A Bevvy of Bookish Blogs

For the last few weeks my 365 Adventures in Writing and Entrepreneurship... 

 

2015 is Authorpreneur Almanac 

...has been consumed with the craft of writing.

I am on the organising committee for Bristol Festival of Literature and I am in the final stages of writing the last book in the Sheridan and Blake Adventure Series - Gabriel's Game, Part 2: The Black Knight.

The Sheridan and Blake Adventure Series

 Gabriel's Game, Part 2: The Black Knight 

I'm aiming to have this book out by Christmas. It will be the last in the Sheridan and Blake Adventure series before I move on to the next project.

I'm in the final stages of the first draft. Here's the book blurb:

Gabriel's Game, Part 1: The White Queen

 
 

Is available now on Amazon

This is the first part of the book and I would recommend reading this before the next book. Get it now and read it in time for Part 2 to come out.

If you are new to this series of books I recommend at least reading Solomon's Secrets first. This is the second book in the series but stands on it's own.



Ideally you'll start with the first book, The Bronze Box


I've written a big chunk of the book during an August 31 day writing marathon.

Here's a blog post on 30 Days to First Draft

  

Bristol Festival of Literature

We've successfully completed a crowdfund to raise some money for this years events with a great local crowdfund startup, Fundsurfer.

I am hosting one of the events, a 2 day writing and book extravaganza, Bristol Book Bazaar.

17th and 18th of October, at the Bristol Green Capital LAB space on the harbourside



Day 1: The Writers Craft.  
Day 2: The Business of Writing

Meet local writers, discover what motivates them and get a great new read. Be inspired by a series of talks from writing, publishing and business professionals including: Tangent Books, Silverwood Books, Amy Morse, Lucienne Boyce and Ken Elkes among others.

 This week Lucienne has written a guest blog on how to research your historic fiction 'Imagination in the Archives'

 Find out more about Bristol Festival of Literature HERE

Last week I hosted a guest post by an audio marketing expert, Viv Oyolu. She interviewed me about my writing and my Authorpreneur business and shared some tips on my blog to re-purpose Podcasts for writers

You can hear my author interview HERE

A freebie and a case of the sniffles

This week my seven actions for...

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming A Successful Author

...have been somewhat hampered by the onset of a nasty cold that's left me a in a snotty, barely-able-to-function, thick-headed mess.

My first action is a follow up from last week.

I published a post specifically to encourage people to take up the offer of the free eBook: http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/get-your-free-ebook-here-now.html

Calling all bookaholics:

Would you like a free eBook in exchange for a review?

If you're looking for something new to read and would like to help an indie author out, email me: amy@tomcatdesigns.co.uk

This offer expires 31st October 2014 - so hurry!
  
My second action is to tweet lots of eBook tweeters and promoters to spread the word

My third action was to have a go at writing the blurb for the next book in the Sheridan and Blake Adventure series.

It will be one book, made up of two novellas:



Gabriel's Game, Part 1: The White Queen



Gabriel's Game, Part 2: The Back Knight

The titles are a nod to the first book, The Bronze Box, in which White Queen is a code name for my heroine, Sasha Blake and Black Knight is a code name for my hero, Tom Sheridan when they arrange to rendezvous at a giant chess set in Amsterdam.

Source: http://www.waymarking.com/

Book Blurb for Gabriel's Game, part 1: The White Queen

Book Blurb for Gabriel's Game, part 2: The Black Knight

I've already started collecting research links on a Pinterst board for Gabriel's Game, with links for both parts of the book.



I used these blurbs for my fourth action.

I am going to do NaNoWriMo again this year and hope to get a good chunk of both books written in a month.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo: NaNoWriMo.org) is an annual event where writers are encouraged to write a novel (50,000 words) in the month of November.

I've set up my profile ready to go on the the 1st November.

Here's my page: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/amycm/novels/gabriel-s-game

My fifth action was going to a critique meeting with other writers and getting feedback on a short story about the heroine of my books, Sasha Blake. I'm now doing further research and re-writes. I'll publish it on here when it's ready.

My sixth action was to write a feature on my top 10 tips for a crowdfund for Fundsurfer's blog. I'll share it when it's published

My final action this week has been setting up an interview for BBC Radio Bristol. It'll be taking place on Friday 14th November at 12:30pm. I've enjoyed the other radio interviews I've done for community radio stations and excited about entering the hallowed halls of the BBC office in Bristol.

