Dan Smith's Blog, page 17

Read Regional Launch 2011

Well, I've just got back from the Read Regional launch at Hexham Book Festival. For those who don't know, Read Regional is an annual campaign to promote North East authors to readers across the region – and this year, I am one of those authors, which is very exciting. For me, things will mostly revolve around Dry Season, because that's the paperback that is currently available, but it will also mean some promotion for Dark Horizons which comes out in the next few weeks.

The campaign is run by New Writing North, which does a fantastic job of promoting and supporting authors in this area, so this is me saying a big 'thank you' for all their hard work. Claire and Liv and the others over at NWN work tirelesly for their writers and thoroughly deserve the recent shortlisting for The Bookseller Industry Awards 2011 in the Library Innovation of the Year category. So, if you're reading this, thanks for everything and good luck with the award.

The event today was an introduction to this year's writers (check out the website to find out more) and there'll be a series of other events to follow. I'm booked into a few libraries over the next few months -

Tues 10th May Robinson-Gay Gallery, Hexham 1pm

Tues June 15th Hartlepool Central Library 6pm

Tues 28th June Morpeth Library 7:30pm

Thurs 21st July North Tyneside Central Library 7pm

Thurs 13th October Houghton Library 2pm

Hopefully I'll see a few people there and if any of the details change or there are any new ones to add, I'll post everything here.

Dark Horizons ready to be released . . .

An unexpected knock at the door yesterday brought boxes of books. But this is not just any old book. Oh no. This is DARK HORIZONS. The second Dan Smith novel to be sent out into the wild. Actually, the cages havent yet been opened – that won't happen for another three weeks – but it's gnawing the bars, desperate to be freed. You'll have to wait until the 26th before the book is available to buy but, in the meantime, here's a little pic I took on my iPod touch (a surprise gift from my brilliant big brother).

Oh, and if you want to check out the first chapter, go to the DARK HORIZONS page on my website and click on the link . . . it's a taster of what's to come.

Also, if you want a chance to win a signed hardback, why not enter the competition.

Reading, Running and Aching

The Hexham Book Festival starts this week – so for anyone who lives in the region and is interested in reading/books, there might be something for you. Check out the program on their website to see what's coming up. I'll be there on Saturday for the Read Regional launch hosted by New Writing North, the organisation which does a great job of promoting and nurturing north-east writing talent.  I'll also be at the festival on Tuesday 10th May to do a reading in the Robinson-Gay Gallery (details here). I'll be reading from Dry Season and Dark Horizons and Graham Pears will be reading from his novel 'A Time for Justice.'

Mind you, if you come along on Tuesday and think I look like I'm in pain, then it's because my daughter and I are running the 5 mile NECCR run on Sunday. We've raised almost £150 for children's cancer research so we HAVE to run it now, there's no backing out of it. I'm hoping these old joints and bones aren't going to let me down.

Should you feel the urge to sponsor us, we have a justgiving page that makes it all very easy and pain free – compared to the actual run, anyway.

Website Updated – Competition Included!

I've just finished updating my website and now it's live. Well, I say 'just finished' but I actually finished it a while ago – I've been testing and checking and testing and checking. However, despite all that, there are bound to be a few problems with it. Something won't work as it's supposed to. It's the law.

Anyway, there are a few details about Dark Horizons on there now, and there are some new photos to look at. There's even a competition to win a signed copy of Dark Horizons. All you have to do is send in a photo of you with your copy of Dry Season (I know, it's a shameless attempt to make you go out and buy the first book) and send it to me at the email address posted on the competition page. Hey, it could be worth your while. These days photos are quick and easy and a good one could bag you a signed hardback that's worth close to £20.

Enter the competition

Shock News – Author wears Shirt & Jacket

I know I've said before that many of we authors like to hide ourselves away, but I think I'm getting more used to standing up and talking about my books. In fact *looks around nervously* I actually rather enjoy it. Yesterday I drove up to Alnwick in Northumberland to talk to the local Rotary about the inspiration behind Dry Season. And for the first time in a LONG time, I put on a shirt and jacket. Yeah. Me.

Anyway, because I normally talk to reading groups or libraries, I wasn't really sure what to expect from Rotary but I had a great time. There was a good turn out, no one fell asleep while I was talking, they asked some great questions and they even bought some books. I couldn't have asked for more.

So thanks to Alnwick Rotary for making me feel so welcome and well done for all the work you do raising so much money for local charities.

Best First Novel Award – Aw shucks.

I didn't win the Authors' Club Best First Novel award. It would have been great to win, but being shortlisted is the next best thing, right?

