Isabella May's Blog, page 2
October 5, 2020
Download my FREE Novelette, THE VANILLA POD CAFE!
I have some exciting news!
No, I haven’t been approached by Nextflix to have my Foodie Romance Journeys made into a series just yet… but I have finally set up my delicious (and free) monthly newsletter. Just CLICK ON THIS LINK to be directed to the subscription page. Here’s a look at what you get access to if you sign-up:
A complimentary copy of my novelette, The Vanilla Pod Cafe. This is the prequel to my novel, The Cocktail Bar, and is Mercedes’ scrumptious love story. It’s set between Papantla and Guadalajara, Mexico, and is full of wit, heart, and some tummy-rumbling vanilla-infused treats. It was an absolute joy to write, and I hope it will lift the spirits during these kerazy times.
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Giveaways that are EXCLUSIVE to the newsletter and will not be up for grabs anywhere else…
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Sneak peeks of new covers, titles, and book updates.
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A heads-up on free and bargain books from other authors whose work I love.
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Snippets about my writing process/ideas/cake consumption (and baking disasters)/travels/current reads… and much, much MORE!
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All wrapped up in giggles and positivity, of course.
Here’s the link to sign up in case you missed it at the top of this blog:
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Isabella xx
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August 4, 2020
The Chocolate Box
After more than half a year without blogging *hides under the table!*, I am delighted to reveal the cover for my brand new novel; The Chocolate Box.
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And here is the blurb to whet your appetites 
December 16, 2019
Who are The Cake Fairies?
I’m counting down the weeks and days until my brand new novel, The Cake Fairies – Book Number 5… sometimes I have to pinch myself as I have no idea where the words even come from, other than a random and invisible muse-style cloud in the sky! – hits kindles and bookshelves far and wide.
An exciting time, and also a nerve-wracking one, although early reviews have been really quite jolly.
“She writes so well painting pictures and tastes and textures of food with her words. They are an indulgent pleasure to read.”
“It is a truly delicious, delectable storyline which incorporates mouthwatering scrumptious creations of cakes together with a spellbinding feel. Loved it!”
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“Another delectable offering from foodie fiction author Isabella May. Every one of her books is a gastronomic dip into rich humorous drama and light fun antics, topped with a sprinkling of magic and meaning. And The Cake Fairies is no exception!”
Phew.
But who are The Cake Fairies? And why does the world, or more to the point, Great Britain, even need them?
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Well, here’s the blurb (read cheat’s version of my explanation):
1960’s Somerset is no fun for cousins Polly and Annabelle Williams. Mourning their non-existent love lives, and the mundanity of village life, their only pleasure is baking – until a chance encounter has them magically transported to the bright lights of London… in 2019! Promised a chance of love, first they must teach the people of the future about the simpler pleasures of life by becoming Cake Fairies. Over the course of a year they set off on a delectable tour of the UK, dropping off cakes in the most unexpected of places and replacing the lure of technology with much sweeter temptations.But will their philanthropical endeavours lead them to everlasting love? Or will they discover you can’t have your cake and eat it?
The simplest way to sum The Cake Fairies up is to call them foodie versions of The Book Fairies. Their mission is to spread joy by the crumb and get people back in the present!
You can order your paperback copy, and/or pre-order your Kindle copy by clicking this link.
Happy reading and a VERY Merry Christmas.
Isabella xx
December 9, 2019
Fortnum Teacup Fancies Giveaway!
If, like me, you haven’t yet been jammy enough to experience the ultimate afternoon tea treat that is Fortnum and Mason‘s London cafe yet, fear not… for I will be bringing the cake part of the real thing to one lucky reader of my brand new novel, The Cake Fairies.
My timeslip romcom has a whole chapter playing out in the capital’s swanky eatery, so it was only fitting that one of us got to savour the taste sensation that is a box of Fortnum’s finest Teacup Fancies – beyond the imagination in the pages of a book!
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At this point, I must send credit where credit is due to one of my oldest and best friends, Bexy Lee, for her mouthwatering rendition of said foodie experience.
And at this point, I must also admit how very jealous I am of the future winner – as well as Bexy!
What do you have to do to enter?
It couldn’t be easier. So give yourself a bookish and foodie treat…
Simply pre-order a Kindle copy of The Cake Fairies by clicking HERE (or if you prefer the feel of a paperback in your hands, that format is available right now), send me proof of purchase, and you will go in the draw!
