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| Now out of plaster, thank goodness. |
News about my writing
I'm pleased to say that my arm is now out of plaster and making
good progress. I've now cooked, baked and ironed successfully. My typing speed is
back up. I still can't drive though and won't dare until my right arm is
thoroughly reliable. So there's still a lot of desk time but I'm beginning to
get out a bit more.
Canned Stories
I talked a little
about this last month. My ideas are firming up on this and I'll be putting out
a call for submissions soon. Thank you to those of you who've given me ideas. I
see some interesting stocking fillers emerging.
I originally got
this idea from the Ministry of Stories
where they sold limited editions of stories by well-known writers. I adapted
this to use with my creative writing students at the Create Festival at the University of Salford
last year. These were limited editions – five copies of each story. It's another
interesting way of publishing.
.
Patreon
I’m selling some
of my work via Patreon. You can find details
here. As the name suggests, you
would in effect become a patron. I think I’m offering real value for money,
with something for both readers and writers. And you can take both if you
happen to be both. Check it out if you’re
interested.
Dreamteam
My Dream Team of
reviewers and beta–readers and for my publishing and self-publishing projects, editors,
proof-readers, illustrators and designers is beginning to take shape.
This is a personal recommendation. Initially I intend to use
my Dream Team a lot myself but gradually I would add in people that friends and
friends of friends had recommended.
What happens?
You sign up to a mail list and every time a request comes in
we mail it out to you or the enquirer contacts you directly via my web site. The
conversation then carries on between you and the person making the request. You
may also have a page set up on my blog and you may update that once a
year.
Interested? You may sign up for more than one category.
Beta readers sign up here.
Reviewers sign up here.
Editors sign up here.
Illustrators sign up here.
Designers sign up here.
Proof-readers sing
up here.
DO REMEMBER THAT
AT ANY TIME YOU’RE APPROACHED AND YOU’RE BUSY IT’S PERFECTLY FINE TO SAY NO.
Bridge House
We have now finished reading the entries for Gliterary Tales. There were a few more submissions this year
and some very good writing. And what with my broken arm and Debz moving houses
we were a little delayed.
The standard was
very high this time and we've had to reject some very publishable stories but
I've encouraged those writers to submit to CaféLit or consider one of our single author
collections. See below.
Here is the list of
writers and stories, in no particular order, that have been offered a slot in Gliterary Tales:
The Stuff off Fairytales L.G. Flannigan
Storm in a Teacup Deborah Rickard
The Party's Over Sharon Zjadman
Pictures in an exhibition Stuart Larner
To wish upon a star Paula R C readman
Snow Storm Catrin Kean
The Crystal Gazer Cathy Leonard
Silt Christopher Bowles
Self-Improvement Michael O Connor
The Lone Valley Clare Weze
The Litter in the Glitter Linda
Flynn
Pamb Bwark Glitter Chick Dianne Stadhams
A little Bit of Sparkle Liz
Cox
A very Unseelie Act:Kate
Lowe
All that Glitters
Theresa Sainsbury
The Girl Who Sings for her Supper A J
Humphrey
Brighter than Jewels Gail
Aldwin
Her Coronet Weeds
Yasmina Floyer
Kitsune David
Trebus
Magpie Sally
Angell
Following the Thread
Dianne Stadhams
Footwork Mary
Bevan
Moe L F Roth
Note, we are one
short as one writer has withdrawn and we're still waiting for the next on the list
to reply.
We’re getting plenty
of interest in our single-author collections. These are for authors we’ve
published before and they may include stories we’ve already published, ones
they’ve had published elsewhere and new ones. The description for this is now
on the web site. We’ve already had some enquiries and we’re currently working
on several anthologies. You may
recycle stories we’ve already included in another anthology, and you may reedit
these if you wish. You may also add in new stories. We’re aiming at a total
word count of between 30,000 and 70,000 words.
If you’re interested in this, contact me here.
Already in progress are collections by Paul Bradley, Phyllis
Burton, Jesse Falzoi, Dawn Knox, Jenny Palmer, Dianne Stadhams and Paul
Williams.
