Books - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I'm a writer, I'm also a reader.

 

My reading time is precious, I'm an inpatient and belligerent reader. I have a full time job, a house with a husband and needy old cat in it and a side business as an Authorpreneur, I use my reading time wisely.

I read slowly, consuming and digesting every word, reading a book for me is a marathon rather than a sprint. The most I can manage is usually one or two books a month (woeful, I know!).

What all this means is that I am insufferably intolerant of books that don't move me, excite me or grab me by the throat and pin me to a chair.




Here are a selection of the Good, Bad and Ugly of books I've read:

The Good

1) The Labyrinth of Osiris, by Paul Sussman

As a writer, Paul Sussman can do no wrong. I've loved all of his books, I'm not embarrassed to admit that his work has been a huge influence on my own books:


Here's my review on Goodreads. I gave it 4 stars as there was a dip in the middle where it slowed down and I found myself skimming, but it soon picked up again.

The Labyrinth of Osiris by Paul Sussman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've just finished reading this book. It's the only book I've ever read that has made me cry. Partly grieving for a character that dies at the end and partly mourning the fact that this is the last book Paul Sussman ever wrote. (It's so embarrassing sat on a bus trying to hide the fact you're crying)

View all my reviews

 2) The Winter Ghosts, by Kate Mosse

I'm a big fan of Kate's work. She's the only well known female author in the same genre as my own work and again, her writing style definitely influences mine. I'd like to be able to paint such delicate pictures as she does with words. I'm still honing my writing craft, which still daubs stuff on the page to create impact.

Here's my review of this book on Goodreads. A few words were enough:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6450212-the-winter-ghosts

The 'Bad'

I would never be so unkind as to describe a book as 'bad', hence the quotation marks. This  book wasn't bad, it just didn't hold my attention and I gave up on it.

Watchman, Ian Rankin


Watchman by Ian Rankin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started with promise but I just couldn't relate to the main character. I also got tired of all the mid chapter head hopping. I gave up half way through.




View all my reviews




The 'Ugly'

The word 'ugly' is open to interpretation here.

 Eyewitness, by Stephen Leather


I loved this book and was hooked from page 1. I've classified it as 'ugly' for the horrific and disturbing issues explored in the book. 

 
Here's my review on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1260985.The_Eyewitness

Tweet: The anatomy of a great read has 3 essential elements  

For me, the anatomy of a great read has 3 essential elements:

1) A Light Touch of the Brush
The writing must be simple, accessible with clever metaphors. Less is more when it comes to words - I have no patience for long flowery sentences that are pretty but say very little. I'm not interested in pretentious displays of a writer's vocabulary.

2) Engaging Characters
Characters need to have depth and a vivid identity. I want them to keep me guessing and I want them to move me in some way, even if that way is revulsion.

I recently watched the fantastic Spanish historic drama series, 'Isabel' about the reign of Queen Isabel I of Castille.

 
When an especially nasty character was killed off near the end (I won't say who, I wouldn't want to spoil it) I cheered at the TV.

3) A Great Story
Above all, there must an absorbing and action packed story. 
When I say 'action' I don't just mean shoot outs and explosions (although these are good), I mean; emotional and physical action, pace, intrigue and lots of meaty layers to get stuck into. I invest so much effort into reading, it needs to sate me. 

What turns you on or off when it comes to books?

Shh...The Secret to Successful Marketing

In 2014 I completed a 365 day project:

Operation Author: 

365 Actions to Becoming a Successful Author

  This year I have a new project, building on the last:

The Authorpreneur Almanac:

365 Adventures in Writing and Entrepreneurship

I had some successes and some...not so!

What's the Secret to Successful Marketing?

Have you noticed how when you spot something or hear about it, that it keeps cropping up? You find yourself saying something like; “That’s weird, I just heard about that the other day.” It’s known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon.