Back to reading a book with a mug of hot lemon and honey on hand

Book ordering and beerhouses

This week my seven actions for...

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A Successful Author

...have been related to the final stages in the process of getting Solomon's Secrets complete and ready to publish.

My first action has been continuing to read through the final proof and I have rewritten a few scenes as a result of the editorial report. 

It's now finally finished - Hoorah!

My second action has been uploading it onto Amazon for review.

My third action was to order copies of the book - they'll be delivered mid October.

My fourth action has been to put an update on the crowdfund marking this milestone and explaining what happens next.
 

https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/independently-publishing-solomons-secrets/update/its-alive-the-creature-lives

My fifth action was going to a start up drinks networking event. I took flyers with me and talked about my writing to several people there.


I left one of my mini manuscripts at the Engine Shed, where the event was being held and have had 2 tweets from people who've found it there.

My sixth action was booking the venue for my launch party. 

The event will be on the evening of Saturday 22nd November at the Bavarian Beerhouse. 


Get in touch if you'd like to come to the...

Solomon's Secrets Launch Event Treasure Hunt.

I added an image to the Fundsurfer update about the idea behind the treasure hunt

My seventh action this week has been making contact with other writers to write a guest post for me. The fabulous Donna Marie Oldfield has come through for me an sent me a guest post on balancing the time you need to write with the time it takes to do book marketing. I'll publish the post mid-week, so look out for it.

Unleash the hermit and progressing towards publication

Another bumper crop of two weeks worth of tips and ideas for 

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A Successful Author

I was on holiday in Bulgaria last week and didn't have access to the internet. There was something very freeing about dropping off the radar for a week. The world didn't end because I couldn't pick up emails or tweets!

My 14 actions are a bit of a blur so I'm going to round them up as two weeks of activities instead.

Our week abroad allowed me to embrace my inner hermit and use her as a force for creativity. 

That week, all of my actions were writing notes, ideas, bits for books and streams of consciousness. 


I wrote them on scraps of paper and coloured card and when I got back, I bound them together in a book made from fabric scraps:

My top tip from that week: 

Escape for a while and just write. Write anything and everything and don't self edit.

The only other action from that week;

While shopping for souvenirs I saw this awesome box that I had to buy. I plan to use it to lock a prize inside for the treasure hunt launch event that I'm planning.

 
This week, my seven actions have been:

Action 1: 
I've been giving some thought to what I'd like to do for my launch event for Solomon's Secrets.

I don't want to do the usual book launch where people mill around a book shop with a glass of wine, I want a proper party.

I originally wanted to use the crowdfund to raise money to run a spectacular event with music and actors and all sorts, but realistically, I'm going to go for something smaller scale and lower budget!

I made some notes while in Bulgaria that are now stitched up in the little book pictured.

My plan is:
Sometime in November, date TBC. We gather in the function room of one of the bars around the old town of Bristol UK. Everyone will get a set of clues leading them to 3 further watering holes in the vicinity. At each location will be a little box of keys. We split up and have an hour to visit the 3 locations. Everyone takes one key at each location and returns to base, therefore each person will have 3 keys and 3 chances at the prize. Whoever has the key to the box gets the prize inside. 

Action 2:
I've started writing out the plans in more detail for the Solomon's Secrets launch party.  I've been researching the history of some of the bars in that area and forming some clues for the treasure hunt.

Action 3:
I published a great guest post from Marla Madison this week:  
http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/top-ten-tips-for-independent-author.html

Thanks Marla, you're a legend!
 
Action 4:
I've been spreading the word that I'm looking for other guest posts for this blog. I've started discussions on LinkedIn and tweeted writers, whose work interests me, directly to ask them. I now have a few emails to send out to willing participants

Action 5:
I had a telephone meeting for a feedback and advice session with the literary consultant that I sent sample chapters of Solomon's Secrets too, Lucy from Arc Editorial & Literary Consultancy in Bristol.

The key points on her report were about more character development in these early chapters and more description of the locations. 

Great advice and a really useful process. After this experience I'd never consider self publishing again without some professional support, especially after my first attempt with The Bronze Box.

Action 6:
I received the latest proof copy of Solomon's and I'm now working through it based on the advice from Lucy. I have a lot of work to do and will need to look at my schedule at work and book some time off so I can get this book out and ready by the end of October, which is my current planned timetable.

Action 7:
I published an update on the Fundsurfer page, briefing all my backers

 
I also emailed those who asked for a copy of The Bronze Box as a reward from the crowdfund. 

