BUSINESS OF BOOKS: TAKE FOUR WRITERS

Sometimes when writing a regular column you get sick of the sound of your own voice. Well I do, anyway. However much you dress it up I am just one author on one career path and although other writers contribute wonderful guest columns to the Business of Books there is no sense of continuity to their experiences and I wanted to remedy that.

So a few months ago I put out feelers in the author groups I belong to on Facebook to see if there were writers with books being published in 2018 who would be prepared to write monthly updates. I wanted to cast the net wide; across genres, across routes to publication and with the new books coming out at different times during the year.

The first volunteer and first to be inked into the schedule was writer of literary women’s fiction, Claire Dyer. Claire has featured in this column before and is a good friend – but she also has an interesting story to tell. Her first two novels were published by Quercus but sadly the second one fell between the cracks when they were taken over and it seemed as though her career had stuttered to a halt. Now with a new agent and a new deal with The Dome Press for The Last Day she is set for an interesting year. And if early indications are anything to go by, a very successful one too.

Given that I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association many of my contacts are in this genre so my next task was choosing a single representative for romance. I have to say that I struggled initially but then one story piqued my curiosity. Linn B Halton, already a successful author with Harper Impulse, was about to embark on a parallel career as her alter ego Lucy Coleman, signed to Aria Fiction. Linn has two feelgood novels out next year but will be concentrating on her July launch for Frost.

Having come through the indie publishing route myself I was determined that this option should be represented, but again the issue was choosing between the impeccable credentials of the volunteers. I had two particularly strong candidates but in the end it came down to genre and as one was another romance writer, the humourist won out and I selected Angela Petch. It was particularly interesting because Angela is better known as an historical novelist (first indie and now with Endeavour Press) and this is her first foray in a new direction. That she was willing to share this potentially perilous journey spoke volumes about her courage and I can’t wait to find out how 2018 pans out for her.

I knew my final author should be writing thrillers or crime, and in an ideal world I’d have liked a debut novelist but none came forward. Whether they felt they’d be too busy trying to navigate uncharted territory or weren’t sufficiently ahead with their social media when I put out the call I don’t know. But in the end it’s worked really well because I’m able to feature Scottish crime writer Jackie Baldwin whose second novel for Harper Collins’ Killer Reads, Perfect Dead, is due out in June.

Over the next few weeks each writer will introduce themselves but in the meantime if you can’t wait to find out more, here are the links to their websites:

https://clairedyer.com/

http://linnbhalton.co.uk/

https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com/

http://jackiebaldwin.co.uk/

 

Business of Books: Claire Dyer

the-business-of-books-interviewswithjanecableClaire Dyer is a novelist and poet from Reading, Berkshire. Her novels are published by Quercus and her poetry collections are published by Two Rivers Press. She likes love stories and cheese!

How much of your working life does the business of books take up?

I’d say all of it. Until recently I balanced my writing life with a part-time job in London and bringing up my family. However, now that my kids have grown up and left home and my husband is happily ensconced in a new business venture, I am in the very fortunate position of being able to live a full-time writing life.

It’s interesting that you use the phrase ‘business of books’ in the question though, because I do very much consider what I do as a job. My working week comprises of days when I’m at my desk by 9.00 am and finish around 5.00 pm and then two nights a week I teach Creative Writing for Bracknell & Wokingham College. I also attend a regular poetry class in London and am out most other evenings at writing-related events, including workshops, book launches, poetry readings, etc., etc.

However, if you were to ask what I do during those hours at my desk I’d struggle to give it definition because it’s so varied. There’s a lot of networking to do, of course, and lesson planning and I do try and set aside chunks of time to write, but my commitments as Chair of Reading Writers, Poets’ Café Rep for Reading’s Poets’ Café and the work I do for my Fresh Eyes clients also keep me busy. No two days are ever the same and I never quite know what will come through on email or what poem might insist on being written, and if and when I’m involved in writing, editing or rewriting a novel then that’s a whole different kettle of fish altogether!

So I hope I’ve answered the question OK because, for me, being a novelist and poet is a full-time job even though I don’t write novels or poems all the time!

What’s your business model to earn a living from writing?

I guess that unless you’re a regular best-selling author (preferably with a film deal!) or a poet whose work wins major prizes or secures lectureships at high-ranking academic institutions, it’s hard to make a living from writing as many will testify, and I’m afraid I’m not very hard-nosed when it comes to financial things.

I have been lucky enough to earn some money from my fiction, including advances, royalties and the sale of foreign rights, and poetry competition wins and fees earned from Fresh Eyes clients and running workshops have brought in some other income, but my teaching role is done more for love than money, as are the voluntary roles I have within the local writing community.

So I would say overall that my business model is very ad hoc, not thought-through and definitely would not sustain even the lowliest of writing garrets! However, I live in hope that one day I’ll become a regular best-selling author (with a film deal) AND a poet whose work wins major prizes, secures lectureships, etc. etc.!

