News about my writing
I'm back up to
full speed and currently have a lot of projects on the go:
Part 4 of the Peace
Child series
The House on Schellberg Street as a stage play.
A non-fiction, academic book about the dark side of
children's literature.
More materials for my Schellberg
Cycle workshops. I'll be talking about this at the NAWE
conference
in November.
Various short stories.
My flash fiction collection 140 x 140 - almost finished.
A life-style book.
What was that about retirement?
Canned Stories
As you know, 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.
I've decided not to
go any further with this myself this year but rather I'll give you a recipe for
doing that yourself. First, you will
need some cans. These may not be bad:
You can of course search for a better bargain. This is the best I found in ten minutes today and compares well with the ones we used last year.
Then find your
story. Print it out. Fold it up – probably into four and pop it in the can with
one or two other goodies that relate to the story itself. I have managed to get
ten pages of script into a can this size.
Consider keeping your
works to a limited edition – maybe five copies?
Next, prepare the
labels. The title of the story should go on one side of the can. A blurb, that
to some extent mimics the list of the ingredients and other nutritional information
we have on cans of food should go on the other side.
There you have it –
your first stocking–filler – and I haven't even had my summer holiday yet.
I'll bring you
another idea next month and yet another in November.
1940s Group
I've started a Facebook
group for those of us who write about the 1940s. This group is for all
people who write about the 1940s. Fiction and non-fiction, for young and old.
Topics might then be: the Holocaust, World War II, Civilian Experience (all
sides) and the battle front. We can exchange ideas about research and
marketing. We might find our reviewers and beta-readers here. We may promote
books and stories, - the last day of every month and on launch / release day.
In particular, we might work together to make use of the many 1940s' weekends
that take place.
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. I'm actually
giving away excerpts of 140 x140
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 have 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.
Take a look at who
is already on board. http://www.gilljameswriter.eu/p/my-dream-team.html
Click on their names to find out more about them.
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.
Editing is well
under way now and many stories have now been saved to Final. We're talking
about book covers.
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 have now almost
finished 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. We are now interested in a few seasonal stories – Guy Fawkes,
autumn, Halloween, Christmas and would like to have them now so that we can schedule
them effectively. Remember, this gives you some exposure and there's always the
chance that your work might be accepted for the annual anthology.
The Best of CaféLit 6 has been produced and we're just waiting
for the proof copy. As usual we welcome reviews. I can let you have a PDF or an
e-mobi copy if you're willing to review.
On offer for CaféLit
authors is a page on our web site. See examples here. Click on the names to find out more about the authors
and to access their work. If you're a CaféLit author and would like a web page,
use the ones there to get ideas. You need to send me between 250 and 350 words about
yourself, an attractive image, a list of up to six publications, up to six
awards and up to six links. Send to gill at cafelit dot co dot uk.
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.
If you're interested in reviewing any of the above, just email
me.
Creative Café
I'm now creating merchandise
for the Creative Café project. The profit on anything you buy here goes to the
Creative Café Project. Check this out here.
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 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 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
The London Bridge House / CafeLit / Chapeltown / Red
Telephone celebration will be 2 December at the Princess of Wales again. This year
we are again “sold out” – the event is free but ticketed but it is possible to
go onto a reserve list. 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)
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
Flight of a Starling starts off with a teasing prologue. Lo has
gone but we don't know whether she has died, runaway or just left. We spend
most of the novel trying to find out. We don't really get many clues until page
221 out of 301. When we do, Lisa Heathfield poses a question to which there is
no easy answer. We return to the opening scene at the end of the novel.
Lo and Rita are sisters. They and
their family are part of a travelling circus. They are just like other young
adults, however. They wonder whether the
grass might be greener on the other side. Would it be better to live in one
town instead of moving on all the time? They fall in love. At times they are at
odds with their parents. The circus setting, however, brings a touch of the
exotic. The two girls are clever and brave trapeze artists. Every night the
performers gather around the barrel fire and set right their own world and the
world at large. The girls avoid the witch who lives on their bunk-bed ladder in
caravan Terini.
Chapter by chapter the narrative
switches between Lo and Rita. The reader needs to be alert at first. The voices
of the two girls are similar though soon their preoccupations begin to differ
so they become more recognisable.
Heathfield provides a lot of
dialogue and inner monologue which ensure that emotional closeness that is so
important in the young adult novel.
Calling all writers
I'm running an occasional series of interviews on my blog. Take
a look at my interview with Allison
Symes. If you would like to be on my
blog just answer the questions below and send them with appropriate images to
gill dot james at btinternet dot com.
Please feel free to pick and choose which of these to
answer.
- What do you write? Why this in particular?
- What got you started on writing in the first place?
- Do you have a particular routine?
- Do you have a dedicated working space?
- When did you decide you could call yourself a writer? Do you do that in fact?
- How supportive are your friends and family? Do they understand what you're doing?
- What are you most proud of in your writing?
- How do you get on with editing and research?
- Do you have any goals for the future?
- hich writers have inspired you?
Giveaway
This month I’m giving
away an e-mobi file for your Kindle of Otherwhere
and Elsewhen. 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.
Happy reading and
writing.
No comments:
Post a Comment