It’s been a while since I blogged and I always feel guilty for not blogging more often. My main excuse is the summer and work, and generally not having enough time on my hands, which is partially true. This summer my main writing projects were: 1. revising my first collection of poetry, After The Fall (almost there), 2. a novella (finished), 3. writing some new poems and one new story, and finally, 4. a review of my now completed novel for 9 to 12 year olds, Rising.
I was lucky enough to get an Arts Council Bursary while writing the novel in 2014 and (to use entertainment industry parlance) I was very excited about it. The novel was more or less completed early this year and I started approaching publishers last year to gauge their interest. Writer friends who read the script were very positive about it and even my daughter Martha, who is my sternest critic, was delighted with the book. To be honest I wrote the book with Martha and my son Ciarán in mind (they were thirteen and ten last year when I was working on the book). Many times they have exhorted me to “write something funny!”, and while Rising isn’t funny, it does appeal to them in a way that meets their approval.
Anyway, to be brief, the response from publishers was disappointing. One or two liked the idea or the sample chapters but could not commit themselves to publishing; others just simply said no thanks and one didn’t reply at all, despite numerous attempts to elicit a response. Publishers, just say no, for God’s sake, if you don’t want to publish – writers are people too, you know!
Anyway, my novel is set in 1916 and 2016 and I knew from the outset that there would be a best before date if it didn’t get published before the centenary of the Rising next year. So this summer I made the decision to self publish the book. Without wanting to sound snobbish, I have consistently argued (with myself) against self-publishing – and I still feel that it’s not generally a preferable substitute to being published by a reputable publishing house which has expertise in all the areas of publication including design, layout, distribution and marketing. I have no wish to set up a cottage industry. I just want to write. But in this particular case I feel I have no option other than to self-publish and be damned!
Over the course of the next few weeks and months I intend to blog regularly about the process of self-publishing and at the same time, hopefully, whet your appetite for a book that will bring history alive for kids in a slightly different way.
Until the next time here’s a very short extract to get things started.
Jack took the tartan blanket from the top of the wardrobe.
‘It’s a blanket – so what?’ Peadar said, disappointed.
‘Not just any blanket,’ Jack said. ‘It belonged to my grandmother.’
‘Sure we have blankets like that at home too,’ Peadar said.
‘Not like this one, you don’t.’ Jack smiled at his friend.
‘So what’s so special about it?’ Peadar asked, reaching out and touching the corner of it.
‘It’s magic, Peadar.’
It is frustrating to persist in the search to find a publisher – who may not even manage to get as far as reading your submission, Brian. It’s a particular problem when your title is time sensitive. Good luck. I look forward to reading more about your venture into the world of self-publishing which looks more and more like an inevitable future for the majority of authors.
You’re right Susan! It’s not a situation I thought I’d find myself in a few years back, but so be it. Hope to see you at the Hibernians anthology launch on 20th October. B