Business of Books: Jane Cable interviews designer and digital marketing specialist Aimee Coveney

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Jane Cable

BUSINESS OF BOOKS: BETTER BY DESIGN

Jane Cable interviews designer and digital marketing specialist Aimee Coveney

What is your book-related job or business?

I started out by opening my own freelance design consultancy after finding my niche of working with industry professionals and directly with authors themselves. I am now co-founder of Bookollective and run the Design and Digital Marketing areas of the business. As part of this, I regularly design book covers, websites and promotional material, as well as running social media campaigns and blog tours. I see design and digital marketing as increasingly appreciated areas of the publishing sector, with many having put these on the back burner for years. Design is key to visually presenting yourself as an author and also transitions over to the marketing of your work both on and offline. Digital marketing is regularly misused, but its values are increasingly apparent to authors and professionals. When understood and targeted correctly it can quickly grow your visibility and credibility within the marketplace.

What is the most rewarding part of it?

I love hearing back from authors and publishers on how much they love a design; especially book covers. After what can be years of writing their book, it can often be an emotional moment seeing it in its final ‘wrapping’. I think independent authors sometimes feel their writing doesn’t deserve a professional design and when they decide to take that route, it is an honour to be the person to work with them and create something that visually represents their hard work. Publishers are always passionate about books and I love their enthusiasm for good design.

On the digital marketing side, I love finding new opportunities and contacts for both authors and Bookollective as a business. There’s no greater feeling than building on something you feel strongly about and helping others to do the same. Interacting online, sharing knowledge and the Bookollective mission to create a community within the publishing industry is a reward in itself.

What do you consider to be your major successes?

With a vast amount of books being published every day, it is always a success when one you represent gets favourably acknowledged in some way. This year I was thrilled to win a cover design award and also seeing my expertise recognised with an article in the UK’s bestselling writing magazine. Bookollective was also ‘Start-up of the Week’ in The Bookseller which was a fantastic accolade. It’s been a busy and exciting start to the year and I can’t wait to see what else it will bring.

Have you always loved books and what are you reading at the moment?

Absolutely! I can vaguely remember being delighted at winning a book whilst in nursery: it’s one of my earliest memories. I grew up reading classics such as Beatrix Potter and Judy Blume before being brave enough to read outside of my comfort zone and now enjoy a wide array of genres. At the moment I am reading Asking For It by Louise O’Neill; an emotional roller-coaster for me. I don’t read every book that I work with, but I am a self-confessed book hoarder!

Bio: Having enjoyed years in the publishing industry, Aimee’s award-winning experience means she is well-placed to offer top advice on the design and online marketing of your book/s. Aimee regularly contributes articles for the ALLI Self-Publishing blog as well as other publishing related websites and magazines. Aimee is a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors.

To find out more about Bookollective’s services for authors and publishers, visit her website bookollective.com

You can connect with Aimee on social media:

Twitter: @authordesigner / @bookollective Facebook: @bookollective

For further information, authors & publishers can email: aimee@bookollective.com

The Hourglass By Tracy Rees Book Review

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Catherine Balavage

The Hourglass is a book that hooked me quickly and would not let go. Set in the present and the past: The Hourglass perfectly intertwines the stories of Nora, a woman in her forties who is troubled by anxiety and feels like her life is falling apart, and Chloe, a teenager in 1950. Both go to Tenby in Wales but have a different story to tell. Tracy Rees is an excellent writer. Her characters are so well rounded you feel you know them, and she really knows how to set a scene. I want to go to Wales now. The Hourglass is a brilliant, atmospheric, and multi-layered book that will leave you guessing until the end. Unputdownable

2014. Nora has always taken success for granted, until suddenly her life begins to fall apart. Troubled by anxiety and nightmares, she finds herself drawn to the sweeping beaches of Tenby, a place she’s only been once before. Together with a local girl she rents a beautiful townhouse and slowly begins to settle in to her new life. But Tenby hides a secret, and Nora will soon discover that this little town by the sea has the power to heal even the most painful memories.

1950. Chloe visits Tenby every summer. She stays with relatives, and spends the long, idyllic days on the beach. Every year is the same, until she meets a glamorous older boy and is instantly smitten. But on the night of their first date, Chloe comes to a realisation, the aftermath of which could haunt her forever.

The Hourglass is a moving novel about finding love even after it seems too late and the healing power of a magical place by the sea.

The Hourglass By Tracy Rees is available here.

