Dan Smith's Blog, page 16

Author Event Hartlepool

There's always a niggle. Right there, at the back of my mind. It's these author events, see. I enjoy doing them; I love talking about my books and I especially enjoy the Q&A that comes afterwards – it's great to have the opportunity to interact with readers. But before it starts, there's always the niggling worry that no one's going to turn up and then I'd feel all unwanted and dejected.

It's happened before.

However, on this occasion all was good. People came. They listened. They smiled when I joked. They asked great questions. They even bought books . . . which will make my publisher happy.

So thank you to Denise and everyone at Hartlepool library who organised the event, and thanks to all those who came along. I had a great time.

I even had the miracle of sat-nav to help me find my way home. There was a moment when I thought the technology had let me down, but then it did its job and led me safely past the place where HMS Trincomalee is moored and on to home. Actually, I was tempted to jump out and take a few pictures of the ship – a navy leda-class sailing frigate – but it was getting late and maybe it's somewhere to take the children during the summer holiday. God knows those long, balmy days (uh-huh) are going to need filling.

Come and meet me . . .

I'm going to be in Hartlepool Library 15th June 6pm to talk about DRY SEASON and DARK HORIZONS. I'll read from the books and talk about the inspiration behind them.

 

I also have a couple of signings lined up for 18th June: Waterstone's in Newcastle city centre 11-2pm, and Waterstone's Morpeth from 2:30-5:00pm.

 

Why not come along and say hello?

Brightly Coloured Death Machines

Everywhere I went, people used to stare. In the market, they would follow us, saying nothing. Occasionally, a hand would reach out from the crowd and fingers would pinch my skin or touch my blonde hair. I don't think I ever got used to it.

This was a long time ago, back in the '70's when flares were still cool and my dad sported the kind of moustache you'd only expect to see on a porn star now. I was six years old and our family had uprooted to live in Sumatra. This was before the internet and the kind of communications we're accustomed to today, and there were some people out there who'd never seen a white person; never seen blonde hair.

One of my earliest memories of that time was the company car breaking down on the way from Medan airport. We were on our way to the plantation and the car stopped close to a small village. Word went round that there was a car full of white people and within minutes we were surrounded. Blank faces pressed to the windows, staring silently like the undead. I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a little creepy. And when the car was working again, we were back onto the open road, weaving in and out of motorbikes, bicycles laden with firewood, trucks that pumped black exhaust fumes into the warm air. And buses. Oh, I remember the buses.

Brightly coloured death machines, painted and pimped. Boxes and belongings spilled from towering roofracks – sacks, carpets, baskets filled with chickens, lengths of lumber. People, too. When there was no more room inside the bus, the passengers sat on the roof, clung to the back or even hooked their fingers into the windows and hung on to the side of the bus. You can imagine for yourself the mess when one of them crashed. Mum and Dad used to tell us to turn away when we passed an accident, but my brother and I would sneak a look and see the broken bodies and limbs left on the road.

I remember once being in the plantation hospital when the victims of a bus accident were brought in. Some were awash with blood, moaning, while others were silent, sheets pulled high over their faces. They didn't need medical attention; they were on their way to the coldest room in the hospital. On one or two occasions, western travellers would be caught up in the disaster, and Mum and Dad would offer to help. Those young people were lucky to have been close to the plantation; a place with the facilities to look after them and where there was someone who spoke their language. But what about those people who weren't so fortunate? What happened to those young travellers?

That, I suppose, is why my new novel DARK HORIZONS begins with a bus crash. It's a most terrible thing to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, only to have it cut short by catastrophe -  and to then be left alone in a foreign place where no one cares and with no one to turn to.

So maybe the adventure is what comes afterwards . . . provided you survive.

Publication Day – DARK HORIZONS

Publication day is here. Does the world feel different? Well, maybe a little.

Anyway, I couldn't let the day pass without a quick shout out to say a big thank you to everyone who has sent me tweets and emails to say congratulations. It really does make a big difference and it's very much appreciated. I also want to say a big thanks to my agent, Carolyn, and to my editor Gen, to Natalie, and all the people at Orion for their hard work – and for sending me a bottle of champage! (A rather nice bottle, too).

Most of all, though, thanks to my wife for putting up with my lapses in memory and all the other things blokes do that their wives wish they wouldn't.

In the meantime, what are you hanging around here for? There's a new book out there to be read. Go on.

Go.

Fairy Dust, Gods and Small animals

Two more days before Dark Horizons is published. Two. More. Days. It'll be my second publication, and it's already getting a few good reviews, but you can't just write and sit back. No, no. You see, writing isn't just writing. Writing is also about trying to let people know about your book and then trying to get them to read it. The 'P' word. PROMOTION. And that's difficult because there are so many books published every year that a writer has to work hard to make sure theirs doesn't get lost in the maelstrom of words and reviews and book covers.

So, against all these odds, how does a book become successful? Well, I suppose having a good idea and being able to write is a good start, but after that . . . I don't know. A sprinkle of fairy dust? A prayer to the writing gods? The sacrifice of a small animal?

