What's in a pseudonym?

 By Gillian Hamer

After the recent headlines about JK Rowling publishing her first crime novel under the name of Robert Galbraith, we wondered what makes authors publish under a different name.

JK Rowling clearly had huge, personal reasons for choosing a pen name. She says: ‘I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience. It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name.’

Whilst this is a position most readers would envy, I’m sure most of us can also sympathise.

But what other reasons take writers down this route? We researched a selection of authors – famous, debut, unpublished – to find out what drove them under the cover of a pseudonym.

It’s something our very own JJ Marsh has chosen to do, and she’s in good company, from the Bronte sisters to Agatha Christie to Stephen King, for decades writers have chosen to work outside the constraints a famous name creates. But for those less famous, what is the pull of anonymity?

BARBARA SCOTT-EMMETT / BARBIE SCOTT

I chose a pseudonym for my erotica to differentiate it from my more serious work, and also, initially, to keep my real identity secret. The secret is now out but I will still continue to use Barbie Scott for my two collections of erotic short stories - The Stiletto Heel & Other Stories and Dinner with Daniela & Other Stories, and a novella which will be out soon.

All novels and erotica can be found at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbara-Scott-Emmett/e/B0034OP504

ALEXANDER SCOTT-EMMETT / JIMMY BAIN

Both my grandfather and great-grandfather were called James Bain Elstob so I chose Jimmy Bain because I wanted to honour my Glasgow ancestors. Also, I thought it suited the genre and the style of my gritty humourous Glasgow crime novels better than my real name does. It's short, sharp and suggests there'll be no messing about.

The Bumble's End by Jimmy Bain - A tale of greed, death and toffees - is available now at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004RK0T9G and all good online booksellers. The Long Drop Goodbye, the next in the series, will be ready shortly.

LORRAINE MACE / FRANCES DI PLINO

I write children’s novels (the first will be published in the USA in March 2014) and didn’t want a situation where a child picked up one of my crime novels and said: “Oh, look, Mummy, a new book by Lorraine Mace. I like her books.” I had visions of the poor mother trying to explain the contents of a hard-boiled crime thriller to a traumatised child. It seemed safer to write crime as Frances di Plino (the feminine version of my Italian great-grandfather’s name) and keep my own name for the children’s novels.

As Frances di Plino, my latest novel, Someday Never Comes, will be released by Crooked Cat Publishing on the 16th August.

Blog: http://francesdiplinoreviews.blogspot.com

JJ MARSH

There are two reasons I use a pseudonym for writing. Firstly, because I have built a good reputation in my day job under my real name. I want to keep that identity distinct and separate. Secondly, my real name sounds like I write about rabbits – the fluffy, cuddly sort, not boiled by a deranged Glenn Close. JJ Marsh came about when I was writing a collaborative project with my sister, whose name also starts with J. I borrowed Marsh from my step-dad, with a nod to Ngaio.

You can find out more about my crime series here:

http://www.beatrice-stubbs.com/

CHARLOTTE, EMILY & ANNE BRONTE / CURRER, ELLIS & ACTON BELL

In 1850, Charlotte Bronte put a stop to the speculation about the sex of the Bells.

‘Averse to personal publicity, we veiled our names under those of Currer, Ellis & Acton Bell, the ambiguous choice being dictated by a sort of conscientious scruple of assuming Christian names positively masculine, while we did not like to declare ourselves women, because – without at the time suspecting that our mode of writing and thinking was not that is called ‘feminine’ – we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice.’

AGATHA CHRISTIE / MARY WESTMACOTT

Christie published six romance novels under the name of Westmacott. Rosalina Hicks, Christie’s only daughter believes the pseudonym gave her mother the pleasure and opportunity to fulfil her wish to write something different.

She said: ‘Although Mary Westmacott never enjoyed the same critical acclaim, the books received recognition in a minor way and my mother was pleased people enjoyed them.’ And Christie certainly enjoyed writing them. In her autobiography, she said of her novel, Absent in the Spring, published in 1944: ‘This was the one book that satisfied me completely. I didn’t want to change a word. It was written with integrity, with sincerity, it was written as I was meant to write it, and that is the proudest joy a writer can have.’

STEPHEN KING / RICHARD BACHMAN

As the great man himself explains: ‘Because in the early days of my career there was a feeling in the publishing business that one book a year was all the public would accept, but I think a number of writers have disproved that by now.’

