Anyone who regularly reads this blog may have noticed that wherever possible I generally avoid the subject of my daily experiences as a writer. I've done the odd piece on things like e-book formatting, hopefully to pass on to others any useful stuff I've discovered about the process. But to be fair, I can't really imagine that anyone would desperately want to know what's been sloshing around in my addled brain from day to day. Honestly, would anyone really be interested to learn that on Wednesday last I took the unusual step of adding a teaspoon of sugar to my morning coffee because I'd got to bed slightly later than usual the night before, was therefore feeling slightly tired and in desperate need of a carb boost? Or, is it at all feasible that anyone might be with child (as they may have put it in the late 18th century) to hear that I took a walk and returned my wife's library book last Thursday? If there is anyone out there who would like me to expand on either of the two preceding questions, then I suggest they immediately write themselves a prescription "I must take more fun daily!".
The truth is that I haven't done very much in the past week or so that I'd consider particularly thrilling to share. The snow and cold snap of a week ago seems to have left us now. I saw some newly-born lambs when I drove over to Penshurst with Jude, tails frenetically wagging as they fed. Is it possible to pass a field with new born lambs and not go 'Ahh!'? We invited Jude's brother Jonny and his wife Pam over for a lovely Sunday lunch. Now that's an important thing, to make sure you keep in touch with and see whenever possible the people you care about - especially crucial as time passes. Sorry, just realised we ate a leg of lamb! Mmmm! (I am wheat and lactose intolerant so it would be very hard to be vegetarian).
I've spent most of my weekdays going through the final proof copies I had back from my generous readers, and then went on to format the print version of Roadrage. Once again we plan to use Biddles who are based in Norfolk to do the printing - they did a tremendous job for us with N & H. Roadrage is a very different book, still a thriller and still hopefully 'thrilling' but without any supernatural shenanigans; it will also have a slightly less traditional look and feel about its pages. Again we've opted for trade paperback (Airport) size. This is because after doing the maths it's really the only viable option for us as independent publishers. It's really important to us that our books are pleasurable to hold and look at (and read too of course!). Let's face it, the ebook is four times cheaper to buy, it contains exactly the same words, but if you're like me, nothing compares with holding a nice, fat, lovely book in your hands!
I'm very fortunate that my son Tom is doing the cover for me again as he did for Niedermayer & Hart. I may be biased, but I think it's wonderful. He's gone for a photographic image this time in contrast to the original watercolour of Valle Crucis Abbey (his own) that graced the cover of N & H. I hope to give you a preview shortly. At the moment we're still making last minute adjustments and changing bits of the 'blurb'. Now that's a subject that can make me tear my remaining hair out - writing 'blurbs'! How can 150 words possibly demand quite so much attention and cause so much frowning and shaking of the head?
So, print version complete, I have finally emerged from formatting hell - I embark upon the e-version tomorrow!
The truth is that I haven't done very much in the past week or so that I'd consider particularly thrilling to share. The snow and cold snap of a week ago seems to have left us now. I saw some newly-born lambs when I drove over to Penshurst with Jude, tails frenetically wagging as they fed. Is it possible to pass a field with new born lambs and not go 'Ahh!'? We invited Jude's brother Jonny and his wife Pam over for a lovely Sunday lunch. Now that's an important thing, to make sure you keep in touch with and see whenever possible the people you care about - especially crucial as time passes. Sorry, just realised we ate a leg of lamb! Mmmm! (I am wheat and lactose intolerant so it would be very hard to be vegetarian).
I've spent most of my weekdays going through the final proof copies I had back from my generous readers, and then went on to format the print version of Roadrage. Once again we plan to use Biddles who are based in Norfolk to do the printing - they did a tremendous job for us with N & H. Roadrage is a very different book, still a thriller and still hopefully 'thrilling' but without any supernatural shenanigans; it will also have a slightly less traditional look and feel about its pages. Again we've opted for trade paperback (Airport) size. This is because after doing the maths it's really the only viable option for us as independent publishers. It's really important to us that our books are pleasurable to hold and look at (and read too of course!). Let's face it, the ebook is four times cheaper to buy, it contains exactly the same words, but if you're like me, nothing compares with holding a nice, fat, lovely book in your hands!
I'm very fortunate that my son Tom is doing the cover for me again as he did for Niedermayer & Hart. I may be biased, but I think it's wonderful. He's gone for a photographic image this time in contrast to the original watercolour of Valle Crucis Abbey (his own) that graced the cover of N & H. I hope to give you a preview shortly. At the moment we're still making last minute adjustments and changing bits of the 'blurb'. Now that's a subject that can make me tear my remaining hair out - writing 'blurbs'! How can 150 words possibly demand quite so much attention and cause so much frowning and shaking of the head?
So, print version complete, I have finally emerged from formatting hell - I embark upon the e-version tomorrow!
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