The Business of Books: Passion For Publishing

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Jane Cable

the-business-of-books-interviewswithjanecable

This week I’m genuinely excited to welcome Karen Sullivan, the powerhouse behind the most talked-about independent publisher in the UK

1) What is your book related job or business?

I am publisher and owner of Orenda Books, an independent publisher that specializes in literary fiction, with a heavy emphasis on crime thrillers and about half in translation. We turned ‘two’ last November.

2) What is the most rewarding part of it?

In all honesty, all of it is rewarding. It is a genuine privilege to be in a position to work with talented authors from around the world, and to bring them and their brilliant books to readers. The Orenda list is very much my own taste, and I account to no one, so while I can often feel quite exposed when a new book comes out, it makes the positive response all the more exciting. With each little success, there is more attention paid to the list as a whole, and everyone benefits.

I love the thrill of finding a new book, and working with authors from the moment a book is signed, right through the editing process and then onto marketing and PR and even sales … none of the original excitement is diluted en route. One of the most moving and satisfying parts of my job is publishing debuts, making some often very long-held dreams a reality. I work incredibly long hours, but as we inch towards increasingly strong book sales across all formats, shortlists for awards, mainstream press, invitations to prestigious festivals, and fantastic endorsements from highly regarded authors, every challenging moment is worthwhile and I am in a constant state of wonder that this is mine!

karen sullivan, writing, publishing, Jane cable

Credit: Ian Patrick

3) What do you consider to be your major successes?

There have been many! It was fabulous to be shortlisted (twice) for the Nick Robinson Newcomer Award at the Independent Publishing Awards. Watching Ragnar Jonasson’s debut novel Snowblind knock The Girl on the Train off the number-one kindle spot for the first time was unbelievable (sorry, Paula!), as were the exceptional sales of the Dark Iceland series. We’ve had three books selected for the excellent WHSmith Fresh Talent promotion (Amanda Jennings’ In Her Wake, Agnes Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal [translated by Rosie Hedger] and Matt Wesolowski’s Six Stories), and The Bird Tribunal was a Radio 4 Book at Bedtime. Ragnar’s Nightblind won Most Captivating Crime in Translation at the Dead Good Reads Awards at Harrogate, and In Her Wake was shortlisted for Most Recommended Read. Louise Beech’s How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Pick, as was Ragnar’s Blackout. David F. Ross’s The Last Days of Disco was sold for stage to the Scottish National Theatre, and to Random House in Germany. It was the first-ever book that I published, and a massive boost!

There are more of these ‘individual successes’, but I suppose the most exciting thing is to see the company grow. We quadrupled turnover in less than two years, and Orenda Books is definitely becoming a recognizable name both with readers and in the trade. Every positive review (and there are thousands), every bit of support from the ‘community’, every opportunity to bring my brilliant authors to festivals and events and bookshops, has added to the thrill of it all.

4) Have you always loved books, and what are you reading at the moment?

I have always been a reader. My dad was transferred a lot when I was young, and books were my solace and my friends. I would take a dozen books out of the library every week and be transported! When I was about eleven, I read a novel where the protagonist got a job in a publishing house, reading the slush pile. I couldn’t believe it! That was a job? And here I am! I always have a few books on the go. I’m reading Stav Sherez’s The Intrusions and Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent at the moment, plus first drafts by Orenda authors, including Louise Beech’s Maria in the Moon and Michael J. Malone’s House of Spines. All are AMAZING!

Karen Sullivan is founder and publisher of independent publisher Orenda Books, and a Bookseller Rising Star for 2016.

How To Have More Than 100 Titles Published

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Jane Cable

This week I talk to multi-published and multi-talented author and writing tutor, Karen King.

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

The short answer is all of it! Writing – and teaching writing – is how I earn my living. So every day I’m either writing, visiting schools to talk about writing, running a writing course, marking writing students’ assignments or doing social media about my books.

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

Keep writing. Be flexible. Be aware of the market. Be dedicated. I’ve often worked to commissions so I’ve had to be adaptable, to work to publishers’ briefs and keep track of current trends. As I earn my living from writing it’s a priority for me. Writing comes first, ironing and cleaning is way behind. I had four young children when I first started writing so worked around them, early in the morning, evening and late at night. Writing for magazines meant I had deadlines to work to and, at first, this was the days before email so I had to write up my story/article or whatever, and get it in the post often within a few hours.

