Can you hear me at the back?

Yesterday evening I noticed that Camillia Romaine's interview with me has been posted on the Radio Ryedale website. Radio Ryedale shortlisted one of my stories in a competition last year, and I've kept in touch with the head of the station, David Sumner.

The interview was intended to last ten minutes, but I rabbited on for more than half an hour. Poor Camilla! Still, Camilla is an English Literature graduate and had insightful questions about my work's use of religion, determinism and 'generally dark forces'. It was fun and quite challenging; hopefully the edited interview will be of passing interest to potential readers and other writers.

The Ends of the Earth

I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the responses of established authors. This morning I received yet another kind email from a well-known writer who says he will be happy to read my novel and provide some feedback, possibly even a formal review if the mood takes him. His email does not, of course, promise a review, and it certainly does not promise a positive review, but it does suggest a willingness to hear new voices and ideas. This kind of behaviour is all any aspiring writer would want - an opportunity for work to be considered.

The time investment of this writer is comparable to that of a publishing house. The former receives no monies to compensate reading a new novel; the latter's life-blood depends on it. And how many publishers read my novel? Not a one. A small number read the synopsis, a smaller number read two or three chapters, but none gave me the opportunity to have my work appropriately considered. That's why I hesitate to say that my novel was rejected by, for example, Orion, because 'rejection' suggests reasonable consideration.

But enough carping. My point is that one might, somewhat superficially, think that writers are selfish beasts with little time for the pups snapping at their heels. But in contrast to my dealings with publishers and agents - who are dismissive, occasionally rude, or fail to answer letters altogether - 9/10 of the established writers I have contacted were polite, encouraging and willing to offer their time.

Hacking through the rainforest

Am I the only one who clicks on Amazon roughly once an hour to see if Deja Vu is listed there yet? Well, it is now. My Internet bill should drop somewhat.

Time to start clicking on those sites that review copies have been sent to...

The Other Side of the Screen

Yesterday morning I was lucky enough to be invited to the studios of York TV, a television station that broadcasts to 250, 000 people in our local area (though I don't know how many were up at 7:45 am!). I was there to talk about my forthcoming novel, Deja Vu. Because it was an interesting experience, I thought I would write a few words about it.

First of all, a bit of honesty: I don't like talking about myself. In everyday conversation, if somebody finds out I am a writer, I usually tell them a little about my book, when it will be published, and the process of editing. I'm not an especially private person, but I get bored with people who talk about themselves too much, so I try not to do it myself.

I was interested to see how I would behave in front of a camera. First rule: no swearing. Second rule: wear something bright because the sofa is black. Third rule: spend the previous night swearing because you only have one serviceable shirt, which is dark.

York TV is a locally-run station and they have an informal approach to things. Their studios amount to a collection of farm buildings on the outskirts of York. In the light of 7:30 am, the frost had made the fields icy-white, but the low sun was blood red. It all looked a bit serious.

I was due to be a guest on York TV's morning magazine show, York Today - a kind of GMTV. The director greeted me at the door and showed me through to the studio, a long, low room with a set at one end. On the set was a sofa, fierce lighting and two friendly presenters: Dawn and Nick. I shook hands with both of them, exchanged some pleasantries, and was led to the 'green room'. The green room contained a make-up table and a television, which was showing York TV. The adverts ended and suddenly Dawn and Nick were on the same, black sofa I had just been looking at. I glanced at Britta, my partner, who had accompanied me to the studio.

"Out the door, first on your right," she said.

I returned from the toilet a few minutes later and watched the show - pacing a trench - until it was my turn to go on. Britta wished me good luck. I puffed out my chest and walked into the studio.

The interview went surprisingly well. Dawn obligingly offered my book to the camera and Nick chatted to me about the differences between CD publishing and book publishing. We all talked about the psychological phenomenon of 'deja vu'. I outlined the book's story. Most of the interview was spent detailing the tribulations of getting the book published, particularly the task of getting a publisher to look at your work on the basis of its quality rather than its marketability. Overall, I was pleased with the performance. I had prepared some stock answers to questions like "What is the book about?" "Why do you want to be a writer?", but, in the event, I didn't use any of them.

So did I get bored with talking about myself for fifteen minutes? Nope! Thanks to the team at York TV for making it so much fun.

Pre-Christmas Copies

This post is just a warning that I haven't yet got confirmation from my publisher that orders placed now will be received and processed before Christmas. So if you want to buy lots of copies of Deja Vu for lucky relative and friends, please hold your fire until I give the all-clear. Otherwise you may end up with a large number of copies in mid-January that you won't know what to do with!