From West Coast to West Country by Maya Pieris

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Antonia Squire is building up a loyal clientele for the Bridport Bookshop including dogs- they love the classy doggy biltong available and not just with a book buy. Brought up in Surrey and educated in Harrogate, Antonia upped sticks aged 20 for California, married an American and was happily living in the world of independent bookshops in San Francisco- first Kepler’s and then The Reading Bug- where she was the children’s book buyer amongst other roles.

Until a holiday in the UK in 2014 when they did a progress from Yorkshire to Cornwall and became one of many smitten with the idea of the south-west and Cornwall. She came across the sale details for the Bridport Bookshop, voted one of the Guardian’s top 50 indie bookshops, took a detour on the way back to Heathrow and discovered the delights of the town and the potential of the shop, one of several book emporiums including two excellent second hand/antiquarian shops, a Waterstones and a wonderful Oxfam which has a brilliant range of “loved” Penguins.

The result was changing coast and country but still keeping the west bit and, with husband and dogs in tow, becoming a bookshop owner. And discovering the challenges involved in running a business in a new country! Small but vital changes were made to the shop’s geography, not quite Hogwarts, but involving moving the counter to the back of the shop so the customer can see in and the staff can see out and increasing the size and range of the stock. “I’m a bookseller. The stock is the most important element of the shop and knowing what people are going to want to read and not just what a publisher wants to see displayed is more art than science”.

She sees no problems with co-existing with the variety of other booksellers, her goal is to be the place people come to find the things they don’t know they want. Almost a year on, she is well on the way to establishing that indie bookshops are an invaluable resource to a town. So many people want the individual experience that can only be achieved by a true “shopkeeper” and, she has observed, people are very loyal, although she has had to tone down the “hi my name is kelly how are you today?” customer service style – less touch feely than she’s been used to but she still says hello!

And she is aware of the potential of the indie bookshop as a grassroots support for the community, working more closely with schools in supporting their curriculum needs as well as providing a venue for local authors to promote their works and judging local poetry and fiction slams. In particular she has developed links with the Open Book festival, a festival for and by the local community about literacy rather than literature which is more the remit of the more formal Bridport Literary Festival (which she is also working with to help develop the Children’s Programming). The shop will be supporting the Bridport Big Read as well as a pop up drama production. So over halfway through her first year she is restoring an independent bookshop into the literary and literate heart of the town. And she giftwraps the books too!
* Frost would love to hear about other Independent Bookshops – contact: frost@margaret-graham.com

Anthology shows off North East’s poetic prowess

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Margaret Graham

A SPECIALLY commissioned anthology of North East poetry is set to be launched by the Northern Poetry Library.

‘Among Woods and Water’ is a collection of poems penned by Northern Poetry Library poets in residence and celebrates the region’s poetic legacy, and future.

The works also reflect the experiences of the poets in residence who have spent time with members of the public across the library’s native North East, working with the community groups to explore different poetic forms and encourage more people to create poetry.

The anthology features one original poem by each of the six poets and separate collaborative pieces devised by groups.

Lisa Matthews, the Northern Poetry Library’s lead poet in residence, said: “Among Woods and Water is a beautiful exploration of North East poetry.

Our poets were commissioned to create pieces that speak about the region and most importantly the people who inspire all of the works in our library.

“This anthology is an important record of the communities they worked with, and their poetic experiences and feelings.”

Pieces in the anthology span a wide range of subjects from landscapes, identity, and mortality.

A series of live readings will help to launch the anthology in the North East.

The events include:

June 9, John Challis at Newcastle University Percy Building G.05 – 5-7pm
July 7, Jo Colley and Lisa Matthews at Morpeth Library, The Chantry – 3:30pm
July 12, Carolyn Jess-Cooke at Alnwick Bailiffgate – 7pm
July 14, Degna Stone at Berwick Library – 2pm

More information about the anthology and the events programme can be found on the NPL’s new website http://northernpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Words for the Wounded: Review of 2nd Place Winner

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Words for the Wounded: review of 2^nd Place winner.

