Saturday, 30 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
The Magical Addiction of Publishing
When I opened the letter from my publisher notifying me that they wanted to publish my first novel, I literally leapt up and bounced around the living room in ectasy. It was the moment I had been waiting for as long as I could remember. That one second when your life long dream comes true. Naturally, ambition and hard work had got me that far, but even so, it felt like the world was smiling at me.
Publishing is an interesting business, and one you cannot possibly comprehend until you join it fully. I knew nothing about the world of publishing when the contract for 'Beneath The Daisies' was signed. I learnt, quickly. I learnt the various stages a book goes through when production commences. I learnt that the proof reader could be wrong, and that the editor was not necessarily going to say, "yes, I love your book, I don't want to change a single thing!" Life is never that straight forward.
Proof readers and editors, agents and graphics teams are all on your side, even if you don't realise it at the time! Everyone is looking for the best result, the final product, the finished book. By the time I started the round again with 'Distant Shadows', I was wiser and the whole thing felt smoother. Knowledge is a wonderful thing!
I tend to think of the production of the printed book like a conveyor belt. First, it is added to the publishers computer system. Let's gloss over the editor stage as this can vary considerably from book to book. Secondly, the proof reader reads through and marks the margins with comments, spellings, suggestions, and generally any thoughts they have whilst reading it. Thirdly, the marked manuscript is sent to the author for agreement/disagreement. This processs is repeated, the first round of changes being implemented, and then the proof reader has another go... When the revised manuscript arrives back for the second time, the author must ensure they are happy with it. This may be the last opportunity to make adjustments to the text within the covers.
The final stage of the production is the book jacket or cover as some people prefer to call it. Once the cover illustration and text is agreed between author and publisher, it goes to print... This is the final and most exciting stage, partly because as the author the job is finally completed, and partly because the release is drawing close.
Life as an author is sometimes a surreal thing. When you receive your personal complimentary copies, it's as if someone has handed you a bar of gold. It really is beyond words, which is never a good thing for an author to admit to!
The publishing industry, like most businesses these days, runs on a cut throat scale. Every book must turn its profit and make its mark on the world, but here, the world of publishing ends and that of promotion, marketing and PR commences. This is an entirely new venture for most authors. By nature, most authors are quiet thinking types. By nature, advertisers and people belonging to the world of promotion, are not. This means that authors have to learn how to market their work, how to promote and advertise it. Let's skip back to the safer domain of publishing for a moment and you'll see what I mean...
A publisher is an animal of the modern business sphere. Every publisher must compete with every other. Every book must compete with others in its genre. Every author must write another book better than the first. It's a tough world but one people can't help but fall in love with. Now there's an unusual ending for a crime writer!
Jayne-Marie Barker
Author
www.jaynemariebarker.com
Publishing is an interesting business, and one you cannot possibly comprehend until you join it fully. I knew nothing about the world of publishing when the contract for 'Beneath The Daisies' was signed. I learnt, quickly. I learnt the various stages a book goes through when production commences. I learnt that the proof reader could be wrong, and that the editor was not necessarily going to say, "yes, I love your book, I don't want to change a single thing!" Life is never that straight forward.
Proof readers and editors, agents and graphics teams are all on your side, even if you don't realise it at the time! Everyone is looking for the best result, the final product, the finished book. By the time I started the round again with 'Distant Shadows', I was wiser and the whole thing felt smoother. Knowledge is a wonderful thing!
I tend to think of the production of the printed book like a conveyor belt. First, it is added to the publishers computer system. Let's gloss over the editor stage as this can vary considerably from book to book. Secondly, the proof reader reads through and marks the margins with comments, spellings, suggestions, and generally any thoughts they have whilst reading it. Thirdly, the marked manuscript is sent to the author for agreement/disagreement. This processs is repeated, the first round of changes being implemented, and then the proof reader has another go... When the revised manuscript arrives back for the second time, the author must ensure they are happy with it. This may be the last opportunity to make adjustments to the text within the covers.
