Category Uncategorized

Somewhat down

July 22, 2010 Uncategorized

The post arrived early today, and as expected there was no news. However I also received a note from one of the locations requesting ARCs who are very keen to move ahead with an ARC and a review. Last night I got a message from the Growler (http://www.thegrowler.org.uk) who were interested in a copy and review for their September issue.This kind of interest, and I am still working on getting a publisher. It is somewhat depressing.At the moment, unfortunately, everything is still up in the air. I will let you know as and when I receive news.

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Content aggregation online

July 20, 2010 Uncategorized

There are several sites which say they can take all your online content and aggregate it into one profile. I have tried out tumblr which many people swear by, but unfortunately it turned out to be something I would swear at, since it didn't work very well.I've just gone back to Redgage. It's slightly slower, and doesn't take straight RSS feeds in, but on the other hand I have used it before and I know it works. My new profile is here:http://www.redgage.com/vhfollandOn the book front, there is now a set-up ready to take pre-orders when we know what is happening with publication, and an online/mail order games company willing to put flyers in each of their sales to promote the book. That should help sales whoever publishes it.

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Does no response mean No?

July 19, 2010 Uncategorized

This is an odd one. On the one hand you have agents and editors who say that no response means no. On the other there are editors who won't even look at a manuscript until they have been chased the first time. To complicate matters, there are other editors who will dump a manuscript unless you do chase them.This is the bit where you need an agent who knows what the particular publishing house's rules are, and also when they break them. For example, I had an agent who said that no response in three months means no and then sent me a rejection eight months later.Without an agent (not for lack of trying) I'm a little lost, but with the end of the four weeks coming up on Friday I need to make a decision. The choice is surprisingly easy, although it might be my professional background talking:

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Publishing options

July 9, 2010 Uncategorized

After getting a few questions on chat about how I intend to proceed, I will cover the details here.The full manuscript is currently with a publishing house. If they pick the book up then release options and marketing will obviously change; and improve a great deal since they have significantly more options.However, if they don't and I end up going with the local imprint, here are the pencilled in details (obviously subject to change):The book will be released in print and ebook formats, including Kindle, with a short-run printing rather than purely POD.Pre-orders will be taken online through established ecommerce partnerships.The release would be late Q3 prior to christmas, which gives a few months to release ARCs and galleys, and build buzz.As mentioned, if I go with them I'd be doing a

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Board Migration

July 8, 2010 Uncategorized

After an interesting technical issue with nabble, I have moved the forum to Proboards. The new forum is at:http://vhfolland.proboards.comUnfortunately content and threads were lost due to the glitch. I have migrated the remaining content, but if you have a question or comment that has not made it across, please visit the new boards and repost.The nabble forum will be deleted shortly to avoid confusion or misuse.

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A brief interview

July 7, 2010 Uncategorized

I've just done a brief interview at whohub:http://www.whohub.com/vhfollandI'm also in the middle of an interview for solelyfictional.org about my self published writing from the nineties. I'm not sure how relevant my experiences back then (photocopiers and combbinders) still are in the age of Lulu and Createspace, but it is part of a series. Comparing notes with other writers is always interesting.

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Airshow and the update

June 28, 2010 Uncategorized

I didn't attend Biggin Hill Airshow due to the travel warnings and the temperature. Instead I've been doing the basic administration work: producing a master list of all promotion and planned promotion, costing up self publishing in case it becames necessary, and tidying up some of the online sites. Other than that, I've been trying to get some more written on my next project. It's simply difficult to know what to do when everything about this book is currently up in the air. I don't want to launch anything like a book trailer or the short stories when I don't know who is releasing the book and when. Until then, things are on hold on promotion while I work like mad on the less interesting parts like logistics.I should have a definite answer in four weeks.

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Biggin Hill airshow, publishers and a preorder possibility

June 25, 2010 Uncategorized

Well, since last Friday, I've visited a museum, arranged an interview, worked on a book deal, lost a book deal, got another publisher interested, arranged a fallback... And this weekend is the Biggin Hill Airshow. Now I was planning to go along and flyer it, link up with a few acquaintances, push the book mercilessly on them and possibly get bought drinks for actually getting the deal. And, of course, come away with a few preorders and several interested book sellers. Instead I'm wondering if I really want to go. I can't exactly flyer without a publisher or release date confirmed. It's not easy to get to from where I am and, I will be honest, I actually prefer open airshows like Bournemouth where there is a lot more room for the aircraft to perform. On the other hand, if I turn up and

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Temporary hiatus

June 21, 2010 Uncategorized

Hopefully only for a couple of days while I sort things out.Right now, I need a drink.

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Firestorm – an aviation adventure

May 28, 2010 Uncategorized

Firestorm is a new aviation adventure due out from Bewrite Books Canada in the near future.My debut novel, the story focuses on a small airstrip caught in a wildfire and the operation to extinguish it with the scant resources available to them.

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