The Man Who Didn’t Go To Newcastle by Alison Clink

(published by Matador)

‘Lovely pace and voice… It’s a really moving exploration of siblings across their lives and most importantly, mortality.’

Felicity Trew (Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency)

‘In June 2007 whilst out walking my dog, I opened a text from my brother saying: Am in St Georges – Rodney Smith Ward. Ring me. A.’ Alison’s brother Adrian had been admitted to St. George’s Hospital in Tooting with a cut hand and low blood pressure. Tests had led to more serious concerns and he was calling on Alison to be with him when the consultant brought results of a biopsy on his lung. Alison heeded his call and took the train up to London the next day, only to find that the results weren’t available. She then went back to Somerset, with no idea of what the next few months would hold for them both. Whilst juggling her home life – at a time when her four children still lived at home – with long-distance hospital visiting, Alison tried her best to cope and make plans when Adrian eventually told her that, following the results, he’d been given a year to live. She had no idea then that he wasn’t being entirely truthful…
Judge’s comments: In The Man Who Didn’t go to Newcastle Alison Clink charts her care of her terminally ill slightly older brother, Adrian, with a lovely pace and voice and creates a really moving exploration of siblings across their lives and most importantly, mortality. This is a situation which unearths not only memories of the past they have shared, but an awareness of their separate adult lives, especially as friends of his arrive to cheer him on. With each visitor it seems, another puzzle piece is put in place. Throughout this memoir Clink weaves the present and past together with a honesty which reveals the difficulties of caring for someone who is no more perfect than the rest of us. There is not only sadness but humour, and implicit tension but it was felt that the diary structure was a little constricting. A more complex play with point of view rather than the date and time of the diary might have made it stand-out more.

It is interesting to consider how Clink’s undoubted and empathetic writing skills would be translated into fiction. She already writes short stories so let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long for an Alison Clink novel. Bravo. A worthy 2nd place.

About Alison Clink:

Alison Clink is a writer and creative writing teacher living in Somerset.

Over fifty of her short stories have been published both in the UK and abroad. Several of her stories have been broadcast on Radio 4 and two short plays have been performed in Frome and Bristol.

Alison runs a drop-in creative writing group at Babington House near Mells, Somerset on Wednesday mornings 10am – 12. This is for members of Babington House, guests of the house and my guests.

She also write critiques for aspiring writers, and gives talks to writing groups.

Her memoir, The Man Who Didn’t Go To Newcastle, is now published by Troubador and her first novel, Two Blackberry Lane is close to completion. You can find her on facebook and twitter.
Alison says:

‘I am delighted to be supporting the ‘words for the wounded’ charity.’

www.alisonclink.co.uk

Words for the Wounded: Review of the First Place Entry

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Margaret Graham

1^st place

From both ends of the stethoscope: getting through breast cancer by a doctor who knows. By Dr Kathleen Thompson.

(published by Faito Books)

‘Such a wonderful idea to bring doctor and patient together – like making a connection between the two worlds of Alice’s looking glass…. It is both accessible, well written and honest.’ Felicity Trew. (Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency)

Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

We forget, perhaps, that doctors can also become patients. Dr Kathleen Thompson suspected something was wrong. She hesitated – surely not her? Finally, and reluctantly, she sought a diagnosis. It was indeed breast cancer.

Kathleen looks back on her cancer with honesty, humour and compassion, and with the benefit of her medical understanding and knowledge of the system. She uses her experience to guide the reader through diagnosis and treatment, both when things go smoothly, and when they don’t.

She explains medical research and how to assess the credibility of the numerous treatment claims, and what we can all do to protect ourselves from cancer.

