The Eighth Circle of Hell by Gary Dolman

As I have already posted, I have been signed up for a four book deal with Thames River Press. Naturally I am very interested in the work of their other authors, and I can truly say that I'm very impressed to be the company of the incredible Gary Dolman. Here pasted below, is a review I gave of his recent publication, 'The Eighth Circle of Hell, and it truly is a stuning work.

Highly recommended and I wish I could give this book 100 stars.

If you are initially shocked by the subject matter - child abuse in the nineteenth century - please do not be. Set in the nineteenth century, the book is written with immense literary skill, and is never lurid, descriptive or erotic. It merely tells the sad, sad, psychological story of poor little Lizzie, used as a sexual rag doll by her revolting upper class Uncle, and his inner circle of perverted businessmen. Written in the same vein as Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale, and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, the story begins at the end of her life, and, through a series of chronological flashbacks, explains her long miserable years of terror, and resulting dementia. Any more details will give away the cleverly constructed plot, and I can assure you that every word, including the end, is wholly satisfying. Congratulations to Gary Dolman, and I would hope that Esther Rantzen might hear about it, and endorse it. In addition, how tragic it is that in our own times there are so many trials and enquiries currently in the headlines, concerning child abuse. How far have we come from the hidden agendas of the Victorian age? `The Eighth Circle of Hell' should be shortlisted for every prize going, and I look forward to reading more novels from this author.

 

 

Good News

I am really pleased to announce (at last) that I have signed a four book contract with Thames River Press. I am so pleased, and I guess it's a case of 'never give up hope'. They will re-issue A Man Like Any Other this autumn, as a completely new book, with a different title and cover Who Was Angela Zendalic' in spring 2014, Max MacCauley: All He Ever Wanted Was A Quiet Life in autumn 2014, and a re-issue of The Crowded Bed in spring 2015. I am also currently re-writing A Seriously Useful Authors Guide to Marketing and Publicising Books for New Generation Publishing, so I'm very busy. More news to come as things come together. Mary

Change of Plan

Currently, the plan to self-publish Angela is on hold, as I am investigating another very interesting possibility . . . . I can't give away too many details,but watch this space and some news may be announced.

Hallo after an age away!!

It is many months since I've blogged, and I'd like to thank those of you who still look me up - and there are quite a few which is great news. My time has been spent in many ways. Firstly my literary agent and I parted company back in the new year - my decision not hers. I won't go into any details, as it's unprofessional, so let's just say it didn't work out. Thus, I have spent a great deal of time and effort trying to find a publisher for my fourth novel, 'Who Was Angela Zendalic' but haven't been successful (so far). Currently the plan is to bring it out myself in March next year. It's a great read and therefore so worth it. I've already tried it out to test readers and the feedback has been 100% positive. I will be posting my journey as it happens, so do keep in touch. Be back soon, Mary

Update

I haven't updated the blog site for such a long time, have I? This is largely due to the exhaustion I felt on completing 'Max' and having a rest over Christmas. I really needed that break more than I realised. The three intensive months of completing Max rather took it out of me, and I still feel quite depleted with energy.

I am spending my time now taking the publicity of Max at a steady pace, sewing gardening and spending some time on relaxation. I am also perfecting Novel Four - Who Was Angela Zendalic
Do check back in a couple of weeks when I have 'recharged my batteries'.

E-Book Diary (7)

Well, I think the e-book process is, at last, coming together, and I am beginning to understand what its all about.

The formatted version of Max was sent to me by e-mail. However, I couldn't open it up and have a look as my computer 'doesn't recognise' its format. Quite normal, I'm told.

The correctly sized cover was sent to me, 600x800 pixels, as directed by Amazon and I'm very pleased with it.

I discovered an independant firm in Oxford who specialise in producing e-books and setting them up on Amazon, and they agreed to come to my house and do the necessary. This was done on Wednesday.

Firstly there was some technical tinkering to get the formatted version converted to Adobe, and something else, for Amazon. Wisely I kept out of this part as I couldn't have grasped it. Once you have opened a KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) account, and filling in your bank details (I did this all on my own so it really is easy) you are ready to complete the loading up form.

We firstly had to choose royalties - 70% or 35% - and there are some guidelines on this. I have gone for 70%, and a purchase price of £2.95, (but VAT has to added to this initially). The price has to be put up in dollars as well, but there is a conversion chart to follow.

There is also a para to put up to advertise your book - the same sort of blurb that you would put on the back cover of a paperback. I slapped something up rather quickly and it really needed much more thought and preparation. It needed to be changed, so more of that later, when it's been done successfully.