When we returned to work following our holiday in Bulgaria there was the beautiful sight of a great big box full of copies of the 2nd edition of The Bronze Box waiting for me.


Bonus little fact here that gave me a boost:

I did some research about the state of the publishing and book industry and found a really useful Cobweb Information factsheet  for novelists.

170,000 books were published in the UK in 2012 and this figure has risen since.

More that half of all the books published in the UK sell fewer than 200 copies. 

I've sold almost 900 copies of The Bronze Box, and that makes me happy.

Bumper Crop of 14 Marketing Actions for Writers

I must get out of this habit of doing 14 actions in a post. My excuse for not updating my 365 day project; Operation Author: 365 Actions To Becoming a Successful Author - is that I was on holiday in Portugal last weekend. 

We had a lush time Dolphin watching, kayaking and just chilling out.

Most of my actions for the past two weeks have been related to the completion of my crowdfund.

After a last minute push I reached my target.

3 days left at this point

This is my first action. Pictures of me looking pathetic seemed to work!

My only action while I was in Portugal was to write the Solomon's Secrets hashtag on the wall of a pub!







Action 3:
Another action was to contact all of the fabulous people who supported my crowdfund and update them.

In the end, having taken off the pledges for the event that didn't go ahead, I had much less than the £1000 I asked for.  But it does mean I have some options. I'll publish with Amazon, as before, but look at other ways to get some copies print on demand and I can pay for a professional copy edit.

Action 4:
My next action is to put a call out:

Can anyone recommend a good copy editor, preferably in Bristol, UK?

Action 5:
I met with Olly at Fundsurfer to talk about the end of my campaign and what comes next. They are going to keep the publicity going, their first author to successfully complete a fund is a great good news story for them. But I have work to do too...

Action 6:
I drew up a spreadsheet of publications where Fundsurfer could send a press release to and sent that across. Fingers crossed something will be published in one of the literary, writers and / or business publications that we're targeting.

It's great to have professionals draw up the piece and to be working in partnership with them by supplying information. 

For me, one of the biggest things that is making a difference to this 365 project is reaching out to others and boosting my platform by spring boarding off others. 

My advice to any writers out there looking to grow their audience - get help. 

You can only do so much on your own - but whatever you do, don't be tempted to delegate all of the marketing to someone else. Think of it as a partnership and by working with others you can promote them too. Always give back.

I've been busily promoting what Fundsurfer do to anyone interested in crowdfunding because it's been such a positive experience for me, even though I didn't raise enough money to publish with Silverwood books, which is a shame. Maybe the next book!

Action 7:
With that in mind, I gave a talk at North Bristol Writers group about crowdfunding. They are planning to crowdfund the publication of their short story anthology.

Action 8:
I also gave a talk at a women's networking event in Bristol, The Queens Power Lunch. I met some great people and ate some fantastic Caribbean food. 

I went partly to talk about my work with Outset, supporting local businesses, but to my delight, they were more interested in my books. I talked about both The Bronze Box and Solomon's Secrets. I also talked about my experience of crowdfunding.

Action 9:
At the lunch I also caught up with the fabulous Rachael Gelndinning of Bristol Prospectus and she has invited me to contribute. I'd love to contribute to this site, I need to get writing.

Action 10:
I've been playing with video and audio recently and have some partial projects on the go, including some sort of book trailer. 

Here's something I recoded previously, where I talk about the books, that I may or may not use in the future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ui7N8C19_k

Action 11:
I sent a news piece to Linda Parkinson-Hardman for her Women on the Edge of Reality blog about my crowdfund. She has featured me previously on a Thursday Throng Interview and has supported my crowdfund too. She's an awesome lady!

Action 12:
I asked an upholsterers in Bristol if they had any leather offcuts and they sold me a lovely piece of leather that I've been using for mark 2 of my mini manuscripts. I enjoyed the experiment last time and got a tweet from someone but this time I wanted to make them look more like real old manuscripts instead

 

Action 13:
I went out and about in Bristol and left these in various places. 

Look out for them around Easton and Stokes Croft in particular. I've already had a tweet from one lovely person - Thank you Alice Matthews - I get so excited when people get in touch, it makes it all seem worthwhile!

Action 14:
I'm going to get some flyers professionally printed and went into Sebright. I hope to be able to pick them up next week and start distributing them. 

Thanks to everyone who's helped me get this far.

What marketing actions have worked for you recently?