Judge’s comments: If you know anyone who has breast cancer, if you yourself are suffering, or if you just want to know more about the commonest UK cancer, then this could be the book you didn’t know you were looking for. It will give you the comfort of knowledge, of good advice, of reassurance that cancer is not an inevitable death sentence. It will also empower you to take control of your condition.

It is such a wonderful idea to bring doctor and patient together – like making a connection between the two words of Alice’s looking glass. As a doctor, Kathleen Thompson knows how to interpret medical information, how to challenge another doctor for answers and how to interpret what her body is telling her. Or so you would think. What made this book immediately appealing was the sheer humanity of her first reaction to discovering something ‘not quite right’ with one of her breasts. She ignored it. After that it was an easy step to join her as she adjusted to being on the wrong side of the doctor’s desk and most people would want her to be with them in the consulting room at critical moments. Failing that, just take a friend and this book.

The book does not tell you what you should do or how you should feel. It offers strategies, explains what you can expect and what you can ask for – and what you should not tolerate. It clarifies jargon and gives you choices. It tells you what you can do to help yourself in terms of diet and exercise and rest, but does not make claims that any one thing will ‘cure’ you. It’s all right to be tired, and frightened and angry. It’s not all right for doctors to tell you ‘not to worry’. And most breast cancer sufferers survive.

From Both Ends of the Stethoscope is both accessible, well written and honest. For someone who’s enduring the after-effects of chemo- or radio-therapy, it makes life a precious fraction of a degree easier.

All of which makes this book an unassailable 1st place winner.

About Dr Kathleen Thompson:

Kathleen is not only a writer but a physician, specialising in pharmaceutical drug research.

A few years ago her life changed completely, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This became the inspiration for her book, ‘From Both Ends of the Stethoscope’.

She has a passion for sharing her medical expertise and writes regular medical features for Frost e-Magazine. She has also written guest features for Fabafterfifty e-Magazine and a guest blog for Breast Cancer Care.

She learned a great deal from having cancer herself, and is keen to provide this insight to her readers.

She adores ballroom dancing and enjoys adventures. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, walked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago and cycled through rural Rajasthan and in the mountains of Kerala. During some of these activities she raised funds for Women v Cancer –which provides funding for three cancer charities, including Breast Cancer Care.

She has two long-suffering children, who tolerate their mother’s crazy projects, and regularly rescue her from IT catastrophes.

Kathleen is delighted to support Words for the Wounded which does such fabulous work.

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award 2016 results

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award 2016 results:

This year’s competition has been an amazing experience. We received cookery books, self-help books, memoirs, young adult fiction, crime, romance – you name it, we enjoyed it. Remember that every penny of the entry fee goes to the wounded, because as you all know by now, the administrators personally absorb all costs.

Our judge, Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency also had a high old time reading your work. Finally, after much thought and discussion the top three emerged.
Why were these chosen?

Perhaps what any judge is groping for is to find an author writing with a confidence born of practise, endless practise. This practise was evident in the winners. Surely each book had been written, then re-written, and then again,with the authors twisting and turning the words, and the images they were trying to create, until they achieved balance. Balance? Well, between pace, rhythm, tension, show not tell, and closely edited text.

In our winner, especially, there was a surety, and a ‘voice’, and that undefinable difference that makes a book, whether a non-fiction, a cookery book, a memoir, or a novel unputdownable.
It’s always a tough call, but one that has to be made. Bravo to the winners.

Over the next three days we will be publishing more about the winning authors and their novels, and the judge’s remarks. Tomorrow we will be concentrating on our 1st Place winner, the next day 2nd place, and then 3rd place. Tune in and have a look.

Results.

1^st place

From both ends of the stethoscope: getting through breast cancer by a doctor who knows. By Dr Kathleen Thompson.