The final stage of the production is the book jacket or cover as some people prefer to call it. Once the cover illustration and text is agreed between author and publisher, it goes to print... This is the final and most exciting stage, partly because as the author the job is finally completed, and partly because the release is drawing close.
Life as an author is sometimes a surreal thing. When you receive your personal complimentary copies, it's as if someone has handed you a bar of gold. It really is beyond words, which is never a good thing for an author to admit to!
The publishing industry, like most businesses these days, runs on a cut throat scale. Every book must turn its profit and make its mark on the world, but here, the world of publishing ends and that of promotion, marketing and PR commences. This is an entirely new venture for most authors. By nature, most authors are quiet thinking types. By nature, advertisers and people belonging to the world of promotion, are not. This means that authors have to learn how to market their work, how to promote and advertise it. Let's skip back to the safer domain of publishing for a moment and you'll see what I mean...
A publisher is an animal of the modern business sphere. Every publisher must compete with every other. Every book must compete with others in its genre. Every author must write another book better than the first. It's a tough world but one people can't help but fall in love with. Now there's an unusual ending for a crime writer!
Jayne-Marie Barker
Author
www.jaynemariebarker.com
Saturday, 12 January 2013
The Mystery of Plotting
Earlier this week a friend of mine admitted to a secret desire to write a novel, and sought my advice on plotting. My friend had written the story into a corner, the direct result of poor planning. It's an easy mistake to make, one I've made myself in the past. The fingers are keen to put the words on the page - or screen I should say - but first the foundation work must be carried out. I explained to my friend that it was like building a house. You can't start building the part that everybody sees until you've laid the foundations...
Plotting a novel has been a mystery to many but the lucky few for as long as I can remember, and will probably remain that way for years to come. Let me let you into a little secret... there isn't a magic spell, the writers on the shelves of your favourite book shop or library do not have special powers. There isn't an invisible night school where you slip away into the ether and wizards in long robes reveal the deep dark secrets of how to plot a novel... in truth there is no right way to construct a novel, you have to find a path that suits your own writing methods.
From a personal viewpoint I plan my novels quite thoroughly. I break down the story and compile a list of events. Once I have this for the main plot I repeat the exercise for the sub-plot(s) and then weave all lines into one neat line. Now for the fun part... What I have actually constructed is the story in strict date order, but that isn't necessarily the order I want to reveal the story to the reader. If you prefer you could write the events on post-it notes or cards and move them around on a tabletop... it's the same thing really.
But now... to the mystery of plotting a mystery novel. The art of plotting is the same for all books irrespective of their genre, but in a mystery there is need to tell the story in a certain way. All good mysteries reveal the information like a drip, slowly and steadily. As the reader it's my humble opinion that you want the information but it's more interesting if not everything is taken at face value, or rather you do take it at face value and then realise (hopefully close to the climax) that there was a subtle clue behind the details given. One point is vital - the reader must have a fair chance at solving the mystery - just as your main sleuth does. It would be highly unfair to produce an identical twin or new character nobody had heard of right before the end, and for that character to turn out to be the killer. Fairs fair, you must play by the rules if you want to retain your reader.
So, the art of plotting a mystery novel then. Take the usual plotting guidelines but spend extra time on the order of revealtion. Think about the pace of the novel and apply the order that best fits the uncovering mystery and furthers the story whilst keeping the plotline moving and the reader on the edge of their seat!
The above is only my opinion based on experience and personal belief. If you're a writer hoping to pen your novel this year then I wish you the very best of luck finding a path that works for you. If you're a reader then sit back and enjoy!
Plotting a novel has been a mystery to many but the lucky few for as long as I can remember, and will probably remain that way for years to come. Let me let you into a little secret... there isn't a magic spell, the writers on the shelves of your favourite book shop or library do not have special powers. There isn't an invisible night school where you slip away into the ether and wizards in long robes reveal the deep dark secrets of how to plot a novel... in truth there is no right way to construct a novel, you have to find a path that suits your own writing methods.