ED MCBAIN / EVAN HUNTER

Born Salvatore Albert Lombino, he legally adopted the name Evan Hunter in 1952. A prolific literary writer, Evan was advised by his publisher that publishing too much fiction, or indeed any crime fiction, may weaken his literary reputation. As a consequence, he wrote under many different names: Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins and Richard Marston for much of his early crime fiction work before settling on Ed McBain in 1956 with the publication of Cop Hater, the first novel in his acclaimed 87th Precinct Series.

JONATHAN FREEDLAND / SAM BOURNE

Some reasons are purely personal and some come down to cold, hard business, but for Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland, it was a mixture of both.

He says: ‘The name Jonathan Freedland just doesn’t sound like a thriller writer’s name, whereas Sam Bourne does. Publishing experts said my surname has too many syllables. It’s too long. It’s better to be higher up the alphabet. All these commercial considerations. But for me, personally, it’s the idea of separation from the day job, just to keep the two distinct, in reader’s minds and my own.'


So, while there are varying reasons for the decisions to write under a pen name, many seem to have sexual connotations. Have times changed since the Bronte sisters decided to keep their gender ambiguous?

Back to JK Rowling.

Her publisher changed her name on the first Harry Potter book from Joanne to JK because they believed that girls do not care who had written a book, whereas boys would be unlikely to buy a book by a woman. Now, with her move into crime fiction, she has chosen Robert as a pen name, adding weight behind experts’ advice that as more women read crime, they prefer to read novels written by men.

Is this true?

I’m not sure Agatha Christie would agree!

Everyone is a critic!

The Dos and Donts of Critiquing

by Gillian Hamer

There has been a lot of negativity in the past about the pros and cons of online writing sites and writing groups in general. It’s fair to say that it can be a source of tension, and more than once I’ve heard comments from fellow writers along the lines of – ‘so what does he know, he’s not published either’ or ‘so what makes her JK Rowling all of a sudden.’

Critiquing another person’s work can be a minefield. But done well, ie learn the rules of engagement, and it can be a rewarding experience – for both parties.


· Help yourself …

Working with other writers will hone your writing skills – whether you’re the one giving or receiving the critique. In certain dry spells of my own writing, getting involved with commenting and advising on another writer’s work has been instrumental in helping to get my own writing flowing again.

Often, as a critiquer, you begin to recognize faults that crop in up your writing, but were invisible to your own eyes until you saw the same faults in others. You can see from the other side of the fence what it takes for readers to connect or sympathise with characters, and use that knowledge to improve your own work. And for the cost of only your own time, you’ll learn invaluable advice for improving your own work whilst also helping someone else.

However, it can be a wasp’s nest and it’s best to have an idea of the etiquette and skills required to be a successful and helpful critiquer. There is an art form to providing well-constructed, thoughtful criticism, and it’s important to recognize the fine line between personal preference and quality of the writing.



· Don’t judge every book …

Writers are told early on they need to develop a thick skin. And that’s very true. While agents, editors and publishers are unlikely to sugar coat any criticism, as a fellow writer, that doesn’t give you the right to crucify another person’s writing without thought and wisdom behind the words.

Remember, if you’ve been writing for a decade and have achieved a decent level, don’t judge everyone against the quality of a published author’s work. Remember everyone has to start as a ‘Learner Driver’ and use that analogy to encourage and advise in the right manner.

I am a fan of the sandwich approach. If I have to impart bad news, I would rather begin with a positive comment – ‘I really enjoyed the fresh ideas you brought to this crime novel’ – followed by a piece of advice – ‘However, I think you need to put a lot more time into crafting POV’ – then ending with an encouragement – ‘I think you have an original idea here, I’d love to read another draft.’

Of course, not everything can be sweetness and light, but you can see what I mean. There are ways to impart bad news, and personally, I think the most helpful thing you can do for a newbie writer is to give examples or suggest alternatives.


· If at first …

Also, a good critique is a well thought-out review where the writing (rather than the writer) is put under the spotlight. If you have time, try to read the work twice. First as a reader, making notes as you go – then as a writer, red editor’s pen in hand. The more time and effort you put into a critique, the more it will assist the writer. There’s nothing worse than a half-baked list of comments and it’s usually blatantly obvious when the person hasn’t put any effort into their responses.

And if you find you need to impart bad news, which can often be the case and should not send you running for the hills, always try and be constructive. Don’t say – ‘you’re using the wrong words’ – try ‘that word is vague, how about something more compelling like …’ The same with sentence structure. Rather than just highlighting a poorly constructed sentence, why not rewrite it, once or twice, and give examples of how this would improve the work.


· You can’t please everyone …

It’s a sad fact that on some online sites, there are writers who do not want criticism, and when they ask for feedback what they really want to hear is how great they are. You will only learn by experience who they are, and should you review work and find the writer wants to enter into a huge debate, I’d be inclined to ask if they have specific questions. If not, try not to get into a back and forth debate where you feel the need to defend your critique while they try to defend their work! This is never beneficial to either party.

