28 August, 2014

Getting Down to Business

It's a common observation now that being a writer means running a business. This doesn't apply if you are just writing for your own private enjoyment, of course, but if you have any aspirations of being even semi-professional, the days when you could sit in the attic and be creative while other people did the nasty, common publicity stuff for you are long gone.

At the very least, writers nowadays are expected to be active on social media in some way. Twitter is increasingly becoming a must-have and most writers now have their own blogs. Facebook pages, Goodreads accounts, and e-mail lists are also popular (have you subscribed to my e-mail list? You can, just over on the side bar, look!). But for me, I like to have something a bit more tangible as well - something real to hold. Enter the Business Card.

Business cards might be a bit old-fashioned, but I liked the idea of having something professional-looking for when people ask about my novel. Instead of getting tongue-tied and then apologetically scribbling something illegible on the back of a receipt, I could whip out a business card holder and look all suave and sophisticated. OK, so I haven't got the knack of taking out one card at a time, which means I whip out a card and then spend ages trying to get the second card I whipped out by mistake back in the holder. OK, so I've forgotten even to get the cards out on pretty much every appropriate occasion so far. But the point is... I have cards! And, courtesy of my husband, they match my website! What do you think?



It's been just over a month since my novel was published. Doing any sort of promotional work while looking after a baby who doesn't really like daytime naps has been a challenge, but I've been blessed with friends and family who have taken it upon themselves to spread the word as well. Be assured if this is you, I am so grateful! I've done a blog tour and a newspaper interview, a flyer for the local area and I'm about to do a Goodreads giveaway (so if you didn't think I was worth spending money on, your chance to read my book is coming!). What else have you seen authors do? Have you found anything particularly useful when promoting one of your own books?

22 August, 2014

Blog Tour - Dan Purdue and Suzi Retlaff

I have a confession. Despite tweeting about it, I totally forgot to post a link here on the day I did a book stop at Dan's blog. Please please make him forgive me by going over and seeing what I had to say about being flexible as a writer. Please.

While we are confessing things. Today I had my final book stop with Suzi and we talked about secrets! Confess a secret of your own, or tell me your favourite line in literature, and you could win a copy of my book. Thank you for following the tour!

18 August, 2014

Blog Tour - Tom Benson

Today, I stopped by the blog of Tom Benson to talk epistolary novels. Or, if you're like me, you might want to call them "those novel written as letters between the characters". Letters form an important part of my novel - if you'd like to know why, please do go and read my post and leave a comment. Thank-you!

11 August, 2014

Blog Tour - Simon P Clark

Today I am over on the blog of children's author Simon P Clark as part of my The Art of Letting Go book tour. Simon's much-anticipated debut book, Eren, is out next month - I've already pre-ordered my copy!

In my post I'm talking about why the geology of Sussex nearly ruined my novel and how to make sure you're never invited to dinner ever again. Do go and check it out!

07 August, 2014

Blog Tour - Freya Morris

The next stop on my book tour for The Art of Letting Go is over at the blog of Freya Morris. Freya is one of my best blogging buddies and has been a fountin of enthusiasm and helpfulness over the last few months in particular. She also happens to be a pretty excellent writer herself. So please do go and support us both by reading what I have to say on the subject of voice and structure, and why I wrote my novel using four different viewpoints.

04 August, 2014

Blog Tour - Derek Thompson

My blog tour starts in earnest today on the fabulous blog belonging to Derek Thompson. Please do go and read about how three failures eventually made a successful novel for me!