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Self-Publishing

A Day in the Life: Kathleen Jowitt on writing, self-publishing and validation

There are many reasons why I’m delighted to welcome Kathleen Jowitt to my blog, but the biggest and best of those is that her Novel Speak Its Name (2016) was the first self-published novel ever shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize. Previous winners include Zadie Smith, Hari Kunzru and David Szalay.  Kathleen was born in Winchester and…
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Behind the Book: The story behind Life in a Hospice: reflections on caring for the dying

This week, Virtual Book Club is taking a break and I’m handing over to Ann Richardson. Ann has worked as a social researcher most of her working life, writing books, articles and reports from interviews with ordinary people about specific health and social care problems. Most of this writing was addressed to professionals working in…
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Virtual Book Club: Lorraine Devon Wilke

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Lorraine Devon Wilke to Virtual Book Club, a series in which I put questions to authors about their latest releases. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, you’ll have the opportunity to post your questions at the end. Lorraine Devon Wilke – writer, photographer, singer and songwriter – started…
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Think You’re Ready to Self-publish Your First Book? Stop and Read This.

When I go out and speak to writers on the subject of self-publishing, I am often asked if there is a quick and easy guide that covers every aspect of the process. Jessica Bell has just supplied me with an answer. Jessica is an Australian novelist, poet, and singer/songwriter/guitarist who lives in Athens, Greece. In…
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A Day in the Life: Meet author Debbie Young

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Debbie Young to A Day in the Life, a series in which I put questions to authors about their writing lives. Debbie is perhaps best known for her role within the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). She is Commissioning Editor of their self-publishing advice blog, and the co-author, with Dan…
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Virtual Book Club: Meet A M Cridland, author of Nathan and Alex

Today, I’m delighted to welcome A M Cridland to Virtual Book Club, a series in which I put questions to authors about their latest releases and their writing lives. Don’t forget that if there’s anything you would like to know, you’ll have the opportunity at the end. Antonia is a keen artist with a love of…
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Independent Bookshop Opens Doors to Independent Authors

Foyles Charing Cross Road to Host Indie Author Fair 2015

Foyles on London’s Charing Cross Road, is playing host to The Indie Author Fair (IAF) on Friday 17th April 2015. Part of the London Book Fair Indie Author Fringe Festival, run by The Alliance of Independent Authors/Indie ReCon, the fair is organised by Triskele Books and sponsored by XPO North. After the success of IAF…
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Guest Post: by featured author Orna Ross

Why I write

Orna Ross describes herself as a conscious creativist, a term she coined to describe those who apply the creative process to all aspects of life. She writes and publishes novels, poems and the Go Creative! books and is Founder/Director of the not-for-profit, global association for author-publishers, The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). The Bookseller has…
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Who says that librarians are scary?

A myth-busting exercise at Redhill Library

Having previously failed to convince Surrey libraries to stock my self-published titles, I was delighted to be invited to Redhill to talk to a packed room of librarians and key influencers. But, whilst my intention was to bust a few myths, I was also interested to learn about the obstacles as they see them. If the publishing…
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A Glimpse Inside my Rejections Folder

Early in my writing career I was given some excellent advice: develop the skin of a rhino. And at no time have I found this advice more valuable than during the tortuous submissions process. ‘The literary industry – agents, editors, media arbiters of taste, publishers – forms a chain of filters that takes raw fiction, cuts…
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