Accepting a critique also carries its own etiquette. Your writing will only improve if you can graciously accept a critique – no matter what its content. Always take from any critique only what connects with you as the writer. Do not go through a manuscript and blithely change every item the other person has raised … but do give every single point due consideration. Remember, this person has given their time and experience to assist you, and even if you don’t agree with everything (or anything!) they advise, always be respectful and gracious. DO NOT enter into a heated debate with a critiquer. They will not change their minds because you tell them too. If you have further questions, by all means ask, but if you cannot agree – then silently leave it at that.

· My top tips for critiquing …

1. Always start with strengths before addressing weaknesses.

2. Make solid suggestions for improvement, don’t be vague.

3. Be positive, even when you’re covering negative subjects.


I have over a decade’s experience on numerous writing sites and have asked some of the best critiquers I have had the pleasure of dealing with for some of their top critiquing tips. There should be at least one little gem here that connects with you.

· What’s the best piece of critique advice you’ve received?

“I would say read as a reader and don't over analyse. Trust your gut reaction, most prose only gets one chance to impress/hold a reader. And things that trip you are likely to trip others. Also take the time to mention the good bits as well as the bad, we all need a bit of encouragement from time to time.”

“Strike out every other adjective and adverb.”

“I can't remember the author now but one well known writer apparently has a bit of paper stuck to their writing desk saying ' BE THERE'. I think this is really great advice as it reminds you to keep the narrative realistic and helps bring the prose alive.”

“Characters based on real people are the least real on paper. It made me chuck away an entire book, and recently scrap two characters completely from the Beatrice series. It's like Roger Rabbit - the mixture of the real and the animated make one or the other stand out.”

“Origami. Don't have your characters asking questions you want your reader to be asking. Your reader should be asking these questions as a result of the unfolding story, and if they aren't, you haven't folded it properly.”

“A tip I was given from a very experienced writer on receiving critiques was, by all means take advice from others on plot, character etc, but always remember that writing a novel is not a team sport.”

“My tip is to read your work out loud. If you start cringing, you know it has to go.”

“Cut the crap.”

 
· What’s the favourite piece of critique advice you offer?

“SHOW not TELL. It's an oldie but a goody. Don't tell the reader it's intriguing, show them something intriguing.”

“The trick is to read as a reader, not as a writer. I'd add to that, we all know what kind of story we would like to see, but at the end of the day, it's the writer's story, not yours, and it is the job of a critique to bring out the best in the story that is there, not write a new one.”

“A critique should help a writer to find his or her own unique voice, not have it overlaid with the voice of the person providing the critique.”

“When cutting unnecessary words begin with adverbs and adjectives. And the only verb you ever need as a speech tag is ‘said’.”

“End every sentence, paragraph and chapter with the strongest word. Don’t sort of sputter to a halt in a, you know, kind of weak and wishy-washy … erm … way. And mind out for alliteration an’ all.”

“Take what works for you but DON'T feel that you have to take on board every bit of conflicting advice. On the other hand, if all critters are saying the same thing, you should probably listen to them.”

"Cut the crap.”

Interview with Jess Ruston

·        Welcome to the Triskele Bookclub, Jess, so, to begin, can you tell us a little more about The Lies You Told Me, and its origins?

The Lies You Told Me is a sort of psychological thriller - a family mystery. It’s about a woman called Klara, whose mother left her and her father when she was a little girl, and later died. Klara grew up hearing stories about her glamorous mother, Sadie, from her father, and has a few memories of her, but that’s it. The book opens when Klara is sent a key in the post, along with a letter telling her that she does not know the truth about her mother. The key turns out to belong to a lock up garage in South London, which contains a trunk full of Sadie’s belongings, including a diary... So Klara goes on a journey of discovery through her mother’s past. The novel is a dual narrative, as we get extracts from Sadie’s diary, and the reader has to piece together some of what happened, because Sadie isn’t always the most reliable of narrators.

The idea for the book came from a line in one of my favourite poems, Autumn Journal by Louis MacNiece. The line is ‘all of London littered with remembered kisses...’ It got me thinking about the mental maps we all have of places, and how memories linger, and change, and I began to build on that idea.

•       You have wide and varied range of characters in your novels, what do you look for in an interesting, unique character, and would you say your books are character-led or plot driven?

