Isabella May's Blog, page 7
December 24, 2017
An Exclusive Interview with Amanda Prowse!
Welcome Amanda, and Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for joining me here on the blog today. Grab a fluffy cushion, a chunky slice of Yule Log and a Salted Caramel Baileys, and make yourself comfy so you can tell us a little about your most recent book, ‘The Art of Hiding’…
-What inspired you to write it?
I feel that at the moment we live in a time of great change and that makes people fearful. So I wanted to explore the idea of what it might be like to lose things that you couldn’t possibly imagine living without and how you have to go about re-imagining and reshaping your existence. Comfortingly the end result shows that very often we have nothing to fear.
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– I love the way the West Country has woven its way into many of your tales (okay, I am slightly biased, it’s my birthplace!). Do you feel that – quaint Cornish and Devonshire villages aside – it is underrepresented in fiction?
I’m so glad that you’ve asked this question, yes I do! I feel that very often the bright lights of London, the architecture of Edinburgh and cool cities like Manchester take centre stage whereas the West Country for me really is a hidden gem. Having grown up in the East End of London, I still can’t quite believe that within half an hour of where I live there is seaside, stunning countryside and glorious Cathedrals, if that’s not enough to inspire good literature, I don’t know what is.
– Favourite cake?
Victoria Sandwich – the cake I used to bake with my nan, the cake my mum used to bake when we were skint and she wanted to give us a treat after school, so massive associations with childhood and tastes lovely too!
Ooh, yes… one of my faves too, paired with a nice cuppa.
– What’s the loveliest thing a reader has said about your writing?
I’m very lucky that I get so many lovely heartfelt messages on a daily basis that I couldn’t possibly pick one. But without a doubt, the thing that touches me most is when a reader, talking about one of my issue based novels, tells me that my story made them realise that they weren’t alone; that for me is something quite incredible.
– And the not-so-loveliest?
Luckily for me 99.99% of people are very kind and complimentary, I’m very lucky.
– Where is the strangest place you have found yourself scribbling notes for your novels?
I’ve never considered this until you asked this question and I’m sitting here laughing as I’ve written while waiting for surgery, stuck on a broken down bus and on the loo – take your pick!
That’s hilarious and is going to conjure of quite a vision for your readers now!
– Favourite place to holiday?
Woolacombe, Devon, it has everything I need, a stunning beach, fabulous walks, a bag of chips and beach huts, bliss.
Definitely with you there! I have so many fond memories of holidays in Devon as it was just down the road from us, and Woolacombe’s golden expanses of sand are hard to beat…
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-If you could choose three authors to invite over for a dinner party (and these have to be authors you haven’t yet met!), who would that trio comprise of?
Louise Beech, Heather Hill and your good self, I think we’d have an absolute riot – in fact, I’ll get the kettle on…
Sounds great… I’m on my way with the pavlova and cocktails!
– In a very competitive book world, what single piece of advice would you give to those – like myself! – starting out in your genre?
Don’t give up. We all have times when it can feel too hard to carry on but don’t give up, you just don’t know what’s around the corner.
– What can we expect to see from you next?
I have two wonderful books coming out in the beginning of 2018. One love two stories; two novels simply called ‘Anna’ and ‘Theo’, both telling two sides of the same love story.
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Thank you so much, Amanda for your time. Wishing you a fab festive season and looking forward to reading Anna and Theo’s stories in 2018!
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author who has published sixteen novels in dozens of languages. Her recent chart topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’ and ‘My Husband’s Wife’ have sold millions of copies around the world.
Other novels by Amanda Prowse include ‘A Mother’s Story’ which won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award and ‘Perfect Daughter’ that was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016. Amanda’s latest book ‘The Food of Love’ went straight to No.1 in Literary Fiction when it was launched in the USA and she has been described by the Daily Mail as ‘The Queen of Drama’ for her ability to make the reader feel as if they were actually in the story.
Now published by Lake Union, Amanda Prowse is the most prolific writer of contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also score the highest online review approval ratings for several genres.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda Prowse is a regular panellist on the Channel 5 show ‘The Wright Stuff’ and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She makes countless guest appearances on BBC and independent Radio stations where she is well known for her insightful observations of human nature and her infectious observational humour.
Become friends with Amanda on Facebook: AmandaProwseAuthor and follow her on Twitter: @MrsAmandaProwse or Instagram: MrsAmandaProwse. For more information on her books, lifestyle and inspirational advice see www.amandaprowse.com
Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…
Praise for Amanda Prowse…
‘A powerful and emotional work of fiction’ – Piers Morgan
‘Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill’ – Daily Mail
‘Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues’ – Hello!
‘A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read’ – The Irish Sun
‘You’ll fall in love with this…’ – Cosmopolitan
‘Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.’ – Heat
‘Magical’ – Now magazine
December 20, 2017
Meet The Author: Carrie-Ann Schless
Today I am joined by friend and fellow Crooked Cat author, Carrie-Ann Schless. Sit on a beanbag under the Christmas tree, Carrie-Ann, and make sure you help yourself to a Baileys and a slice of Stollen, so you can tell us all about your debut novel; “Another Woman’s Man”…
-I am intrigued by your book’s title – as I am sure many readers will be! Can you tell us more about “Another Woman’s Man”? What inspired you to write it? Dare I ask, are there any parts that are semi-biographical?
Yes, a lot of people comment on the title. I originally wanted to call it The Other Woman as it focuses more on Casey than any of the men in the story but I like the reaction Another Woman’s Man gets. I find it crazy how many men I hear about who are messaging my friends behind their girlfriends’ backs. I got thinking about how easy it is to say things behind the keyboard that you wouldn’t be brave enough to admit in person. That is where the idea came from. Is it biographical? Ha ha, well I’m sorry to say that no, the big story is not true to life but some small parts in it are close. You’ll have to guess which bits.
-What’s the biggest thing you would like readers to take from your novel?
I want to get people reading who claim they don’t have time. I have stuck to short chapters for busy people. I just want everybody to get a chance to read, and of course I hope they enjoy it.