2^nd place

The Man Who Didn’t Go To Newcastle by Alison Clink

3^rd place

The Secret of Skara Vhore, by Jennifer M Calder

Highly Commended

Food for Thought David Croft

We’ve come to take you Home Susan Gandar

1066 What Fates Impose EK Holloway

The Spirit of London Rob Keeley

Buckinghamshire Spies and Subversives D.J. Kelly

Dead Man’s Legacy Marion Leigh

Requiem for Private Hughes Chip Tolson

Do Not Forget me Quite Richard Pike

Le-Jog-ed Robin Richards

Commended

Traditional Kurdish Food Ala Barzinji

Arnie Jenks and the House of Strangers Tim Bradley

Transform Your Communication Skills Steve Bridger

The Pomegranate Ring Simon Brian Cartlidge

The Father’s House Larche Davies

The Politician’s Daughter Marion Leigh

Little Hoglet’s Christmas Richard Middleton

Blackberry Promises Jan Moran Neil

We will be featuring the judge’s reviews of the top three, and tell you more about the authors over the next few days.

How To Make Money Blogging Part 1

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

So here it is. Number one in how to make money blogging, or with your website or online magazine. It is possible to make money blogging, but you need the knowledge and you also have to work hard. The nature of making money blogging is that you never know how much money you will earn month-to-month or day-to-day. It is precarious and sometimes scary, but with the right guidance it is possible. As long as you work hard and are prepared to adapt with the times. Here is part one, I hope it helps you on your blogging journey. I will be telling you all you need to know about blogging in a series of articles. You can also check out my book, The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger.

Affiliate Links.

Affiliate links are a great way to make money, even if you have a small blog which doesn’t get a lot of traffic. If you can build your blog up and get loyal readers who trust you and your judgement, then you can earn a lot of money this way.

Working With Brands.

You can earn a lot of money working with brands. Either by sponsored editorial content, featuring their products, or working together to create your own fashion line or perfume. Yes, you CAN do that. You just have to belief in yourself and work hard. (I know I say work hard a lot. I won’t say sorry, a blog is a business and any business requires a lot of work).

Sponsored Posts.

Years ago I earned a reasonable amount from sponsored posts. Then Google changed their policy to penalise sites that paid for links, and those that featured them. The revenue stream dried up overnight and I had to get creative. Now the negative part is out of the way let me tell you that you can still earn from sponsored posts. I know some of the top personal blogs charge about £750, but the sky is the limit. Even sites like the Daily Mail and the Huffington Post feature sponsored posts. Print magazines do a similar thing with their advertorials. Just flick through any magazine and you will see some of these. Oh, and avoid people who want sponsored posts but try to disguise them as ‘guest posts’.

Public Speaking.

I have done public speaking. Sometimes it pays well and other times they will ask you to do it for free, but you can either promote yourself or sell your books.

Advertising.

Banner ads and general advertising doesn’t make that much money. I am sure it can, but it is not the way to get rich, or even wealthy, blogging. It will cover the blogging costs however, and that is worth something.

Freelance writing.

I have been approached by publications and sites to write for them after they have come across my work. It also makes my internet presence more prominent and helps my brand. (And before you roll your eyes, we are all brands now).

Partnering with Brands.

You can make a lot of money doing this. Building relationships with brands and getting your name out there can result in lots of money and will also give a huge boost to your career.

Books and eBooks.

I have written three books and I publicise them through Frost. Our contributing editor Margaret Graham is also a bestselling author. Write about a subject you know, or even write a novel. If people are reading your blog they already love your writing.

Selling Your Blog.

In 2011 Arianna Huffington sold The Huffington Post for $315 million. Yes, $315 million. That may be an extreme example, but you can sell your blog for quite a bit of money. Some small blogs even sell for £20,000.

Vlogging.

Vlogging is huge. There are more YouTube millionaires than ever. You can earn relatively good money from this, but it is a lot of work and an overcrowded market. The good news is that Amazon are taking on YouTube with Amazon Direct Video so you can make money streaming your videos there too. I will write about this more soon.

Consulting.

You can consult by helping businesses and brands to build their blogs. Either by writing, or by giving your creative (and tech, if you are so inclined) opinion.

