BBC is the Way to Go

Publishers don't want to know. Literary agents don't want to know. Which way can a new author turn to get their work out there? Well, with the demise of Rain Publishing, I've decided to send Cromarty Biggs Powder Monkey to the BBC in script form as a television serial. They may like it, they may not, but nothing ventured nothing gained. I did put it out via Lulu.com, but pulled it, because it didn't have a picture for the cover. I need to save up and perhaps self-publish properly as my own publishing company.

I'm not downhearted, because I know people have enjoyed reading it; someone's even selling a copy on amazon.co.uk for nearly £30, so someone has recognised that it may be collectable!? As mentioned above, perhaps the route to take now is through another branch of the media and gain recognition for the book that way.

Olympia Publishers

I've heard back from the publishers I mentioned. Their name is Olympia Publishers and they liked my work. However, they demanded a contribution of £3,700 to help pay towards the costs of publishing, yet they insisted they weren't vanity publishers!!!! Stay well clear of them is my advice.

So, the hunt continues. I've contacted several literary agents via email, as its pretty expensive printing off sample chapters to send to all and sundry. Surely in this day and age of communicating through cyberspace, paperless, environmentally-friendly emails should be the norm? Also, email allows you to check out contacts across the globe. Some of the messages in the rejections have been heartening, but I'm still searching for that needle in a haystack that will be a contract from a literary agent or a publisher.

Wish me luck!

Waiting For News

I've sent the manuscripts for Cromarty Biggs Powder Monkey and In Search of the Beast to a publisher here in the UK and am waiting for news. With Rain Publishing out of action for a while, this is an opportunity for my work to be put into the UK marketplace by a British publisher. The obvious advantage is that, being resident in the UK, I'll be able to meet with the publisher as and when required, and also attend any function necessary to market the books. They've had the manuscripts for about two weeks so I should hear something within the next month or so, but it's nerve-wracking waiting for their verdict.

I'm thankful to Rain Publishing for giving me the opportunity to show that my work is publishable, but I think it's now time for it to be seen on a wider front; the object of the exercise is to hopefully give me the chance of changing careers and be able to take up writing full time. As soon as the publisher gets back to me, I'll post it here.

Added a Bookshop to the Website

I've added a "bookshop" to my website which allows payment via Paypal, so people can now buy my book through one more outlet. However, in order to see if it works, I need someone to buy one through my site; any guinea pigs out there?

Hmmmm!

Its very unfortunate to hear that Rain Publishing are to cease trading temporarily whilst Tilly fights her illness. We all wish her well and hope she gets well very soon. In the meantime, she has graciously reverted all rights to my work to me to allow me to search for another publisher/literary agent to promote my work. I have a few irons in the fire and, hopefully, something positive will avail itself in the not too distant future. One aspect of all this is that, if Cromarty Biggs Powder Monkey becomes a roaring success, the copies published by Rain Publishing will become very collectable.

That's all for now as I've emails to send and publishers to woo. On that note, if any publishers would like to see an example of my work with a view to publishing it, please feel free to take a look on http://www.rainbooks.com/ or http://stuartrivers.webs.com/.

Sales

Since receiving the consignment of books from Rain Publishing, I've managed to sell a few! Its not in the realms of Harry Potter numbers, but it shows that there is an interest out there - I've just got to find time in my busy schedule to go out there and take every opportunity I can to get people interested and have them part with their hard-earned cash! In that regard, emails will be winging their way to prospective hosts for book signing events so, who knows, I may be appearing at a bookshop near you.

It won't be long before my next book, In Search of the Beast, hits the shelves as its due out in May 2008. A stablemate for Cromarty may help both books to find an audience. I don't have a front cover picture yet, but, as soon as do, I'll post it online to show you what it'll look like.

HM Customs & Excise

There've been a few sticking points in me receiving copies of my novel from Rain Publishing. They being in Canada and me being in the UK, there is the case of a substantial amount of water to cross before I can receive copies to use for marketing purposes. If that wasn't enough, HM Customs & Excise found issues with this simple process and kept returning the parcels to Burlington, Ontario. I'm glad to say, though, that through the sterling efforts of all those at Rain Publishing, HM Customs & Excise have now allowed me delivery of my consignment of books and I can now start to distribute copies to those of my colleagues who've expressed an interest, and arrange for a book signing event in the near future.