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-This is your debut published novel, but is it your first novel? Do you have unpublished pieces that you started on before “Another Woman’s Man?”
I think I’ve started at least ten pieces before this one, but the only one that went anywhere was a children’s book called Oscar’s Outing. It’s about a little puppy that gets told by the neighbours’ cat that he should run away. My eldest daughter keeps asking me when I’m going to finish it, as she was my tester. Who knows, maybe one day.
-Favourite cake (excuse me, I always throw this question in!)
That is a hard question. I love cake, but picking a favourite. I love a chocolate gateau, but also anything with cream is a go for me. I may have to taste test a few more before I can pick a favourite.
-What is the biggest lesson you have learned since being signed up by a publisher, and has it changed you as a person at all?
That marketing a book in the right way is hard! I would have thought that I’d done the hard work already but turns out that writing is the easy part. I am a much busier person now and although I’ve always loved Facebook, I’m not pretty much addicted to all social media’s.
-Who were your favourite childhood authors?
When I was in year six I got into a series of books called the Café Club by Ann Bryant. It covered a group of six girls (each with their own book) who worked in the main character’s aunt’s café. I loved them, and got all my friends to read them.
-When you get a little free time now, which genres can we find you burying your head in?
I like to read a wide selection of genres. I like to mix it up between books by reading different things. A gushy romance one day then onto a thriller. Freya North to James Patterson!
-Plotter or pantser?
I like to say I’m a plotter, but I must admit I’m a pantser through and through. I find I know how it’s going to start, and how I want it to end, but the bit in the middle I have no idea about. I write what comes to me and it’s not always in the right order. I leave massive gaps and then go back later and work out how that happened. It’s a bit like doing a jigsaw.
-Favourite quote from your book?
“I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but something broke in us. That perfect couple we had been, had disappeared.” It’s not my absolute favourite, but that one would give too much away.
-Favourite character from your book?
I really love Casey and Kat – the main character and her best friend, but my absolute favourite has to be Nanny Edna. She seems like someone I’d like to know.
What can we expect to see from you next?
I have a new book due out next year called The Six-Month Rule. A woman who finally kicks her cheating husband out and goes travelling with their savings. I am really excited to get that one out! There are a couple of others in the workings too.
Book Blurb for “Another Woman’s Man”:
What if you’re in love with another woman’s man?
Casey Turner finds herself sad and single again after a seven-year relationship. Having suffered multiple miscarriages, she is adjusting to the realisation she will never be a mum, just as all her friends are all getting married and having children.
Feeling alone, she finds herself drawn to a man she can’t have: her ex’s best friend. Although he has a girlfriend, she can’t stay away. But does he really care for her, too, or is he just having his cake and eating it?
Torn between her feelings and her morals, is Casey destined to follow the wrong path, or will she see sense before time runs out?
Universal Amazon Buying Link – https://t.co/pPMssJQwMe
Author Bio:
Carrie-Ann has had a passion for writing from a young age and is forever writing down little snippets and ideas. After having a few poems published during and since her school years, Another Woman’s Man has become Carrie-Ann’s debut Novel.
Carrie-Ann spends most of her time with her three children, cats and dog including afternoons at the park and walks and picnics in the nearby woods. as well as juggling school runs, work, her love of amateur dramatics and a social life and has still found time to start on book two. She is extremely excited to be joining the team at Crooked Cat.
December 19, 2017
#CreativeBizHour is Calling YOU!
Today I have a super inspirational post from a special guest (and fellow Crooked Cat author), Lizzie Chantree. But Lizzie is not only an award-winning author, she’s an award-winning inventor, too; an all round award-winning businesswoman who certainly knows a thing or two about the perks of social media how best to use it to captivate your audience!
I have joined in with a couple of the #CreativeBizHour evenings recently and they are great fun, as well as a brilliant way to get your creativity out there – whatever it may be. So read on and get inspired to take part. Over to you, Lizzie:
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My name is Lizzie Chantree and I run a networking hour on Twitter called #creativebizhour which is a great way for creatives to meet up, chat about their current work, or ask any questions they may have to the other artists, photographers, designers, writers and array of creative talent that joins in with the hour each week.
#creativebizhour trends most weeks now and we have over 17.3 Million timeline views and 22k RT’s in 1 hour some weeks. It’s a great place to stop by.
I started the hour to help people who either already had creative businesses, or who were like me and were entering into a new area of work. When I began writing, I had no idea how to market my work, or where to go to meet other authors and readers. I had to learn quickly and social media really interested me as a way to reach out to people to help each other.
I now have fantastic followers on Twitter who I really enjoy talking to and my networking hour is a fast and fun filled way to get together, to learn about each others current work projects, or ask for advice from others in similar industries.
To join in, add #creativebizhour to you tweets and responses to chat, on Mondays between 8-9pm (GMT). Then we ask you to join in with the conversations and to RT other businesses using the hashtag to show support for each others work. Tweets with photos in them tend to get the greatest retweet rate as they are visual and work best on timelines.
Each week one account wins a week of tweet support from the hosts of the hour, with a combined follower reach of over 45K. To be in with a chance of winning, you must follow all of the hosts and RT to support other businesses. You don’t have to RT everyone, just those that you feel your own followers will be interested in. We find those that support others, are given the same helping hand from the creative businesses and people taking part. It’s like a big virtual group hug! We would love to see you there.
The hosts are:
@Lizzie_Chantree Lizzie Chantree
(Award winning Author/Artist/Award winning Inventor/Mentor)
@thatsinsurance Jonathon Upton
(Insurance specialist/ Business owner)
@CreativeBizHr Roger Juniper
(Business advisor/Creative/Business owner/Mentor)
@WriteWithSydney Maurenn Juniper
(Author/Multiple business owner)
December 17, 2017
The Exciting Launch of “The Girl in The Gallery”!