I’d say that my novels are plot driven in that I think a strong story is absolutely key for me - both as a writer, and a reader. But strong, interesting and realistic characters are always at the core of that plot - the two have to work in conjunction with one another, really. Interesting characters can come from anywhere, but it’s really important to me that they aren’t too ‘nice’ - most of my characters have at least one serious flaw, many of them are downright unlikable in lots of ways - but, I hope, plenty of humanity as well. I can’t bear characters that don’t have that depth and edge.

•       When developing a new character, where do you start?

Getting the name of a character right is crucial - I tend to have a vague sense of the character that I’m building, and then I go to their name - once I have that, they crystallise in my mind and then they’re there.

•       Who do you think are some of the classic all-time-great fictional characters and why?

Oh, so many! It’s such a personal thing, but I tend to like dark, badly behaved, often quite mad characters the best. Stella in Asylum (probably my all-time favourite book), Nicole Diver in Tender is the Night, all of Tennessee Williams’s mad Southern women such as Blanche Dubois, Neely O’Hara in Valley of the Dolls...

•       Where do you stand on the subject of research – love or loathe? And how do you handle it?

I enjoy it - it’s one of the things about writing novels that is so interesting, really, you get to find out about all sorts of random things that you wouldn’t otherwise come across or need to know. Though it’s also possible to do too much research - it can become a procrastination technique if you’re not careful. The internet is hugely useful when it comes to this, not so much for simple fact checking, but things like video footage on You Tube and old photographs. I use visual research like this a lot. For The Lies You Told Me I looked at lots of old modelling photos and advertisements from the early seventies, when Sadie was working in the fashion industry. Things like this really help me get a flavour of what I’m writing about.

•       You also write non-fiction, but are there any other fiction genres you’d like to try your hand at? Do you have an inherited crime gene itching to get out? (Jess is the daughter of crime author, Susan Hill.)

Oh yes, lots! There are plenty of books I want to write. I’m moving more into the psychological thriller/family thriller type genre with this latest book, and I think I’m more suited to writing that end of the crime genre as opposed to detective stories, but you never know. I have a long standing fascination with forensic and investigative psychology, so that may well feature at some point in the future... I like to keep challenging myself with each book, is the main thing.

•       You’ve followed the traditional route into publishing, via an agent, but what is your opinion on the current move in the market towards acceptance of quality, independent published books entering the mainstream?

I think we’re living and working in really interesting times in publishing. Technology is changing the way we consume books, and the way they can be made available, and the industry is having to change in response to that. It’s maybe harder to make a living as a writer now than ever before, but it’s also a very exciting time to be doing so. There are people doing fantastically well out of self-published books, and I have huge admiration for anyone who does so - it’s not an easy route to take.

•       Who were your favourite authors as a child, and have any of them influenced your writing?

I was obsessed with the Little House on the Prairie books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I used to pretend I was tapping trees for maple syrup and hiding from ‘Injuns’...! They really fired my imagination, so though I wouldn’t say they directly influenced the way I write today, they had a big impact on the writer I am.

•       When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

I started off writing screenplays when I was 20. I had one film that I co-wrote produced, and then drifted into writing non-fiction and journalism. It wasn’t until I was in my late twenties that I realised - or admitted to myself - that I really wanted to write fiction.

•       Tell us three things about you your readers may not know?

Hm... I have a BSc in Psychology, and harbour a yearning to do a Masters in Investigative Psychology. I once appeared in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, playing the role of a fondant fancy. I got married in the church where Shakespeare is buried.

•       What advice would you give to a writer trying to make their mark on today’s tough publishing market?

Listen to your own voice, your instincts as a writer. The market will always have space for something truly fresh, original, exciting. And be prepared to knock on a lot of doors - you have to develop a thick skin. Rejection is horrible, but it happens to all of us. You just have to get back up and keep going.

•       Finally, can you tell us what you’re working on at the moment?

A new novel! Which will be my 5th. But it’s somewhat under wraps at the moment, as it’s based on some things that happened in my life. It’s in the early stages, as I had a baby girl last year, so have been somewhat slowed down by her arrival... I’m also going back to screenwriting, and I have a spec TV script being read by some producers, and various other TV and film ideas in development as well. I’m really enjoying writing drama again.

Interview by Gillian Hamer

Website - www.jessica.ruston.com

Pinterest board that goes with the book - http://pinterest.com/jessruston/the-lies-you-told-me/

Twitter - @jessruston

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/jessicaruston

Review of The Lies You Told Me by Jess Ruston

If I’d seen this book on the shelf in Waterstones, the cover may well have attracted me to find out more even if it had been in the woman’s fiction area and not something I would usually pick up. I wasn’t sure what to expect to be honest, but I’m delighted to say I was more than pleasantly surprised.

