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Getting a book into Waterstones
November 25, 2010
Uncategorized - This seems to be the holy grail for UK writers. As a small press author who seems to have managed it in a few stores, speaking to my publisher I found out it isn't as easy as you think.Some articles make it sound like walking into any random store with your book and waving it at the manager stand you in good stead of shelf space. This is misleading. Although Waterstones managers do have some discretion over what goes on the shelves, they do also have a central list that they pick from. The three basic things you need to get into a book store seem to be:1) ISBN: you have to have one.2) (in the UK) be listed on Nielsen3) A recognised distributor who manages sale or return.4) Access to the Waterstones independant books listingThese will let you get listed on the Waterstones computer system,Read More
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A Nano update
November 18, 2010
Uncategorized - At the weekend my final copy of the manuscript went off to the publisher. They let me know it had gone to print earlier this week, so everything is progressing nicely.Now I should be working on selling my book, but it's a little difficult with one remaining ARC and no printed books yet. So, for the next two weeks, my attention will be on something else I have been neglecting: NaNoWriMo.I've got the first few thousand words written up, but not put in yet, and since we are halfway through the month I have some catching up to do!Read More
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Reviews!
November 12, 2010
Uncategorized - This was going to be a post about the difficulties of promotion when you're an author with a small press, since the channels for established publishers assume you are self-publishing and the ones for self-publishers assume you are with a company and have unfair advantages. I'll put this post up another time, however, since I actually have a few updates on the book.The book trailer has been accepted for YouGottaRead's trailer contest for January, so I'll probably be Tweeting a lot about that when it occurs.My publisher let me know that the Nielsen feed has updated with cover and distribution details, so the book is available to be ordered Sale or Return from just about every bookshop in the country.Clover Hill Book Reviews took an ARC earlier this year and kindly got back to me with twoRead More
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Cover Image!
November 8, 2010
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Last week I was told the publisher had received a copy of the final artwork from Barry Weekley. This week I got my final cover layout. The "furniture" like author name and publisher logo are still being adjusted, but this is apparently pretty much what the front is going to look like. The back? Well as I hoped it's a wrap-around cover and the image continues on the back. What is on the back won't be a surprise to anyone who followed my story on Twitter, or anyone who's seen the lens.I have to say, I rather like it. It certainly stands out.
Pre-order Fire Season from Amazon.co.uk
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Twitter Story – Week 12
November 7, 2010
Twitter Story, weekly round up -
"I don’t think he planned that far. You missed him trying to get Rose’s help, through an odd mix of begging and barking." Jake’s tone was light, and Jim grinned. The crop sprayer pilot had never been good at asking for help, even when he needed it.
"You know she’s not qualified to work on it, right?" he asked and Jake nodded.
"That’s what she said. Think you might know anyone who could give him a hand?" Jake’s suggestion was deliberately casual and Jim sucked his breath through his teeth in mock thought.
"A few. Say ten or so." He knew her old crew would be more than happy to have a quick look up here and see what had happened to their old lady. Looking down at Matt, now shifting the stepladder along the wing to a new spot, Jim smiled. She might not be his, but his
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Twitter Story
November 6, 2010
Uncategorized - As the story nears its end, the final round up will be tomorrow. Happy Bonfire Night, and stay safe!Read More
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A Goodreads giveaway
November 2, 2010
Uncategorized - The Goodreads Giveaway complete yesterday and I sent the books off this morning.I'll admit I have doubts about sending out proof copies. After all these aren't the finished copies so complaints about justification, or the cover art, would be somewhat unfair. However this appears to be standard practice in publishing, so I'll follow my publisher's lead and keep my fingers crossed for good reviews.On more hopeful news the lens about my book, http://www.squidoo.com/FireSeason, will be one of the featured lenses for their Books cateory until the second of December. That should build some interest. An advertising campaign targeted to specialist interesed parties, will also kick off later this month.In some ways I feel as if this is getting away from me a bit. When I started I was expecting aRead More
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Twitter Story – Week 11
October 30, 2010
Twitter Story, weekly round up -
"Yeah. Who’d you think had to do the fire assessment for Matt when he decided to bid for it?"
"You could’ve told me!" Jim snapped, and Jake waved a reproving finger at him.
"No I couldn’t. Professional confidentiality. Besides if you’re too dumb to check who actually won the auction, or actualy talk to your brother, or even look left at the huge grey nuclear bomber that you drove right passed -"
"Ok, ok." Jim went back to watching the old crop sprayer pilot scrubbing industriously at the paint, reflecting that his brother could be particularly annoying when he was right. "Who’s he planning to get to help him look after it?"
~The story updates daily at my twitter feed, under hashtag #vhfstr1.Read More -
Making Steady Progress
October 28, 2010
Uncategorized - For anyone interested in the Goodreads giveaway these are examples of the uncorrected proofs/ARCS that are being dispatched. In fact, two of them probably are the copies that will be sent out. It's been a very busy day. It started with dispatching some advance copies to reviewers, and hearing that the first batch the publisher had sent out had already arrived.Then the first set of test bookmarks I'd designed for Fire Season arrived in the post, and I set up an order details page to go with the media kit. I dropped a note to some potential advertisers, who came back to me the same day and were very nice about arranging to put my ad up around the time the book is coming out.Then I was shown the first tests of the actual cover, not the placeholder used for the ARCs. The artist isRead More
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Planning a book launch
October 27, 2010
book launch - With six weeks to go until the book is released, people have started asking the question that I was hoping to avoid:"So, when's your launch party?""I'll get back to you."The launch party appears to be a traditional part of a book launch now, with press, publisher, author, and possibly family, friends and vague acquaintances being invited. Since I am being published by a small press, I have to arrange my own. As someone with a life-long aversion to public speaking, large events, and media exposure this feels rather like being asked to pick the members of my firing squad. I have not even settled on a venue yet. Ideally I'd like a bookshop with a cafe, so they can handle the book selling part and I can get something to eat and drink. Unfortunately my local closed a few months ago, and IRead More