Wednesday 30 October 2013

Tuesday 29 October 2013

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G9ITU9O#_

This is the URL of Sarah Swainson's book 'To My Last Friend' on Amazon UK.

Saturday 26 October 2013

General Discoveries

Since beginning this blog a matter of a few days ago I'd say I've been able to find out quite a lot about self publishing, mainly through the use of twitter and following shared links posted by others. If nothing else it means all the hours this week I've spent using social media have been worth it, which is saying something...and cleverly I have bookmarked all my sources of information...

Being quite clueless about the whole issue to begin with in my mind I feel I've come quite a long way to understanding how things are...for example just because you have followers on twitter it doesn't necessarily mean you're reaching a potential audience for your future book...

My next immediate stage is proof reading and getting a trusted person to go over the draft. After that comes the challenge of formatting the eBook, but from what I've heard it should be pretty easy.

I'm also considering going to see an author at my local library on Friday...I'm hoping it will prove to be useful for me...

Just writing here as a note to myself after publishing: Find appropriate reviewers online, online blogs. I have a few bookmarked that I might approach...


Synopsis

OK, so the first draft of the short story Sarah has been writing is complete... and so I worked with her to write its synopsis:

'I did not know why I was brought into a world starved of love, but where my love was unwelcome...'

Jordan Waters, a lonely adolescent with an underlying lack of confidence, is reunited with an old school friend several years after they last parted. But whilst once again getting to know Jon, he quickly learns that the person he used to know is not all that he seemed...

This is a compelling and heart-felt short story, told with great empathy and sensitivity.

Find out what happens when illicit relationships are forged and there's no going back...

I actually found coming up with this blurb style synopsis quite difficult given the complex nature of the story telling in the draft...but here is something summing up roughly how the story will begin...

Friday 25 October 2013

Araminta Hall: Everything and Nothing (Paperback)

Araminta Hall with my bookshelves in the background
Just finished reading this by Araminta Hall in paperback. It's the sort of emotional journey I would associate reading about by the likes of Anita Shreve, Diane Chamberlain or Jodi Picoult, about a family that employs an unsuitable nanny.

Although some elements of the story might be predictable, all scenes in the book were relevant and therefore it engaged my interest to a reasonable extent throughout. The writing style also managed to conjure some interesting imagery. 

The end of the book was actually quite sad, as the nanny meets her arguably undeserved fate...

Overall I would call it an average and enjoyable read.

Sarah Swainson (Near the bus stop)
New Profile photo I took this morning...could be useful later on...

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Sleep With Me - Joanna Briscoe Review Part 1

Joanna Briscoe Sleep With Me on my Binatone 
Now here is a book I probably...most likely (Definitely) wouldn't have picked up at my local bookstore as a paperback copy. I actually found it when browsing online for cheap eBooks for under £2, and so far, as I am up to page 134 have been pleasantly surprised by the content. The style adopted by the author is erotic but also very engaging and suspenseful. Yes there is a story line to follow here which manages to incorporate the erotic side very nicely to give the reader the best of both worlds.

Not only this, but the realism regarding the characters is met with approval. They are less cliche' than most and are brilliantly described and developed throughout the first half of the book.

On a personal note, my favorite chapters are those from the point of view of Richard. I enjoy the way his intentions are expressed indirectly as it leaves some suspense for the reader.

However all still hangs in the balance. The second half will have to fulfill all the promise of the first to determine whether or not it is really a disappointing time waster... 

This is what really interests me about digital publishing. Low prices enable me to find books I wouldn't otherwise have read, and then once I've read them I can keep them - I don't have to donate them to the charity shops to make space on my shelves at home!


Hello and welcome :)

I've started this blog on behalf of my sister, who hopes to become a self published author in the coming months. It will tell the story of this journey as I gain an insight into the world of online publishing. My first step has been to borrow a load of books from my local library, and buy a magbook http://www.magbooks.com/how-to-publish-your-own-ebook , costing £6.99. This is my first investment really...

In case you're interested, I'm not entirely sure what the book is going to be about yet...( I haven't been told) except that it will be a short story of approximately 12000 words, and a drama with a tinge of a horror element within the style of writing. (As this is her usual style?).

I have all my software ready to hopefully convert her story into an eBook. I'm usually quite good at this sort of thing...so I'll see how it goes once the manuscript has been fully written and edited (Partly by myself). Then I will look into publishing through different outlets...

Other issues I'm looking at is publicity through social media...and should I really consider buying ISBNs if its going to be a big investment for me? How can I make it worth it?

I will also hopefully be sharing other relevant content, links and pictures.

Finally, any tips and advice from you would be extremely helpful as I am new to all of this and there is a lot of information to take in all at once...

Many thanks...