Thanks for coming back again so soon onto my blog to share a whole bunch of new insights with us into your next book, Alice. I absolutely LOVED “Death in Dulwich” (hint: go out and but it NOW if you haven’t already!) and am champing at the bit to find out what life has in store for Beth Haldane in “Girl in the Gallery”…
First there’s a murder in a Dulwich school… now there are mysterious happenings going down in a Dulwich gallery. How on earth does Beth keep getting herself entangled in these scrapes?
Beth just can’t help herself – she loves a mystery. In Death in Dulwich, she didn’t have any choice but to get involved, as she had to clear her own name. In The Girl in the Gallery, she feels a great sense of responsibility towards the victim, for reasons that become clear. She’s public-spirited – but also extremely nosy!
Will we meet with the same crew in The Girl in The Gallery, or will Beth introduce us to a whole new bunch of characters?
Quite a few of the characters in Death in Dulwich reappear, but there are lots of new and interesting people to meet as well, some of whom may, or may not, have murder in mind. Keep your eyes peeled for clues.
Will Beth and Harry finally ‘get it on’ in this book? The chemistry is definitely palpable!
Detective Inspector Harry York comes back to take charge of the investigation (he thinks!) in The Girl in the Gallery and lots more sparks fly… I can’t reveal any more than that. 
November 30, 2017
Meet The Author: Kate Armitage
Can you tell us a little about your novel, “The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five”? What inspired you to write it?
I started writing this novel after being fired from a job. I didn’t like the job, nor the profession, but it was the only thing I was qualified to do. Suddenly, I was twenty-five with nothing going for me. I had no direction. I had hit a wall. I spent some time slumped against that wall and watched everyone get on with their lives. As I was watching, and listening, I realised that most people feel the same way to some extent. Most people wonder if they’re enough. Social media doesn’t help. We are saturated all day long by posed photos and select status updates portraying the best versions of people. So, I started to write about that. About two women who wonder if they’re enough. But I wanted them to figure that out on their own, and not just wait around for a man to come along and validate their lives. So, there it is: a story about two friends who are figuring things out. I would describe it as a coming-of-age. After all, does anyone really know themselves before the age of twenty-five? I certainly didn’t.
Who is your favourite character in the book and why?
The easy and predictable answer would be both Kylie and Alexa. They both hold a special place in my heart and they’re very real and very dear to me. I’ll say Zara is my favourite character. She’s certainly not the most likeable character, but I had a lot of fun writing about her. Zara is good hearted but kind of annoying. I think we all know a Zara.
As a debut novelist, what’s the biggest discovery you have made about yourself during the writing process?
That actually, I can commit to something, I just have to be passionate enough.
Favourite cake?
I love a good chocolate cake. I’m talking a proper Bruce-Bogtrotter-inspired chocolate fudge cake. And it’s not a cake, but I do love lemon meringue pie.
Favourite holiday destination?
Right now, it’s the UK. The UK is massively underrated and has some amazing places to discover and potter around in. Plus, I have small children and no desire to get on a plane with them.
What advice would you give to an author looking to find their unique voice?
Don’t try to copy authors you admire, and don’t think too hard about the ‘rules’ of writing. Write whatever pops in to your head. Let it flow from brain to fingertips to keyboard and worry about the rest when editing.
Where is the most unusual place you have found yourself writing?
I’m afraid I only write at home, usually in the dead of the night.
What’s the loveliest thing somebody has said about your words?
I’ve had many lovely things said to me about my words before, but I usually dismiss them with the thinking that they’re only saying it to be nice. I guess in that sense, the loveliest thing somebody has said is that they love my words, and would I like a publishing contract. Being published isn’t everything, but to have someone believe in my words to that extent when they don’t know me or feel obliged to do so, is the loveliest thing.
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Plotter or pantser?
I write plot points to use as stepping stones to keep on track, but how I get from stone to stone is up for debate.
You can invite 3 authors (alive or no longer with us) to dinner. Who would they be and why?
Oh, what a question! There’s so many to choose from. I think I’d want George Orwell to see what he makes of the everything nowadays. Terry Pratchett because he had a great imagination and sense of humour, which is essential at a dinner party. Who else? Charlotte Bronte, perhaps. Or Mary Shelley! I’m not wasting a dinner invite on anyone living when we have Twitter. Twitter is the dinner-table of the internet.
What can we expect to see from you next?
I won’t rule out a sequel to The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five but I’m eager to get my teeth in to something new. I want to challenge myself as a writer. Watch this space!
Book Blurb:
Best before twenty-five?
With newsfeeds full of perfect pouts, hot-dog legs, and the self-proclaimed hashtag-blessed, it’s hard not to feel inadequate. How has everyone figured out how to live their best life, except you?
That’s what Kylie wants to know. She thought she would spend her twenty-fifth birthday having a mini-break – not a mini-breakdown! After an evening of finger-food and snide remarks, Kylie decides that things must change.
Naturally, Alexa disagrees. She doesn’t think anything needs to change at all, and is quite happy plodding along with her best friend by her side.
So, when everything changes for the better for Alexa – while it’s going from bad to worse for Kylie – will it tear them apart?
About the Author
Kate Armitage is a 27-year-old writer from North Lincolnshire, England. She has three cats, two children and one husband. She lives an alarmingly conventional life which surprises everyone who speaks to her for more than five minutes. She spends her days knee-deep in play-doh and spends her nights elbow-deep in manuscripts. Sometimes she lets the children also use the play-doh but only if they promise not to mix the colours.
You can find Kate on social media under @itskatearmitage or through her website http://www.katearmitageauthor.
Order your copy now via this universal Amazon link: mybook.to/thewrongsideoftwentyfive
November 21, 2017
Meet The Author: Jennifer Gilmour
Welcome to the blog, Jennifer and thank for taking time out today to answer my plethora of questions!
You and I have a fair bit in common when it comes to the subject of our novels (my debut novel, ‘Oh! What a Pavlova’ also has an abusive thread running through it), and so it’s fascinating for me – as well as for other readers out there – to learn about your own journey to the publication of two very important books on the subject:
-You have published two very unique books on domestic violence, ‘Isolation Junction’ and more recently, ‘Clipped Wings’. Can you tell us a little about each. How do they differ?