Our brains are hard wired to recognise patterns because this helps us to learn. Considering how many words, names and ideas we are exposed to each day it’s not surprising that our brains prioritise things that come up frequently. We mentally categorise things that don’t come up regularly as less important or uninteresting and therefore more likely to be ignored.
This is where marketers and advertisers cash in.
 

In my experience, the secret to successful marketing is little and often. It is very much a process of attrition and trial an error. 

Some things work well for some of us and don't work for others, but don't be put off, the more people see you and recognise you, the more chance that you'll stay in their mind so that when they do make a buying decision, all you need to do is give them a nudge.






Here are my top 3 Good, Bad and Ugly marketing actions from 2014

The Good

These actions really worked for me:

 1) Crowdfunding
This was a whole campaign, rather than 1 action, but having a sustained campaign for a fixed period and the input of others helped me to raise enough money to pay for some professional input during the crucial editing phase of Solomon's Secrets

 


2) Mini Manuscripts
People seem to enjoy these little handmade books that I have been leaving randomly wherever I go. If I can make someone smile with one of these funny little novelties and move them enough for them to Tweet back, that pleases me!

 

3) Interview on BBC Radio Bristol
I was really excited about being invited onto the Steve Yabsley lunchtime show

Here's a transcript for the interview:
http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/a-face-for-radio.html

The Bad

These actions didn't work, I had very little response from them. That doesn't necessarily mean that they may not work for you, perhaps you could put a different spin on it?

1) Offering free eBooks in exchange for a review
I foolishly thought this would be enticing for people - who doesn't want a free book? But I didn't get a single enquiry or even a retweet. Back to square 1!

2) Missionly publicist listing
I listed a job for a student to come and help me with publicity - I didn't get any responses. I'm going to have to think of another approach for a skills swap.

3) Recording the prologue to Solomon's Secrets
I've put this under 'bad' because it sounds way better in my head than in my actual voice!
http://amymorse.co.uk/SoundCloud.html

The Ugly

I'm using 'ugly' fairly loosely here - these actions were a clumsy, embarrassing or crude and had varying degrees of success:

1) Putting out Calls for Guest blogs
I've had varying degrees of success with this approach which is why I classify it as 'ugly'. Sometimes people respond on Twitter, sometimes LinkedIn groups. The direct approach has severed me best. Finding people who fascinate me, engaging with them and then asking. It can be a slow burn but the results pay off.

2) I put a call out on Twitter for reviews and got some rather curt and cutting remarks back - not pretty, oops :-S

3) Bad reviews
When I published my first book, The Bronze Box in 2013 it was a bit of an experiment, just to see if I could do it. 





I didn't expect it to be as widely bought and read as it was and reviews exposed some shortcomings in the editing of the first edition. 

In 2014 I released a second edition. 

This is the biggest problem with trying to do it all yourself and relying on favours from people. In future, as with Solomon's Secrets, I'll take care to pay for some professional editing input!


And here's a bonus - these were the really Great Actions from Operation Author...

A big Thank You for four fantastic guest blogs from fellow wordsmiths who generously supplied their wisdom for your consumption:


Marc Guberti
www.marcguberti.com
@MarcGuberti

http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/the-wisdom-and-enthusiasm-of-youth-3_3.html

Anita MacCallum

@loud_word

louder-than-words.co  

http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/know-yourself-know-your-brand-who-is.html

Donna Marie Oldfield

@donnamoldfield

http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/no-writing-is-ever-wasted-and-other.html

Marla Madison

@MarlaAMadison

http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/top-ten-tips-for-independent-author.html

What worked well for you in 2014 and what are you planning to do in 2015?

A little literary diversion - Chapter 1: Gabriel's Game

My theme for 2015 is 

The Authorpreneur Almanac:

365 Adventures in Writing and Entrepreneurship

Tips, ideas, inspiration and features for writers who are also entrepreneurs aka Authorpreneur's

I've had several lovely people tell me that they've read Solomon's Secrets, were hooked and now want to read the next one. 