Subscriptions.

You can put things behind a paywall and charge for it. This does work with certain content.

Donations.

I noticed on The Guardian today that they have a donate button at the bottom with the – very true- comment that the powerful will not investigate themselves. If they can do it, you can.

Classifieds.

Old school, but sites like Gumtree and Craigslist charge for people to list and make a good amount of money.

Merchandise and Selling Products.

Plenty of sites sell T shirts and such. You could also make your own products.

Public Appearances.

If your blog does very well you can do a Paris Hilton and get paid simply to appear at clubs and events. You may have to wave though. Hard life.

Doing Talks or Teaching.

You can do talks, teach and do workshops. Offer people a solution to their problems and you are doing good while making some money. Pass on your knowledge and educate people.

I will be going through all of the different revenue streams in more detail. It is an amazing time to be a content creator. There are so many creative ways to build your brand and make money. Good luck and I will help you on your journey.

You can also read how to make your blog posts go viral here.

Interview With Bestselling Author Margaret Graham

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

What made you get into writing?

Having a 4th child. She was lovely but seldom slept and mithered a great deal. I needed to ‘get away’ even if only for half an hour. So I started writing a book about my mother’s rather interesting life growing up in the North East just after the 1st World War. Halfway down the first page I realised I didn’t really know my mum in that way, only anecdotes. So it became fiction, but based on her life. It’s called After the Storm.

Did You find becoming a published writer easy?

Not at all. Having embarked on the novel I joined a writing class. I do wish more would these days, or at least learn the basics of structure, and how to edit one’s work. The class was not only crucial but also supportive, because I was working alongside like minded people, and it helped me enjoy the process. Mark you, my writing class had an excellent tutor, and you need to check this out. There are a lot of charlatans out there, selling their services when they know diddly-squat – and charge a lot. If you have the time, try ARVON and other residential courses. Also the weekend Winchester Writing Festival. That’s fantastic.

Then, of course, you reach the stage where you have a manuscript, finished. What next? How to get that publishing contract?

Try and find an agent. But how do you get the interest of an agent. I entered a competition and was one of the Best Entries. This helped when circulating the manuscript. I was finally taken by an agent who knew that Catherine Cookson, who wrote about the North East had just left Heinemann. Mine was a novel about the North East, and the publishers were immediately interested. Mark you, I then had to double it in length, put in a secondary character and sub plot, and do it all in 6 months. I was on my way.

So it is very much about what the publisher needs at a particular time. However, as you can see, the author does need to be flexible, and listen to the experts, and do as they want. Basically we are providing a product, which they have to need in the first instance. Then it has to be tweaked to be the best product you can create. They are invariably right. As a writer, you need patience. Learning to write well took me 4 years. Over those years I was serving an apprenticeship really, lhoning my skills, so that when the time came, I could do as they advised.

What else would you have liked to do?

Be a star. I feel the world has been deprived of a great talent!

What is your writing process?

Find that germ of an idea. Then think, think and think again, to see if it it will run as a novel. I work out the normal world, point of change, the tension, motivation, and totally getting to be the main and secondary characters. Alongside this, because I am invariably writing out of my time and place, I need to research, make notes, become so familiar with the context so that I can swim amongst the period, or situation, without overloading it with show-off details. Therefore I do a lot of reading, and that old chestnut – thinking again. Then, when I have a thorough plan, and by this I mean a chapter by chapter plan I get my head down and write hard for about 8 weeks. Because I’ve been doing it so long I have the experience to get it more or less right, and to create a sound structure. There is only one structure, you know. And it must be followed. It is the author’s ‘voice’ that makes a novel ‘different’. That’s the first draft, then I go through and alter, tweak, edit. So the second I usually sent into my publisher. Writers need to designate writing time. It’s a job, even if you already have a day job, so discipline yourself to create your writing time. You will find you do much of your thinking whilst traveling, driving, working, and at the end of the day you’re a bit further on.