Isolation Junction is a fictional novel based on my own experiences of domestic abuse and that of other women, as well as research.
Clipped Wings is an an anthology of other survivors’ experiences and is non-fiction.
They are both very different but both serve a similar purpose, and that’s bringing awareness to domestic abuse.
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-Writing your first book, ‘Isolation Junction’, will be viewed by many as a very brave move. Were there times when you didn’t know if you had the inner strength to get this fictional story about Rose down on paper; times when Rose’s journey took you right back to the kind of struggles you yourself encountered as a former victim of domestic violence?
My goal kept me determined to complete Isolation Junction and gave me a focus. I also felt like the process of writing the feelings and emotions was, in fact, therapeutic to me. There are times I read over sections and it still bites at me and brings back memories, but now I am at a good part in my life and recovery, I feel like I am able to reflect rather than hinder my mind and torture myself. This is the same with writing any current work, or work in progress.
-As a self-published author, how much do you think your ability to have more control over all areas of the publishing process has helped your books reach winder audiences?
I feel I am free to write how I want and I also feel I know the readers’ boundaries. There is certainly a line I don’t want to cross… and that’s to put the reader off the book completely. I am afraid that if I was to get published by a publisher, then the initial reason for me bringing the books to readers would alter the content drastically. Although on a marketing front it is most likely more beneficial to be with a publisher – as I am the one marketing on my own as a mum of three and not as a team of people – it has its pros and its cons.
-What is your biggest piece of advice for anybody reading this who is currently wondering a) if they are in a mentally and/or physically abusive relationship, and b) how to escape?
I would recommend they tell someone they can trust, a safe person. I often talk about what I mean by a safe person. A safe person is someone not involved – especially with the perpetrator. It could be a work colleague or a distant friend. Failing that, there are services, as well, that you can contact and I include some on my website; http://jennifergilmour.com/support/
It would be useful to have someone who can support you along the way while talking to services. I feel that this was the part where I needed someone the most; holding my hand whilst I was on the phone so I was facing it with someone by my side.
-What are the biggest myths surrounding D.V?
That it only happens to a specific stereotype of women.
That it only happens to women.
That it’s all about violence.
They are the three main myths that irritate and frustrate me, and one of the reasons why I wanted to get the awareness of what domestic abuse can look like out there in an ‘entertaining’ way; people reading my debut novel for pleasure, but getting educated on emotional abuse as a result.
-The work you do to support other women and men who have left /want to leave abusive partners must be very rewarding, but overwhelming at times. How do you unwind and ensure that you set their stories to one side when you are not working?I am a mum of three which keeps me pretty busy when I am not writing; I have a 5, 7 and almost 2 year old. As a family we enjoy the hobby Geocaching which gets us out and about, learning about the local area as well as having some fun. It can get rather competitive! If you haven’t heard of it Geocaching, it’s a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.
I am also a Jamberry Nail Wraps Consultant which brings in most of my income to support my work in the domestic abuse sector, including my writing. You can find out more about that on my other website: https://jennifergilmour.jamberry.com/uk/en/
All that helps me keep my mind off things and is a perfect distraction.
-What’s your favourite quote from Isolation Junction?
I have lots of favourite small quotes that I have shared before, and so I wanted to share this extract with you instead. It shows that throughout chaos and upset, there are little flickers of light that bring you through the dark times. I also wanted to share this with you, as many people hear about Isolation Junction and think it’s going to be a depressing book… but in fact it has romance and comedic moments woven through the plot which makes it enlightening.
Rose woke up at lunch time the next morning with a pounding headache and dry mouth; she had never slept this long since before Millie-Rose was born. Next to her on the bedside table she saw a glass of fresh orange, a glass of water, a cup of tea and a cup of coffee that Tim had made for her. Rose could hear some pottering about going on downstairs and she put on Tim’s robe that was hung up behind the door and went to investigate. Tim was cleaning up and had breakfast ready to cook.
“I didn’t know what you would like so I got everything. Cooked breakfast? Croissants? Cereal?”
Rose blushed and smiled as she looked and saw the selection; she felt so cared for instantly. It was an unusual feeling for her and overwhelming at the same time but Rose had started to become familiar with this caring treatment.
Tim spoke again, “Is that my robe?”
-What’s your favourite quote from Clipped Wings?
It has to be this short piece which explains why it is called Clipped Wings and introduces the book, I also hope that it will be used by many as a quote.
‘Our wings were clipped, our restrictions were made, our boundaries were tested but now we are free, aren’t we?
We look above in the sky at the birds and hope to be free. But the birds make their nests in the trees high above, to protect themselves from predators. Free birds must keep looking over their shoulders the same way all of us have to.’
-Jennifer Gilmour
-How did you choose the covers for both of your books?
The covers were actually images I had in my head that I sketched and then gave the designers… along with lots of instructions regarding the textures and items to be used within each cover. I was very lucky that both designers I have worked with managed to capture the idea I had in my head, and, after rather a few emails, we headed in the right direction. Both Isolation Junction and Clipped Wings were custom made and I am glad I took this decision, as I have had a lot of positive feedback on how they both relate to the content and how they both stand out.
-What can we expect to see from you next?
That is a good question and I have lots of ideas to move forward with my journey in building awareness. I don’t know which path I will be taking next. I am working on a short story which links with Isolation Junction, and I have lots of notes for another novel. I guess for now all I can say is watch this space.
You can also keep up to date by signing up to my newsletter and following my blog via my website at www.jennifergilmour.com
About the author:
Born in the North East, Jennifer is a young, married mum with three children. In addition to being an author, she is an entrepreneur, running a family business from her home-base. Her blog posts have a large readership of other young mums in business.
From an early age, Jennifer has had a passion for writing and started gathering ideas and plot lines from her teenage years. A passionate advocate for women in abusive relationships, she has drawn on her personal experiences to write this first novel ‘Isolation Junction’. It details the journey of a young woman from the despair of an emotionally abusive and unhappy marriage to develop the confidence to challenge and change her life and to love again.
