did you know that our first six titles are available on Kindle for 99p? That's less than the price of something which costs more than 99p.
For the past few days, Adam and I have been collating a list of independent bookshops in UK and Ireland with the intention of seeking their support in stocking our books. Until now the response has been poor.
The list of bookshops we are working from has stretched the definition of bookshop to almost breaking point. One of them was an anarchist collective and several have been craft shops. Another sold antique hand tools. Anyway, let's hope some sort of alliance results from our latest marketing push.
Did you know that our first six titles are available on Kindle for 99p? That's less than the price of something which costs more than 99p.
January 6, 2022
Today
Today, I planned a serious, uninterrupted period of marketing and yet I have managed to fall at the first hurdle.
I have to deliver a letter. How very old-fashioned.
Yesterday, I tried to ensure that the surgery from where my daughter's NHS telephone appointment would be delivered had our correct telephone number. How hard could it be?
I rang but they don't keep any records there. I was given another number to ring but that was just an answerphone, giving me yet another number to ring. You can probably see where this is going. I ran that number to get another answerphone.
Next I rang the original number and said what had happened. I asked for a number to ring with a complaint. She said she could get her manager to ring me but knowing this wouldn't happen I insisted in using some sort of formal complaints procedure.
I got another number - this time I was through to the office of the Parliamentary ombudsman, who couldn't help.
I rang the first number and, despairingly asked if delivering a letter by hand with the new telephone number would do the trick would work.
No. The doctor in question worked from another building. I was beginning to think I had somehow ended up in 1950s Rumania. This couldn't possibly be 21st Century Britain, could it?
So, today I deliver the letter.
I have to deliver a letter. How very old-fashioned.
Yesterday, I tried to ensure that the surgery from where my daughter's NHS telephone appointment would be delivered had our correct telephone number. How hard could it be?
I rang but they don't keep any records there. I was given another number to ring but that was just an answerphone, giving me yet another number to ring. You can probably see where this is going. I ran that number to get another answerphone.
Next I rang the original number and said what had happened. I asked for a number to ring with a complaint. She said she could get her manager to ring me but knowing this wouldn't happen I insisted in using some sort of formal complaints procedure.
I got another number - this time I was through to the office of the Parliamentary ombudsman, who couldn't help.
I rang the first number and, despairingly asked if delivering a letter by hand with the new telephone number would do the trick would work.
No. The doctor in question worked from another building. I was beginning to think I had somehow ended up in 1950s Rumania. This couldn't possibly be 21st Century Britain, could it?
So, today I deliver the letter.
January 3, 2022
Adam Gardner
I would hate to give the impression that Hobart Books was my sole creation for the truth is I wouldn't have known where to start. Hobart is a collaboration between myself and Adam Gardner and it has to be said that he is the brains behind the outfit. We're a double act; he's the straight man and I'm the other straight man.
From humble beginnings as a sixteen year old boy soldier, Adam attended university and eventually received a PhD from Cambridge. Years spent in the publishing industry have led him to this point as co-owner of Hobart Books, soon to be the best small publisher in Britain if not the universe.
In other news, I have been watching Stay Close on Netflix, an adaptation of a Harlan Coben story featuring fellow countryman, James Nesbitt and Eddie Izzard who once lived in my home town. That's just incidental detail by the way. The point I was trying to make is that here is a police drama without the anger, finger-pointing and shouting of virtually every other police drama and it is much better for it.
Instead there is humour and a realistic portrayal of normal working relationships.
Happy New Year. Read books.
From humble beginnings as a sixteen year old boy soldier, Adam attended university and eventually received a PhD from Cambridge. Years spent in the publishing industry have led him to this point as co-owner of Hobart Books, soon to be the best small publisher in Britain if not the universe.
In other news, I have been watching Stay Close on Netflix, an adaptation of a Harlan Coben story featuring fellow countryman, James Nesbitt and Eddie Izzard who once lived in my home town. That's just incidental detail by the way. The point I was trying to make is that here is a police drama without the anger, finger-pointing and shouting of virtually every other police drama and it is much better for it.
