M.D. Eyre's Blog, page 5
May 3, 2012
Sales of digital books up
And it looks like that's at the expense of print books.
Some very interesting comments below the line from readers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
Some very interesting comments below the line from readers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
May 2, 2012
Game of Thrones
I'm a really big fan of both the books and HBO TV show but, after watching the first few episodes of the 2nd series, I'm not sure if it's as good as the first.
Perhaps it's missing the presence of Sean Bean as an imperious Lord Stark or maybe it's just that Martin's books are simply too complex for the tv narrative to handle.
And the books get more complex as they progress- it'll be interesting to see how they handle the 4th one where Martin splits the narrative and takes one set of characters to a certain point in time and then goes back and does the same with another group.
Still, really like all those 'King of the North' chants and the way they use the character's accents to emphasise the North/South divide is great.
I read somewhere that Martin used the War of the Roses as a template for the plot and if that's the case then it works a treat- the red rose/white rose conflict comes alive again in 2012 only this time I hope the white one wins!
Perhaps it's missing the presence of Sean Bean as an imperious Lord Stark or maybe it's just that Martin's books are simply too complex for the tv narrative to handle.
And the books get more complex as they progress- it'll be interesting to see how they handle the 4th one where Martin splits the narrative and takes one set of characters to a certain point in time and then goes back and does the same with another group.
Still, really like all those 'King of the North' chants and the way they use the character's accents to emphasise the North/South divide is great.
I read somewhere that Martin used the War of the Roses as a template for the plot and if that's the case then it works a treat- the red rose/white rose conflict comes alive again in 2012 only this time I hope the white one wins!
April 29, 2012
KDP Select
Like quite a few Indie authors I've enrolled my 3 books in the KDP Select programme and, like many others, I have mixed feelings about the scheme.
I think it is the best way for new authors to get their books 'seen' but the free giveaways must be having a knock-on effect in terms of sales, not only of new writers, but also established ones as well.
It is a brilliant marketing ploy by Amazon,though, in that it has boosted the sales of Kindles. Very few people I know own an alternative e-reader-in fact there's just one, who bought a Sony.
Will I stay with KDP? Well, I've already withdrawn Tabnit Gisgo so that it gives me a few more options re vendors and I'll see how the next few months go.
What Amazon has done, of course, is give thousands like me an opportunity to blow the digital dust from books on my desktop and get them out there.
I think it is the best way for new authors to get their books 'seen' but the free giveaways must be having a knock-on effect in terms of sales, not only of new writers, but also established ones as well.
It is a brilliant marketing ploy by Amazon,though, in that it has boosted the sales of Kindles. Very few people I know own an alternative e-reader-in fact there's just one, who bought a Sony.
Will I stay with KDP? Well, I've already withdrawn Tabnit Gisgo so that it gives me a few more options re vendors and I'll see how the next few months go.
What Amazon has done, of course, is give thousands like me an opportunity to blow the digital dust from books on my desktop and get them out there.
April 28, 2012
Cat Blog
Two years ago we got our first cats.
Mimi, the mother, and her two daughters, Morrissey (named before we knew she was a girl but I think it fits, especially given our hero's androgenous qualities) and Elspeth, named after Flashman's skitty wife in George Macdonald Fraser's books.
I believe Elspeth is certifiably insane; right now she's jumping at the door to be let out and howling annoyingly; Moz is eating...in fact,that's all she does, eat, while Mimi insists on coming to lay on my chest as I write which makes writing...difficult.
I love 'em, me!
Mimi, the mother, and her two daughters, Morrissey (named before we knew she was a girl but I think it fits, especially given our hero's androgenous qualities) and Elspeth, named after Flashman's skitty wife in George Macdonald Fraser's books.
I believe Elspeth is certifiably insane; right now she's jumping at the door to be let out and howling annoyingly; Moz is eating...in fact,that's all she does, eat, while Mimi insists on coming to lay on my chest as I write which makes writing...difficult.
I love 'em, me!
April 27, 2012
The Smiths not reforming
False alarm- The Smiths aren't going to reform. Johnny Marr put the kibosh on it this morning...which is for the best I reckon. These old bands getting together again, it's just not right, is it?
A couple of trivia facts:
1. The Smiths were JK Rowling's favourite band.
2. From the man himself: 'I'd rather eat my own testicles then reform the Smiths...and that's saying something for a vegetarian'
Always gives good quote, does Morrissey.
A couple of trivia facts:
1. The Smiths were JK Rowling's favourite band.
2. From the man himself: 'I'd rather eat my own testicles then reform the Smiths...and that's saying something for a vegetarian'
Always gives good quote, does Morrissey.
April 26, 2012
The Smiths reforming?
For all you Smiths Fans out there on Goodreads ( then again I might be the only one!) a lot of rumours flying about on twitter and elsewhere that they are going to reform for a series of Autumn gigs.