*Proof of purchase can be sent to me via Twitter. Just follow my account @IsabellaMayBks and send me a tweet or a direct message there.
*Proof of purchase can also be sent via email: isabellamayauthor@gmail.com
*Alternatively, you may post your proof of purchase to Facebook or Instagram, tagging me in!
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Fortnum and Mason Teacup Fancies Giveaway Terms and Conditions:
1: The promoter is Isabella May.
2: The competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom and abroad, aged 18 years or over.
3: There is no entry fee to enter this competition.
4: By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
5: Closing date for entry will be Friday 10th January at 11.59pm. After this time and date no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6: No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7: There is no cash alternative.
Good luck!
Isabella xx
December 8, 2019
The Cake Fairies… are coming!
It’s been a ridiculous half a year since I have posted on my blog. A fact that’s as upsetting as the texture of stem ginger, but in my defense, life’s been pretty busy and as complex as any layer cake!
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Earlier this year I began working with a local wedding planner to write a weekly article for their website – loads of fun but ultimately it meant updating readers on all my bookish news… and the M word (Marketing) took a giant backseat.
Then my husband got a brand new job in Portugal, meaning lots of solo parenting most days of the week.
Then we moved house and the kids started new schools.
Then came the 6.20am starts. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Then the youngest picked up golf (again) and started playing cricket in Gibraltar. Yep, I drive him to a whole different country across an airport runway border for that! On top of the eldest and her weekly dance commitments, as you can probably guess, the novel writing inadvertently took an equally giant backseat.
And then, thank the Lord, along came the Sagittarius moon and a heavy dose of much needed perspective: something had to give. Much as I enjoyed the fun and frolics of the wedding industry, with just 4 core working hours per weekday, I’d be lucky to get one new book out a year, never mind my usual 2.
I think that’s when I took stock and realised that I can only run a tight ship at home if I am happy. Spinning plates is only fun when they’re loaded with cake, after all…
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So getting back on track and without further ado, this is just a short and sweet reminder that my brand new romcom, The Cake Fairies (my romcom with a timeslip), is available to pre-order NOW on Kindle, and, if you’d prefer to curl up in a Christmas snowball with a paperback, then you can order yours from Amazon and be doing so within days!
Happy reading and CLICK HERE for the buying link that will take you straight to the Amazon page for your country so you can either treat yourself or a loved one this festive season.
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Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2020!
Isabella xx
June 19, 2019
The Body in Belair Park
I am beyond thrilled to feature one of my favourite authors (and friends) today on the blog. Alice Castle’s phenomenal cosy crime series has had me, and many others, completely hooked since Book One, Death in Dulwich, when she introduced us to possibly the world’s most loveable sleuth, Beth Haldane. Aka. the girl with the Shetland pony fringe.
Alice’s way with words is hypnotic and full of the most juicy wit and observation. I’m not even a crime reader, but even I cannot failed to be lured into the darker side of Yummy Mummy land, where Alice’s plots take place.
But that’s enough about me. Without further ado, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Alice recently, and today I am excited to reveal some of her writing and plotting secrets.
Enjoy… and then start the series IMMEDIATELY if you haven’t got around to it!
Why do you think the cozy crime genre has such a growing following?
Great question! I think that cozy crime is very appealing because it offers the satisfying puzzle of a traditional whodunit, without the blood and gore that many writers bring to contemporary crime fiction at the moment. Cozies hark back to a gentler era and I think that most people, whatever their politics, would agree we are living through difficult and confusing times at the moment. My cozies are set in contemporary London but they are part of a soothing universe where good and evil are absolutes and where criminals are always caught and punished. One of the tropes of a cozy is that the crime is solved by an amateur, and I think many readers like to feel they are finding their way to the solution at the same time as my single mum sleuth. Being an armchair detective is fun!
I’m not a crime fan per se, but I will always make an exception for your books because they are about so much more than murder; a brilliant melange of so many things: witticism, prose, topically on point, and full of red herrings and laughter. I never quite nail the culprit either. I imagine you have read extensively in your genre, and I’d be really interested to know who you most liken your words to – both inside and outside of cozy crime?