From a personal viewpoint I plan my novels quite thoroughly. I break down the story and compile a list of events. Once I have this for the main plot I repeat the exercise for the sub-plot(s) and then weave all lines into one neat line. Now for the fun part... What I have actually constructed is the story in strict date order, but that isn't necessarily the order I want to reveal the story to the reader. If you prefer you could write the events on post-it notes or cards and move them around on a tabletop... it's the same thing really.
But now... to the mystery of plotting a mystery novel. The art of plotting is the same for all books irrespective of their genre, but in a mystery there is need to tell the story in a certain way. All good mysteries reveal the information like a drip, slowly and steadily. As the reader it's my humble opinion that you want the information but it's more interesting if not everything is taken at face value, or rather you do take it at face value and then realise (hopefully close to the climax) that there was a subtle clue behind the details given. One point is vital - the reader must have a fair chance at solving the mystery - just as your main sleuth does. It would be highly unfair to produce an identical twin or new character nobody had heard of right before the end, and for that character to turn out to be the killer. Fairs fair, you must play by the rules if you want to retain your reader.
So, the art of plotting a mystery novel then. Take the usual plotting guidelines but spend extra time on the order of revealtion. Think about the pace of the novel and apply the order that best fits the uncovering mystery and furthers the story whilst keeping the plotline moving and the reader on the edge of their seat!
The above is only my opinion based on experience and personal belief. If you're a writer hoping to pen your novel this year then I wish you the very best of luck finding a path that works for you. If you're a reader then sit back and enjoy!
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Distant Shadows - Interview
Author interview http://h1t.it/SWhgG1
Interview trailer http://youtu.be/yApnwLEbAms
Interview on National Author Interviews Examiner column http://h1t.it/T8KVIw
Interview trailer http://youtu.be/yApnwLEbAms
Interview on National Author Interviews Examiner column http://h1t.it/T8KVIw
Saturday, 15 December 2012
'Murder At Mansfield Park' - Lynn Shepherd
I opened 'Murder At Mansfield Park' with two thoughts...
1) I could really like this. I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen and anything remotely linked to the classical authoress should be right up my street.
2) I could really hate this. Anything that alters the text of the brilliant Jane Austen could really annoy me. Surely she is too special for anyone to toy with her work...
Fortunately, I found I loved Lynn's edition of 'Murder At Mansfield Park'. It held me captive from the first to the last word. For those of you who haven't read it, I will try not to give too much of the plot away, but some of it is as per the original so feel I can mention that.
The main character of the original text, Fanny Price, is altered in Lynn's edition. This adjusted personality gives the novel new opportunities and Lynn grabs these with carefully crafted skill. Mary Crawford and her brother Henry still arrive in the mists of Mansfield Park, as per the original, but their characters are altered too. Mary appears a much pleasanter person in Lynn's edition and takes the lead role throughout the novel. Edmund Bertram takes a new position in Lynn's version as the son of Aunt Norris rather than the second son of the Bertram family. The other Bertram children are largely as per the original text.
The victim is well chosen and apt, given the twists that Lynn develops, and the murderer especially well plotted.
If I had to name one thing about the book that I enjoyed the most I would have to say Charles Maddox - Lynn's detective. Charles, needless to say, is not one of Austen's characters but Lynn's own private investigator. His character is brilliant, a breath of fresh air and clevely blended into the setting of the Austen world.
Charles Maddox is featured in Lynn's second novel, 'Tom-All-Alones', which I purchased and read on the strength of 'Murder At Mansfield Park'. I thoroughly enjoyed the second novel too. Treat yourself this Christmas...
Barbara Erskin - 'Hiding From The Light'
On my bookshelves I have fairly limited space. Books jostle for a permanent slot as more and more enter my sphere. Most are read and moved into the storage box but a few select volumes of utter brilliance manage to retain their space on the shelf. I first read this book in 2002 and needless to say, it has never left the shelf, except to be re-read repeatedly.