Since the publication of her debut novel Jennifer has continued to be an advocate for those in abusive relationships through her blog posts, radio interviews and Twitter feed. Jennifer also gained a qualification in facilitating a recover programme for those who have been in abusive relationships.
Jennifer continues to publicly support those who are isolated and struggle to have a voice. Jennifer hopes that ’Clipped Wings’ gives a voice to survivors’ experiences and raises awareness further of the types of unacceptable behaviour which fall into the category of domestic abuse.
If you’d like to order a copy of Jennifer’s latest book, Clipped Wings, here is the Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2gVBCSO
November 9, 2017
Foreign Rights in 12 ‘Simple’ Steps…
As authors and budding authors, you have more than likely come across the exciting notion of your book (or future book) being translated – and sold – into a whole other language!
libro
livre
Buch
bók
도서
knyga
But the world of Foreign Rights can seem confusing – at best – to those who have never worked in publishing; a veritable jungle of jargon, a labyrinth of specialist lingo; a minefield of mayhem. Equally baffling to the bookworms, book bloggers and all-round fangirls and boys.
Never fear: I am here.
And I spent (erherm) around about fifteen years working in this very specialist field of publishing. With children’s books, admittedly, but the process is pretty much the same. So today I am going to share with you my Beginner’s Guide to Foreign Rights. I will be using children’s books to illustrate the process, but, the principle is transferable to grown-up novels and non-fiction, too:
A book is born, and it’s a beautiful thing.
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But a publishing house wants to make a little more money out of said book than a standard UK print run alone can provide. And that’s where Foreign Rights comes into the picture. Although when it comes to children’s books, this particular side of the industry is nowhere near as charismatic and inspirational as it once was – well, around fifteen years… and the rest… ago, it IS still a very viable business.
We shall simply overlook the countless tears I have shed every time a big corporate publisher gobbles up a dynamic, quirky indie and ‘houses’ it under their umbrella. Anyway, moving swiftly on…
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Typically, said publishing house takes said book with them to a book fair (or one of their sales team takes the book, along with others, on a business trip). Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest in the world, Bologna is the biggest children’s book fair in the world, London has gained huge importance in the past decade, as has Book Expo America, Warsaw, Guadalajara, Moscow… well, you name the city, chances are it hosts a book fair.
Indeed, if you are a Rights Manager, you could easily try to justify jetting off to one every week of the year.
Here’s the science bit:
1: The sales person presents the new titles that comprise the front list to the editor they (generally) have a half hour meeting slot with, on their stand, at the book fair.
Invariably editors have the prerogative to turn up late, thus forcing the rights person to cram everything into ten minutes… whilst concurrently keeping their next loitering editor in their sight… it has been known for editors to be pilfered by competitors before the very eyes.
The editor shows an interest in the book (or not), the interest is noted, a guide price is quoted and a sample will be sent to their office for further consideration. Nowadays it is very unusual for the price at the fair to be set in stone. Everything will depend on the overall print run of the co-edition. I’ll come to that in a bit.
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2: The sales person returns from the fair or trip, collates together ALL of the interest from all of the editors in all of the territories and requests up-to-date print prices based on a number of scenarios:
a) a large co-edition – this could (for example) include a 5000 copy French edition, a 2000 copy Latvian edition, a 10,000 copy Mexican edition, and a UK reprint of perhaps 3,000 copies.
b) a smaller (less optimistic, more realistic) co-edition
c) a standalone printing
The prices will vary wildly, and more often than not, they will only be valid for a certain length of time, which could be anything from a week to a month, given the current volatility of the financial markets. *More often than not, UK publishing houses print their books in China. Not always, but mostly.*
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3: The customer jumps on board.
If they do this quickly (or perhaps I am only talking about my own experience of foreign rights for children’s books), oh, what a miracle! Often there are committee decision making style meetings which have to take place, often the decision to publish the book will fly in via email somewhat late, often *read always* the customer will expect the price to remain the same. The contract is signed.
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4: But let’s backtrack a little… territory rights have to be assigned.
Assuming this is the fictitious Mexican customer from point 2, then they may also request territory rights for the rest of South America, mainland Spain… even the USA (for the Castillian Spanish language). So those things need to be ironed out.
Is the rights manager likely (realistically) to have another customer waiting in the wings in those countries?
Nowadays, unless the book is plastered with Disney-esque licensed characters, unless it is a Harry Potter or features The Gruffalo, the chances are, that no, there won’t be a queue of competitors waiting in the wings. Best sell the book while the interest is still lukewarm!
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5: A high resolution CD is sent to the designer at the overseas publishing house…
…and an ETA date for the translation material is given (the same date is stipulated in the contract). Nine times out ten however, things will wend their way into the foreign rights office later… much, much later!
Oh, the joys! Somebody please remind me why I used to do this job?
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6: The CD containing the translated version of the book should have everything in its proper place.
The overseas publishing house may change the font type, size and colour, but generally not the cover design – unless it is a standalone printing and special permission has been requested.
The inside text should be in BLACK, not four colour (oh, the number of times that has happened and customers decided they’d prefer a red or a purple or a blue = an extra plate change at the factory = a standalone printing and much more money!).
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7: All language editions are sent off to the printer around the same time and proofs are created. In the ‘good old days’ of working with film, we referred to them as ozalids. Now they are blueprints or iris proofs, or just simply, proofs.
In the ideal, dream world, these are sent from the printer to the customer and they are perfect! A duplicate set of proofs is also sent to the production department of the UK publisher. Both the production manager in the UK and the designer/repro house in the customer’s country, will double check they are happy with everything.
In reality, the proofs are often littered with mistakes – everything from Hebrew working its way into an Arabic book (!), through to words bleeding over the edge of the page, to outlandish typing errors and wonky sentences.
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8: The OKTP (okay to print) is given. Hallelujah!
Still, nobody can quite rest on their laurels.