Thank you for those very kind words! Lovely to hear you enjoy the books despite the odd murder and I’m really thrilled to hear you don’t guess whodunnit, that always makes my day. It’s hard for me to know who I would liken my words to, exactly, but I do have a lot of influences. I love the cozy crime writer Simon Brett (who went to school in Dulwich) who has written about two hundred books, including three long crime series, the Charles Paris mysteries, centring on an alcoholic out-of-work actor with the bad habit of tripping over corpses, the Fethering mysteries, about two retired ladies in a seaside town which seems beset with as many intrigues as it has seagulls, and the Mrs Pargeter books, about the widow of a crime boss who has her finger in many pies. I also love Raymond Chandler, whose writing just epitomises jagged brilliance and who also went to school in Dulwich (can you see a theme developing?). I adore the fast pace, wordplay and humour in PG Wodehouse (another Dulwich boy). Aside from these local lads, there are some amazing female criminal masterminds I read and re-read, Agatha Christie of course, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, DL Sayers, PD James, Sue Grafton and Kate Atkinson are all favourites.
Could you ever turn your hand to hard-boiled crime?
I don’t love the gorier end of the crime spectrum. I’m much too squeamish to read scenes of torture or any really gratuitous violence. Don’t tell anyone, but for a crime writer, I’m a bit of a wuss. I also strongly dislike those scenes where the male detective looks down on a naked female corpse in the mortuary and swears vengeance on the male perpetrator, then the rest of the book is a duel between the two men. Those books can be terrific page-turners and there’s a place for everything in crime, but for me it’s just dull when women are reduced to a peripheral role as victims. I do like a psychological thriller and I’m really getting into the genre of domestic suspense at the moment. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is the classic example but there are loads of new books coming out in this area which I’m loving.
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Are any of your Dulwich characters (here, I must confess, I am specifically thinking of the yummy mummies!) based on real-life people?
Teehee! Wouldn’t that be naughty? The safest answer is to invite you to come to lovely Dulwich, to hang out with me in a café which may or may not resemble my fictional Jane’s, and overhear an afternoon’s worth of chat – then see what you think!
Now there’s an invitation I can’t refuse, especially after reading about the epic coffee and cake…
What was the inspiration behind book 6, The Body in Belair Park?
One of my inspirations was Belair House, the very beautiful real-life Georgian mansion which is at the centre of the story and is the home of the fictional bridge club that causes so much trouble for Beth and DI Harry York. It’s a really stunning place and I felt it would be an excellent spot for a nice bit of skulduggery. The other inspiration was my newfound interest in the card game, bridge. Bridge has featured in two whodunits which I particularly love, Agatha Christie’s Cards On The Table and Georgette Heyer’s Duplicate Death. I wanted to see if I could write my own that would stand against these two classics – I hope I’ve succeeded.
Do you have to hang out in each of your crime locations for research purposes?
I do tend to know my crime scenes well, as they are usually key to the stories. The Girl in the Gallery was inspired by a particular spot in Dulwich Picture Gallery and my new book, The Body in Belair Park, is also set at a real location. Luckily for me, Dulwich is full of interesting and quirky corners so there are plenty of places where I can leave a dead body.
How long did it take you to write each book in this addictive series?
The length of time it takes to write a story depends on loads of factors. Death in Dulwich took me the longest to write, because I didn’t have a publisher then. Once I was lucky enough to find Crooked Cat, then things speeded up. Now I even have people asking me when the next one is coming out, which is the loveliest position to be in as a writer, and also makes me feel I ought to get on with it!
I’m super excited to hear whisperings of a book 7. Is it true?
That’s so nice of you! Yes, I’m hard at work on book seven at the moment, it’s called The Slayings in Sydenham and I hope it will be out later this year or possibly at the beginning of next year. It’s going well so far.
Will the series keep going to double digits?
I’d like to keep going for as long as anyone wants me to… I’ve always loved long detective series myself. The Agatha Raisin series, by MC Beaton, is stretching on and on and is still great fun. As long as I can keep dreaming up interesting plots for Beth, and as long as she doesn’t mind pushing her fringe out of her eyes for long enough to nail the next culprit, then I’ll keep going.
Did you have the entire series mapped out from the start, or has it been a natural progression?
I had the first six books mapped out and it was really satisfying tying up some loose ends in The Body in Belair Park. But there seems to be a lot more to say, which is something I’m very happy about, so I’m now scattering some more subplots here and there to last me through the next few books…
How has your experience as a journalist shaped your writing?
I think my years as a professional journalist have helped me to treat writing as a serious business. No journalist ever gets writer’s block – or admits it, anyway. And I’m under no illusions – although writing books is creative, it’s also a slog. Mostly I’m just very grateful that I don’t have to worry about the facts any more, now that I’m writing fiction!