What do you write and what do you consider to be your major successes?
I’ve been a published writer for over thirty years now and for the first twenty years I wrote solely for children. I started off my writing career writing for teen magazines like Jackie, Patches and Loving then moved on young children’s magazines such as Thomas the Tank Engine, My Little Pony, Barbie and Sindy. I wrote photo stories, comic strips, short stories, articles, puzzles, the lot. I even wrote a horoscope page and a problem page. Alongside this, I wrote children’s books. Now I tend to write mainly YA and chicklit. I was really delighted when Accent Press contracted me for three chicklit novels, and offered to republish my backlist too. They have such a great reputation and are a delight to work for. That’s my major success so far.

Tell me about your latest project.

I’ve just finished my third chicklit for Accent Press. The second one comes out in July, it’s called The Cornish Hotel by the Sea, and the cover is so lovely I keep looking at it. Accent are also republishing my YA Perfect Summer on 10 May. It’s got a fab new cover and has been completely revised. I’m really excited about it as it deals with two themes close to my heart, the pressure society puts on people to have perfect looks and how people with disabilities are treated. The tagline is ‘In a society obsessed with perfection, being different is a crime’ so that gives you a big clue to the plot.

Author Bio

Karen King is a multi-published author of children’s books, YA and romantic fiction. She has had 120 children’s books published, three romantic novels and several short stories for women’s magazines. She is also a writing tutor. Her YA Perfect Summer is released on 10 May and her second chicklit, The Cornish Hotel by the Sea will be released in July.

Contact links

www.karenking.net

Amazon Author Page

Karen King Children’s Books Facebook

Karen King Romance Author Facebook

British Book Awards: Books of the Year shortlists announced

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Frostie

The six category shortlists for the 2017 Books of the Year Awards were announced at the 2017 London Book Fair by Chair of the Judges and Contributing Editor of The Bookseller Cathy Rentzenbrink who said “there’s innovation, experimentation, good old-fashioned story-telling and beautiful production values.”

2016 marked a step-change in the British Book Industry Awards. A complete revamp of the Books of the Year, creating four new categories – for Children’s, Début Fiction, Fiction and Non-fiction – with an overall Book of the Year winner, was introduced to celebrate the books that best demonstrated the real value of publishing; a close collaboration between publisher and author that culminates in something extraordinary for the reader. This year, industry magazine The Bookseller, which runs the awards has acquired the British Book Awards, meaning that it will run as a unified event for the first time since 2004. Now known as The British Book Awards (or “Nibbies”), the 2017 ceremony is further expanded to include additional book awards:Crime and Thriller titles will have their own category, while non-fiction is split into Narrative and Lifestyle.

The winners will be revealed at a glamorous awards ceremony on Monday 8 May at Grosvenor House in central London which will bring together authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians and literary agents for a night celebrating the entire book industry.

The shortlists, which consist of six books in each of the six categories and which uniquely honour not just the author and illustrator of a title but the entire publishing team, are:

Books of the Year – 2017 shortlists

Fiction BOOK OF THE YEAR

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry (Faber & Faber)

The Sellout by Paul Beatty (Oneworld)

The Muse by Jessie Burton (Picador)

Cartes Postales from Greece by Victoria Hislop (Headline Review)

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell (Headline)

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (Serpent’s Tail)

Debut BOOK OF THE YEAR

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon (Borough Press)

The Girls by Emma Cline (Chatto & Windus)

My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal (Penguin General)

What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell (Picador)

Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain by Barney Norris (Doubleday)

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (Faber)

Crime and Thriller BOOK OF THE YEAR

The Widow by Fiona Barton (Bantam Press)

Dodgers by Bill Beverley (No Exit Press)

Night School by Lee Child (Bantam Press)

Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant (Mulholland Books)

Conclave by Robert Harris (Hutchinson)

I See You by Claire Mackintosh (Little, Brown)

Non-fiction: Narrative BOOK OF THE YEAR

Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon (Headline)

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (The Bodley Head)

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot (Canongate)

East West Street by Philippe Sands (W&N)

The Good Immigrant, ed by Nikesh Shukla (Unbound)

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (S&S)

Non-fiction: Lifestyle BOOK OF THE YEAR

Hello, is this Planet Earth? By Tim Peake (Century)

Sidemen The Book by The Sidemen (Coronet)

The Unmumsy Mum by Sarah Turner (Bantam Press)

Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent (Quercus)

Lean in 15: The Sustain Plan by Joe Wicks (Bluebird)

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking (Penguin Life)

Children’s BOOK OF THE YEAR

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher, Shane Devries (illus) (Puffin)

Oi Dog! Kes and Claire Gray and Jim Field (Hodder)

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story by Nadiya Hussain, Clair Rossiter (illus) (Hodder)

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargreave (Chicken House)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J K Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (Little, Brown and Pottermore)

The World’s Worst Children by David Walliams and Tony Ross (Harper Collins Children’s Books)

The category winners will be decided by six panels of judges, and a separate panel will go on to choose the overall Book of the Year. The category winners and the Book of the Year will be announced at the awards ceremony on 8 May 2017.

