Sunday, 5 October 2014

September Newsletter



The new academic year has started and we’re very busy pointing students to where they need to be. Several of our new first years are making a point of coming to my office or stopping me in the street to tell me how much they’re enjoying their course. This is fabulous. Let’s hope we can keep on working in such a way that they will be able to keep on enjoying their study. We’re watching with some excitement too the new building that we hope to move into in January 2016.      
     

Books

I’ve now finished Clara’s Story.  I’ve started Girl in a Smart Uniform. I spent a very pleasant Thursday afternoon in one of my creative cafés with a pot of camomile tea, a rum slice and a notebook sketching out the plot .   
I’m now sending my text book, Writing Novels for Young Adults out to publishers. I’ve started my next non-fiction work – Not Just Fluffy Bunnies. It’s about how children’s literature is actually quite dark. I’m at the stage of reading what others have written on the topic.  I hope to start writing in about a month’s time.   

CafeLit

The Best of CafeLit 2013 is about to be printed. I’ve just proof-read it. I’m in a different frame of mind when I’m proof-reading but it is one that allows me to read the work as if for the first time.  I’m pleased with what I read. It reassures me that we are right to carry on with this publication.           

 

School visits

I’m continuing to offer free promotional visits to schools but am restricting this to the first twelve schools to respond for academic year 2104-2015. These visits are up to 90 minutes long and are focussed on my books.
I’ll say straight away that authors should be paid for school visits, but these free ones are actually part of the work I do at the university.
I’ll do readings for 14+ of Veiled Dreams, Scum Bag, Spooking, Fibbin’ Archie and The Peace Child Trilogy (The Prophecy, Babel, The Tower) a short question and answer session and a creative writing exercise for your class. For primary children there are Jason’s Crystal, The Lombardy Grotto and Kiters. Read more about my books here. There are of course also my stories in various anthologies. All other visits are at the rates suggested by the Society of Authors. Schools can mix and match these visits. I do ask that travel expenses are covered.     
I’m offering visits and talks specifically about my The House on Schellberg Street project for a donation towards the project. I’ve devised a whole interactive workshop for this. The book is now out and selling steadily. It would be a real asset for any school teaching the Holocaust at Key Stage 3. Even if a school can’t afford a donation, I’d be happy to run the project. 
Query for a school visit here.

Bridge House
We’ve selected our thought-provoking stories for our 2014 anthology. Now, we’ve finished editing and are putting the book together.

Bridge House, Red Telephone and CafeLit Celebration 6 December
We’re inviting writers for all three imprints to come along and join us on 6 December at the Theodor Bullfrog pub, John Adam Street, London. This is handily near to Charing Cross and Embankment tube stations. It’s £15.00 a head to include lunch and one drink from the bar. There will be the chance to network, meet other authors and editors, find out what else we’re looking for, hear some of our authors read and find out what you need to do to be published by Bridge House. Sign up here. Friends and family welcome.     

 

Creative Café

I’m steadily bringing new cafés into the project and I’m always on the lookout for more. So, if you know of one, do get in touch.  More and more people are now engaging with the project. Take a look here. I’m also looking for more articles on Writers in Cafés – see what’s involved here.       

 

The Red Telephone

We’re still working on marketing Shanta Everington’s XY. You can still join in the online launch here. She is still also running a very successful blog tour.
 Cyan Brodie’s, Dream Girl is going through the final stages of editing and will be out shortly.
I’m delighted to report also that we have signed Kathy Dunn for her The Demon Magician. This has a fast-paced plot and some delightful characters.
   

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