What’s next when the series reaches its conclusion? More cozy crime… or a change of direction?
I’m really excited to say I have a new book coming out in November which will be a BIG change of direction – it’s in the psychological thriller/domestic noir genre, so a long way from cozy crime. I’m going to go all tantalising now and say I’m not allowed to tell you anything more about it at the moment, but do keep watching this space! In the meantime, my beloved Beth will be keeping up her investigations in the London Murder Mysteries.
What a carrot dangle to end on! We will definitely be keeping a keen eye on you…
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If you’d like to buy The Body in Belair Park, click here to be taken to the Amazon page for your country:
Here’s the blurb to tempt you:
The Body in Belair Park by Alice Castle
Beth Haldane is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted. Her son is starting secondary school, her personal life seems to have settled down – even her pets are getting on. But then the phone rings.
It’s Beth’s high maintenance mother, Wendy, with terrible news. Her bridge partner, Alfie Pole, has died suddenly. While Beth, and most of Dulwich, is convinced that Alfie has pegged out from exhaustion, thanks to partnering Wendy for years, Beth’s mother is certain that there is foul play afoot.
Before she knows it, Beth is plunged into her most complicated mystery yet, involving the Dulwich Bridge Club, allotment holders, the Dulwich Open Garden set and, of course, her long-suffering boyfriend, Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Harry York. The case stirs up old wounds which are much closer to home than Beth would like. Can she come up trumps in time to stop the culprit striking again – or does the murderer hold the winning hand this time?
A massive thanks to Alice, and all the best with the rest of the series!
Bio
Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Her first book, Hot Chocolate, set in Brussels and London, was a European hit and sold out in two weeks.
Death in Dulwich was published in September 2017 and has been a number one best-seller in the UK, US, France, Spain and Germany. A sequel, The Girl in the Gallery was published in December 2017 to critical acclaim and also hit the number one spot. Calamity in Camberwell, the third book in the London Murder Mystery series, was published in August 2018, with Homicide in Herne Hill following in October 2018. Revenge on the Rye came out in December 2018. The Body in Belair Park will be published on 25th June 2019. Alice is currently working on the seventh London Murder Mystery adventure, The Slayings in Sydenham. Once again, it will feature Beth Haldane and DI Harry York.
Alice is also a mummy blogger and book reviewer via her website: https://www.alicecastleauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicecastleauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDsDiary?lang=en
Links to buy books: http://www.MyBook.to/GirlintheGallery http://www.myBook.to/1DeathinDulwich,
http://myBook.to/homicideinhernehill
http://myBook.to/revengeontherye
Death in Dulwich is now also out as an audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B07N1VNMLT/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-140657&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_140657_rh_us
Alice lives in south London and is married with two children, two step-children and two cats.
May 20, 2019
Emotional Healing For Dogs
I don’t feature so many authors on my blog these days. Writing life just gets busier and busier, and sadly time doesn’t allow – even for my own bookish updates and ramblings! – but when it comes to my great friend, Lisa Tenzin-Dolma, I will drop everything in a heartbeat…
Lisa is not only an exceptionally talented author of many genres, she is also a bit of a dog guru, having written many non-fiction books on how we can better care for and nurture our furry friends. Her latest offering to the world is no exception:
Without further ado, I’ll leave you in Lisa’s expert hands to tell you more about her latest book which focuses on the astonishing power of Bach Flower remedies and behaviour therapy:
The inspiration behind the book
Emotional Healing for Dogs is the distillation of almost 40 years experience of working with people and dogs (and other animals) to help alleviate emotional and mental disturbances. The book came about because I so often get asked for guidance on which Bach Flower remedies people can use for their dogs. As there aren’t many books available on the subject I felt it was time to write one that explores how the combination of the remedies and behaviour therapy can make a significant difference to wellbeing.
Used alone, the remedies can help, especially in an emergency situation, but I prefer to use them as an adjunct to behaviour work. It’s important to understand the dog’s emotional and mental state and to determine the cause, when possible, so that you can select the right remedy and pair this with therapy that is tailored for the individual dog. I’ve seen extraordinary, life-enhancing, long-term results from this. The book is dedicated to Skye, my beautiful deerhound mix who passed away last year, aged 11, and who was an inspiration to me throughout his life. Skye was a healer dog who helped me to rehabilitate many traumatised, fearful and terminally ill dogs who came to live with us. The gorgeous cover painting by Rachel Meadows is of Skye.(https://www.facebook.com/MeadowsArt/)
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May 8, 2019
Ice Cream Maker Giveaway!