Claire Dyer - credit Dale Strickland-Clark

Claire Dyer – credit Dale Strickland-Clark

What do you write and what do you consider to be your major successes?

I write novels which I hope would appeal to quite a wide range of readers and which are probably better defined by what they’re not, than what they are. They aren’t really light commercial women’s fiction, nor are they literary fiction but they do (I hope) tell convincing stories about emotional dilemmas in a prose style which is both succinct yet lyrical!

With regard to my poetry, again I would say I’m more of a lyric poet than anything else. I do, however, believe very strongly in the crossover between poetry and fiction; both tell stories and both need the careful placing of just the right words in the right order!

My major successes must be my published works which include (so far, she says hopefully!) 2 novels and 2 poetry collections and my academic qualifications (I have 3 degrees but alas can’t sing nor do I own a sparkly dress!)

However, success in the writing world is a strange thing to quantify. As I say above it isn’t always (and can’t be) about money; it can be about reputation though and about being supportive to other writers; it can also be about stretching yourself to write more honed and precise poems and novels which could in time prove memorable.

As a novelist and poet I feel I’m always learning and am always challenging myself and I would consider myself successful if I could become a better writer and poet, a better champion for the written word in whatever form this takes and to continue to love what I do.

Tell me about your latest project.

I have a couple of projects ongoing at the moment.

I’ve just finished rewriting a novel in concert with my wonderful agent and have had a huge amount of fun and have learned heaps during the process. I will also be putting together a new collection of poetry over the next few years (the last one took 4 years to complete) and in the meantime am working on a collaborative poetry project with two amazing poets and have started a new novel (with I’m glad to say the approval of my aforementioned wonderful agent)!

I’m not sure what 2017 will bring because the writing life is nothing but unpredictable: good news and/or bad news could be on their way, the only thing for sure is that what any writer needs is a big heart, a huge amount of courage, a thick skin and plenty of chocolate!

GOING PUBLIC: Organising a Charity Litfest

W4W leaflet.jAuthor and Frost contributor Jane Cable shares the third in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest in aid of Words for the Wounded. This month has been all about publicity. And an unscheduled auction.

I’m scared. I shouldn’t be, but I am. Chief Chindi Christopher Joyce is on holiday and I don’t dare contact our venues to see how ticket sales are going. With Chris’s extensive publicity campaign in full swing they should be selling like hotcakes – but you never can tell.

But first I’d like to bend your ears about a way that anyone wishing to support Words for the Wounded can help – even if you’re nowhere near Chichester. It started when celeb chef Simon Rogan donated a set lunch for two at Fera at Claridges – far too good for a raffle prize – so I thought ‘let’s have an online auction’. Alongside this we put Claire Dyer’s Fresh Eyes editorial review (a must for any budding writer and worth £150) and a hair cut from Benjamin James in Chichester. Here’s the link: http://www.chindi-authors.co.uk/words-for-the-wounded-auction/ so bid away and keep an eye on Chindi’s social media for updates.

planes over Goodwood

Unfortunately our leaflet went to press before we’d decided to do this, but following on from last month’s blog local accountancy firm Carpenter Box stepped forward to sponsor the printing and the printers, Artyzan, provided us with double the number we paid for. The leaflet looks stunning and Chindi members have been out and about on the streets of East Hampshire and West Sussex, leaving them in libraries, book shops, gift shops, museums… and anywhere else we think people will read them.

Booklovers can hear all about the events too on our local radio station, Spirit FM. Chindi member Jill King twisted a few arms and recorded a commercial which they are airing for us free of charge. For the first time ever Jill had to do a second take – because during the first one there were spitfires flying overhead as part of the Battle of Britain commemorations at nearby Goodwood. It just served to remind us all the reason we’re doing this.

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If you are in the Chichester area and would like to join us, the events are:

Saturday 17th October: 11.30 – 14.00
Literary lunch with Elizabeth Buchan and Margaret Graham at Woodies Brasserie, St Pancras.
Call 01243 779895 to book – tickets are £25 including a glass of wine or soft drink.

Saturday 17th October: 19.30 – 23.00
Authors’ party at the Park Tavern, Priory Road with live music and raffle.
No booking, no entry fee, but come ready to be parted with your money.

Sunday 18th October: 9.30 – 11.30
Bookswap breakfast at Carluccios, Eastgate Square.
Call 01243 527412 to book – tickets are £15 including full breakfast.

Learn more about…
Words for the Wounded: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
Chindi Authors: www.chindi-authors.co.uk
Carpenter Box chartered accountants: www.carpenterbox.com
Artyzan Print: www.artyzanprint.co.uk
Christopher Joyce: www.creaturesofchichester.com
Jane Cable: www.janecable.com