Why? Well, the advanced copies need to be checked by both UK and overseas parties… and you will be amazed at some of the mistakes that can wend their way into those. If I listed them all, you’d be asleep already.
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9: The advances are approved and full printing can finally go ahead.
But of course… unless you are a very big fish in the publishing world, you may well find that suddenly, the ‘ex-works‘ (the leaving the factory) date of the books has erm… slipped… sometimes BIG time. Often (undisclosed to customer or UK publishing house, it’s because a nice, equally big order has fought its way to the front of the queue courtesy of the aforementioned corporate publishers.
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And sometimes it genuinely IS because one of those customers who makes up your co-edition, has been shockingly, unforgivably late approving their proofs!
Regardless of who is to blame, it’s back to the customer again… because the customer is always right when it comes to foreign rights.
Right?
‘Is this okay? We will try our best to see if the factory can speed things up… perhaps the books will catch a super speedy vessel…”
10: Usually they will vent… and then realise there is little more that can be done. Sometimes, when for example, the end customer might be a supermarket giant, with a Christmas or back-to-school campaign, an air freight, and/or compensation might be demanded.
Then the whisky in the coffee begins… will the CEO agree… will the printer cover the cost… will you sleep tonight… will your fabulous £100,000 per year customer still be your friend tomorrow?
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And this is just children’s books. I mean, can you imagine the furore over a potential delay for the translated version of the latest Sarah J Maas title… or a Marian Keyes, the sort of authors who are highly likely to have a book signing tour going on in conjunction with those physical copies hitting the warehouse then giant bookstores on time in any given country?
Exactly. I am not sure my nerves could ever have taken the foreign rights requirements that are the adult publishing world!
11: Finally, finally, finally, those blessed books leave the factory, load the vessel and sail the high seas (often this is from Hong Kong) to their ETDs. Before which, all the paperwork needs to be completely in hand to ensure a swift offloading of goods and onward transportation to the warehouse. Which is where the magic of the production or rights assistant comes into play – if you are lucky, in many smaller publishing houses, you will also have to take care of that side of things yourself.
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12: Another month, another book fair… and your customer declares they want a reprint.
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November 6, 2017
Meet The Author: Jan Ellis
As my own two novels are based in Glastonbury, and Jan hails from nearby Wells (also in Somerset), I just had to invite her to appear on the blog today to see what she is up to!
Welcome Jan! Please tell us a little about your most recent book, The Bookshop Detective.
Hi Isabella and thanks so much for inviting me onto your blog. I guess my book is best described as a romcom with a hint of mystery and plenty of humour. Read on . . .
The Bookshop Detective
When a ghost ship is spotted on the horizon one spring evening, bookseller Eleanor decides to investigate the myths and legends of Combemouth, the seaside town where she runs The Reading Room. As Eleanor digs deeper into the town’s history, she becomes intrigued by a Victorian crime report and is determined to find out what happened to a boy at the centre of the court case.
As she begins to uncover the truth – aided by the vicar but somewhat stalled by the local librarian – she has a challenge on her own horizon. Daniel – her husband of six months – is determined that they give up their separate homes and find a new place together. But Eleanor adores her cottage by the sea and resists, guaranteeing that things turn a little frosty as the summer begins. A book launch, an exploding dress and some salsa-dancing pensioners make this a mystery with a difference.
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What inspired you to write it?
It was partly wish-fulfilment! I’m an ex-publisher who loves books, so my heroine Eleanor runs a quirky bookshop called The Reading Room. I’m very fond of Eleanor and her eccentric bunch of friends and family – especially mother Connie and her octogenarian squeeze, Harold. They made their first appearance my e-novellas (published by Endeavour Press) so I was delighted to revisit them in The Bookshop Detective.
You live in the West Country. How influential are the landscape and people when you are starting a new novel?
Hugely influential. I always strive to evoke the sounds and smells of a place as much as its sights so readers feel involved in the action. The ‘Bookshop by the Sea’ stories are set in a seaside town that I call Combemouth, which is modelled on my favourite parts of the North Devon coast. My characters are fictional, but friends often provide the catalyst for some of the funniest dialogue and events in the books.
Favourite cake?
I haven’t had one for years, but now you mention it I wouldn’t say no to a slice of Battenberg.
What’s the loveliest thing a reader has said about your writing?
That’s tough because I’ve had some wonderful, heartfelt reviews for my books. One that really touched me was when a reader wrote of French Kisses, ‘There is a distinct joy in reading this book.’ It doesn’t get much better than that.
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And the not-so-loveliest?
‘Quite boring’ – that was it!
Favourite place to holiday?
I’ve travelled widely, but if I had loads of dosh I’d buy a gorgeous house in Mallorca and spend hours under a beach parasol with a massive pile of books. Bliss.
If you could choose three authors to invite over for a dinner party (and these have to be authors you haven’t yet met!), who would that trio comprise of?
I’d love to share an evening with David Nicholls, Maggie O’Farrell and George Eliot.
In a very competitive book world, what single piece of advice would you give to those starting out in your genre?
Be prepared to work your socks off once the book has been published.
What can we expect to see from you next?
I’m writing a Christmas ghost story for a local publication then I have a rather nice idea for a murder mystery. I like to ring the changes.
About the author
Jan Ellis began writing fiction by accident in 2013. Until then, she had led a blameless life as a publisher, editor and historian of early modern Spain. She fell into fiction when a digital publisher approached her to write a history book, then made the mistake of mentioning romcom, which sounded much more fun.
Jan’s stories have small-town settings with realistic characters who range in age from young teens to eighty-somethings. She is somewhat surprised to find herself a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Her books are published by Endeavour Press and Waverley Books.
Follow Jan on Facebook and Twitter @JanEllis_writer
Jan’s Amazon page: http://goo.gl/yqmAey
November 5, 2017
Clipped Wings Blog Tour
I was so very honoured to be asked to be a part of author Jennifer Gilmour’s ‘Clipped Wings’ blog tour.