It’s 1 week exactly until the launch of my fourth book.
It’s also 1 week until the launch of my very first indie book.
Yes, publishing The Ice Cream Parlour has been a Rocky Road of a ride, but hey… I’m an author who’s anything but Vanilla!
And to celebrate ALL of that, I am running a really exciting competition to give away a gorgeous (that’s gorgeous with over 2000 thumbs up Amazon reviews) Andrew James Ice Cream Maker!
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What do you have to do to enter?
Simply head over to Twitter, retweet my pinned tweet (make sure you are following me on Twitter too), and send me a selfie of YOUR copy of The Ice Cream Parlour by 31st May 2019.
The selfie doesn’t need to feature YOU if you are camera-shy.
The selfie can be tweeted or sent in a DM to @IsabellaMayBks
The selfie can also be sent via email: isabellamayauthor@gmail.com
Alternatively, you may post your selfie to Facebook or Instagram, tagging me in!
The Ice Cream Parlour can be purchased in paperback or Kindle.
Hint: Kindle is currently only a mouthwatering 99p via this link: mybook.to/theicecreamparlour
Andrew James 1.5L Ice Cream Maker Machine Giveaway Terms and Conditions:
1: The promoter is Isabella May.
2: The competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom and abroad, aged 18 years or over.
3: There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4: By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
5: Closing date for entry will be Friday 31st May at 12pm. After this time and date no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6: No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7: There is no cash alternative.
April 8, 2019
A Peep Inside THE ICE CREAM PARLOUR
In case you have missed my incessant excitement about it on social media, I have some special bookish news!
My fourth novel, The Ice Cream Parlour will publish on 15th May 2019.
I know. I did tell you it was exciting!
But what, besides the obvious, is my new book all about?
The blurb will give you a taster:
Giovanna Tonioli is a successful stockbroker with a famous sports star boyfriend, but things aren’t as sweet as they seem. When life in the city of Bath goes from Vanilla to Rocky Road, she takes herself off to Italy for an ‘Eat Pray Love’ style tour of all things gelateria. What she doesn’t expect to find on her travels is one smooth, hot dollop of temptation that she just can’t shake.
How will her spiteful twin sister react when Giovanna returns to open a rival ice cream parlour? Will Natalia get her just desserts? Or will things become even stickier? All’s fair in love, war and ice cream. Isn’t it?
*Marian Keyes meets Paulo Coelho meets Nigella*
The Ice Cream Parlour is a mouthwatering tale of fate, family, love and jealousy – with a delectable drizzle of alchemy besides.
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But there’s only ever so much you can squeeze into the hopeful hook of a blurb, and The Ice Cream Parlour is so much more than that…
Here’s what else you can expect a scoop of (in no particular order):
-Past life regression
-Capri
-Thimbles of ridiculously over-priced cocktails in Milan
-The Mafia
-Bath Bees (the infamous Bath-based rugby club, don’t you know?
-Numerology
-The wisdom of Nellie and Flo
-University Challenge flavoured gelato
-An Ashton Kutcher lookalike
-Jeremy (insert expletives here) Kent
-Unfathomable family favouritism
-Quadruple Chocolate Bang ice cream
Hungry for more? Okay, I’ll serve you up a quote:
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Where can you pre-order?
Why didn’t you ask
December 20, 2018
10 Ways to take the Sting out of Publishing Rejection
So, last week was a bit of a writing humdinger. And that would be putting it mildly!
Whether you have had a taste of traditional publishing like me, or you are setting out and taking the very first steps on your publishing journey, skim through the violin playing paragraphs of backstory that follow if you wish, because hopefully my top 10 tips at the bottom of this post will help soften those hideous rejection blows that we all have to deal with.
Well, I say all, but I mean all with the exception of the 0.0001% – or whatever the current stat is – that get lucky first time round… or those who are ‘slebs with an entourage of ghostwriters trailing their coattails.
Oh yeah. I’m going to get a bit bitter before this blog post gets better!!!
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#Sorrynotsorry
Embracing the whole range of emotions that pesky NO brings is all part of the process, as far as I’m concerned.