'Hiding From The Light' features the fictional characters of the modern day inhibited by the real life historical characters' ghostly spirits, bidding them to evil doing. Emma Dickson feels drawn to the cottage in Mistley, Essex, which once belonged to her ancester Liza - a white witch, prosecuted and hung by the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins. Of course Matthew Hopkins was a real person but the tale picks up the magical essence and draws his character to fit the fictional narrative with literary skill.
Emma leaves a good job in the city and her partner, Piers, to buy and move into Liza's cottage, compelled by its magnetic qualities. The relocation changes her life, ruins her relationship with Piers, and ends her city career, but as in all good fictional narratives, all is not lost. The promise of a better life is strong, if only Emma can overcome the spirit of Sarah Paxman, the ghost of many years prior seeking revenge on Hopkins for the murder of Liza.
Mistley's rector, Mike Sinclair, is reluctantly overtaken by the ghost of Matthew Hopkins and local modern day witch, Lyndsey Clark, declares herself a distant relative of Emma, and insists she as Sarah kill Mike as Matthew Hopkins. Mike's lay preacher Judith Sadler is only too keen to see Mike struggling with the issues in his parish, wanting nothing more than to take over his position as parish vicar. Local residents Alex and Paula are drawn into the historical drama and tradegy soon follows. Paula resents Lyndsey's baby sitting duties of their children but Alex, like the good-hearted neighbour, wants to help Lyndsey and Emma. As the historical fiction continues with Liza's arrest and cruelly unfair trial, Sarah Paxman fights to save her without success and ends up being tested by Matthew Hopkins as a witch herself. The test is interestingly unjust and historically accurate, as far as I can ascertain.
To add an edge to the drama, Barbara clevely includes the sub-plot of TV filming for Halloween in a haunted empty Mistley shop. The film makers manage to help out as the historical drama picks up pace and the modern day characters race agaisnt time to kill the spirits before the spirits kill them. To add that extra special twist, Emma and Mike fall in love but the spark is left to the readers imagination as the action takes center stage right up until the very last page. One of the smaller points in the story never leaves my memory; Emma's cats relocate with her but vanish as the action starts up towards the climax. As all creatures, in particular cats, their sixth sense kicks in and they safely return once peace returns to Mistley. It's a small extra but it really adds that hint of creditability to the tale.
'Hiding From The Light' is a fascinating read, fast paced and gripping, and belongs on every bookshelf in the land. I have purposefully not told you the outcome as I hope this feature will encourage you to give it a whirl yourself!
Barbara Erskin is an established author of historical fiction. She has a degree in medievial Scottish history from Edinburgh University. Barbara and her family split their time between the Welsh borders and their ancient manor house near the unspolit coast of North Essex. Barbara's novel 'Lady Of Hay' sold well over a million copies worldwide. 'Whispers In The Sand' was translated into twenty-three languages, and 'House of Echoes' was shortlisted for the WH Smith Thumping Good Read awards of 1995 and 1997, respectively followed by 'Distant Voices' and 'On The Edge of Darkness'.
'Hiding From The Light' features the fictional characters of the modern day inhibited by the real life historical characters' ghostly spirits, bidding them to evil doing. Emma Dickson feels drawn to the cottage in Mistley, Essex, which once belonged to her ancester Liza - a white witch, prosecuted and hung by the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins. Of course Matthew Hopkins was a real person but the tale picks up the magical essence and draws his character to fit the fictional narrative with literary skill.
Emma leaves a good job in the city and her partner, Piers, to buy and move into Liza's cottage, compelled by its magnetic qualities. The relocation changes her life, ruins her relationship with Piers, and ends her city career, but as in all good fictional narratives, all is not lost. The promise of a better life is strong, if only Emma can overcome the spirit of Sarah Paxman, the ghost of many years prior seeking revenge on Hopkins for the murder of Liza.