A House Divided is the third Easterleigh Hall novel. How hard is it doing a series?

Hard in a way. You have to remember all the characters inside and out. What are their ages? Appearance, little ways, and then when you start the novel you have to try and make the novel stand alone, though it must also bring previous readers of the series up to date. I think that first chapter is the most difficult.

When can we expect another EH novel?

In a year.

Have you become close to the characters? Oh yes, I become all the characters really. You have to or it doesn’t work.

Can you tell us where the series is going next?

I would imagine into the 2nd world war. Perhaps Tim will go into the secret side of the war, but not quite sure about anyone else yet. It will come to me.

What do you like to do when you are not writing? I run my charity, Words for the Wounded, which raises money for the wounded through writing events. We have an annual Independent Author Book Award, and we also run workshops and an annual LitFest. We’ve helped a few writers along in this way. Last year’s winner was picked up by an editor, and others have found that the publicity of being placed has helped their sales. I love working with Frost, and reviewing books, and I do like to play truant and just have a good time.

Any tips for aspiring writers.

Work hard, go to writing classes, and literary festivals, listen to authors talking, and listen to a publishers’ or agents’ advice. READ books, learn how to write short stories, because publication in womens’ magazines promotes sales of your books. Most of all, don’t rush. Do several drafts, edit carefully, and enjoy it. Life’s too short not to.

A Day in the Life of bestselling Author Margaret Graham

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

We have a new puppy, Polly. I’m up with the sun, because she is. So out she goes, into the garden led by me, because she is reluctant. The neighbors must think their worst nightmares have come true as this disheveled apparition stands in the dew come rain or come shine, hair askew, pleading with a four legged creature to ‘get on with it.’

In due course, I take both Polly, and the long suffering ‘older sister’ Rosie out for their walk. We head round the corner to the village pond where there are ducklings.

I say village and Downley really is one. A mere 25 minutes by train from London it has the heart of any Dorset village. There is a great community spirit, and we are fast building a reputation as a centre for the arts.

After ‘walkies’ it’s down to work – of some description. I could be sorting out next year’s LitFest for Words for the Wounded which is a charity I run with two other grannies to raise money for the wounded. The annual LitFest is our big event.

This year we had Elizabeth Buchan, Jemima Hunt, Tracy Baines and Frost’s Catherine Balavage as speakers. It was wildly successful, which is great. All the money goes to the wounded, as the grannies absorb all expenses.

My kids and grandkids are the catering team, and have a great time. Seems that not much wine survives – could there be a link?

Otherwise, as contributing editor for Frost, I could be reviewing books, or exhibitions or similar. Frost is a great springboard for aspiring writers. It gives them a cv and gets them noticed.

Otherwise, my main thrust is as an author. I write two books a year for Arrow, which is a bit of a stretch and requires a modicum of organisation. When I’m researching I spend a fair bit of time at Starbucks in High Wycombe, reading through material which could be useful, or having lunch at the Wellington on the Strand for no other reason than I love it there and can catch up with Inacky, Esther, Maria, Thomas, and Ruth, who make sure everyone has a great time. As a special treat, the grandkids can sometimes spare the time to come with me. So young, they are, but so busy. So that’s the extent of the ‘organization’.

All the time though, whatever I’m doing, I’m thinking of the novels, trying to sort out a plan, iron out structural blips, and getting to know the characters. Then, for two months, I get my head down and write the darned thing. I can’t bear being interrupted, because for that time I am living in a different world, being a different person, well, many different people, and I just want to get it all down before it escapes me.

To finish is a relief, but also a loss because the characters, their struggles, their triumphs have become yours. But then, for me, it is onto the next one, or the next WforW event, or onto yet another playtime, or something for Frost. Heigh ho, I’m very lucky.

www.margaret-graham.com
www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
www.wordsforthewounded.blogspot.co.uk

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