We now working on
edits of Citizens of Nowhere, with
the theme of the global citizen. We’re commissioned just over half of the work
from known authors and there has been room for a few open submissions.
CafeLit
Remember, we’re
always open to submissions. Find out how here. I’ve
been encouraging my students to submit. I’m beginning to see some of their work
appearing. I've now made the selection for The Best of Café Lit 6. Here it is:
Janet Bunce An
Alternative Halloween
Bite Marks
Alan Cadman Let it
Snow
Patsy Collins Walk a
Mile
Helen Combe Have You
Seen My Wife?
Schrödinger's Data
Stick
Hannah Constance Confessional
David Deanshaw Shadow
Alyson Faye Treasure
Hunt
Linda Flynn Poppy, a
Puppy for Remembrance
Wake Up Call
Angela Haffenden Emphereal
Michael Hennessy In
Deep
Jasmin L. Jackson Push
Vicky Jacobson Ruby's
Luck
Gill James All Things
Wise and Wonderful
Predictive Text
Recognition
Lloyd Jenkinson Pirates'
Island
Dawn Knox Christmas on
the High Street
The Queen's Labour
Still No Room at the Inn
Wishing Well
Helen Laycock Pumpkin Soup with a Dash of Magic
Roger Noons Clean
Breaks
Performance
Resolutions
That Friday Night
Sport for Fun
Stuart Page Play Fair
Jenny Palmer The
Visitors
James Phillips Cider
and Chalk
Z. L. Porter Elvis's
Son
Paula R C Readman Chimes at Midnight
Penny Rogers Green for
Danger
Allison Symes Pressing
the Flesh
Alun Williams Chalk
Lisa Williams An
Affair in A-Z
Milk Snatcher
Ruby
Robin Wrigley Dinner
for One
The Best of CaféLit 5 is still available. There are some lovely
stories in this. I’m very pleased that I have a story in this collection. Order
your copy here.
Again we need more
reviews for this. Have you read them? Could you write us a review? And again,
I’m offering free copies as PDFs or e-mobi files.
Chapeltown
Neil Cambell’s Fog
Lane is out now. Again, reviewers very welcome. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fog-Lane-Neil-Campbell/dp/1910542083/ I can get the e-mobi or a PDF to you if
you're willing to review.
Christopher Bowles' Spectrum,
a challenging but very satisfying read. Again reviews welcome. We've not
yet done a Kindle version of this as the layout is challenging and getting
e-mobi technology to behave is testing all of our resources. I can send you a
PDF. Be warned: there is some adult material in this. There is also a lot of
beautiful writing. If you would like to buy the book, see details here.
Chapeltown has now
successfully published its first picture book. Colin Wyatt’s Who will be my friend? – is a delightful story about friendship and
accepting others. Yes, Colin is Debz’s dad. He is a Disney licensed illustrator
and his previous publication is The Jet Set. We feel very
honoured to be publishing him.
The book is out now and available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Will-Be-My-Friend/dp/1910542121/
Reviews welcome. We can provide the
PDF.
We’re very pleased with this book and now aim to publish
more picture books. We're working on an illustrated book by Philippa Rae and
we've offered two more contracts for picture books.
Creative Café
We’re always
looking for new cafés. If you visit one
of the cafés in the project
and would like to write a review of between 250 and 350 words – nice, too, to
have a couple of pictures – send it to me here.
Do the same if you find a new café.
I’m now sending out welcome letters to each new café that’s
added. This will also offer them the opportunity to join the mailing list.
I’m also now proactively encouraging cafes to stock The Best of CaféLit. Do you know anyone who
might like to stock it? We can offer a 35% discount to retailers. Query gill at
cafelit dot co dot uk.
The Red Telephone
I am now working
on Richard Bradburn’s Evernrood.
Our mentoring
programme is now full. I’m now working quite closely with three very different
authors: Charlotte Comley, Dianne Stadhams, and Nina Wadcock. They are all
presenting some fascinating material. University of Salford graduates Lauren
Hopes and Christian Leah have also joined our happy band.