Mistley's rector, Mike Sinclair, is reluctantly overtaken by the ghost of Matthew Hopkins and local modern day witch, Lyndsey Clark, declares herself a distant relative of Emma, and insists she as Sarah kill Mike as Matthew Hopkins. Mike's lay preacher Judith Sadler is only too keen to see Mike struggling with the issues in his parish, wanting nothing more than to take over his position as parish vicar. Local residents Alex and Paula are drawn into the historical drama and tradegy soon follows. Paula resents Lyndsey's baby sitting duties of their children but Alex, like the good-hearted neighbour, wants to help Lyndsey and Emma. As the historical fiction continues with Liza's arrest and cruelly unfair trial, Sarah Paxman fights to save her without success and ends up being tested by Matthew Hopkins as a witch herself. The test is interestingly unjust and historically accurate, as far as I can ascertain.
To add an edge to the drama, Barbara clevely includes the sub-plot of TV filming for Halloween in a haunted empty Mistley shop. The film makers manage to help out as the historical drama picks up pace and the modern day characters race agaisnt time to kill the spirits before the spirits kill them. To add that extra special twist, Emma and Mike fall in love but the spark is left to the readers imagination as the action takes center stage right up until the very last page. One of the smaller points in the story never leaves my memory; Emma's cats relocate with her but vanish as the action starts up towards the climax. As all creatures, in particular cats, their sixth sense kicks in and they safely return once peace returns to Mistley. It's a small extra but it really adds that hint of creditability to the tale.
'Hiding From The Light' is a fascinating read, fast paced and gripping, and belongs on every bookshelf in the land. I have purposefully not told you the outcome as I hope this feature will encourage you to give it a whirl yourself!
Barbara Erskin is an established author of historical fiction. She has a degree in medievial Scottish history from Edinburgh University. Barbara and her family split their time between the Welsh borders and their ancient manor house near the unspolit coast of North Essex. Barbara's novel 'Lady Of Hay' sold well over a million copies worldwide. 'Whispers In The Sand' was translated into twenty-three languages, and 'House of Echoes' was shortlisted for the WH Smith Thumping Good Read awards of 1995 and 1997, respectively followed by 'Distant Voices' and 'On The Edge of Darkness'.
Great Reads...
There are some authors who stand out from the crowds and here are just a few...
Alison Bruce - The DC Goodhew Series: 'Cambridge Blue', 'The Siren', 'The Calling', and 'The Silence'
Lynn Shepherd - 'Tom-All-Alones' and 'Murder At Mansfield Park'
Domenica De Rosa - 'Italian Quarter' and 'The Eternal City' plus others
Elly Griffiths - The Ruth Galloway series: 'The Crossing Places', 'The Janus Stone', 'The House at Seas End', and 'A Room Full of Bones' plus the new book out early 2013 'Dying Fall'.
Sarah Rayne - 'Ghost Song'
Joy Swift - 'The Joy of Murder'
Sophie Kinsella - 'Remember Me'
Murakami Haruki - 'Kafka On The Shore'
RD Wingfield - Inspector Frost series
Colin Dexter - Inspector Morse series
Jodi Piccoult - 'Salem Falls'
Nicola Upson - 'An Expert In Murder', 'Angel With Two Faces', and 'Two for Sorrow'
Nicholas Sparks - 'The Guardian' and 'Nights In Rodanthe'
Margaret Atwood - 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'Blind Assasain', 'Oryx & Crake', 'The Robber Bride' and 'Bodily Harm
Audrey Niffengger - 'The Time Traveller's Wife'
Julia Williams - 'Strictly Love'
Barbara Erskin - 'Hiding From The Light'
Kate Ellis - 'The Merchants House'
Anita Shrieve - 'The Pilot's Wife', 'The Last Time They Met', and 'Body Surfacing'
Lyndon Stacey - 'Murder In Mind'
Leigh Russell - 'Cut Short'
Joanne Harris - 'Chocolate'
Naturally, some of these authors have written several other books but these are a few of my favourites.