Comments from the judges:

Cathy Rentzenbrink, chair of the judges said: “What a delight it is to be celebrating the huge variety on offer from UK publishing. Our shortlists are full of unleashed imaginations, smart ideas, brave new worlds and personal stories tamed on to the page. There’s innovation, experimentation, good old-fashioned story-telling and beautiful production values. It is a joy to judge this prize and to be able to consider every part of the journey from the author’s mind to the readers’ hands.”

Sarah Shaffi, Online Editor at The Bookseller and deputy chair of judges said: “At the core of the 36 fantastic books on our shortlist are great writing and great stories, which are illuminated by passionate authors, agents, publishers, retailers and more who help get the book from dream to reality. Celebrating the work of an entire team is key to our awards, and it’s wonderful to be able to shine a light on the many people involved in helping a book succeed.”

Produced by leading industry magazine The Bookseller, the British Book Awards represent a high point in the book trade’s calendar, with winners including Publisher of the Year, Book Retailer of the Year, and Independent Bookshop of the Year. TheBooks of the Year awards recognise the publishing as well as the books, with both author and publisher as recipients of the prize.

Easter Gift Idea For Little Ones: Gifts Hub’s Personalised Books

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Catherine Balavage

We were bowled over by Gifts Hub’s Personalised Books for little ones. They come in a gorgeous presentation box, and the books are stunning. The book is personalised on the front and throughout. You can also include a personal message in the opening page.

Journey into the World with “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Book

Personalised gifting group, Gifts Hub, make these books. We really loved the children’s classic, Journey with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book. The children’s book is available to purchase on the group’s UK websites, I Just Love It and Historic Newspapers

This new edition stars international-bestselling and award-winning author Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, bringing the iconic caterpillar into the 21st Century for a new generation to enjoy.

Once the book has been personalised, The Very Hungry Caterpillar takes on the chosen name, resulting in the recipient becoming the star of the book. This creates a unique and personalised story for any child, as they embark on a special journey into the world.

Each page has been illustrated and written in homage to author Eric Carle, and his unique drawing and writing style can be seen on every page. Colourful, bold illustrations are teamed with large text to engage and entertain any reader.

The new book can be personalised with a child’s name, which features on the front cover and throughout the copy, and a message, which features on the title page of the book.

A bespoke, embossed pastel gift box has also been produced as a luxury presentation option which is included in the price with any purchase of the new book. The presentation box really takes the gift to another level.

The Personalised Journey with the Very Hungry Caterpillar (I Just Love It) and Personalised Journey with the Hungry Little Caterpillar (Historic Newspapers) books are available to purchase now for £24.99.

Gifthub also have:

Thomas The Tank Engine. A personalised edition of a classic railway series story.

Another beautiful book. Personalised on the front and throughout. This is a great story with wonderful illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby.

We can highly recommend these gorgeous books which are published by Signature Books. They are classic books with beautiful illustrations, all personalised to your child. Frost loves.

Shipyard Girls at War By Nancy Revell Book Review

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Catherine Balavage

Published 23rd March 2017 Arrow

Paperback Original, £5.99 Also available as an eBook

Arrow have a speciality in publishing these sweeping historical novels. It is easy to see why the genre is so popular in general, but also why Nancy Revell’s books are so popular. Researched within an inch of its life; the novel is enjoyably entertaining. A perfect way to spend hours, wrapped up in the characters lives. This is the second book in The Shipyard Girls saga and it is not only just as good as the first, but a perfect continuation. Recommended reading.

The second book in the compelling saga series The Shipyard Girls Perfect for fans of Donna Douglas and Ellie Dean
1941: It takes strength to work on the docks, but the war demands all hands on deck and the women are doing their best to fill the gap.
Rosie is flourishing in her role as head-welder while still keeping her double life a secret. But a dashing detective is forcing Rosie to choose between love and her duty.
Gloria is hiding her own little secret – one that if found out, could not only threaten her job, but her life.
The shipyards are proving tougher than Polly ever imagined, while she waits for her man to return home safely.
Join the shipyard girls as they journey through the hardships of life, love and war.
About the author:
Nancy Revell is a writer and journalist under another name, and has worked for many national newspapers, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.
Nancy has recently relocated back to her home town of Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, with her husband Paul and their English Bull Mastiff, Rosie. They live a short walk from the beautiful, award-winning beaches of Roker and Seaburn, within a mile of where The Shipyard Girls series is set. The subject is close to Nancy’s heart as she comes from a long line of shipbuilders, who were well-known in the area.