Book tours
If you’re a Bridge House / Red Telephone / CaféLit / Chapeltown
author and you want to get serious about book tours, consider our author’s kit.
We provide twenty or so books (exact number is up for negotiation) you take to
the bookshop and the bookshop can put these through the till. We then invoice
the bookshop, with a 35% discount for any sold and top up your supply to
twenty. At the end of the tour you can either pay for the remaining books at
cost + 10% or keep them until you’ve sold them and then pay the normal price of
75% of RRP. The latter can in any case be set against royalties. You need to
allow at least ten days between events. Contact me here if you’re interested
in this.
School Visits
I’m proactively promoting my school visits associated with The House on Schellberg Street
project. I’ve now developed a whole workshop for this. It starts off with a
board game, includes some role play and creative writing and ends with a
discussion.
Costs= travel expenses plus £400 for a full day and £200 for
a half day. This includes all materials and some freebies. Two schools near to
each other might consider splitting the day and halving the travel expenses and
fees. This is open to negotiation in any case.
I also offer a free half day visit, though you pay my travel
expenses, if you allow me to promote my books.
I’m also continuously adding materials for schools to the
site that are different from the ones I use for the workshops. I’ve recently
added in resources and books to do with the topic. See them here:
Query for a school visit here.
I’m also happy to tailor a visit for your agreed donation.
This can be for either a Schellberg Cycle
visit or a creative writing workshop. Any monies raised this way will go
specifically to a project I have for a non-fiction book about a journey that
will follow the footsteps of Clara
Lehrs. I’m hoping to do the whole journey by train, including departing via
my nearest Metrolink station. It’s important to feel the rails beneath my
feet.
I offer as well standard
author visits which include readings from my books, Q & A sessions and
creative writing exercises.
It is now also possible to purchase the kit to work on on
your own. Find details here.
Please remember, with these as well, I’m open to negotiation
if you can’t afford the full price.
Upcoming events
Note also for your diary: the London Bridge House / CafeLit
/ Chapeltown / Red Telephone celebration will be 2 December at the Princess of Wales again. Last year
we “sold out” – the event is free but ticketed. We shall have:
- general mingling
- cash bar
- an opportunity to buy lunch
- an opportunity to buy books at an advantageous rate
- “speed-dating” where you get to speak to as many people as possible in the room i.e. promote yourself to readers, swap tips with other writers
- author readings
- latest news from me
- collection for a local charity
- big book swap (bring one of your other titles and take something else home – hopefully all will be reviewed. If you bring a non-writing friend they can just bring a book they love)
This has now been released to everyone who has been
published in 2017. 31 out of 50 tickets are already "sold". I'll be
releasing it to the whole of the Bridge House Authors list on Friday. Not a
Bridge House author yet? But you'd like to become one and get an invite to the event?
Sign up for that mailing list here.
Writing opportunities
Remember I keep a
full list of vetted opportunities on my writing
blog. See them here. New
ones are added several times a day. Roughly once a month I go through it and
take out all of the out of date ones. At that point I send it out to a list. If
you would like to be on that list, sign up here.
Current reading recommendations
I've recently read
a volume of very short stories by one of our own writers, Dawn Knox. She has put
together an impressive collection of 100 stories each exactly 100 words long,
each about the Great War. Read my full review here.
Giveaway
This month I’m
giving away an e-mobi file for your Kindle of On This Day Download here.
You will also find
in this dropbox:
·
An
extract from Clara’s Story
·
Some
seminars for schools about The House on
Schellberg Street
·
Some
fiction writing exercises
·
The
opening chapters from my manual for writing the young adult novel
Note, that normally my books and the books supplied by the imprints I
manage, sell for anything form £0.99 to £10.99, with most on Kindle being about
£2.99 and the average price for paperback being £7.00. We have to allow our
writers to make a living. But we’re offering these free samples so that you can
try before you buy.
Current reading recommendations
I've recently read
a volume of very short stories by one of our own writers, Dawn Knox. She has put
together an impressive collection of 100 stories each exactly 100 words long, every
one about the Great War. Read my full review here.
Happy reading and
writing.
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