Review. Gypsy by Lesley Pearse

I read about one book a week and recently have been disappointed, until I started Lesley Pearse’s story ‘Gypsy.’ I suppose I was in the mood for a gripping relationship novel but I was also impressed with the historical background. I realise I need to start doing more research for my books and not rely so much on my own experiences. Thank you, Lesley, for showing me what a fascinating saga should read like.

To those who have not read the book it is about a young female violinist who goes to America in the eighteen nineties. The descriptions of the places she lodged in and the men she met were eminently believable. I shall look for more by this author.

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New Novel

I have just selected a possible cover picture for the next novel,” A Bend in the Lane.”

It follows the grandmother from the ‘Lane ‘ trilogy from Blackpool to Italy and I wanted a Tuscan landscape, which I think we have found.

There’s something so good about being able to pick a cover, rather than letting a traditional publisher choose it. That’s one of the advantages of being a self publisher.

Now to concentrate on the Charity Gig.

Editing

AAAAH! That will teach me. I thought the proof of my book was ready for printing but NO WAY. After three goes at editing it myself, one beta reader and two more proof readings I thought I’d got it right. It isn’t enough!

My problem is my poor typing skills. I may have found all the spelling errors but I still don’t leave spaces in the right place, especially when I put dialogue within the text, rather than starting a new line.

‘Good morning,’ he said.’I hope you are well?’ should be – ‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘I hope you are well?’ It doesn’t show in this font but it does in more old fashioned ones. That’s a whole book I’ve got to change! My fault for trying to get up to date.

Planning a Gig

The Sea Scribes are planning a Charity Gig in aid of Parkinson’s with readings from the group mixed with songs and music from local musicians. It’s an experiment and we don’t know how many people to expect but we hope they will remember us and,maybe, be curious enough about us to investigate our books.

Being a bunch of local authors writing in a variety of styles and publishing in a number of different ways gives folk a choice of reading matter, fiction, non fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, historical and crime.

Also, local musicians don’t always get the exposure they deserve and this will be an opportunity for the audience to relax and join in with familiar songs as well as hearing new ones.

Worthing is becoming a hub of home grown entertainment.

WOW

Book launches

I’m taking a break from editing my new novel to check emails and I thought I’d write a piece about my book launches.

My first launch, in 2007, was held in our house as I did not expect many people to be interested. The second was held at a local garden centre as one featured in the story and I treated the visitors to free tea and a scone! The next was held at a leisure centre as the girl in the story was a sportswoman and the fourth was held in a local pub/restaurant because, by then,I wanted to make sure everyone could find car parking and, if they wished, stay for lunch after the free coffee.

The fifth book was launched in our favourite pub, which I had also put in the book, although I hadn’t named it and for the sixth I launched with a couple of other writers in the previous hostelry. However, this was not quite as successful for me, probably because I had not initiated the advertising.

Book launches do not seem to attract newspaper reporters unless the proceeds are going to charity. I did get a photographer to the launch in the Leisure Centre although I never did see the write-up (if there was one)

I don’t launch in bookshops as the wholesaler only supplies shops if they are ordered. They will not accept books from me as the publisher.

I hope to sell at least a dozen copies at each launch and do have a few readers who support me every time and one who buys in bulk for Christmas presents.

I am now scouting for somewhere to launch my next book. It must have parking, refreshments and preferably a connection to the story. I think I may go back to the garden centre. I would like somewhere on a bus route but nowhere comes to mind.

Lesson learned

OK, so you don’t like pictures without the text! I feel this blog is becoming a waste of time as I still have to edit the proofed version of my next book and telling the world about my other ventures should come well down the list. I really continued with it to give the visitors to my website http://www.juliecround.co.uk something fresh to read, keeping them up to date with my writing progress and trying to be more than a name on a cover. Also, it serves as an outlet when I have a poem to post. Maybe I’ll go quiet for a while until I have another verse as that is the only thing that gets me more than one or two readers.

All new copies of ‘Lane’s End’ have now been sold, which is a pity as the next book is the fourth in the series. However, as each book can stand alone the story will make perfect sense on its own or if the reader has read ‘Un-Stable Lane’ and ‘The Third Lane.’

None of the ‘Lane’ books are on kindle but Amazon do have them as used copies.

The Bookshow picture.

I have had to load my photos onto Google gallery to get them on here  but this is the one I wanted you to see from the book show a few posts back. From now on I might be able to put the pictures with the text!