Don’t forget your holiday reading prescription
I went to a party on Friday night and was in great demand. Flattering, but normal this time of year, when people get the chance to do some full-on reading – not just the snatched 10 pages before sleep kicks in of the rest of the year.
Two friends with different reading needs were both after the books that they would feel repaid the effort of a week’s holiday. There’s nothing more dispiriting than having spent good money and alloted good time, only to be fed up by page 20.
But what suits one person won’t suit another. My ability to remember titles and authors was a little fuzzy after a few glasses of wine, so I spent a good twenty minutes waving crossly and randomly in the air – trying to recall just the right book.
Given all that effort, I thought I’d share it with a few more readers in case anyone else was looking for the perfect reading prescription. Feel free to ask for your own personalised version!
continue reading »August 8, 2012 Leave a comment
A year of living with a Kindle – statistics
I had an attack of organisation today and got my tax return in early. One of the joys of being self-employed is that I can legitimately claim the cost of all the books I buy as an expense.
In previous years I’ve simply dug out all my receipts. I got my Kindle for my birthday last April so my Kindle purchases started in the tax year just gone. And it threw up some interesting numbers.
continue reading »July 24, 2012 Leave a comment
Happy Summer Kindle
I’ve taken my Kindle away for a two week holiday. It was back in April, but that was our big holiday for the year, and I have some thoughts on how it works as a holiday reading tool.
It’s the big selling point isn’t it? That you can leave all those heavy bulky books at home and just take one light device, with enough reading to last you a lifetime. So was it a perfect experience? Well yes – and no.
continue reading »July 3, 2012 Leave a comment
The Wolf Princess – dreamy adventure for children
I’ve been reading a lot of work by authors who are trying to write for the 8-12 year old market recently, so when I noticed some Twitter buzz about THE WOLF PRINCESS by Cathryn Constable, I asked for a proof from publishers Chicken House. It won’t be published until October, so sorry to whet your appetite so early!
It arrived in a gauze bag, with sparkly purple ‘diamonds’. The Daughter was thrilled. I spent a lot of time picking them up from the floor…
As it attracted The Daughter’s attention, I thought I’d let her read it first. She’s nine, good at reading but not that interested in it, and has devoured Harry Potter, Enid Blyton, and is having Philip Pullman read aloud to her at the moment. In her words, here is her review:
continue reading »July 2, 2012 Leave a comment
How important is money in books?
Musing still further on the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY phenomenon it has occurred to me that the female readers may be less interested in Christian Grey’s Red Room, and more interested in his Black Amex.
continue reading »June 20, 2012 Leave a comment
If it keeps up this rain – you’re going to need this list..
Before I went away at Easter, I loaded up my Kindle with about 40 books. I read most of them – despite the fact we had a fantastically sunny and warm holiday. It’s just what I do. It rains – I read. It’s sunny – I read.
It’s coming up to summer holiday time now though, and I know a lot of you will be looking for a few books to take away with you, either in book form, or as an e-book. I’m going to do a small series of reviews on what I read on my holiday. Feel free to add your own thoughts to these reviews if you’ve read the books too!
Before I get started, just a quick reminder about 50 Shades of Grey. There will be a lot of people reading this and the sequels. If you want to know what I thought of it, click here. And remember. Not one to leave around for your children to browse through..
June 11, 2012 Leave a comment
50 shades of potential
You’d have to be tied up in a velvet-lined dungeon not to have heard the publishing buzz over FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and its two sequels. Initially published online as ‘fan-fic’ – fan fiction – the author got picked up by Random House, and the books have been squatting at the top of the bestseller list for a few weeks now.
continue reading »May 19, 2012 Leave a comment
Exploitation or Service?
Peter Cox – founder of the Redhammer literary agency and author-support resource, has a blistering article in this week’s Bookseller, accusing publishers and others of creating a ‘slushpile industry’. I’ve quoted him in italics.
‘Our industry appears to have declared open season on the naïve, sometimes gullible hopes of aspiring writers. It’s the Wild West out there, and someone has to say that much of what is happening now is simply not right.’
continue reading »May 14, 2012 Leave a comment
I’ve been distracted but I’m all geared up for Cybher now
Holidays, a significant birthday, some horrendous computer hiccups and a nasty cold have all contributed to a lack of posts. I’m going to get back in to a more regular blogging routine, so look out for a run-down on that coming soon.
Meanwhile, tomorrow is the excellent Cybher bloggers’ conference, and I am delighted to be running one of the afternoon seminars, using ‘freaky mentalist’ Violet Fenn from the Skull Illusion as my guinea-pig. I was rather surprised to be described as ‘Chic’ though. After Sian meets me, she’ll be reconsidering that categorisation…
continue reading »May 11, 2012 Leave a comment
See you at the London Book Fair?
I shall be at the London Book Fair this year with the lovely Louise Jordan from the Writers’ Advice Centre. Louise helps authors who are writing for children with editorial advice, and I do some work with her.
We will both be available to give advice on book ideas if you come by – and Louise also lays on a nice sandwich lunch at her stall. Her stall number is EC1 – stand number A490. You’ll need to email her to grab a slot on the day.
I will also be offering a LBF special for authors writing for adults – find me to get a discount code.
April 2, 2012 Leave a comment