Anyway, I had a good time in Laahnd'n. The Authors' Club get-together was a pleasant gathering and I met a few new interesting people. Some of them even told me how much they loved Dry Season – and there's nothing quite like being told how great your book is. Generally, I spend my time closeted in near-darkness in front of the compter stressing over whether this sentence is just right or if this bit's overwritten or that bit's boring, so it's always a pleasure to hear that someone has enjoyed my efforts. Hey, a few people said they've pre-ordered Dark Horizons which is the next Dan Smith to hit the shelves on . . . 26th May 2011. Not long now.

In the meantime, I'm in the process of arranging some library visists – to talk, that is, rather than to borrow books – so I'll let you know the dates when they're finalised.

Related Articles

Orion Bags The Child Thief (dansmithsbooks.wordpress.com)
Authors' Club – Best First Novel Award 2011 (dansmithsbooks.wordpress.com)
Dry Season shortlisted for Best First Novel award (dansmithsbooks.wordpress.com)

Orion Bags The Child Thief

Ah. Good news.

Being a writer can be something of a jittery affair. I mean, unless you're one of the select few – the Dan Browns and Stephen Kings of this world – there's always a bit of self doubt. Hell, they probably have their doubts too, but when people read your books in their millions, I think the doubts are minimal when it comes to concerns about whether or not your writing is liked. But when people tell you they went to Waterstones only to be told they don't stock your book (!) the doubts creep in.

And then you get some good news.

If you read this blog, you'll know that Dry Season has been acknowledged a few times – shorlisted for the Brit Writers' Awards, shortlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel – and has garnered a few good reviews. Those things are fantastic, of course, and I'm very proud that Dry Season has been mentioned in the same breath as some of the other books alongside it on those shortlists. (In fact, the Authors' Club award is announced on Thursday 14th at a reception in Waterstone's Piccadilly, so fingers crossed for that one – oh, and hopefully they'll be stocking the Dry Season paperback.) But acknowledgment and readers and books in stores are only possible when someone publishes your books. And that's where I get to the good news. You see, my super-editor, Gen, has been working very hard over at Orion and  . . . well, I'll let them tell it. Here's something from www.boktrade.info

 

Press Release: Deals Done

Orion bags THE CHILD THIEF

Posted at 4:24PM Friday 08 Apr 2011

The Orion Publishing Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of THE CHILD THIEF, the first of two new novels from Dan Smith. A chilling story of murder and vengeance set in the frozen wastes of 1930s Ukraine, THE CHILD THIEF is both a breathless crime thriller and a dark tale of what happens when the family bond is torn apart.

Dan Smith's debut novel, DRY SEASON, has received several prize nominations, and is on the shortlist for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award to be announced next week. His second novel, DARK HORIZONS, follows in May.

Genevieve Pegg, Senior Commissioning Editor, bought world rights from Carolyn Whitaker at London Independent Books. Orion will publish THE CHILD THIEF in spring 2012, with a further novel to follow in 2013.

For more information please contact Gaby Young at Orion on 020 7520 4317.

 

Coming out from the dark . . .

Well, I've finished another one. Book that is. And it's always a strange feeling when I finish a book. Those last stages of editing and re-editing are an obsessive time, and I can hardly think of anything else, so when I come to the last page, there's something of a feeling of relief – tinged with an otherworldly sense of coming out from the dark. Then I begin to feel pleased with myself. I mean, why wouldn't I? I've just finished a 120,000 word novel. Except, of course, it's not really finished at all. There's still a long way to go.

My first reader is always my wife – and I try not to ask, but can't help the 'is it all right?' question and the 'what bit are you up to?' question. It's only natural. And, of couse, it's good when the right reaction comes at the right time and in all the right places. And it's even better when she puts down the last page and says 'Wow,' because then I know the book's got something. There'll be a few typos to clear up, (which I've just finished amending) and then the doubts seep in. I begin to wonder if I should have added this or that; if I should have made one character more prominent than another; should I have amplified this part of the story rather than that? Should I have ended it on a different note? Is the beginning gripping enough? Is . . .  well, you get the picture.

Anyway, there has to be a point when you put a manuscript to one side and look for the professional opinion so . . . off it goes to my agent. And I know that she will tell me what's wrong with the novel. Thankfully, I've never had to plough through any massive edits at this stage – but there's always that possibility, right?