Anyway, the e-book winged its way off into space and I was told that it wouldn't show up for 24 hours. Currently the US version only is showing up, but as I made some changes to my 'blurb' this is likely what's causing the delay.

There are still some things to do - like working around a form to exempt you for US tax (alot more on that to come). Also, we didn't get round to doing an 'author page', so that too, will be for later.

Anyway, that's all folks, for now, and I will be back soon with news of the completed process.

Saturday, 19 November 2011

New Blog

You will all see that I have a re-vamped blog. This has been done to co-ordinate with my new website, www.marycavanagh.co.uk that will be fully operational very shortly.

Current position of the e-book. The formatted text and cover are completed. However, having read the excellent guidelines from Amazon (several times) as to how to put the book up for download, I still don't have the confidence to do it myself. Thus I am trying to find an expert who will come to my house and sit with me while we do it together. This is the only way I'll have the confidence that it will work.

I hope its not too long, as I am now very anxious to get the job finished.

E-book diary (7)

My biggest hassle, currently, is working my way around the ISBN registration with Nielsens. My story is this. I bought ten ISBN numbers with the idea that the Oxford Writers Group (OxPens) could use the numbers for all their various productions, including our very successful anthologies. It then came to light that as I was, technically, 'the publisher' all distribution etc had to come via me, which I couldn't cope with. Thus the group used WritersPrintshop and used one of their ISBN's. The blurb said Published by OxPens in conjuction with WritersPrintshop. Simple and straighforward, but now I am 'solo' and using my own numbers 'Max' has to be registered on-line through WebPub, Nielsens on-line data storage service. This involves User names and Passwords. Fine I can log on but a) I can't work out how to get them to accept my book details and b) they have asked for my BicCode. . . What on earth is that? Sigh. When I've worked out what to do I will post my findings

E-Diary (6)

I have mentioned editing in the past and it's come up again. In addition to the e-book I have decided to commission 200 paperbacks as an alternative option, and hopefully for libraries. (More of that later) However, on writing the back cover blurb I suddenly decided that I needed to change the name of a character. Not difficult on spellchecker but I had to ask Justin to change the 'master copy'. I also discovered that I had made three mistakes in using the plural version of the family name. I could have let it go, but I couldn't so I had to approach Justin again. So annoyed at myself.

E-Book diary (5)

Justin has told me that the e-book formatting formula will only allow one font to be used. I don't know what it is as I haven't asked, but I will. This is appropriate to me because I always write the main story story in the present with Verdana, and use Times New Roman for the 'in the past' sections. However, as the 'past' sections are clearly labelled with the date (i.e 1990)there will not be a problem. Italicized sections and size changes of the font are fine.

E-book diary (4)

The completed manuscript of Max has gone off to Justin, who will be formatting it for ebook status. I emailed him an ordinary Word Document and he is able to work with this.

It's worth mentioning here that I sent it to him with every spacing between chapters and 'new' sections scrutinised for uniformity. Ditto for intalicised sections and font sizes. It is amazing how many errors I found and it took me all day to get it right. Having said that it will be so annoying if I find any errors in the text that I've missed - but even with professional editing this can happen - one seriously bad editor changed my 'chaise longue' to chaise lounger!!

E-book diary (3a)

I meant to say that if you don't have your own ISBN numbers, and you want to publish an e-book, Smashwords is the place to go to

E-Book diary (3)

I am not ashamed to admit I am terrified of computer technology. Sometimes you are trying to do something and it all mucks up, only to be given gobble-de-gook instructions as to what to do with your software. Two latest tricks have been 'update Microsoft Window 7 to Windows 9'. If anyone has done this they will find that their lovely familiar set-up is completely ruined, and in my case I had to call in technical help to restore 7 (which I love).

This week I have been fighting my way through registering 'Max MacCauley' with one of my own ISBN number with Nielsen's. I am aware that this isn't essential for Amazon/Kindle, but it is for me. I am publishing it as an Oxpens Publishing book, which is the name first used by the Oxford Writers Group (OWG)with their hugely succesful Oxford anthologies. The numbers were purchased by myself, with the idea that we could use them for the group, and any other member who wished to bring out a publication. The stumbling block was that I would have become 'The Publisher' and thus incur a huge amount of distribution work.

When you are publishing an e-book, it seems you have to register with WebPub, part of Nielsen's that allows you to put up your own details, and lots more info about your work. I think I have sussed what it's all about, with superb personal help from 'the man at Nielsen's' but it's a minor minefield that you have to negotiate.

