Rupert Dreyfus's Blog, page 9
July 25, 2015
The Rebel's Sketchbook is Out Now!
I promise to stop banging on about this release for a bit, but this is to let you know that The Rebel's Sketchbook is now available. More info can be found here
You can now add it on Goodreads here
I've recommended it to those Goodreads buddies whose reading list indicates that they'll appreciate it. Get in touch if you want a free copy.
Thanks to all those who are reading it or intend to read it. I've had a few people tell me already that they're finding it to be fun. Chris at The Opening Sentence called it 'acidic' and Amy said she was laughing so hard at the first story she had to put it down and call up a friend.
I'm pretty sure there are more people who will appreciate this type of uncompromising narrative which takes swipes at just about everything so now it's a matter of finding them.
This part of the process is my least favourite; especially being a shit eating indie author. I hate to have to harass people and make a noise, but it's the only way to catch people's attention so thanks for your support.
So that's me for the rest of the year. There is more headline news coming soon, but for now I'm off to bang my head against the wall.
Speak soon!
R. D
July 24, 2015
The Rebel’s Sketchbook is Now Available!
After a lot of arsing around I’m pleased to announce that I have finally released my first collection of short stories under the title The Rebel’s Sketchbook. The blurb is as follows:
“Maniac world leaders; talentless boybands; Westminster politicians; social media idiots; zero-hour contracts. Rupert’s first collection of short stories uses transgressive fiction, black comedy and satire as a weapon for shooting down all of these and more. Keeping the spirit of rebellion alive, The Rebel’s Sketchbook is set to become one of the most controversial and challenging releases in a generation.”
Please note that this collection contains scenes of sex, drugs and graphic violence but not without good reason. It is also disrespectful towards authority figures and the arse end of mainstream society. Imagine the brutality of Irvine Welsh, the cynicism of Charlie Brooker and the social conscience of George Orwell but with none of the talent and that’s what you can expect.
You can buy it as a paperback here, you can buy the Kindle version here and the PDF here. If there’s a stupid parental lock on Lulu then just enter your date of birth.
If you are connected to me through social media and want a free Kindle copy then direct message me. For some reason the formatting on some of the text for the Kindle version has slightly shrunk even though the manuscript is fine. It’s still completely readable, but until I can rectify it I want to offer it for free to my Twitter buddies, Facebook likers, blog likers and Goodreads buddies.
Finally; a big shout out to all those people who are helping me to spread the word because social media and word of mouth is about all I have. A special thanks to all those who received the paperback version today. You all got it for different reasons, but mostly because you were among the first people to read Spark and didn’t just dismiss me as another annoying indie author arse hat. Thanks to those who are reading the digital version, too. You are also ace and I look forward to our future chats!
I still have a couple of people to send the digital version to and will be doing so over the weekend. I’ll be doing a give away over on Goodreads very soon so will keep you posted.
I’m spending the rest of the year hunting down readers for The Rebel’s Sketchbook and Spark, and am continuing to network with likeminded readers and indie authors. There are more projects in the pipeline which are very much in the same spirit, but I really need to slow down and do some self-promotional nonsense. You can always get in touch with me through my website about anything you like. Always up for a chinwag…
Take care, folks, and thanks again!
Rupert Dreyfus
July 22, 2015
The Rebel's Sketchbook
I was hoping my Goodreads blog was going to automatically update itself by now but it hasn't so here's the link to my latest Wordpress entry:
https://rupertdreyfus.wordpress.com/2...
The Rebel's Sketchbook is going to be officially released on Friday. All my Goodreads buddies are entitled to a free digital copy. When it's up and running I'll be going over my list of friends and recommending it to anyone who I reckon will appreciate it. If I recommend it to you then you don't have to buy it - just get in touch. If I forget to send it to you by email then give me a nudge; it's only an oversight!
I know including a caveat along the lines of 'this isn't for the faint hearted' is often seen a ploy, but there are a couple of stories which are particularly disgusting, the language is atrocious and I've tried to be as disrespectful towards authority figures as possible.
Think the brutality of Irvine Welsh, the cynicism of Charlie Brooker and the social conscience of George Orwell but without any of the talent and that's the vibe I went for. If this type of material is likely to offend you then probably avoid it.
Thanks and take care!
R.D
July 20, 2015
Calling All Rebels
Hello everyone,
Some of you may know that very soon I’m going to be releasing a collection of 13 short stories called The Rebel’s Sketchbook. I’m set to send it to a number of people as a paperback and a number of people in digital format. However, I want to get this to even more people.
Here is the blurb:
“Maniac world leaders; talentless boybands; Westminster politicians; social media idiots; zero-hour contracts. Rupert’s first collection of short stories uses transgressive fiction, black comedy and satire as a weapon for shooting down all of these and more. Keeping the spirit of rebellion alive, The Rebel’s Sketchbook is set to become one of the most controversial and challenging releases in a generation.”
You’re probably wondering why it’s going to be the most challenging and controversial releases in a generation. I can’t honestly say it will be as it’s all just marketing nonsense. However, I’d be surprised if someone can point me in the direction of a collection of short stories that’s more disrespectful towards authority figures, big business and the arse end of mainstream society than this collection.