The central theme of the story is secrets and lies. How one deception leads intrinsically to another, and the author does a very competent job showing that the sins of the parents do echo down into the lives of their offspring.

Klara Mortimer has had a difficult childhood. Not difficult in the clichéd sense of the word, but difficult as she was raised without the love and protection of a mother. And the feeling that her mother’s disappearance has never been fully explained, leads to a multitude of insecurities in adulthood.

When an anonymous letter containing a key arrives, Klara is led into a journey back into her mother’s life and discovers truths she would have preferred remain secret. Her spiralling obsession into finding answers takes her to some dark places, where she begins to believe her whole life has been a sham and she can trust no one. She turns against her husband, Mark - and her father, Henry who she feels has betrayed her in his desire to protect her.

It’s clear that her mother, a model who renamed herself simply ‘Sadie’ lived a rollercoaster life in 1950s London. But the hazy memories Klara has of Sadie before she disappeared, and the stories her father has related over the years, do not seem to tie up with the discoveries she makes about her mother.

The reader is compelled to turn the page, sharing Klara’s need for the truth, and the conclusion of the story was unexpected, emotive and satisfying.

Jess Ruston has a real gift of creating believable, sympathetic characters, that even if we don’t actually ‘like’ them, we feel a connection with their lives and a need to hear their story. Her writing is well-crafted, well-paced, and the attention to detail and ability to examine the dark side of people and situations, gives depth both to the story and the characters. She is also able to deliver a complex and gripping storyline which twists and turns enough to hook even the most difficult reader.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I look forward to reading more of her complex family thrillers.

You can buy the novel here ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lies-You-Told-Me/dp/0755383648/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - GILLIAN E. HAMER

Gillian E. Hamer

Born in the industrial Midlands, Gillian's heart has always yearned for the wilds of North Wales and the pull of the ocean.

A company director for twenty years, she has written obsessively for over a decade. After completing a creative writing course, she decided to take her writing to the next level and sought representation. She is a columnist for Words with Jam literary magazine, a regular theatre goer and avid reader across genres.

She splits her time between Birmingham and a remote cottage on Anglesey where she finds her inspiration.

Contact details:
www.gillianhamer.com

http://gillianhamer.wordpress.com/

http://triskelebooks.blogspot.com

 www.triskelebooks.co.uk

@GillyHamer

Gillian’s thoughts on her first year as an indie publisher:

June launch saw our first twelve months as published authors. I often look back to the inception of Triskele over a Christmas tea in London, December 2011 and I am astonished at how far we have come. For me, having control over covers, formats, publishing dates has been a real revelation. After years of waiting around in an industry known for moving at a snail's pace, it has been wonderful to make things happen at my own pace. You would perhaps imagine, at the speed we have got Triskele and its growing catalogue of books off the ground, it would have been a stressful, rollercoaster ride, but I can honestly say that other than the odd blip and problem (none of which we've not been able to overcome or divert around) there has been no real dramas or tantrums. No sleepless nights. And a massive amount of highs. Having the trust and support of a strong team around you is vital. It takes off the pressure, because there's always someone to talk to, someone who will understand. Someone to listen if you need to vent. If you can't do QR codes, someone else will. If they don't get a marketing lead, you can help out. Maybe that's what traditionally published authors get from an editor who works alongside them on their books, but I don't honestly think I could have asked for more support than I've had from the other Triskele authors. It's been a pleasure to work with them.

Gillian's thoughts on the latest Triskele launch at Foyles book shop, London:

A tough, but humorous, moment would be the June 2013 launch day at Foyles, the five Triskele girls dragging heavy M&S food bags through Covent Garden in a convoy, after I'd rushed round trying to buy forgotten napkins. It was like a bad remake of a M&S Advert - it's not just any book launch, it's an M&S book launch, I thought, as sweaty and bedraggled we marched along Charing Cross Road, knowing in a few hours we would be putting on party frocks and attempting a cool, sophisticated look. Then I spent the entire launch rushed off my feet, shoes discarded, behind the bar, chipping in the odd detail about my books to interested parties. And then at the end of the event, we had half an hour to clear the room (inc. lingering guests) and move boxes of books back to our hotel. It was fun but exhausting! Not something I'd want to take on alone without the support of the other girls. But a relaxing G&T in the bar helped numb the foot pain!

Gillian shares a few of moments from her first self-publishing year:

Interview on Jaffareadstoo

On combining her day job with a passion for writing:
http://www.mitsubishi-matters.co.uk/2013/05/21/the-dealer-principal-who-combines-her-day-job-with-her-passion-for-writing/

http://www.mitsubishi-matters.co.uk/2013/06/05/successful-launch-event-for-dealer-principal-who-has-published-a-novel/

Gillian’s Books:

The Charter
 The legend of The Royal Charter is almost as famous as the story of the dead girl who wanders the cliffs at Point Lynas – a victim of the 1859 shipwreck.

