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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

You can pre-order dh's book on Amazon now!

45 replies

michaelad · 06/05/2008 14:05

..for some reason, the synopsis only appears on the paperback version site (which will obviously be published even later)..

I am so proud of him! We're still pinching ourselves on a daily basis

www.amazon.co.uk/Adamantine-Palace-Stephen-Deas/dp/0575083735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210078 809&sr=1-1

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Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 11:17

Oh wow..I log off for the day and there are lots of messages!!
Unquietdad, what genre are you writing in?

Nell, can't believe you ordered it (blushes)..you realise that it doesn't actually come out until Summer next year, right? lol

Thank you soo much anyway..you're probably the first customer ever!!!

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Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 11:20

Will have to tell hubby when he comes home that someone who isn't either a bloodrelative or a friend has actually bought this.. yay!!

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2Eliza2 · 07/05/2008 11:37

Yeah--I don't know why they bother with hardbacks. I know I sold many, many more in paperback than I ever did in hardback.

Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 11:59

Hi Elisa..is that as in Playing with the moon Elisa?

I have no idea why they bother either..but then we're new to the industry..I didn't even know that there's an option to not have hardcovers first..

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UnquietDad · 07/05/2008 12:04

michaelad - I write novels in what could be called the "general fiction" category but I did once contribute two to an ongoing series, and non-fiction on various subjects, some humorous (sorry to be vague but anonymity on here is a useful thing!!)...

elisa - it used to be a springboard, didn't it? Mostly for reviewers and libraries. For some writers now it is marketed as a thing in itself - but even Booker nominees find it hard to shift copies. There was that article in the Grauniad CiF recently about the Booker shortlist and how only McEwan's novel, of the six, had sold in hardback in decent numbers.

Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 12:07

they are just too expensive..unless you're a hardcore fan or collector you might aswell wait for the paperback edition really. They take up too much shelf space too!

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Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 12:10

Unquietdad, so are you pretty much a full time writer now? If so, how long did it take you to be able to afford to give up the day job. ..hubby's ultimate fantasy which may well never come true..

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UnquietDad · 07/05/2008 12:14

I've always mixed and matched writing with other jobs.

I worked in the vol-com sector for a few years and now I'm freelance, but not just as a writer - I also do workshops for adults, young people and children and I do manuscript critiques and private courses as well.

I'd advise nobody to give up the day job. Does your DH have an agent? He/she should be giving that advice too! Even if his advance is decent - and mine were more decent than most - you have to budget for tax, NI, etc, and there's no guarantee of future work! Writers can, sadly, be dropped at any time.

UnquietDad · 07/05/2008 12:15

sorry, you already told me he does have an agent.

Original poster

michaelad · 07/05/2008 12:22

we won't even be considering anything remotely like it for at least the next 5 years..not until we know where this is going, have seen sales figures, been through the whole tax thing and have had the contract renewed..if that happens, that is

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hatjam · 07/05/2008 21:51

does you husband have a 2-book deal? that gives a bit more reassurance, although it adds pressure to produce.

barbarianoftheuniverse · 07/05/2008 22:39

Well done your dh1 I love Gollancz- they were my first publisher too.

barbarianoftheuniverse · 07/05/2008 22:39

Sorry, meant dh!
Not to imply you had several.

Original poster

michaelad · 08/05/2008 10:37

dh has actually got a three book deal which definitely does reassure for a little while..but also ups the pressure. He's fine so far but wait and see what happens when it's publication day.

Barbarian, what genre are you in then if you don't mind me asking?

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Original poster

michaelad · 08/05/2008 10:39

although, hang on..judging by the name and the fact that Gollancz are the Scifi and Fantasy imprint the answer should be pretty obvious..

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2Eliza2 · 08/05/2008 15:44

Yes, I am that Eliza. michaelad! I forgot my old password and had to reinvent myself here.

I don't have an agent either but have got through two in the past for previous unpublished books.

I have had to keep my day-job going and probably will for the foreseeable. To be honest, I quite like have some outside contact. It can be lonely working from home all the time.

Original poster

michaelad · 08/05/2008 19:54

Hi Eliza, even better to see you on this thread then! My mother in law just told me the other day how much she enjoyed reading "Playing with the moon". Were you very upset at not winning in the end?

Like I said, hubby does have an agent (and is very happy with him) but who knows what the future will bring. He's just delivered the manuscript and is now busy writing book 2 of the trilogy and hoping to be able to publish some of his "back catalogue" as it were in the future.

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2Eliza2 · 10/05/2008 17:34

That's kind feedback--thank you!

Actually, just being in the top ten was fantastic because lots of the chains suddenly started putting me in special display shelves with the other nine shortlisted titles! I got some radio interviews as well. And my sales benefited enormously.

Thanks again to all who supported me.

Original poster

michaelad · 11/05/2008 18:13

You are very welcome! It was a very enjoyable book! Any handy tips to improve sales figures and visibility for dh?

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UnquietDad · 14/05/2008 13:53

Publicise, publicise, publicise... Don't assume publishers will do it for him. He should accept every invitation for every tin-pot radio station going. He should also go into the shop and, where he finds copies on the shelves, reposition them on the tables. Also if he is on Facebook get him to set up a group for the book.

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