New Life, New Books…

Hi Everyone

It’s some time since I’ve made it to these pages, most probably because in the main life has taken over and my days have been full of visiting family and friends, as well as important birthdays – the most remarkable of which has been the birth of my first grandchild. Needless to say I am overwhelmed and enthralled by her!

Like many I hope I have also been enjoying the early summer sun by being in the garden (my second love after writing) and as if this wasn’t enough I’ve also been finalising the copy for, this One Wild Place, my collection of stories to be launched in October.

With any new book published by an Indie Press, comes the daunting task of getting it out into the world, where readers can even catch sight of it, where it can compete with publications from the big six. I hesitate to use the word impossible but I think author Ali Bacon’s generous blog post about Sometimes A River Song, which she published this week, goes a long way to explaining just what we’re up against. I want to thank her for championing my book. It feels very special when another writer goes out of their way to promote your work. If you haven’t read Sometimes a River Song but would like to, you can buy it here or read reviews here

And as Ali says ‘Read it and talk – or shout – about it. That way it will get the attention it deserves and which the smaller fry of the publishing world can’t afford to buy. While you’re at it take a look at the other things Linen Press has to offer, nip across to Louise Walters Books or Inspired Quill or search for ‘small presses’ or indie publishers’. You may find some very nice surprises.’

I’m really grateful for this support but also to be published at all in these times – my editor at Linen Press tells me she is inundated with submissions.

Final catch up news – the work I supported with North Pens Writers Group which resulted in a film produced from their writing, by Lonely Tower Film & Media, has now been anthologised in a beautiful book with stunning photographs – Our Isolated Dale – more of that to come… in the meantime happy summer days, and go carefully…