After more than a decade away, Sarah Morton must return to her childhood home in Anglesey to bury her father. It’s her chance to say goodbye, and good riddance, to her past.

Yet her father leaves her a legacy. A letter. And a safe full of documents about the ancient shipwreck.

The Royal Charter had been carrying gold. Huge amounts of it. And her father’s death suddenly looks like murder.

Determined to discover the truth, Sarah is dragged into a dangerous journey, discovering she and the girl on the cliffs have more in common than she could ever believe.

Set along the dramatic and dangerous Anglesey coastline, The Charter is a story of greed and forgiveness – when the treasures of the past evoke the crimes of today.

Snippets from reviews of The Charter:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story telling at its best by pigginhell … If I was one of these obsessive types who orders my library in genre order, I would not know where to put this one. Crime novel? Ghost Story? Historic Account? Adventure Story? It doesn't matter. It all works beautifully together. The elements, as diverse as they seem, sometimes just fit, which of course is down to old fashioned, damn good story telling.


5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it...by jaffareadstoo (TOP 500 REVIEWER) … It's not often that a book comes along which covers all your favourite genres in one fell swoop, but… The Charter is definitely one such book. Gillian Hamer writes with the passion of one who knows Anglesey well, and with great skill and imagination has turned this passion into a cracking good story.


5.0 out of 5 stars Wild and spooky Wales by Cathy "cathyagain" …A GOOD story well told is always great to read, and this one cracks along with atmosphere. The setting is wild Wales, the coast of Anglesea.
Author Gillian Hamer has a way of gripping readers that goes beyond the twists of her plot. Her writing is superb. This is five-star stuff.


5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book With A Wonderful Blend Of Genres by M. Stork … the drama and beauty of the writer's descriptions of the rugged Welsh coast. The descriptions were so breathtakingly beautiful I felt I was there, and could hear the waves crashing against the shore. The characters are wonderful … the pace was perfect


The Charter is available at all Amazon stores:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0080JOA7W/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0080JOA7W&linkCode=as2&tag=trisbook-21



Closure

Helen West is coming to terms with her husband’s death and trying to cope with her six-year-old son’s grief. Jake suffers from nightmares, and visions of what he calls his ‘other life’. He talks about a boy called Jacob and a place known only as ‘the island’.

Helen’s journey to find the source of Jake’s torment leads them to North Wales, where the university town of Bangor is in lockdown following a series of student abductions.

When Jake’s nightmares start to mirror the abductions, Helen begins to believe her son might have second sight. But what could Jake’s ‘island’ possibly have to do with these crimes? And how can they help without putting their own lives in danger?

It seems that decision will be Jake's alone.

Set along the beautiful North Wales coastline, Closure is a story of belief, revenge and repercussions of the past.

Snippets from reviews of Closure:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scary page-turner, by Sheila Bugler "Sheilab" … a darker tale than Charter and… more complex … Rich in atmosphere, dripping with suspense and full of memorable characters…. 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Follow-Up to The Charter, by Chris C …The links between these two very different strands are slow to reveal themselves, but, because each has so many intriguing elements, my interest never flagged.

4.0 out of 5 stars by Keith Brown Excellent first novel, well plotted… Very attractively bound book, well produced and published.

4.0 out of 5 stars a thriller with a twist, by AliB … a rollicking read with some particularly nasty villains, plenty of grisly detail and an interesting historical twist. Recommended.

Closure is available at all Amazon stores:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A6DL1RW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00A6DL1RW&linkCode=as2&tag=trisbook-21



Complicit

‘On the beach stood the adverse array (of Britons), a serried mass of arms and men, with women flitting between the ranks. In the style of Furies, in robes of deathly black and with dishevelled hair, they brandished their torches; while a circle of Druids, lifting their hands to heaven and showering imprecations …’

When Roman historian, Cornelius Tacitus, recorded the invasion of the small island of Mona Insulis off the North Wales coast in 60AD – the beginnings of a propaganda war against the Druidic religion began.

Two thousand years later, that war is still being fought.

For two millennia, descendants of a small sect of Anglesey Druids have protected their blood lineage and mysterious secrets from the world. Until members of this secret society are murdered one by one.

Detective Sergeants Gareth Parry and Chris Coleman, along with new girl, DC Megan Jones, must stop this killer at all costs. What they discover will shock the whole police team and leave consequences which have an impact like no crime in the history of the force.

