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Original poster

Where to get the Book of Boff published?

164 replies

BoffinMum · 14/02/2011 14:55

As some of you may know from other threads, or from being sent bits of my housekeeping book to help you out, I have written a domestic manual for those short of time and money that I'd like to get published. I did a lot of research into pitches, wrote what I think is a good one, and susequently approached Darley Anderson, a literary agency, and also Dorling Kindersley, the publisher, and have got absolutely nowhere (not that I expected to, tbh). Not even a standard 'thank you for your email' response. I would welcome any advice people care to give me on how to move this on, as I think it would be a real shame if it never saw the light of day.

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New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Reaa · 17/01/2013 13:43

oooops this was an old thread Blush

Reaa · 17/01/2013 13:41

not sure why me was in caps Confused

Reaa · 17/01/2013 13:40

i can have a quick read and give you my honest feedback if you want? Pm ME and will let you have my email address.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 17/01/2013 12:48

I thought I ought to put down for posterity that the Book of Boff is now published in eBook form, and available as 'Austerity Housekeeping' on Amazon. Cost me £38 to have it converted because I was too lazy to do it myself. It's selling quite well, as eBooks of this type go. The blog has had nearly 70,000 hits and is also popular. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice. Grin

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HanoverGirl · 19/04/2012 17:32

I think Lulu (and all the other big players) is a really bad idea - mainly because you can never sell the book for a decent price. Much better to upload it to Kindle. They say you can do it yourself but I got a specialist to do mine - with design and layout included - and he was very good but I am sure there are other people out there who can do the same. Self-publication is not a bad option (many books that eventually sold millions started out as self-pubs) and the cheapest way is to go to a company that can get you listed in the main part of Amazon (which Lulu can't). And although Lulu says it's cheap you still have to pay for an illustrator and an editor so it's actually not any cheaper than one of the dedicated companies that help people get their books available as print-on-demand paperbacks. But of course do avoid 'vanity publishers' - not the same thing at all. Whole cost likely to be around £600 (possibly £1,000 all in including decent book cover design, professional layout and uploading ebooki version.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 15/04/2011 22:37

Some progress to support ... there is the possibility of self-publishing my oeuvre on Amazon for the Kindle! Yay! Just getting my mates checking out the details, legals and so on before I plunge. I am quite excited about this.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 28/03/2011 13:03

Look in the menu planning category and there are loads of menus and shopping lists there on my blog.

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plupedantic · 27/03/2011 22:24

Oh, right. I haven't had a book sample, so was confused! I was pretty sure the NM planner wasn't kosher!

Original poster
BoffinMum · 27/03/2011 22:14

Yup, the grids are in the book samples I have been sending out to MN people, there are two months' worth now. I had to strip the grids out for the blog as they wouldn't copy and paste.

It's Mylene Klass behind all this, I know. Wink

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plupedantic · 27/03/2011 21:58

Is it this link? I can't see the planner on your blog you're referring to...?

Original poster
BoffinMum · 27/03/2011 21:05

I could always linked to NM and say 'as featured on ...' Wink

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 27/03/2011 21:05

Is it my imagination? Do they resemble mine? They have been altered a bit. But the principle is the same as aer some of the meals, and not the most obvious at that.

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plupedantic · 27/03/2011 20:57

A bit like Matthew Wright's researchers are said to trawl MN for material...

SarfEasticated · 27/03/2011 20:55

I guess there isn't much you can do to stop this from happening, apart from asking them to credit you and link to your blog. Pretty poor behaviour though IMO.

plupedantic · 27/03/2011 20:39

Ooops!

Original poster
BoffinMum · 27/03/2011 15:51

Is it me or do the filled in menu planners on Netmums today look incredibly similar to mine on the blog?

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 11/03/2011 19:25

Blush I have to say I think it looks rather refreshing as well.

Shucks!

Am rapidly rewriting future posts to bring in some of the quintessential Boffin style.

Never let it be said I don't take advice from you lot. Grin

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plupedantic · 11/03/2011 13:38

Oh, I like the new colours!

Original poster
BoffinMum · 11/03/2011 12:01

Right, the blog now has a new look especially for spring, and a new tagline. So more cheerful generally. I will start writing slightly quirkier posts from now on.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 11/03/2011 09:01

Now there was me thinking the Fatie Price Book of Austerity Housekeeping might be something to worry about. Wink

I don't like her baby clothes either. They are very Chanel goes to Primark.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 11/03/2011 09:00

Good advice, folks. I am learning a lot here.

Do you think the book should be all witty and sophisticated as well?? Before, some people seemed to like the bossiness but others hated it. Can you ever please all of the people all of the time?

BTW the pages with the most hits are fashion, box of last resort, and the menu plans!!!

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plupedantic · 11/03/2011 08:58

Only if one were to recycle those horrible (MK) black baby clothes as uniforms for an army of underage servants! Black looks so neat and clean on housekeeping staff, doesn't it, dah-lings! Wink

plupedantic · 11/03/2011 08:55

I snorted aloud at the Myleene Klass Book of Austerity Housekeeping.

UnquietDad · 10/03/2011 22:36

Sorry I didn't see this before.

Stuff like Facebook/Twitter profile are all very nice as support, but pointless if the book is not publishable. Not publisher is going to say "oh, well, I don't like the book very much, but on the other hand this person does have a great platform..." Sorry to sound brusque about this one, but it really is one of the great publishing myths of the last 10 years!

Have you only tried one agent and one publisher? Try more. Try agents first. Many people try several before they get any interest - even published writers have to shop their books around. Publishers are deluged with stuff, most of it unpublishable and seriously bad.

As others have said, make sure you have a really good businesslike proposal for an agent - it should include sample chapters, a synopsis and a bit about your suitability for writing the book, and it should be very clear about the market for the book too.

catinthehat2 · 10/03/2011 22:30

you are SO going to get ripped off

wait till the Myleene Klass Book of Austerity Housekeeping comes out at Christmas....

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