13. Getting close now

Crimefest Logo - title_bob

Getting close now: In a few weeks I’ll be speaking on two panels during Crimefest in Bristol, May 15th-17th, which will be the first writing festival I’ve ever attended, let alone spoken at. I anticipate feeling slightly fraudulent as, unlike every other author present, I will still not be published. My book won’t come out until the 5th of June. I have to say, I still feel rather a fraud in this whole business, it still doesn’t feel real. I’ve held a bound proof in my hand, but not yet a real copy of the final hardback. I’ll let you know how that goes… Until then, thanks for reading and please come back anytime, there will be more…

… In fact, there has been more, much more since I wrote the above. So watch this space for more posts.

12. Getting Invitations

Penguine Crime 2013 - Cover Edit

Getting Invitations – The fear and fun of PR: In between some of the my previous postings I’ve been drawn into my first few bits of PR. In March 2013, not long after that final re-write I attended the inaugural Penguin Crime Drinks. The purpose of the event was to introduce to invited press, bloggers and buyers the authors and crime books Penguin were to publish that year. As you may recall from blog #9, my book was not due to be published until 2014. There was a beautifully printed folded pamphlet with each 2013 book and there, at the back in smaller print, me and three others to look forward to in 2014, all debutants.
Our editor stood on a chair and said lovely things about each book and author in turn, including us starry-eyes newbies! The event also allowed us to meet our marketing team, all the lovely, hardworking people who had been and continue to beaver away furiously on our behalf behind the scenes. My list of lovely people gets ever longer, and I can’t thank you all enough.
July 2013 saw me invited to Crime in the Court, a drinks evening hosted by the wonderful independent Goldsboro Book in Cecil Court, London – Thanks David.

Crime in the Court

This year’s Penguin crime drinks in March 2014, was a triumph too, and so much fun, thanks in no small part to my personal PR chaperone, FR – thanks so much!

(ps: Top marks to any eagle-eyed readers visitors who spotted the original title of Book1)

11. Getting quite excited now

If I Should Die COVER FINAL

Getting quite excited now – Bound and jacketed: : The title problem had been holding up the cover art for weeks. Soon after the change, I was emailed the proposed hardback jacket. I hope you like it as much as I do. I love the imagery of transition; the moody sky sunset and falling autumnal leaves. The view of the Docklands from Greenwich Park locates the book perfectly and the lone figure with his back to you, his jacket catching the wind, invites you to meet a new character, the man of mystery, open the pages and learn more…

Weeks later another envelope arrived containing two paperback books. Having not ordered any, and being in my usual befuddled state of mind, I took these to be something my wife must have ordered – then did a double take… Hey? That’s my name! There in my hand, a brace of newly hatched penguin chicks in beautiful green plumage (see photo) – real copies of my book, right there, in my hand. If any of you are published authors you’ll recall that moment of surreal happiness. These ‘bound proofs’ are informal paperback copies of the book to be sent out to reviewers, bloggers, buyers and other authors to begin the long process of generating interest ahead of the launch.

140210 Bound Proofs

10. Getting a shock – An awkward conversation:

poppies2

Getting a shock – An awkward conversation: Interspersed as the wilderness year is with long spells of real life, it gets hard to say when things happened, but the next thing to happen was a shocking call from my agent.

My publishing editor (the lovely man who was enthused by the revised synopsis – see blog #7) who had commented at that first meeting on how much he liked the title of the book, had called to say he wanted to change the title of the book.

My original title was one word, punchy, eye-catching, apt to the central theme of the book and, as agreed by a consensus of marketing professionals… more suited to horror fiction than crime. They’d tried all sorts of jacket art options but the title just wasn’t working, it wasn’t quite right for getting a book from the shelf to the till. They had an alternative which, said consensus had agreed, was perfect – If I Should Die.

For those who don’t know, this is the opening line of 1st World war poem ‘The Soldier’ by Robert Brooke. My agent called me with the news. I numbly went away to mull it over. It was a hard moment but, if you’ve read my previous blogs, you’ll know a central tenant of my success so far has been – don’t be precious. I knew the poem but I read it again, and the next day called the editor to agree. I was, and am, totally persuaded the marketing professionals were right and placed them accordingly, on my list of lovely people. The original title does appear on this website, if you look hard enough; it still serves as a defining theme through the book, but I do believe the new title is perfect on many levels.