Set along the dramatic Menai Straits, Complicit is a story of greed, loss and obsession.

Snippets from reviews of Complicit:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended by Welsh Annie  
I've written before about this wonderful series by Gillian Hamer. The settings are really well drawn - this is a part of the world I know well - and the Welsh voices have just the right touch of authenticity. While the setting is what originally drew me to this series, I'd highly recommend it to a whole range of readers - there's police procedure and crime investigation, a strong historical back story, touches of magic and mysticism, all wrapped up in a flowing and readable style along with a thrilling adventure story. Very highly recommended - I loved this book, and can't wait for the next one.


5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling ... by jaffareadstoo (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
Echoes of the past resonate throughout this cleverly constructed murder mystery which flips effortlessly between the story of the Roman invasion of Mona Insulis and the effects on the Druids of Anglesey two thousand years ago, and the seemingly inexplicable and torturous deaths of a group of individuals who may or may not be part of a secret organisation in present day North Wales.
The wild and beautiful history of Anglesey comes gloriously alive in the hands of this talented writer, I'm now completely hooked on this series and only hope that Gillian Hamer can write really quickly, as I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.


Complicit is available at all Amazon stores:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CWHHK9S/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00CWHHK9S&linkCode=as2&tag=trisbook-21

Lightning Source - From the Horse's Mouth II

David Taylor, President of Lightning Source UK talks to JJ Marsh.

In the second part of our interview, David explains his vision of how Lightning Source intends to make the ideal partner for independent authors.

As a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors and writers’ collective Triskele Books, I welcome the chance to talk to someone from the industry angle. All of us at Triskele have used Lightning Source for our print material, and I’m know we’re not the only ones. Why is your service so attractive to small independent publishers?

Lightning Source works with the smallest to the largest of publishers. One key advantage that differentiates our organisation from book printing outfits is the pairing of high-quality single copy book manufacturing with global market access and distribution to readers worldwide.

I’m guessing Lightning Source has seen a remarkable increase in smaller or self-publishers in recent years?

We've seen a steady increase in the number of small and self-publishers using our services. Our access to market and innovative technology have created an inventory-free business model that enables publishers to avoid the risk and high capital investment of traditional publishing models. To put things into perspective, in the U.K. alone, we’ve grown our library of titles from 1,100 titles in 1998 to over 6 million today.

What other services do you offer in addition to Print-on-Demand?

Ingram Content Group, of which Lightning Source is a part, offers a full-suite of comprehensive physical and digital content distribution services to publishers, booksellers, libraries, educators and students. We provide books, music and media content to over 38,000 retailers, libraries, schools, and distribution partners in 195 countries. Tens of thousands of publishers use Ingram’s fully integrated physical and digital solutions and programs including Lightning Source, CoreSource®, MyiLibrary® and VitalSource Bookshelf®, to realize the full business potential of books.

While researching with colleagues, compliments for Lightning Source seems to highlight speed, quality, distribution reach and customer service. Have you needed to change your infrastructure to deal with a different kind of consumer – the indie author? 

We are pleased to hear about the compliments. Ingram took great care when developing our Lightning Source business. Our operation has been completely scalable from the very beginning - we can print, dispatch, and sell one book at a time, and our single copy capabilities give us the flexibility to work with small independent publishers to large multinational organisations.

Lots of satisfied clients from what I hear, but some disgruntlement too. I appreciate you can’t deal with every issue, so I wanted to raise just a few points such as complexity of interface, cost of revisions, lack of facility to offset set-up costs against earnings and the difficulty of making a group order (ie, separate publishers, one delivery). Do you envisage any adjustments being made to these various processes in the future?

We value all customer feedback and continually work to develop our products and services to meet the changing needs of the publishers we work with. In July, we launched IngramSparkSM, a new Publish On Demand platform that offers a new, simple path to publishing. The easy-to-use online publishing tool provides independent publishers with simple, cost-effective access to Ingram's global distribution network for print titles and e-book content. The new platform will give publishers the tools to manage their print books and e-books in one location.

What do you see as Lightning Source’s USP? What do you think is your edge over the competition?

The pairing of our high-quality single copy book manufacturing with our worldwide access to the market we provide to publishers is unmatched in the book industry. Placing titles with Lightning Source gives publishers a unique global distribution model that allows a book to be printed when it is sold. There is no need to print a book beforehand.

What are the latest developments in terms of international distribution? Can you talk a little about Global Connect?