So in advance I’m offering all my Twitter followers, Goodreads buddies and Facebook likers the opportunity to obtain a free copy just as soon as it goes live (it can be provided as a PDF, EPUB or MOBI file). All you’ve got to do is send me a direct message with your email address and preferred format, and I’ll hook you up. The one thing I would appreciate in return is to leave a review and to let people know about it as I have zilch marketing budget.
From the reviews I’ve had with my debut novel, Spark, I’m fairly certain that there are lots of people out there who would appreciate this type of collection so the more people I can get on board, the further it will spread.
Feel free to get in touch and help me with the initial boom…
Inabit,
R.D
July 7, 2015
The Rebel's Sketchbook Cover Reveal
If the above turns out to be too small or just a load of weird text then this is the Wordpress Link:
https://rupertdreyfus.wordpress.com/2...
It was designed by my friend, Will, at Gonzo Design and it's based on one of the short stories in the collection.
I'll be in touch soon!
R.D.
The Rebel’s Sketchbook Cover Reveal!
Hi folks,
The release of The Rebel’s Sketchbook is almost upon us. I’ve been collecting the addresses of all those who I’ve promised a paperback copy so it won’t be long now; just moving through the final stages. I also have a long list of all those who I’ve promised a digital copy. In the meantime I can finally show you the front cover which has been designed by my friend, Will, over at Gonzo Design. The design will make sense when you get round to reading this collection. I can’t wait to get it out to you all; it’s going to be a hoot.
Thanks for the patience and I’ll be in touch soon!
R.D.
July 2, 2015
Another Interview
I hope my Goodreads buddies are all doing okay.
Fresh off the press is another interview I've just done with my good friend Paul. Paul is another indie author who is trying to say something about the state of the UK and the world more generally. We discuss the main themes of Spark and some other stuff. There is also some news which anyone who has enjoyed Spark will be interested in.
In other news: The Rebel's Sketchbook is almost there. I'll be putting something out about that soon enough. None of my Goodreads buddies have to buy it or Twitter followers or anyone else for that matter. You can just buy me a beer whenever we hang out in the real world. If you want a digital copy then get in touch and I'll sort you one out (I'm aware who is already anticipating a copy - Chris, Leo, Rebecca, Harry etc.). I'll also be contacting those I've promised a paperback copy very soon in order to get your addresses.
So here it is:
https://paulhowsley.wordpress.com/201...
Cheers to Paul and cheers to everyone out there who supports indie authors. Thanks to all those who have recently read Spark or are currently reading Spark and who have left reviews. There is nothing fun about self-marketing so your open-mindedness and support is much appreciated. I wish there was more of you in the world :-)
Laters potaters.
R. D.
June 21, 2015
Author Interview – Rupert Dreyfus
A great interview with Chris.
Originally posted on The Opening Sentence:
‘Electoral democracy, for pretty much the entire nation, is nothing more than a spectators’ sport.’
Rupert Dreyfus’s debut novel Spark explores the individual in the face of big business and reacting against a system geared towards a select self-interested few. In this author interview I asked Rupert about writing, self-publishing and a worldview that led to the events outlined in Spark.
Q: Spark is your first self-published novel. How did you find the process?
A: The writing process was liberating. Prior to Spark I’d written a lot of stories but they were completely different in style and message. They were more personal and less satirical. I suppose I tried to take a more literary approach which, looking back, didn’t really suit me. I eventually got bored and tried something in the transgressive/ satirical style. Once I found a voice I was happy with and realised that I no longer have…
View original 1,700 more words
New Interview
For those interested in what I think about Snowden, politics, philosophy and self-publishing, you may appreciate my recent interview with Chris over at The Opening Sentence.
It was a really thoughtful interview so massive thanks to Chris for giving me the opportunity to answer some important questions.
https://theopeningsentence.wordpress....
Feel free to let me know your thoughts on anything we discuss so we can open the debate further and share ideas.
There'll be more articles and stuff in the coming months.
The Rebel's Sketchbook is close to the final stage and then it'll be out there. I'll keep you posted...
Laters potaters!
June 10, 2015
FAO: Grassroots Journalists/ Bloggers/ People who run webzines etc.
Greetings, folks!
To coincide with the release of my upcoming short story collection I’m looking to increase my web presence in order to get the word out. If there are any bloggers, DIY journalists or people who run zines/ websites out there who want to interview me or would like me to write a guest article or anything else along these lines then please email me at rupertdreyfus@outlook.com or contact me through private message where available. Some of you lovely people have already made this offer to me so let’s get the ball rolling! If it’s an interview then you can ask me anything about anything and I’ll answer it; nothing is off topic. If it’s an article then we can mutually decide on the theme/ subject etc.
Even if you have never interviewed anyone before, we can sort something out. If you want questions to be specific to my upcoming project then I’ll give you some further information through email. We could also explore some of the themes in Spark – I’ll provide you with a free copy if necessary.
I’m hoping to release this collection some time next month so that gives us plenty of time to sort something out. I’ll make sure anyone who helps me in this respect gets a free copy.
I look forward to hearing from you!
R.D