I might be a Pollyanna most days of the week, but when somebody slams a door in my baby’s face (baby, as in book baby) it takes several attempts at reaching for better feeling thoughts as I slowly climb my way back up the emotional scale.
After all, nobody puts Baby in the corner.
But moving swiftly on… some of you may recall I received a couple of rejections in the summer when I sent out my pre-edited (ie. pre-edited by a kosher editor and not just my stargazy self) novel number four (the ice cream one!) to publishers who had open submissions. No agent was required, their windows for consideration were short and sweet, and, rightly or wrongly, gut instinct told me: ‘DO IT, ISABELLA, DO IT’ after they’d ‘liked’ my pitch on Twitter…
So I did it.
And I’m going to be honest, as a thrice published author with a small independent publisher – an author who kind of knows her shit and has had glowing reviews across all three of her previously published romcoms – the feedback which accompanied the you’re-really-not-for-us was a little trite, a little self-righteous, and a whole LOT ‘textbook’ – for want of a better word.
Or to put it another way, every single ‘writing rule’ that I had intentionally broken (having learned them in order to decide when to be a rebel and do just that; to curate my unique storytelling voice), was painstakingly pointed out to me. I felt like I was on a writing course for beginners; an overambitious amateur being taken down a peg or two: ‘Go back to your station; you’re actually pretty crap.’
To add insult to injury, I thanked them profusely, lapping up every drop of advice as if I’d been offered the nectar of the Gods.
Cringe.
That’s the initial power of the submissions strike!
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But then I remembered that couldn’t be true (the aforementioned three pretty successful novels, right?), and, the more I thought about it, the more it began to feel like I was part of some glorified exercise in helping to hone the editorial skills of junior members of publishing staff.
And I’m more than aware that even flexing my opinionated muscles on that very sore subject makes me sound like the bitterest goddamn Diva in the world… but hear me out: everyone has to learn the ropes; #pitmad style tweet rallies and open subs are the perfect way to orchestrate that in a publishing house whilst the literary agents have a direct line to the senior members of the editorial team.
Maybe my theory isn’t so very outlandish?
Anyway, fast forward three months, and, after working with one of the best editors EVER, my gelato-based manuscript is all singing and dancing; the best writing I have yet produced – the kind of prose-filled, mouthwatering, witty, upbeat, gripper of a novel that leaves my first three books lurking jealously in its shadows.
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Now I sound like my ego won’t fit into Buckingham Palace, but as I always say, our words flow through us from elsewhere. Truly, we are instruments: if we show up with passion and commitment, the muse shows up too. It’s just how it works. They aren’t really my words, I channel them from the universe. Disclaimer: I may have forgotten to mention that I grew up on the ley lines of Glastonbury.
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Anyway, back to the point in hand. As an established author with eighteen months of success spread across three pretty original novels (with damned striking covers, I might add!), I know I’m not only good enough, but consistently able to offer something a little bit different. I’ve proven I’m commercial. Hell, it’s not every day an author knocks Jeremy Clarkson off the top spot. I have a loyal and lovely readership, solid social media followings and more ideas than you can shake a stick of rock at (sorry, I am also more than a little bit confectionery obsessed).
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As I was saying, as an established author, I see myself as a worthy commodity. The next logical step is absolutely being signed up with a bigger publisher; to see my books in the shops – as well as on Amazon. I’ve honed my craft for the past eight years, I’ve put in the graft.
I’ve earned it.
But this scenario doesn’t just apply to me: it applies to many of us who have started out with a small press, worked hard, proven our abilities, and are hungry for more.
And so, I put myself out there at the risk of appearing entitled and out of touch with ‘reality’ (that market trends I cannot possibly second guess/YouTubers with multi-million fandoms and general it’s-not-what-you-write-but-who-you-know backscratching are more likely to secure you a goosebump-inducing publishing deal), not for the tea and sympathy, neither to whinge and complain, but to let others know they are far from alone.
For this is a solitary profession. Day to day we sit at our desks and frequently wonder why in the hell we couldn’t have had a different calling?
Back to my War and Peace subs saga though…
Now picture my devastation when last week the same thing happened all over again: the imprint of a large publishing house turned me down. Let’s just say I won’t eat another blueberry pancake for a while! Yep, that was what I was feasting upon as my panda eyes took in the news: ‘not a good fit for our list’.
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No explanation. No rhyme. No reason.
Just an emphatic no.
