Grauniad article about new novelists

[UnquietDad]

here

Interesting, although hardly news. Also couldn't shake the idea that Jean-Hannah is bigging up her novelist friends.

The commenter who makes the point about review space has part of the story, and the one who brings up career sustainability has the other.

The same Sam Leith article which is quoted is also the one in which he says that if first novels are no good then he (in the Telegraph) just doesn't review them rather than giving them a bad review. Far more damaging!

[UnquietDad]

shells - I went back in this week and they were still there on the table! Moved up too - so someone had obviously seen them, even touched them, and not clocked that they weren't "supposed" to be there. Heh, heh, heh.

Look, everyone else is doing it. We wouldn't have to if bookshops gave us decent exposure to begin with.

It was easier when I wrote for a series and all I had to do was move mine to the front of all the books in that particular series. That was never spotted.

I consider it my duty to do that as well as establishing relationships with booksellers. Relationships between authors and booksellers seem like "relationships" between whores and clients (and no, I'm not saying which is which!!).

[EffiePerine]

Are all CW students strange? Friends who have been on CW courses have reported some extremely odd stuff. I half suspect them of making it up...

[UnquietDad]

They aren't all strange, but CW classes do seem to be a magnet for oddballs. I suspect people who teach, say, welding or hairdressing don't get the same weirdo count.

[Shells]

My point stands UQD. The staff will hate you for it - and not promote your books. ANd why are your books more important than those by other authors? Should theirs be put to the back just because you have been in the shop?
Sorry, but you sound extemely petty.

[Nighbynight]

if you spot him at it, you could just leave a little note next to the books next time, saying "UQD, just leave these books where we put them please!"

As a book-buying reader, I dont care whose books are to the front, I have to say. I dont think much of the official selections most of the time.

does anyone know how to find interesting or obscure stuff on amazon, btw? (my patience with figuring out websites is gnat-sized, so would be grateful for tips)

[UnquietDad]

Not petty, just realistic. My books aren't getting the promotion they deserve. So it's up to me to do that little bit extra.

[Fauve]

I'm a bit depressed that Rose Tremain's The Road Home is shortlisted for the Orange. I'm halfway through it, and although it's well-written, its main worth seems to be that its hero is an immigrant who comes to London. 'Social issues' again.

[Shells]

Well, you carry on. Its obviously a strategy thats working really well .

[nkf]

I think The Road Home is a fine book. Well written yes but not "social issues." It's a fairytale. A young man comes to London to make his fortune. I think it's very inventive and clever of Tremain to create something so charming and unlikely out of social issue material.