Well, I'm afraid I'm still writing the next book, Gabriel's Game. 


Gabriel's Game will be two books in one. The first novella is; 

Gabriel's Game, Part 1: The White Queen 

I estimate it will be published around Easter 2015.

The second novella will be;  

Gabriel's Game, Part 2: The Black Knight 

Estimated for completion in 2016   

But it is horrible having to wait for something, so here's a special treat for you. It's only the first draft, so may change a little, but here is the first chapter of 

Gabriel's Game, Part 1: The White Queen 

 

Nicosia, August 2014

Clive Owen as Tom Sheridan (source: www.flickr.com)

Tom Sheridan pushed himself from the chair and shook his legs out, wrung his hands, rolled his shoulders and made for the window.

Sat for hours, he’d slept there last night, only got up once to go to the bathroom and drink a bland vending machine coffee from a polystyrene cup.

At the window, he could feel the heat of the day building and filtering in through the blinds. He twiddled the plastic pole and the louvers opened, painting stripes of warm daylight across the bedroom. He squinted against the brightness, yawned and rubbed his chin, scratching at three days’ worth of growth. He ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his hands through it, ruffling it, it felt sweaty and heavy on his scalp. Everything felt heavy.

The chemical stench of the hospital seeped into his skin, he looked away from the view over the dusty car park and looked down at himself. He sniffed and turned his nose up, “Ew!” his own body odour masked by the stench of sickness in the air.

These last days had been a haze. His life, such as it had been, was on hold. He’d come back to Cyprus as soon as the doctor called, flown in on the first available flight. The doctor had said she’d regained consciousness briefly and asked one question; ‘Where’s Tom?’

He shook his leaden limbs out with a deep sigh and looked back across the room. A few seconds to breathe, then time to resume his vigil.

She hadn’t moved. The blue waffle blanket continued to lift and fall steadily, the low regular beep of machinery always in the background, white noise, he hardly noticed its rhythm. It had been constant and steady since he’d arrived from London - it was a good thing, it meant her condition was stable.

Tendrils of wires and tubes trussed her into the bed, her mass of blonde curls spilling out over the pillows, taking root, part of the machine. 
He crossed the room, her features frozen in time. As he approached, her eyelids flickered. He hesitated, immobilised by the sudden change. A change so minute he questioned whether he’d imagined it. Closer, he dragged the chair to the bed, fell into it and shuffled forwards, a mounting sadness raking up his throat. Slumping over, he rested his head on the folds of the blanket and it let it loll against her hip.

Moisture blurred his vision. Tears gathered on his lashes and swelled in his throat. A globe rolled down his cheek, traced a path around his jaw.

“I’m so sorry, Sasha,” he mumbled.

More tears chased the first. He swept them aside, swallowed them back. This wasn’t the time, he had to focus. He had work to do and an impossible choice to make.

Despite getting plenty of sleep, he was weary, his strength fading, anxiety and despair sapping his energy. His eyes drifted closed and he breathed in the residue of her familiar smell, nuzzling his face against her, a pet seeking affection. He wanted to feel close to her, to connect to her silent body, to know that she was still in there, fighting. Always fighting.

He was jolted awake by something knocking his shin. He glanced down, it was his rucksack. Whatever he decided, the tools of his trade were all in there.

Should he run? Should he carry out his orders? Should he take her with him?

My Characters  

I'm sure many writers picture particular actors when they imagine their characters. If you can imagine who might play your hero's and heroine's if your story ever became a movie, it can be a really helpful way to describe the way your characters talk, move and carry themselves. 

When I imagine Tom Sheridan, I see Clive Owen.

I find it useful to have a Pinterest board of all the actors in my stories open on one screen as I write on the other. 

If my latest book, Gabriel's Game, ever were made into a movie this cast list would be amazing!

  Follow Amy Morse's board Gabriel's Game: Characters on Pinterest.