And then I became harsh and quite horrible about it all, wincing at a couple of the thoroughly wooden books I’d had to abandon at about 7% on my Kindle this year… books that had come from said imprint’s very list… books which for some unfathomable reason ‘fit better’ than my words.
Sniff.
I promise you it’s rare that I get like this, and I knew I needed to snap out of my green-eyed behaviour quick smart. Slating the equally hard work of others isn’t me… no matter how dreary and vanilla I may find their stories. Now I’m being the subjective one!
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So here’s what I did DO to take the sting out of the robotic rejection letter – some actions came from taking the advice of my lovely fellow writers on Twitter, some from taking my own:
Cry. I don’t mean a river; I’m talking the Atlantic and Pacific combined. It was ugly. There were snivels and snorts and there was probably snot besides. The next morning my eyes still felt and looked like they were carrying 1000 bags. But it was gloriously liberating. It can’t always happen that way. Sometimes we’re more likely to stew and grimace and stomp and throw things. But I’m glad that I let it all flow.[image error]
Get back on the horse. Write anything. I don’t mean a shopping list, but I do mean add to your existing manuscript NOW. Even it if feels like you are churning out utter crap because you aren’t in the least bit inspired. It’s akin to falling off your skis or your bike: time is of the essence and every minute that ticks by is chipping away at your confidence with not so much a pick ax as a sledgehammer (a tangle of confidence which is already trampled on the floor).
So just write. That might be 100 words, it might be 1000. The quantity doesn’t matter, but the act of putting your time right back into your manuscript sends out a message loud and clear that you believe in yourself.[image error]
Eat cake.[image error]
Take a couple of days off (but not until point 2 has been done, and point 3 is too obvious to highlight). I went Christmas shopping, which I know isn’t everybody’s idea of a good time, but I’m lucky; here in Spain things are pretty low key around the festive season, so shopping can actually be quite fun… and also produces a frequent and genuine need for gingerbread lattes.[image error]
Re-read parts of (or all of, if you want to indulge yourself) the story you were (and still are) in love with enough to submit in the first place. This renews your absolute knowing that the book is good enough… and it’s just a matter of time before it gets snapped up.[image error]
Re-read all the glowing reviews readers have taken the time to pen about your other books. You DO have a gift. They aren’t simply making this shit up![image error]
Read up on famous faces – present and past… and these don’t have to be exclusively authors – who have overcome every bit of subjectivity and critique to make it.[image error]
Eat more cake.[image error]
You never wanted to peak too soon anyway. It’s too much pressure! The more twisty and turny your journey, the better the ‘how-did-you-get-to-be-a-bestseller-backstory’ potential at future dinner parties.[image error]
Visualise daily. If that means having fake phone calls with agents and publishers, so be it! If you can consistently practise and give out the vibration of what you want by acting ‘as if’, Law of Attraction has to deliver it… sooner or later. Because, well, it’s THE LAW![image error]
And I’m happy to report that it’s all working like a dream, although I’m still remembering to remember to do number ten – and cake should be a daily occurrence anyway.
So are the open subs worth it?
Do they really go in the same To Be Read pile as the manuscripts sent from the literary agencies with the track record of discovering the industry’s iced gems?
Maybe I stand to be corrected, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s doubtful; the key decision makers in publishing are unlikely to sit at their laptops, twiddling their thumbs in anticipation of open subs pinging onto their screens. The larger houses, at least, will have a rigorous selection process. If your first three chapters and synopsis don’t float the boat of a junior editor, the chances are they won’t get past the post for that all important second opinion that could lead to the request for the full manuscript.
None of which is to discount the opinions of junior publishing staff. That’s the last thing this piece is about. I started out in the industry aged just twenty-two myself, albeit selling foreign rights for kids’ books.
But experience can only come with time. Until then, the royal we have to be picky and they have to be choosy. They’ve bosses to answer to, criteria to meet, cherry-picked trends to spot.
We can write like a dream, but if we’re not ticking a publisher’s cast iron boxes, then they are anything but the dream home for our beloved book.
Until that shed, villa or castle of an abode cares to reveal itself, bless every single rejection, ‘cos they’re propelling your manuscript closer to its Happy Ever After with lightning speed.
And it’s oh-so-tempting to re-write the whole thing, to write for the audience, to keep the ever-decreasing circle of big publishers sweet.
DON’T YOU DARE.
You do you, I’ll do me.
Stay true to your story. Stay unique.
2019: we are coming to get you!