Jennifer is no stranger to writing about the subject of domestic violence, and just a few months ago, our paths ‘just happened’ to cross since we had both launched books touching on the subject (from very different angles, but raising self-awareness all the same). I’m so very glad to have got to know this wonderful lady via social media! Her story is nothing short of extraordinary and yet she hasn’t stopped helping others who have left or are considering fleeing dangerous situations in their homes – whether they be physical, emotional, or both.
Rather Jennifer’s work continues daily. Her countless interviews, radio and television appearances accurately portray a brave and committed soul whose vision for change has improved countless lives. She’s a true beacon of light to others. As indeed, are those who have also been courageous enough to bare their souls to create this book.
To pen ‘Isolation Junction’, her first novel, was one thing. But to then go on to compile an anthology, working with domestic violence survivors both female and male, from all walks of life and backgrounds; that was quite another. An emotional roller coaster in every sense of the word.
Jennifer’s books are quite literally changing the domestic landscape of the UK, and her latest release, ‘Clipped Wings’ is no exception.
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I am delighted to share my review of the book today and urge you all to support this amazing project by buying a copy (Amazon buying link can be found below):
‘Clipped Wings’ is a powerful piece of work. As traumatic as it is to read some of the stories featured within it, it’s an anthology that every adult (and young adult) should be acquainted with. When we read a collection of stories of this magnitude and scale; stories emanating from people of different cultures and religions, different social backgrounds and beliefs, different sexes, we realise that domestic violence still goes on behind all closed doors. D.V does not discriminate, you see:
“… in her eyes it was banter…
Name calling
Public Humiliation
Preventing me from seeing family or friends
Preventing me from working
Destroying my self-confidence
Constantly accusing me of cheating, lying, and being deceitful
Constantly putting me down and telling me that I’m stupid and that my mum didn’t rbing me up properly as I’m an idiot.”
You could have an ornate brass knocker and a shiny British racing green front door. Just as likely, your door could be rusting at the hinges with peeling paintwork.
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‘Clipped Wings’ does much to dispel the myth that money and education are an exception to abuse…
Jennifer’s own personal story at the beginning of the book, is proof alone that domestic violence creeps into a relationship in a variety of ways. It’s not just the stereotypical hitting, punching and name calling we might see in the movies. In the author’s own personal account, she explains how her finances were restricted, her freedom of movement outside of the home, too. This gas-lighting and manipulation starts off subtly… and gradually, through the many stories woven into this anthology, we see it wear the abused down… until they are no longer sure of themselves, until they have lost all self-belief and confidence. Particularly disturbing are the examples of domestic violence involving children. Yet, they are a crucial part of the puzzle when it comes to painting an accurate picture as to what is truly going on in many homes throughout the land.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
If that was true I wouldn’t have a story to share with you,” says Emma.
And then she goes on to explain… “and I certainly wouldn’t be the woman I am today, but my strength and resilience didn’t come easily. I’ve been in some dark places mentally and emotionally and had to claw my way back more than once. All because of the hurt and long-term damage caused by the words and behaviours of a man who ‘loved’ me, the blame I carried and self-loathing I felt, as a result.”
Many of the stories in this book also highlight a change once the victim becomes pregnant, and here we see the way the abuser uses their physical strength to their advantage – because of course, a pregnant woman has that innate responsibility to protect their child. And then we see how the dynamics change once again once the baby is born. Liberty becomes further restricted, dependency on the perpetrator increases. It’s a vicious circle. But it’s a vicious circle we need to hear about.
What’s to say this isn’t going on with one of your own family members, with one of your own friends?
Once we know which alarm bells to listen out for, which signs to be aware of, we can offer help, we can be there as a support network. We may never be able to persuade anybody to leave straightaway, true. But often, and especially in the case of some of the stories in this book which began their cycle of destruction during the teenage years, just knowing that a relationship is unhealthy, that alone is enough to plant the seed of eventual escape into the victim’s mind. Way too many young people simply don’t know the difference between a good and a bad relationship. Way too many young people are led to believe that the mood swings and volatility of their partner are their own doing, that they’ve wound them up to the point of no return and the ‘punishment’ is just.
This is exactly why ‘Clipped Wings’ should be non-negotiable reading material in high schools and colleges throughout the UK and the wider world. I know from my own experience, this was the very book I wish had been made available to me as a self-conscious teen. It would have completely changed the path my life took.
That is how important this book is.
To order a copy of Clipped Wings, here is the Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2gVBCSO
About the author:
Born in the North East, Jennifer is a young, married mum with three children. In addition to being an author, she is an entrepreneur, running a family business from her home-base. Her blog posts have a large readership of other young mums in business.
From an early age, Jennifer has had a passion for writing and started gathering ideas and plot lines from her teenage years. A passionate advocate for women in abusive relationships, she has drawn on her personal experiences to write this first novel ‘Isolation Junction’. It details the journey of a young woman from the despair of an emotionally abusive and unhappy marriage to develop the confidence to challenge and change her life and to love again.
Since the publication of her debut novel Jennifer has continued to be an advocate for those in abusive relationships through her blog posts, radio interviews and Twitter feed. Jennifer also gained a qualification in facilitating a recover programme for those who have been in abusive relationships.
Jennifer continues to publicly support those who are isolated and struggle to have a voice. Jennifer hopes that ’Clipped Wings’ gives a voice to survivors’ experiences and raises awareness further of the types of unacceptable behaviour which fall into the category of domestic abuse.
November 2, 2017
8 Things I Have Learned Since Becoming an Author!
My debut novel was published early October and these past few months have been quite the cliched roller coaster of a ride. Join me as I share the highs and the lows in this list, and let’s swap notes writer friends!
1: You WILL get crappy 1 and 2 star reviews
As sure as the Earth spins, there are miserable people out there, there are also jealous budding authors out there. These two unique and Shiny Happy groups of people make up your naysayers’ committee.
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Sate your curiosity, read the first bad review for amusement’s sake… and leave the rest where they belong (outside of your consciousness).