There's more to life than books you know...but not much more (S. Morrissey)
There's more to life than books you know...but not much more (S. Morrissey)
April 25, 2012
Writing across different genres
I've now published 3 books, all from different genres.
I suppose the jury is out as to whether or not this will turn out to be a good or bad thing for me.
Many famous authors stick to one genre, of course, while other like to branch out.
J.K. Rowling will be publishing her first adult novel this year and even Stephen King can't really be described as simply a horror writer anymore- he's written fantasy (the Dark Tower series) and sci-fi and I'm still not sure how to classify The Green Mile.
I suppose I write what I like to read and I don't read just one genre- so there's historical fiction on my author dashboard as well as horror and humour: the writer-as reader-as writer...if that makes any sense!
I suppose the jury is out as to whether or not this will turn out to be a good or bad thing for me.
Many famous authors stick to one genre, of course, while other like to branch out.
J.K. Rowling will be publishing her first adult novel this year and even Stephen King can't really be described as simply a horror writer anymore- he's written fantasy (the Dark Tower series) and sci-fi and I'm still not sure how to classify The Green Mile.
I suppose I write what I like to read and I don't read just one genre- so there's historical fiction on my author dashboard as well as horror and humour: the writer-as reader-as writer...if that makes any sense!
April 23, 2012
Sales of my e-books
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about my 2 novels and the way that Burnfield, my horror story, was outselling Tabnit Gisgo, ny historical novel.
Well, now it's turned completely around and Tabnit is outselling Burnfield.
Trying to understand the market for books is always difficult but I have a hunch that maybe, because Tabnit became available as a paperback a week ago, people might be comparing the prices of the Kindle version with the paperback and thinking-that's a good deal!
Then again I might be completely wrong-maybe it's the cover or the tweets or the blurb or the....
Well, now it's turned completely around and Tabnit is outselling Burnfield.
Trying to understand the market for books is always difficult but I have a hunch that maybe, because Tabnit became available as a paperback a week ago, people might be comparing the prices of the Kindle version with the paperback and thinking-that's a good deal!
Then again I might be completely wrong-maybe it's the cover or the tweets or the blurb or the....
April 22, 2012
Living Abroad
I left England in 2000 and for the last 11 years I've lived and worked abroad.
My first stop was Singapore, where I worked for 3 years. If you've never been I can't recommend it highly enough. It's a beautiful city and the opportunities for travel are almost limitless. It was there that I discovered Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and I've been back many times.
After that it was the Middle East: I worked in Qatar for 7 years and really liked it-very different to Sing but a vibrant place and I'll be interested to see how the handle the World Cup.
Now I live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and again it's a fascinating place, really on the cusp of change.
Will I ever return to the Uk? Maybe- if the weather changes for the better!
My first stop was Singapore, where I worked for 3 years. If you've never been I can't recommend it highly enough. It's a beautiful city and the opportunities for travel are almost limitless. It was there that I discovered Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and I've been back many times.
After that it was the Middle East: I worked in Qatar for 7 years and really liked it-very different to Sing but a vibrant place and I'll be interested to see how the handle the World Cup.
Now I live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and again it's a fascinating place, really on the cusp of change.
Will I ever return to the Uk? Maybe- if the weather changes for the better!
April 21, 2012
Fighting Talk- a new novel
Available on Amazon from tomorrow, Fighting Talk is the first book in a trilogy entitled The Brantholme Years. It's set in a junior high school in 1975.
Here's the blurb:
It’s 1975! Space hoppers, platform shoes, Jaws, The Osmonds! And…er… a Top 10 Military Helmets Chart.
That’s all 12-year-old Georgie Tomlinson is bothered about – along with war comics, war books and war films. But he’s also got a few other things on his mind as he begins his final year at Brantholme Junior High School; for a start there’s ‘Wacker’ Walker, headmaster and confirmed lunatic, as well as Barry ‘Baz’ Grouse, school bully and confirmed hardcase.
Featuring a large killer wasp, copious supplies of laxative and a hippie English teacher, this is a hilarious coming of age novel about school, unrequited love and mullet haircuts… and all while wearing voluminous flared trousers and hoping to God nobody ever took a photo.
Fighting Talk: you’ll be glad it’s not the Seventies again.
Here's the blurb:
It’s 1975! Space hoppers, platform shoes, Jaws, The Osmonds! And…er… a Top 10 Military Helmets Chart.
That’s all 12-year-old Georgie Tomlinson is bothered about – along with war comics, war books and war films. But he’s also got a few other things on his mind as he begins his final year at Brantholme Junior High School; for a start there’s ‘Wacker’ Walker, headmaster and confirmed lunatic, as well as Barry ‘Baz’ Grouse, school bully and confirmed hardcase.
Featuring a large killer wasp, copious supplies of laxative and a hippie English teacher, this is a hilarious coming of age novel about school, unrequited love and mullet haircuts… and all while wearing voluminous flared trousers and hoping to God nobody ever took a photo.
Fighting Talk: you’ll be glad it’s not the Seventies again.