Alison Bruce - The DC Goodhew Series: 'Cambridge Blue', 'The Siren', 'The Calling', and 'The Silence'
Lynn Shepherd - 'Tom-All-Alones' and 'Murder At Mansfield Park'
Domenica De Rosa - 'Italian Quarter' and 'The Eternal City' plus others
Elly Griffiths - The Ruth Galloway series: 'The Crossing Places', 'The Janus Stone', 'The House at Seas End', and 'A Room Full of Bones' plus the new book out early 2013 'Dying Fall'.
Sarah Rayne - 'Ghost Song'
Joy Swift - 'The Joy of Murder'
Sophie Kinsella - 'Remember Me'
Murakami Haruki - 'Kafka On The Shore'
RD Wingfield - Inspector Frost series
Colin Dexter - Inspector Morse series
Jodi Piccoult - 'Salem Falls'
Nicola Upson - 'An Expert In Murder', 'Angel With Two Faces', and 'Two for Sorrow'
Nicholas Sparks - 'The Guardian' and 'Nights In Rodanthe'
Margaret Atwood - 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'Blind Assasain', 'Oryx & Crake', 'The Robber Bride' and 'Bodily Harm
Audrey Niffengger - 'The Time Traveller's Wife'
Julia Williams - 'Strictly Love'
Barbara Erskin - 'Hiding From The Light'
Kate Ellis - 'The Merchants House'
Anita Shrieve - 'The Pilot's Wife', 'The Last Time They Met', and 'Body Surfacing'
Lyndon Stacey - 'Murder In Mind'
Leigh Russell - 'Cut Short'
Joanne Harris - 'Chocolate'
Naturally, some of these authors have written several other books but these are a few of my favourites.
'Cut Short' by Leigh Russell
This year I've read countless books and I wondered if anyone would be interested in a quick overview.... I'll try not to give anything away in case you haven't read them.
Leigh Russell is a name to be reckoned with in the crime fiction scene and 'Cut Short' is the book that launched her into the sphere.
It introduces readers to DI Geraldine Steel, new to the Woolmarsh police station and very definitely the new girl in town in every respect. DI Steel battles to fit in, not only with her new colleagues, but with DCI Kathryn Gordon. The young DS Peterson is keen to assist her and together they find themselves hunting down a serial killer.
Leigh builds a gripping tale by cleverly knitting together various aspects. Geraldine is targeted with hate mail, which builds a back story of her character into the novel and aids her mission to blend into the new team at Woolmarsh. We learn of Geraldine's past love life and the stains this has left her with.
The character of Jim Curtis is crafted with talent and skill. As if this wasn't enough there are various sub-plots associated with the killer's victims, that provide the reader with glimpes into the crime and why the victims were chosen.
'Cut Short' is a good read and comes with high recommendation.
Leigh Russell is a name to be reckoned with in the crime fiction scene and 'Cut Short' is the book that launched her into the sphere.
It introduces readers to DI Geraldine Steel, new to the Woolmarsh police station and very definitely the new girl in town in every respect. DI Steel battles to fit in, not only with her new colleagues, but with DCI Kathryn Gordon. The young DS Peterson is keen to assist her and together they find themselves hunting down a serial killer.
Leigh builds a gripping tale by cleverly knitting together various aspects. Geraldine is targeted with hate mail, which builds a back story of her character into the novel and aids her mission to blend into the new team at Woolmarsh. We learn of Geraldine's past love life and the stains this has left her with.
The character of Jim Curtis is crafted with talent and skill. As if this wasn't enough there are various sub-plots associated with the killer's victims, that provide the reader with glimpes into the crime and why the victims were chosen.
'Cut Short' is a good read and comes with high recommendation.
Kindle Version Out by Christmas
The Kindle version of 'Distant Shadows' is due out before Christmas - hurray!!
Amazon UK Author Page
Amazon UK Author Page
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
'Distant Shadows' New Review Quote
Great new review on Amazon for 'Distant Shadows'
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Distant-Shadows-Jayne-Marie-Barker/product-reviews/184963176X/ref=la_B007EDJ7SW_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Distant-Shadows-Jayne-Marie-Barker/product-reviews/184963176X/ref=la_B007EDJ7SW_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
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