Seriously, these kind of vindictive and unhelpful ‘summaries’ of your book do nothing for your confidence and are so far removed from the truth in any case. Nobody is immune to them. If you really cannot help but fall prey to them, then immediately go read some of the cruddy reviews left for a well-established author you admire. You’ll soon realise we are ALL in the same boat.
But then do yourself the BIGGEST favour and refuse to give them the time of day ever again. Focus on your positive reviews… and the fact that you were talented enough to be published in the fist place. That’s the reality!
*Disclaimer* I can’t say the idea of making funny Facebook Live videos purposely to read out said measly reviews, doesn’t appeal…
2: Not all of your family and friends will buy or read your book… even though some of them are mentioned in the flippin’ acknowledgements – and they know it.
It’s sad (because if any of our family or friends wrote a book, we’d likely be the first in the pre-order queue), but it’s also true.
a) some people hate reading with a passion (I know, I know!) and no amount of family members or friends penning novels or works of non-fiction will ever change that fact.
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b) some family and ‘friends’ don’t like/can’t relate to this new version of you and refuse to acknowledge your success.
c) other family and friends may well buy your book, but never get around to reading it… or reading past the first couple of chapters. And that’s okay. Maybe in a year or so they will take it on holiday with them, maybe they’ll even lend it to a friend. At least they bought it!
d) people have their own lives and their world doesn’t revolve around your book journey, funnily enough… perhaps, in time, when your constant (or am I just talking to myself here!!!!????) self-promotion has stopped, their curiosity will get the better of them and they will see what all the fuss was about. And perhaps not.
3) You don’t become a millionaire overnight.
But then you never wrote for the money, right?
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4) It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
As my author friend, NJ Simmonds and I, constantly remind each other. But it’s oh, so true, and I think you really realise that the minute your book goes up for sale. You have to focus on the longevity, and being in the writing game for years and years and years.
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5) Asking readers to leave an Amazon review will always feel akin to pulling teeth out… and will often go in one ear and straight back out the other!
I loathe this task, but I have to do it all the same. I am also loathe to admit that I never realised the importance of writing a positive review for a book until I got published this year. Double standard or what.
But it doesn’t mean you should stop asking. Just do it lightheartedly, at regular intervals (just not too regular). Eventually your tenacity will pay off and they will trickle in.
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6) You won’t be everybody’s cuppa.
Not just because of what you write, or the way you write.
Think about it. In ‘real life’ we have our tribe. Our author life is no different. Whether we are traditionally or self-published, not all of our author counterparts will warm to us or feel drawn to us. Which stands to reason.
We come from the most diverse backgrounds, we have a wide range of differing beliefs; we are sensitive, creative souls with a knack for taking things the wrong way at the best of times!
Some of our author colleagues – whether they write in our genre/engage in the same Facebook groups as us/are published by the same company as us, will pat us on the back, support us, return the love we give them by spreading the word about our book on social media/buying it and reading it and reviewing it… no matter how busy they are, they will always remember to reciprocate the kindness.
And some, well, they just won’t bother… no matter if we have invited them to star on our blog/bought their books and left gleaming reviews all over Goodreads and Amazon/re-tweeted their brand new title/shared pictures of every book in their repertoire all over Instagram and Facebook.
Sometimes it’s hard not to take it personally. But suck up the lesson and move on instead. Your time is better spent on YOUR writing, and your tribe are out there waiting with open arms to cheer you on. For every un-supportive author, I have met 10 supportive authors, many of whom are now firm friends!
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7) You will write promotional material that others will neglect to use.
You will also contact numerous newspapers, magazines, and radio stations – all to no avail. You might even pay for copies of your book to be sent to these places… and still they won’t grant you a feature.
I wrote a LOT of articles to promote Oh! What a Pavlova clocking up many hours worth of work. I left no stone un-turned as new author, and as a result I felt like I was plastered across social media this summer! A number of book bloggers – in particular – however, neglected to use the material I had sent them (material they had flippin’ well asked for as well!).
Rude? You bet.
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But know your place.
There may have been a genuine excuse, they may simply have forgotten/been poorly/otherwise engaged with urgent and unforseeable stuff.
You are a humble author (quite possibly a debut author, if you are reading this). And the book blogging community is way too close-knit for arguments. Suck up yet another lesson on your journey; next time you will be better prepared and will double check that your piece really will be aired!
Unless you are John Marrs, Louise Jensen or JK Rowling, you have a long way to go before you can click your fingers and command any kind of authority. Which is no bad thing. Everyone had to start somewhere.
*Disclaimer: John Marrs and Louise Jensen are two of the loveliest and friendliest authors in the writing community, who probably don’t do any finger clicking at all… both having frequently taken the time to chat with me on social media threads… and I’m sure that JK is equally lovely too! This was just for illustration purposes.*
And once again, just because somebody is a book blogger, it doesn’t mean you are their cuppa… or vice versa. They might have liked the look and sound of your novel initially… and then read your book’s blurb and thought “eww, this is SO not my kind of read!”
Just because we have a joint love of books to bind us, it doesn’t mean we’d have been buddies in the playground/gravitated towards one another if we worked in the same office/frequented the same pub/been lured by the same book section in our local library.
So stay humble and polite, despite your warranted frustration, and then simply get a little more streetwise for your next novels.
Your time matters and these articles don’t get written in a heartbeat.
8) Lots of lovely and unexpected things WILL happen.
They probably won’t be the lovely and unexpected things you are trying to coax into reality through visualisation… because the universe loves to surprise us like that. Take my debut novel’s 48 hours of snatching the top spot in an Amazon subcategory within an Amazon subcategory from Jeremy, James and Richard!
I truly never saw that one coming and it was all the more fun for it. Especially when you put that hip pose from Jezza into context. Heehee.
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And I have made so many friends from so many countries, all within a few months. For every friendship that fell by the wayside because of my new direction, I feel like I have honestly made a dozen new (and genuine) friends to fill that ‘void’.
So there you have it: The 8 Things I Have Learned Since Becoming an Author!
What about you, what would YOU add to this list?
