UK Authors

Comment

Comment by Gladys Hobson on April 1, 2009 at 4:53am

WELL DONE!
It is great to have a ready readership. Now you have an open door for your books. Word of mouth will spread the pleasure of reading all that you write. Congratulations!

Comment by Kay Braithwaite on April 1, 2009 at 4:30am

Thought I'd up-date you on my progress. I've had confirmation that it is fine to sell my book and I held a book launch last week in school. I have another book signing today and I'm really pleased with the reception the I've received. Now it's full steam ahead!

Comment by Gladys Hobson on March 13, 2009 at 3:31am

When Angels Lie is now published by Mythica as an Ebook. This is more than a Romance. The story is set in the Anglican Church undergoing massive change, much of it controversial. There is no other book like it.
"Gladys Hobson weaves all the elements together masterfully, leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and awe."
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=152997

Comment by Kay Braithwaite on February 13, 2009 at 1:10am

Thank you again for your kind words and advice. You have been agreat help!

Comment by Gladys Hobson on February 13, 2009 at 12:29am

It does sound expensive for a small book. But your reduced rate seems nearer the mark. £1 for printing cost is very small so I guess the book is quite thin. I have my own Magpies Nest Publishing http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk but AG Press in the USA have published two of my books and are presently working on a third to be followed by sequels. Stonehedge Publishing have the electronic rights to two of my books. (Awakening Love is already available - the sequel will follow soon) I have a number of blogs but the one I use most is wrinkly writers http://gladyshobson.wordpress.com
I ALWAYS have a professional edit for my work. And proofreading too (even editors can leave typos). My novels have been edited and proof-read more than once. Even then, a publisher may well do their own editing too. I have not done any children's books so can't help you there. It is continuity and POV (point of view) that you easily slip up on with novels. I have found short stories easier to write and my illustrated anthologies easier to sell. But no doubt you will have plenty of people ready to advise you. Good that you will get shop window space. Local book shops are gems. It is possible to get into Waterstones if you get an account with their suppliers. But as to whether it would be worth it is another matter. (After being set up and given a list of branches, you have to get in touch with each manager separately and persuade them to take your book)
Amazon usually automatically put your book on their site when you get an ISBN and other bookstores follow. But I'll never sell my own publications on the USA Amazon site (they have my Awakening Love for sale at about $95 last time I looked! The cost is £8.99 in the UK (it has 412 pages, perfect bound with laminated cover) I could post the book from here straight to a USA customer for $20. But the book will be available in the USA under a different title shortly. It will be called DESIRE and will have a different cover.
Any money I make on books is destined for charity too.
Best of luck with your book and may it sell well and establish you as an author.

Comment by Kay Braithwaite on February 12, 2009 at 3:15pm

One of the many bonuses of teaching is that I have excellent English teachers on hand who have helped to edit and check my book. Also friends and family have been very willing to help, I think the fact it is my first book and quite short helped!

In response to your questions, I do have the copyright and an ISBN number.
It is basically POD so I'm not expecting to gain shelf space in main book stores. My local book store has shown an interest, even without saying the proceeds are being donated. I was most suprised/delighted to hear they would give me space in their window display. They said they would discuss commission once I had a book to show them.
The books cost about £1 each to print and the publishers have put them on their website and distribution list as RRP £7.99. £2 from each book would cover all my expenses. As my intention was an affordable book for children, I'm planning to sell it for £3.99 in school. That is of course if everything goes to plan and I'm not in breach of my contract or code of conduct. I'm just waiting to hear from my union and local citizens advice bureau. It would be great if other schools would like to take up the fund-raising opportunity.

What other books have you written? Do you have a publisher and an editor, or do you employ your own editor?

Comment by Gladys Hobson on February 11, 2009 at 10:52am

First a few questions:
In what way is the book "self-published"? (Eg LULU?)
Does the book have an ISBN?
How are the books being printed? (POD digital in bulk, POD with fulfilment service, Traditional plates with maybe 1,000 copies)
There are not many shops that will sell self-published books. Independent shops/stores sympathetic to the charity may only want a small discount. But normal discounts can vary between 20% and 50% and the ones with lower discounts will likely want a sale or return agreement. Marketing is NOT easy. But you have the school to help there. It is a long time since I taught in schools and I have no idea what their policy is likely to be.
There is NO tax on books but if you gain income from them you are liable to income tax. (You will have expenses against the income, and if you can claim all income from sales is going to a charity they will lkely ignore it).
Be warned, although my book of memoirs was an instant hit, it was something special and has not been repeated. But you already have a readership.
Have you worked out what you are charging for the book?
Have you had someone check for typos. They are easily missed by the author. (Look again at your last comment). I have all my work edited and proof-read more than once (and still the odd typo gets away!).

Comment by Kay Braithwaite on February 11, 2009 at 9:10am

Thank you Gladys that sounds really interesting, did you have to charge VAT or income tax? I want all the proceeds to either go to the school where they are sold, or to Cancer Research if sold in shops etc. I intend for this to be the start of a series of books and I don't want to go to the press and end up jeopardising my job by being acussed of taking advantage of my position, particlularly when it was the children themselves that convinced me to do this in the first place and they have been really inspired themselves.

Comment by Gladys Hobson on February 11, 2009 at 3:34am

Is anyone going to Higham Hall at Cockermouth for a Novelists' Forum - Desires and Devices - on April 4th?
I would love to meet you there.

Comment by Gladys Hobson on February 11, 2009 at 3:31am

If you have not done so already, get your local press involved. BBC Radio too if possible. The fund aspect should help a lot. My first book (When Phones Were Immobile and Lived in Red Boxes - an illustrated book of childhood memories 1939-53) received the attention of local media, partly because it what it was, but also because it was linked to sponsorship of a student climbing a mountain for Save the Children funding. After the sponsorship had finished, sales continued to earn money for Save the Children. The book (a run of 750) is sold out. The local area has low population and it would not be worth doing another run. I hope this helps.

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