July 19th.
Good week last week: I’m actually making progress! Received
confirmation from my publisher that I now have the UK paperback rights to my
last two novels, Past Imperfect and The Boy from Berlin. I have completed
the edit on the first of these, and now have to embark on the daunting task of
creating a presentable book jacket. The promotion I ran for A Covert War yielded reasonable results.
I managed to sell 42 books last week, which is a huge increase for me. Naturally it’s all about getting my name out
into the market place at the moment; not just selling books.
confirmation from my publisher that I now have the UK paperback rights to my
last two novels, Past Imperfect and The Boy from Berlin. I have completed
the edit on the first of these, and now have to embark on the daunting task of
creating a presentable book jacket. The promotion I ran for A Covert War yielded reasonable results.
I managed to sell 42 books last week, which is a huge increase for me. Naturally it’s all about getting my name out
into the market place at the moment; not just selling books.
Our week began with a trip to Bath in Somerset to meet up
with our grandson, Sam, who is over from America on an internship for six
weeks. It was great to spend time with him, take him out to lunch and just be
in his company. We haven’t seen him for about six years. Monday was taken up
with a hospital appointment for me. Tuesday was the promotion day. Thursday was
different: I went along to a drop-in centre called CancerWise. This wasn’t
because of my on-going treatment, but because it was suggested to our writer
group, CHINDI, that we might be able to do something for the charity. I spoke
to the manageress and explained that essentially, we want to sell books, and it
would be a bit churlish of me to pretend that we could offer them something
when the truth is that there is an ulterior motive. So I offered to come along
to the group on my own and give a talk on the writing process, the value of
spending time doing this, using it as a therapy and anything else that might
crop up during the talk. And I would come as a writer, not as a snake oil
salesman trying to flog the CHINDI group to them. Naturally I would be happy to
do more than one chat, but then it might be reasonable of me to hope they will
buy my books.
with our grandson, Sam, who is over from America on an internship for six
weeks. It was great to spend time with him, take him out to lunch and just be
in his company. We haven’t seen him for about six years. Monday was taken up
with a hospital appointment for me. Tuesday was the promotion day. Thursday was
different: I went along to a drop-in centre called CancerWise. This wasn’t
because of my on-going treatment, but because it was suggested to our writer
group, CHINDI, that we might be able to do something for the charity. I spoke
to the manageress and explained that essentially, we want to sell books, and it
would be a bit churlish of me to pretend that we could offer them something
when the truth is that there is an ulterior motive. So I offered to come along
to the group on my own and give a talk on the writing process, the value of
spending time doing this, using it as a therapy and anything else that might
crop up during the talk. And I would come as a writer, not as a snake oil
salesman trying to flog the CHINDI group to them. Naturally I would be happy to
do more than one chat, but then it might be reasonable of me to hope they will
buy my books.
For the last four weeks, the CHINDI group have been
supported by Kim’s Bookshop in Chichester by displaying several of our books in
support of the Chichester Arts Festival. It was another way of getting our name
out to the wider public. I picked up the books and was pleased to find out that
we had sold more than half of those displayed. Maybe next year, if we do the
same again, we’ll sell all the books.
supported by Kim’s Bookshop in Chichester by displaying several of our books in
support of the Chichester Arts Festival. It was another way of getting our name
out to the wider public. I picked up the books and was pleased to find out that
we had sold more than half of those displayed. Maybe next year, if we do the
same again, we’ll sell all the books.
Tomorrow I’m off the Angel Radio in Havant (101.1 FM) for an interview. Being a local
lad, there should be something of interest in my life to prick somebody’s ears.
Naturally I’ll plug my books and the CHINDI group if I get the chance, and I
will also be leaving a copy of Past
Imperfect for them to give away as a gift. They will also be playing a selection
of music I’ve chosen from the 1950s. Should be fun. I don’t know if the
interview will be live, or recorded, but if I get a CD from them, I’ll post it
on my website. Wish me luck!
lad, there should be something of interest in my life to prick somebody’s ears.
Naturally I’ll plug my books and the CHINDI group if I get the chance, and I
will also be leaving a copy of Past
Imperfect for them to give away as a gift. They will also be playing a selection
of music I’ve chosen from the 1950s. Should be fun. I don’t know if the
interview will be live, or recorded, but if I get a CD from them, I’ll post it
on my website. Wish me luck!
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