Secondly I bought a non-royalty book cover picture from an American firm called www.bigstock.com. I love it - very colourful and eye-catching, and reminds me of the very memorable 'One Day' cover. The vector size, needed by Nathan, my wonderful graphic designer, was only £9.99. Brilliant I thought. But then it seems I have to buy it again for the 'e-mail publicity brochure' and yet again for the 'paper brochure'. Actally not too painful as another cover pic I wanted from elsewhere was £150. However, I have discovered that if I ever want to use it for a POD paperback I would have to pay a fee for every copy . . . impossible. Therefore, if I want to produce paper backs I have to go for the print-run method.

Otherwise, all going well. Mx is completed and sent off for formatting.

E-Book (2)

This week I have been editing, and editing and editing. This is because I am preparing 'Max MacCauley' for a review, and of course, it must be presented in the best way possible. One of the things I emphasised in my text book, A Seriously Useful Author's Guide, was that although it looked perfect on-screen, the printed out version told another story. I printed out on Friday, thinking there was very little to do, and got a huge shock. It was rubbish!! So I have become boggle-eyed reading and re-reading.

One of the dithers I have is whether or not to use the 'Oxford' comma. Modern thinking says not, but it's still 'my way' to use it. However, not using it on screen works well, but it doesn't look right (to me) on paper.

I think I had better leave it, send it to my reviewer, and go over it again before I send it to the technician who will do the formatting for the e-book.

The E-Book Diary (1)

The Manuscript

When you are contemplating putting your novel on Amazon Kindle as an e-book there are a great many stages that have to be completed. I will be writing up each stage as it happens to me personally, as no two people's experiences are the same. And also I am still unsure of exactly how the system works! There is a great deal of information supplied by Amazon and this can be found under 'Self-Publish With Us'. However, unless you are computer literate it can be confusing. This is why I am having technical help when I get to the formatting stage - there is no way that I could work my way through it on my own.

As an author the first and most important stage is the text. The main criticisms thrown at the e-book is the standard of editing can sometimes be very poor. The reputation of your book does not only lie with your excellent storyline and stunning prose - if you are 'new' to the publication game make sure that it's in perfect literary order.

So, for now I am reading through, editing, reading through, and editing, to try and make sure that all errors are corrected and my text is the best I can make it. Once this has been achieved I will be sending it to a fellow author for a cold read through. More to come.

News

After a period of 'not very much news to report' it's now 'all happening'! My third novel will be published initially as a Kindle/e-book and I'm really pleased that it will soon be 'out there' and available to be read. The title has been changed (again) and the final title will be -

Max McCauley: All He Ever Wanted Was A Quiet Life

Although the e-book is now an accepted platform for novels, and the process is widely thought of as a 'five-minute job', this is far from the truth. The process, if done professionally and thoroughly, is far from that. Therefore I will be posting a diary of the whole process, from computer manuscript to a downloadable e-book, to include all the steps along the way (and there are many) that have to done - and done properly.

So please join me in my journey. Watch this space

Author Talk

On Friday 10th June at 2.00pm, as part of Wantage Summer Festival, I will be giving a talk at the Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage. The title is 'Creating Memorable Fiction - The Art of the Storyteller'. Tickets are free and bookable by ringing the museum on 01235 771447. Seating is limited and I'm told seats are nearly sold out.

The Crowded Bed has been chosen by the Museum book group as their read for June so I will also be answering any questions or discussing the book in general.

Copies of The Crowded Bed and A Man Like Any Other will be available - and even signed if you would like me to!

Meet Abingdon Writers

Here is some news about an event that will take place at 10.30 on Tuesday, 17th May, at Abingdon Library. No booking required - just turn up for coffee and biscuits.

Meet Abingdon Writers
Abingdon's own lively creative writing group was created by a group of isolated writers who were seeking support, help and social contact with like minded people.

Come and hear them discuss their work, their motivation, what made them want to be writers and how their journey towards publication works.

Once again!! Please go away

Once again I have have been having to put up with telephone calls from a 'stalker'. i.e several daily phone calls from someone who clearly doesn't choose to speak for several seconds and then then hangs up. If YOU are my phone pest then can I remind you that I have a friend (ex-police with many contacts) who has ways of finding out who you are. So, once again, go away before you are caught and charged with harrassment

Library Talk

I will be giving a talk at Abingdon Library on Tuesday 15th February to co-incide with Valentine's Day. Start time 10.30 am, for coffee and biscuits, and all you have to do is turn up. No booking necessary.

The title will be 'Love In The Third Age' and examines 'enduring' love, and new found love in the later years.

The resources used will be the legend of Borcis and Philemon, Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs, The Browns from Cider With Rosie, and A Short History of Tractors In The Ukraine.'