In the meantime, anyone who has a story to tell can subscibe to Rain Publishing's forthcoming writer's workshop (details below).

10 Week On Line-Writers Workshop
Monday April 14 2008 to June 16 2008



Rain Publishing Inc. Writers Workshop

This workshop is for writers 18 years of age and older. In order to participate, you need to register via email to rychlyn at rainbooks dot com The fee for this workshop is $30.00- space is limited, and registration closes March 15 2008.
First, please be aware that our concern for author's rights means that this workshop is not for stories about someone else's characters or settings; our goal is to help equip you to be able to see your own stories published; professionally, if possible.
Rain Publishing Writers Workshop Course outline.
Weeks One to Three: Script and Fiction writing.
Hosts, Dick Cooper and Jim Melvin
Weeks Four to Six; Young Adult and Children picture book writing
Hosts; Stuart Rivers, L.P. Chase, Jeff Yosick
Week Seven; Poetry
Host: Krissy Brady
Weeks Eight to Ten: Trade publishing in today’s marketplace
Host, Tilly Rivers, CEO, Rain Publishing Inc.
April 14 2008, Host: Richard (Dick) Cooper
Complete author bio available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cooper
Author of #3 on the Ottawa On, best sellers list “Jukebox”
Former college professor for script writing
Former member of “The Cooper Brothers” 70’s rock band
Course: Script Writing Basics

April 21, and April 28 2008; Host: Jim Melvin
Complete author bio available at; www.deathwizardchronicles.blogspot.com
Author of “The Death Wizard Chronicles” six book epic fantasy series
Former award winning journalist for The St. Petersburg Times
1) The art of pacing and rhythm: using different-length paragraphs, sentences, and even sentence fragments to create rhythm and contrast, which in turn creates tension and drama.2) The subtle art of weaving literary techniques such as theme, symbolism, foreshadowing, and figurative language between the lines of your writing. (This would be for more advanced writers.)

May 5 2008; Host Stuart Rivers
Complete author bio available at: http://www.authorsden.com/stuartjrivers
Author of “Cromarty Biggs, Powder Monkey”
Author of “In Search of the Beast”
Course: Writing for children 12+

May 12 2008: Host Jeff Yosick
Complete author bio available at: www.jyosick.com
Children’s book Author and public speaker
Madison’s Special Dolly, Timmy and the Storm, Bryanna and the Sand, When Daddy Comes Home, One Penny One Hope, Running the Race
Course: Unlocking the imagination in children today.

May 26 2008; Host LP Chase
Complete author bio available at www.lpchasebooks.com
Middle School, children’s picture book author
Public speaker/ presenter for school boards
Author of The Elliot Stone Series,, Silly Spoon, I’m Not Sticky

June 2 2008; Host Krissy Brady
Complete author bio available at; www.krissybrady.com
Former editor of Brady Magazine
Current owner of Just Jones Marketing
Author of Tidal Wave
Course: Poetry Basics

June 9, 16 and 23 2008; Host Tilly Rivers
CEO, of trade publishing house Rain Publishing Inc.
CEO, of Rain Enterprises
Course: Trade publishing in today’s marketplace.

Open Discussions on Writing, you can discuss all kinds of questions on writing. Feel free to join in any current discussion, to resurrect any old discussion, or to start a new discussion on writing.
In the Writers Workshop there will be an assignments for each week assigned and designed by the hosts. Each assignment will be critiqued by the host, and posted on the open discussion forum for fellow student feedback.
The purpose of feedback is to help the author complete the assignment into the most efficient and effective vehicle for conveying the story to the reader. Only "constructive criticism" will be allowed.
For more information, and registeration email rychlyn at rainbooks dot com.

I'm looking forward to being involved with this event and will keep you posted on developments.

I haven't posted many Blogs, mainly because I'm busy working full time on shift work and then spending free time with my family. My second book is due out in May 2008 and, in anticipation of this event, Rain Publishing have made my first novel (Cromarty Biggs Powder Monkey) the featured book on their website.

I'm going to be involved with a seminar that will be hosted online by Rain Publishing; my input will be to advise writers on writing for the teenager/young adult market. This is very exciting as it may open other avenues for my own writing. I would really like to write full time and not have the bother of working for anyone else (Rain Publishing excepted of course!).

I'm a third of the way writing my third novel and will hopefully have a manuscript ready by the end of the summer. In that respect, I'll sign off now and get hard at work.