Haunting cover designed by Adam at Cinnamon Press
Nine years ago I celebrated the publication of my first novel in Waterstones, Leamington Spa. Cinnamon Press, my publisher, is a small, independent press and like many similar presses it has needed to diversify to survive. On a dark, miserable evening in November I waited for Waterstones to open to friends who wanted to celebrate with me. Jan Fortune, the publisher, introduced my novel with great style .We celebrated with wine and juice. As Liz Berry would say, ‘We were off.’
All I had to do was greet people and read a passage from the book to show potential readers what it was about. Poet,Nigel Hutchinson, took the male parts. Our different voices made quite an impact.
Not everyone likes historical novels, not all my friends are regular readers. I was and remain grateful to those who did read it. Noreen, a friend from the pub, whose eyesight was failing, read it at home by the aid of a bright lamp at the side of her chair. John from the gym who gave me advice as to how Ellen might hide a pistol on her person, was the first to arrive at the attend the launch. Years later, stranger told me how much she enjoyed the novel.
I’ve received helpful advice about what works and what doesn’t about that novel. Some readers don’t comment; I’m curious as to why, but maybe that’s as well.
The event took place on the first floor surrounded, as was appropriate, by many, many books. On our way up we passed piles of Monty Don’s Nigel:My Family and other Dogs. I’m an amateur gardener and still watch Monty’s programmes, but if I needed to learn marketing expertise from a pro’, that display was it!
During the years between publication and the Covid Pandemic, I promoted my novel: local bookshops, Waterstones in Birmingham with two other Cinnamon Press writers, U3A courses, Warwick History Festival, Stratford Literary festival where I could sell my novel alongside those of other writers.
Display in Warwick books – Writers and readers are always welcomed there.
After the Pandemic I became discouraged with trying to market it. I mentioned to a friend that I was going to donate spare copies of the novel to the tip. She was horrified.
Instead, I bought a table at South Warwickshire Literary festival in September this year, so I could sell the novel. I had some success! A writing friend and I had previously arranged to talk about our writing lives at Rugby Literary Festival. Ticket sales were initially poor. Would the event go ahead? It did.
I and my friend enjoyed preparing and sharing our different experiences of writing. I remembered my excitement at being published, the positive reviews. The ups and downs of the writer’s life. Of our lives.
Reading: I did a five week, Long Short Story course on Zoom run by Helen Cross. I particularly enjoyed BrokeBack Mountain – Annie Proulx. I’d seen the film but not read the story. It was superbly written – clever and moving. The Embassy of Cambodia – Zadie Smith. I didn’t know Zadie Smith wrote short stories so I’m pleased I was pointed in that direction.
I finished the non-fiction book about the Beatles, being particularly interested in their early years as I lived in Chorley, Lancashire, at the time. The words of their songs were more interesting than I’d realised. I’d previously enjoyed the beat, the emotions but became fascinated by Ian Leslie’s interpretation of how they came to be written.
Jenn Ashworth’s The Parallel Path was recommended. In it she writes… ‘The body of the Northerner… (erroneously) … never feels the cold and is capable of running all day on a bowl of porridge and half a cup of strong tea.’ That quote made me smile. Jenn walks the Coast to Coast path, in touch by daily postcards from an old friend. Down-to-earth and inspiring.
I love the writing of Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything. For me it’s easy to read and makes me smile.
Poetry wise, I dip into 44 poems on Being with Each Other, Pennine Platform and Reach. Also Jonathan Davidson’s monthly newsletter of poems he’s used during the month. There are usually a couple I’m glad I’ve read.
And a treat. I went on a writing retreat: A Place to Write. Nic Brownlie is the tutor, his wife Wendy provides home made food and comfy rooms in which to work. I went to read through the 3rd draft of my latest novel in the company of other writers.
View from A Place to Write. It was built in a former quarry so stunning autumn views
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