A substantial number of our publishers use Ingram's worldwide distribution network to grow their reach and expand sales internationally - Ingram distributes to more than 195 countries around the world. In addition, our Global Connect program enables publishers to get titles to new markets through arrangements with leading distributors and book manufacturing locations. Our Lightning Source customers are currently distributing content locally in Brazil and Germany.

Colour – I understand there will be more than one new function available for publishers who need to use photographs, illustrations, images, etc. Could you give us a brief overview?

Our high-quality book manufacturing process is perfectly suited for photographs, illustrations, line art and images. Publishers that work with Lightning Source have the option to print both black and white and colour interior books. Recently, premium colour book manufacturing capabilities in our U.S. plant have been duplicated in the U.K., and our new standard colour option has just launched in July giving publishers cost-effective local colour options.

· Premium colour is available from the U.K. with two day shipping to anywhere in Europe. The rich depth of colour makes it ideal for highly illustrative publications.

· Standard colour is also available. Standard colour provides publishers with high quality colour at a very low price.

There has been some concern about piracy of material printed with Lightning Source. What’s your take?

We work with more than 35,000 publishers, and we manufacture content on their behalf. That said, piracy isn’t a new issue. In fact, the majority of pirated copies are from print books being photocopied and distributed, and, for those who can’t or don’t want to pay for books, they’ve always been available for free from libraries. For publishers, the key is to continue to make books not only an engaging experience but also an affordable and easy-to-access experience. We need to make it easy for consumers to find and purchase books legally, and we are delighted to work with publishers to do just that.

What do you see as the major changes likely to happen in the publishing industry? Where do you see Lightning Source fits in?

It has become a somewhat tired phrase to say that the publishing industry is undergoing huge change: but it is absolutely true. We expect to see publishers moving even more content to an on demand model. The old model of printing for inventory is becoming an absurdity that is increasingly difficult to defend. The physical book is not going to disappear, but its mode of production and distribution, for the vast majority of titles, is inexorably moving to one that requires single copy print on demand allied to a global distribution network that can deliver a book to anyone within 24 hours.
Increasing automation allied with the new high speed inkjet printing technologies that are now coming on stream will spur this development as digitally printed books take up more and more of the market. Print runs will continue to shrink as publishers strive to free up capital that was previously locked up in inventory.

E-books will continue to exert downward pressure on print runs but, with very few exceptions, they will not replace the printed book. We expect the print book and the e-book to coexist as publishers offer a choice to consumers about how they wish to consume content.

We expect the explosion in self- publishing to continue and to move out from its homeland in North America and Europe to the BRIC regions. We see new publishing models continuing to appear as creative talents engage with the capabilities that these news global/digital models allow. In short, we think publishing is in a good place. Never before have publishers had so many fantastic tools at their disposal to make their content available to individuals who want to read it. Never before has it been so easy for content to be discoverable.

As the print on demand arm of Ingram Content Group, Lightning Source is set to play a huge role in allowing publishers to make their content available on an increasingly global basis.
provide greater choice in the market. 

Checking Your Passport: Profile

By Catriona Troth

Amazon Author Central

Once you have a book on Amazon, you will want to have an Author Page.

(For each country, you’ll need to create another version, by going to each version of Amazon. This excellent post by Karen Myers shows you how painless this can be.)

http://hollowlands.com/2013/07/setting-up-amazon-author-pages-internationally/

Sign in to https://authorcentral.amazon.com/using your KDP login. Follow the pretty self-explanatory instructions.

Note that you can add your blog to your Amazon.com Author Page, but not to the Amazon.co.uk version.

Facebook Author Page

A Facebook Author Page is a good way of keeping in touch with your readers, without annoying friends and family. People who ‘Like’ your author page can get news and updates about your books, appearances, reviews and insights.

Here is a guide: http://www.novelpublicity.com/2011/02/build-a-facebook-author-page-and-get-people-to-like-it-a-20-step-guide/

For more information, refer to chapter: Meeting People – Social Platforms. 4. Author Facebook Page.

Other places to gain author exposure:

- Goodreads (see Liza’s chapter on Making the Most of Goodreads)

- Indie Book of the Day: http://indiebookoftheday.com/

People’s Book Awards (you can nominate your own book): http://thebookawards.com/awards/

- EFestival of Words: https://www.google.fr/#q=EFestival+of+words+2013

- Writing Magazine Self Published Book of the Year Award: very reasonably-priced annual competition to enter, as opposed to most of the others, which are prohibitively expensive: https://www.writers-online.co.uk/Writing-Competitions/

- The Fussy Librarian: matches readers to the kinds of books they like http://www.thefussylibrarian.com/for-authors/

- Compulsion Reads: seal of approval and official reviews http://www.compulsionreads.com/