Soundart Stories

An author friend is having his short story broadcast on Soundart Radio tonight. I hadn't heard of them so looked into it and it is an interesting idea. You submit your short story (250 to 3000 words) and, if selected, that story will be read out. It's broadcast in the Totnes and Dartington area (102.5) so a small immediate audience, but the broadcast is available anywhere in the world via MixCloud.

I will be listening in to James Stevenson's story to see exactly how it works. It seems a good way to get your words out there as presumably you will be able to link to a permanent audio clip in order to help promote your work. Would be very interested to hear from anyone who has already submitted successfully.

Listen to Soundart short stories here
Read the Soundart blog here

Mysteries of the Spine

In the talks I give on self-publishing, I cover a list of common and not-so-common errors made when publishing your own book. One that I always mention is to make sure that the title on your spine reads correctly. In the UK we print the spine so that it reads top to bottom. Elsewhere in Europe it is printed so that it reads bottom to top. This means that we tilt our head to the right when we are browsing a bookshelf while the French (for example) tilt to the left.

I hadn't thought much about this really, assuming that it was just one of those things that we English like to do differently - like driving on the left and apologising when someone runs us over intentionally with a lawn-mower.

But then I was looking at a few of the older books I have on my shelf - specifically A Pin to See the Peepshow by F. Tennyson Jesse and I noticed that this edition (Penguin Books, 1952) has the title on the spine reading from bottom to top:

Why? WHY?! I realise this will probably only hold any real interest for the type of person who reads the copyright page before pretty much anything else in any book they get (yes, OK that is me) but I really want to know when this changed and why. Can anyone help?

And incidentally - what a beautiful book:

How to Sell 7000 Books

I met an interesting author last week. Of course all authors are interesting to me but this one was particularly so. He has self-published a children's book, in hardback, priced at £14.99. Every publishing fibre in me was telling me that was a crazy price point and crazy format for this kind of book but the facts speak for themselves.

He has sold over 7000 copies. That's a lot of books. And a fair amount of cash too. If he's not careful he might actually become that ultra-rare species of author who actually (shh) makes a living from writing.

So how does he do it? And could you do it too?

Well unsurprisingly it requires a lot of hard work, and persistence, and, I suspect a rather thick skin. Alan Gilliland is a one-man marketing machine, arranging in-store events up and down the country for (at first) his children's book The Amazing Adventures of Curd the Lion (and Us!) and now his second book (a young adult ghost story) called The Flight of Birds too.


He told me that he is booked up pretty much every weekend of the year - the organisation and planning alone must take a fair chunk of time - and he spends a full day at each bookshop, chatting to readers, talking them through his books, enthusing them about his stories and illustrations and finally selling and signing copies. The effort to achieve sales therefore is considerable and it not only takes a certain type of person to maintain this level of effort, but it also requires the author to be extremely confident in promoting his own work. This is unfortunately where many writers fall down - many (most?) feel uncomfortable standing up to say how good their own book is - in fact it is far more common to hear an author downplaying their writing. Which is a shame.


This, then is the hurdle to success that many self-published authors face whatever the price, format or genre of their book. Without the pr machine of a big publisher clanking into action on their behalf, a self-published author is left with the task of standing up and shouting about how great their book is - and many, quite simply just don't want to do that.

Separated at Birth

Vincent Disneur - The Apprentice

Mickey Pierce - Only Fools and Horses

Rattle Tales

I love discovering new and interesting ways to enjoy words and the brilliant Rattle Tales is both. Billed as a night of interactive story-telling, it's an event where authors perform their story and are treated to direct feedback from the audience with, among other things, lots of rattle shaking. Now, if you are an author you may be forgiven for thinking this all sounds rather terrifying but it is a supportive and upbeat atmosphere with the emphasis on a fun environment to share a love of stories and story-telling.

When I read about the inaugural event held in March my first thought was that I wanted to attend the next one and hot on the heels was my second thought - let's host it as part of the Brighton Book Festival! So I contacted the organiser and was delighted to hear that they would be happy to take part. We've got the venue, date and time sorted and now the Rattlers are calling for submissions. For details of how to submit please go here. 


Of course this event is as much about the audience as it is about the performers so please come along, with or without a rattle to join in the fun. 


The event will take place on 12 June at 7.30 and I think it will be a perfect end for the festival. I can't wait.

You can buy your ticket for this event here.