Instead there is humour and a realistic portrayal of normal working relationships.
Happy New Year. Read books.
December 31, 2021
Happy New Year
Happy New Year.
Tomorrow, Hobart Books will be one year old. One year ago it had no books to sell and now it has nine. This time next year it should be double that number.
A year ago I was still a teacher and really not doing well. Hobart Books was going to save me but it took a little while before I cut my ties with the teaching profession. Once I did, I began to feel better in all sorts of ways but also much more tired, which I have never understood.
The emphasis in my life has altered radically since then and is still evolving. For the first time I decided I could call myself a writer after a quarter of a century of failure but as time went on it became clear that the publishing side of Hobart Books was more important than my writing. With new authors joining us it became vital that their books were given every chance of success with eye-catching covers and thorough preparation.
It felt good to leave teaching to go on to something ambitious, almost glamorous and exciting but it soon became clear that good wishes and 'likes' on Facebook didn't translate into sales. Therefore the marketing side of Hobart Books eventually replaced any personal ambitions for writing.
And so it continues. The independent bookshops, which we thought might be the cornerstone of our sales, have proved to be a washout. The big operators, notably Waterstones only stock books by well-known or heavily promoted authors.
So, the message is this; it's not about quality, or people saying 'well done', it's about determination and relentless marketing. 2022 is going to be our year. We have the books and the infrastructure. Hobart Books is going to be the best small publisher in Britain.
Tomorrow, Hobart Books will be one year old. One year ago it had no books to sell and now it has nine. This time next year it should be double that number.
A year ago I was still a teacher and really not doing well. Hobart Books was going to save me but it took a little while before I cut my ties with the teaching profession. Once I did, I began to feel better in all sorts of ways but also much more tired, which I have never understood.
The emphasis in my life has altered radically since then and is still evolving. For the first time I decided I could call myself a writer after a quarter of a century of failure but as time went on it became clear that the publishing side of Hobart Books was more important than my writing. With new authors joining us it became vital that their books were given every chance of success with eye-catching covers and thorough preparation.
It felt good to leave teaching to go on to something ambitious, almost glamorous and exciting but it soon became clear that good wishes and 'likes' on Facebook didn't translate into sales. Therefore the marketing side of Hobart Books eventually replaced any personal ambitions for writing.
And so it continues. The independent bookshops, which we thought might be the cornerstone of our sales, have proved to be a washout. The big operators, notably Waterstones only stock books by well-known or heavily promoted authors.
So, the message is this; it's not about quality, or people saying 'well done', it's about determination and relentless marketing. 2022 is going to be our year. We have the books and the infrastructure. Hobart Books is going to be the best small publisher in Britain.
December 27, 2021
The Holocaust
Twenty years ago, my wife and I visited Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The experience left us profoundly affected. The horror and it's sheer scale was something that could not easily be dismissed from our minds.
In a week or two Hobart Books will be publishing a memoir from Sharon Zajdman, whose mother survived the Holocaust and who lived a long, productive life, telling her story.
Sharon's book was just too good to go unpublished and it is a genuine honour to be able to play a small role in the remembrance of those terrible events - events which are still, for now, in living memory. In this dangerous world with its bias and mass communication, there is new generation who need to be educated about anti-Semitism and about racial discrimination in general. The mistakes of the past could easily be repeated but some knowledge of the Holocaust might just make someone think again.
https://www.hobartbooks.com/product-p...
In a week or two Hobart Books will be publishing a memoir from Sharon Zajdman, whose mother survived the Holocaust and who lived a long, productive life, telling her story.
Sharon's book was just too good to go unpublished and it is a genuine honour to be able to play a small role in the remembrance of those terrible events - events which are still, for now, in living memory. In this dangerous world with its bias and mass communication, there is new generation who need to be educated about anti-Semitism and about racial discrimination in general. The mistakes of the past could easily be repeated but some knowledge of the Holocaust might just make someone think again.
https://www.hobartbooks.com/product-p...
