Almost, but not quite …

So … I didn’t get a publishing contract in the end. I found out yesterday. The company was Bookouture, a digital imprint publisher – the biggest in the UK and, apparently, v good at what it does. On The Back Foot To Hell got a full read with v nice comments and they asked to look at the series. I then got an email saying that they were discussing ‘logistics’. And, finally, yesterday, I got a very nice rejection – but to be clear, as an expert in rejections, they are nearly always ‘nice’. In case you’re interested here it is:

Thanks so much for all the information you’ve given me on your brilliant Sam Green series. I’m really sorry to say that after lengthy consideration, we don’t think these would be right for us at Bookouture. 

I really enjoyed reading both of your books – I love the detail and depth you go into with each story and your forensic knowledge of the workings of the British secret service and government departments. It makes for a fascinating read and I am so impressed by your excellent reviews on both US and UK Amazon. You’ve clearly found a group of readers who absolutely adore your books and love the Sam Green series! 

Ultimately, I’m afraid that our team wasn’t sure that we could add enough value to what you’re already doing very well to make this right for either of us. As your books are a little bit longer and more detailed, we felt that we might not be able to broaden your readership in the way we’d want to. I’m really sorry not to have better news on this as I’ve so much enjoyed talking with you and been so impressed by your enthusiasm and everything you’re already doing – getting rights back from Amazon, exploring audio and film and TV too. 

If you are ever interested in starting a new series, I’d be really pleased to see your ideas. I wish you a great launch for book 6 and I hope we can stay in touch.

It is easily the closest I have ever got to full publication, although with Fuelling the Fire published by Amazon Publishing, that was as good as. Realistically I don’t think I’m going to get another shot at the title … unless I were to write something different. Which is a thought. 

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Sunday fun – Zoom quiz with friends and family

Anyhow, I do have Blood Red Earth to get out there. And I am determined to have a go at my own marketing via Amazon and Facebook … I might even pay someone to do that work for me. And, of course, I have the audiobook to crack on with. It is a bit of a ‘ho-hum’ to be honest with you, and what with everything else and now the rain has started I’m having to work hard to stay positive. Will try though.

We’re ok. Actually considering everything we’re on pretty good form. Our routine continues, including, over the past couple of weeks, a Sunday Zoom quiz with Bex and

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couldn’t be neater

Steven and some Army pals. That’s fun. And we’re walking and running, and C and I are still doing stretches and non-running exercises to try and stay in shape. The key thing for us is to stay safe. All the noise seems to be that the disease is particularly indiscriminate and we know to our cost that it is very unpleasant. Whether or not there’s an inevitability that we will all have to catch it at some point (or risk being in solitude forever) remains to be seen. In the meantime …

I’ve got a Zoom call at lunchtime today. I’m running a Compassionate Leadership seminar for some MoD people and I also have a couple of calls tomorrow. Apart from that I am going to look hard at a new character and a new book (the thought scares the bejeezus out of me) and I will look to do some advertising, probably next week. Oh … and there’s my brother’s estate to crack on with. I think I have all the pieces there and have started the process with the tax people. Hopefully I can do it without too much trouble.

Anyway. You lot stay safe out there. Keep your distance and I would wear a mask when shopping no matter what our mildly incompetent government don’t recommend. My view is that if they’ve been following the science for the past 4 months and we now have the highest death rate in Europe, maybe they’ve been asking the wrong scientists?

Stay safe.