I've just guest blogged on the 80k Challenge website, about how to get your work published. Thanks to the wonderful invention that is the interwebs, writers no longer have to waste months or years writing to agents begging for representation.
If you're participating in the challenge, how's it going? I'm already lagging after 23 days - the aim is to write 80k words in 80 days, and I've only got 10k so far. Problem is, I keep reading back over what I've got and realising it's balls. By the time I've finished dicking around, I've got less words than I started with. Not a good strategy.
Monday 23 May 2011
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Thanks to a fellow author!
I scraped together a couple of reviews for Bat Boy from existing authors before we went to print, and would like to say a special thanks to Holly Howitt, author of The Schoolboy. She was kind enough to read the entire book in PDF form and had the following to say:
"I thought this was a fresh and well-voiced story with a real depth of character. Joel is well-drawn - both witty and hardened, but still naive and boyish at the same time. His voice is absorbing and clear, and the wry saracasm in Pat's voice is a good counter-balance.
"The story really does yomp along but is intriguing and articulate from page one. Joel's blindness is originally described and the whole story is awash with sensory descriptions that bring his world to life."
Thanks again Holly, much appreciated :) You can buy Holly's book, The Schoolboy, from Cinnammon Press.
"I thought this was a fresh and well-voiced story with a real depth of character. Joel is well-drawn - both witty and hardened, but still naive and boyish at the same time. His voice is absorbing and clear, and the wry saracasm in Pat's voice is a good counter-balance.
"The story really does yomp along but is intriguing and articulate from page one. Joel's blindness is originally described and the whole story is awash with sensory descriptions that bring his world to life."
Thanks again Holly, much appreciated :) You can buy Holly's book, The Schoolboy, from Cinnammon Press.
Monday 16 May 2011
Bat Boy is out!
At long last, it's here - my debut novel, the award-winning Bat Boy, is available to buy on Amazon.
It feels like the end of a long, loooong journey, but in the words of Mrs Carpenter, it's only just begun. I'm hoping to do some interviews and guest blogs in the coming weeks, and see where it takes us. If anyone has any marketing advice, it'd be much appreciated!
Oh, and I'm donating 25% of my first year royalties to the RNIB, who do a fantastic job providing care for the blind community. This way at least my book can do some good, even if people think it sucks :)
It feels like the end of a long, loooong journey, but in the words of Mrs Carpenter, it's only just begun. I'm hoping to do some interviews and guest blogs in the coming weeks, and see where it takes us. If anyone has any marketing advice, it'd be much appreciated!
Oh, and I'm donating 25% of my first year royalties to the RNIB, who do a fantastic job providing care for the blind community. This way at least my book can do some good, even if people think it sucks :)
Sunday 1 May 2011
Are you the Next Big Author?
Got a great idea for a novel, and waiting for an excuse to start the damn thing? May is your month.
Prospective novelist site YouWriteOn is hosting a major new comp called the Next Big Author, which aims to find and crown an exciting new literary talent. Breathe easy, cos you don't have to bash out a whole book in May - just write and post up 5,000-7,000 words before the end of the month.
Each entrant must then review competing entries in June, receiving a review of their own in return. The five highest rated entries come the end of June win a free critique from the likes of Random House and Bloomsbury.
The prize is a good one, and it's free to enter the competition, although having writers assess their competitors' work is no doubt going to lead to controversy. I wouldn't be surprised if this one descends into a popularity contest, or some entrants decide to hurt their competition by dishing out one-star reviews, with the argument that they 'didn't get it'.
Prospective novelist site YouWriteOn is hosting a major new comp called the Next Big Author, which aims to find and crown an exciting new literary talent. Breathe easy, cos you don't have to bash out a whole book in May - just write and post up 5,000-7,000 words before the end of the month.
Each entrant must then review competing entries in June, receiving a review of their own in return. The five highest rated entries come the end of June win a free critique from the likes of Random House and Bloomsbury.
The prize is a good one, and it's free to enter the competition, although having writers assess their competitors' work is no doubt going to lead to controversy. I wouldn't be surprised if this one descends into a popularity contest, or some entrants decide to hurt their competition by dishing out one-star reviews, with the argument that they 'didn't get it'.
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