Perhaps all of those things.

Anyway, I'm getting a great boost from Read Regional which is promoting Dry Season and Dark Horizons around the North East, and I have a number of library visits already planned. I've also just arranged to sign books in Waterstone's Newcastle and Morpeth on 18th June – the day before Father's Day, so it could be a good opportunity for gift hunters. And, of course, there's the exciting news of the new contract and another two books lined up for the future.

Right then, I'm off to the pet shop. What d'you reckon? Hamster or guinea pig?

'gulp'

The 'Synopsis and First Three Chapters' Nightmare

Trying to fnd an agent/publisher is hard.

I've been through the 'synopsis and first three chapters' nightmare like many other writers, trying to persuade someone to read the whole manuscript. But I've recently had an insight into what it might be might be like on the other side – to be an agent or publisher, sifting through a pile of manuscripts – and it turned out to be something of a learning experience. I enjoyed it very much, it was a great way to sample other writing and to see what new ideas writers are toying with, but three things in particular really stood out for me.

I was always told that a synopsis should be one page of A4 (two at the most) and should clearly show the plot progression. A difficult task, but for someone who's just read a stack of submissions, I now know how important it is. I saw a lot of very long synopses – some as long as 10 pages – and equally as many that gave almost no plot detail at all. 10-15 of those a day? No one's got that kind of time or inclination. In my mind's eye, I can see agents and publishers flicking through those submissions and casting them aside in frustration.

Another surprise for me was how few submissions began with a really strong hook. And what can be more important than wanting to make the reader read on? Again, if you've got 10-15 of these landing on your desk every day, the beginning's got to be good if it's going to hold your attention. It has to reach out and grab. It has to make the person want to read it rather than skim through and move on to the next one.

And the third thing? Well, I expected to find some great stuff and some terrible stuff, but mostly what I found was a lot of OK stuff. And that's much harder to sort out. A synopsis can be fixed, a hook can be worked on, but how do you really make the work stand out?

Well, if I could answer that, I'd sprinkle it over all my work, put it in a bottle, label it and slap on a high price tag.

And then I'd be a rich man.

A cross between The Beach and Lord of The Flies

At the risk of repeating myself, here are a couple of reviews of DARK HORIZONS. I posted them on my Facebook Page and on Twitter, but not everyone uses those so I've put them on here to show what people are saying in the run up to publication.

Lifestyle Magazine says readers 'will not be disappointed by this taut and emotive thriller'. Read the full review here

Tangled Web says it's a 'captivating and intriguing story set against a lush natural world.' Read the full review here

Read Regional says it's 'like a cross between Alex Garland's The Beach and Lord of the Flies . . . I couldn't put it down.'  Read the full review here

Only two more weeks until publication so, of course, this is the bit where I tell you that DARK HORIZONS can be pre-ordered from any bookstore, but you already know that, right? So what are you waiting for?

Oh, and don't forget, there's a chance to win a signed hardback right here

Also . . . The Beach and Lord of The Flies?  Wow.

Dan Smith Unplugged

I was at Hexham Book Festival yesterday to read from DRY SEASON in theRobinson-Gay Gallery. The venue was lovely – very relaxed – and they even provided a Jackanory style chair to read from. So, surrounded by all kinds of interesting art, the event proceeded and . . . well, I'd like to say there was standing room only, people waiting outside, straining to hear my treacly tones, but it wasn't exactly oversubscribed.

Never mind, though, it was an intimate reading. Dan Smith 'unplugged' if you like. And a couple of people I haven't seen for a long time came, so that was great.

Anyway, thanks to the gallery and thanks to Cogito books who came along to sell copies of Dry Season. It's heartening to know there are still some independent booksellers left, despite the world dominance of the likes of Amazon and Waterstones. So, if you're ever in Hexham, make sure you check out Cogito books – it's a lovely shop with a fantastic selection of books. There are no bestseller tables with 3 for 2 offers, but you get a personal service with actual recommendations – yeah, I know recommendations. From real people. Can't ask for more than that, eh?

From Newcastle to Brazil and Beyond

If you live in the North East of England and you picked up a copy of The Journal yesterday, you might've seen me peering out from the pages at you. First off, let me apologise if it gave you a shock – it's an uncommonly smiley picture of me. And if you didn't see it, then brace yourself for that smile, and click this link to see the article.

DRY SEASON is curently out in paperback and is available at all bookstores, and DARK HORIZONS is out on 26th May, but can be pre-ordered. Get them from your usual retailer or you could go to the New Writing North bookshop to pick up a bargain.

The Run's Done

OK, so this isn't book or writing related but I thought I'd drop in a quick post to say thank you to everyone who sponsored my daughter and me to run the 5 mile Children's Cancer run yesterday. We managed to raise just under £200 for North East Children's Cancer Research. It was a tough run this year because it poured all night before – making for a very muddy course through the woods and over the fields – but the sun came out as we started and it stayed out until we had finished. Only then did the thunder roll and the heavens open again.

Well done to everyone who ran and thanks again to all our sponsors.

Click to view slideshow.