So that's where I am now. The printer is buzzing behind me (my agent, Carolyn, likes paper and ink, and that's fine by me) and I'm getting ready to send the manuscript out for the next part of its journey  – and I mean that in the sense of travelling from here to there, rather than in the reality tv show/xfactor sense of 'it's been an incredible journey, man'. After that, there's my editor's approval to seek, but that's another step along from where I am right now – I'll get to that later with a bit of luck.

I have no end-of-novel rituals. No single glass of champage, no succumbing to tobacco just this one time, no nothing. Just another cup of coffee and the beginning of a new book while I wait for the verdict on the one I've just finished.

And, hopefully, you'll get to see it one day, printed between covers.

coming out from the dark . . .

Well, I've finished another one. Book that is. And it's always a strange feeling when I finish a book. Those last stages of editing and re-editing are an obsessive time, and I can hardly think of anything else, so when I come to the last page, there's something of a feeling of relief – tinged with an otherworldly sense of coming out from the dark. Then I begin to feel pleased with myself. I mean, why wouldn't I? I've just finished a 120,000 word novel. Except, of course, it's not really finished at all. There's still a long way to go.

My first reader is always my wife – and I try not to ask, but can't help the 'is it all right?' question and the 'what bit are you up to?' question. It's only ntural. And, of couse, it's good when the right reaction comes at the right time and in all the right places. And it's even better when she puts down the last page and says 'Wow,' because then I know the book's got something. There'll be a few typos to clear up, (which I've just finished amending) and then the doubts seep in. I begin to wonder if I should have added this or that; if I should have made one character more prominent than another; should I have amplified this part of the story rather than that? Should I have ended it on a different note? Is the beginning gripping enough? Is . . .  well, you get the picture.

Anyway, there has to be a point when you put a manuscript to one side and look for the professional opinion so . . . off it goes to my agent. And I know that she will tell me what's wrong with the novel. Thankfully, I've never had to plough through any massive edits at this stage – but there's always that possibility, right?

So that's where I am now. The printer is buzzing behind me (my agent, Carolyn, likes paper and ink, and that's fine by me) and I'm getting ready to send the manuscript out for the next part of its journey  – and I mean that in the sense of travelling from here to there, rather than in the reality tv show/xfactor sense of 'it's been an incredible journey, man'. After that, there's my editor's approval to seek, but that's another step along from where I am right now – I'll get to that later with a bit of luck.

I have no end-of-novel rituals. No single glass of champage, no succumbing to tobacco just this one time, no nothing. Just another cup of coffee and the beginning of a new book while I wait for the verdict on the one I've just finished.

And, hopefully, you'll get to see it one day, printed between covers.

 

Dan's writing advice – one time only

I had my head down all last week – well, not so much 'down' as pointed at the computer screen – and finally came up for air on Friday afternoon, fuzzy-eyed and furry-brained. You see, I had a flash of inspiration (or whatever you like to call it) and it was followed by an intense bout of re-re-re-editing.

Now, I don't do writing advice.  I don't think I'm in any position to offer it. In fact, I hardly even have a handle on how I write, let alone try to tell someone else how to do it. I do, however, often see other writers (some well known, some not) offering writing advice on the web, and I always read with a large dose of scepticism because what works for one person might not work for another. Also, I find it difficult to accomodate the idea that anyone can have such a firm grasp on what they're doing. This is because when I write, I don't have a clever method or a series of steps. Maybe I'd be better at it if I did. But no, I just sit down, turn on the computer and write until the story comes to an end. Then I look at it and change what doesn't feel right. However, what I'm getting around to saying is that I'm going to offer some advice.

Yeah, I know; me.

So we go back to why I was so furiously re-re-re-editing. Well, I've been working on a book, written in the first person, about . . . well, I'm not going to tell you what it's about – wait and see. Anyway, when I read it back, it just didn't reel right. I couldn't put my finger on it. I edited it but still it didn't feel right. I re-edited but it still didn't feel right, and I was several chapters into a frenzy of hack and slash when came the epiphany. I hit on the idea of changing it from first person to third. And guess what? It worked. Everything felt much better. Ahh, sigh of relief 'n' all that. (Except the sigh of relief was tainted with a feeling of 'oh bloody hell, it's gonna take me ages to do that'.) And that is why I spent all week transfixed, eyes locked to the screen, brain struggling to cope, letters blurring. But now it's done.

So there you go. That's my advice. If it's not working, try changing the perspective. It could work for you. In my case it's given me a very intense, tight third person view that works well.  In your case it could be a masterpiece.

Done.

Be a legendary writer like Ernest. Fight, drink, hunt, eat a shotgun. (Disclaimer:Not serious advice, obviously. No, really. Please don't do any of those things. Just be nice.)