Some interesting facts:

* During research for The Shipyard Girls, writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton found that the remarkable women who did some of the most dangerous work in both the First and Second World War have now died with little recognition or praise for the work they did and the conditions they encountered.
* During World War Two seven hundred women worked in the Sunderland shipyards carrying out dangerous and backbreaking jobs, previously only been deemed suitable for men, such as welding, riveting, burning and rivet catching, as well as general labouring, operating cranes, and painting.
* The conditions in which the women laboured were harsh and hazardous, with scant regard paid to health and safety. They also had to contend with constant air strikes by Hitler’s Luftwaffe, and many of the women workers would do so with the added worry that their children were in another part of the town.
* The yards in the ‘Biggest Shipbuilding Town in the World’ produced a quarter of Britain’s merchant shipping at the time, causing it to become one of the most heavily bombed towns during the war.
* It is believed that without the shipyards, the country would have been forced to surrender, as the cargo vessels being built were essential for the transportation of vital food, fuel and minerals, as well as taking troops to wherever they were needed in the fight against the Axis alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan.

The Book Publicist EllyDonovanPR talks to Jane Cable

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Jane Cable

What is your book-related job or business?

I am a freelance book publicist carrying out PR campaigns for authors and publishers. I try to obtain reviews, articles and interviews about my clients’ books in newspapers and magazines – and on the internet, the radio or television. This type of publicity can help boost book sales as well as raising the author’s profile: a good review, an article or an interview in the media is more likely to get a book (and its author) noticed than expensive advertising might do.

Nonetheless, book publicity is an extremely competitive and there are no guarantees of success. With approximately 500 new books published every single day in the UK (yes, 500 every day!) it is impossible for every new book to get the media attention it may deserve.

Every day, busy journalists and broadcasters are inundated with communications from publishers and authors who are trying to grab their attention with news of forthcoming books. A professional PR campaign may improve an author’s chances of success. A professional book-publicist knows and understands the media – and knows how to give a book the best possible chance of media coverage in this tough industry.

What is the most rewarding part of it?

It is very satisfying to help authors make the most of their PR opportunities (eg: helping them with their interview technique or advising on their use of social media etc). New authors soon discover that writing their book is just the first step in a long journey. These days, authors are also expected to be experts at marketing, sales and PR – as well as being good writers. It can be an extremely frustrating and bewildering experience for some novice authors.

Assisting authors by carrying out their PR campaigns and then supporting them in the lead-up to publication and during the first few months after is extremely rewarding for me. It is always a pleasure to hear an author’s reaction on receiving their first good review or when they hear themselves performing well on the radio or when their TV appearance gets lots of ‘Likes’ on social media. And, naturally, the lovely comments, thank-you cards and testimonials that I receive from authors also mean the world to me.

What do you consider to be your major successes?

With so many books being published, only a tiny percentage of books achieve any nationwide publicity at all. This is why it is always a thrill when I see or hear my authors appearing in the national media as a result of my efforts. Even after all these years in the business, I still get a ‘buzz’ from seeing one of my authors on TV or hearing them interviewed on the radio or reading a good review of their book in a quality newspaper. However, my successes are not always measured in circulation figures or audience numbers. Sometimes niche coverage in the right publication can be an even more effective way to reach the perfect book-buying audience for a particular book.

Have you always loved books and what are you reading at the moment?

I’ve always loved reading so studying English literature at University was a pleasure, not a chore. In my professional life, I make a point of reading every one of the many books I promote. (It may surprise you but not all book publicists read the books they promote.) Currently, for my work, I am reading one novel and one memoir written by my clients. In my free time, I am also enjoying Jeremy Paxman’s autobiography, A Life in Questions.

Brighton-based EllyDonovanPR has worked in publishing and PR since graduating in 1980. She is a Member of The Publishers’ Publicity Circle;

and a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors.

To find out more about EllyDonovanPR ‘s services for authors and publishers, visit her website ellydonovan.co.uk

You can connect with Elly on social media:

twitter: @EllyDonovanPR facebook.com/elly.donovan.7

Linked-In: Elly Donovan PR

For further information, authors & publishers can email: elly@ellydonovan.co.uk

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