Starfish Soup

Well, it's been a long road, but we're here at last. Starfishing is out this week. I've been down the shops and seen it on the shelves. It's up and listed as 'in stock' on Amazon. It's officially the end of the process, at least, as far as Random House and the UK are concerned. Now I just have to look at my American editing :)

And to go with the new book, I have a new blog. Do go check it out http://starfishsoup.blogspot.com , where you'll find Frankie escaped from the book! I'm going to be blogging there regularly, so subscribe to the feed or something. It's gonna be tasteh soup, I promise.

I saw something amazing on Friday night. The police in Nottingham City Centre arrested a bunch of drunken losers dressed as superheroes. We had to hang around to listen to the radio action; you couldn't have written this. I've found Superman, but Mr Incredible's still on the loose. Batman wouldn't talk, but we nicked him, and suddenly he started coughing. He's given us the identity of the Incredible Hulk. I bet they had fun all night. Police are looking for a GREEN man... You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

LOL. Only in Nottinnum...

Crazy, mad, exciting times

I'm not talking about when I first met my husband, which this title could describe just as easily, but about the last few weeks.

I think people split quite neatly, sometimes. Those who like marmite, those who don't. Those, like me, who make lists, and those, like my husband, who don't. Actually, the hubby does have a 'to do' list on his iGoogle page. It has two items on it. 'Make a million pounds' and 'Sort out photos on computer'. I love this difference in scale. Personally, I am a total sad list making person, and my lists have recently exploded, what with articles and press and events, a new blogging project and all the other things associated with the release of Starfishing. But it's also partly because I keep setting myself extra things to do. It's like I can't sit still.

The National Academy of Writing has been interesting recently. We've had a good number of masterclasses but, possibly the climax, was when our president, Melvyn Bragg, received an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University and put some time aside to speak to our students afterwards. It was a small, intimate session, and Lord Bragg had a definite message about the editorial process, and the need for some real, honest voices to help you grow and improve as a writer. I'm hoping it hit home. Our students are doing well, with lots of publication and competition credits, but there's always room for one person to say 'find someone you can trust who will be honest with you.'

Sometimes it seems like it's the most crazy, mad, exciting times that bring out the writing in me and now is no exception. Despite it being the most crazy, mad time to do it, I have also started my next big project. And that's exciting.

A little advert...

My new novel, Starfishing, is out very soon indeed, the beginning of next month, and is available on pre-order now. If it's the same as The Killing Jar, it will be out and in the shops, as well as being sent out from online places, very soon indeed. Read more about it here or order it here, here or here!

Happy New Year

So it's 2008. I can't quite believe it, really. I remember looking ahead at my life as a child, and thinking how I'd be soooo old in the year 2000, twenty-eight! I could hardly imagine it. And here we are, eight years into a new millennium.

More surprising still, the publication date for Starfishing is almost here. Being involved in publishing means you end up living ahead of yourself somewhat. I've been working towards March 2008 for nearly two years now. When I first heard the date, like y2k, it seemed a long way in the distance. I soon got used to it. And now it has crept up on me, unannounced.

I've been very busy with all the usual stuff since the year set out, so nothing has changed so far. I don't feel too much older. It was my niece's birthday today. She told me 'I don't feel eight yet. I still feel seven!' I know what she means.(She was a millennium baby, in case you're struggling with the maths.)

I saw my agent a few days ago. He came to speak to my students at NAW, which was jolly decent of him. We managed to get twenty minutes or so in to talk about what I might write next and it was quite an inspiring conversation. I have all sorts of ideas floating around my head now, and a few fastened down tight inside my notebook too. No! I'm not going to tell you here. You will have to wait and see.

And I need to overhaul my website. My current one is a good example of something that looks pretty, but has been designed with totally no regard for scaleability. And I should know betterer, with my background in software design! This is going to be a big job, and needs to be done soon, to accommodate all the changes for Starfishing. Oh the joys of self-employment!

Still, I got my PLR statement and the library service are going to pay me some money because people have been borrowing my book. Like a special kind of new year bonus.

Happy 2008 y'all!

Proof is in the proof copy!

At last, I have proofs of Starfishing; something that looks like a book that gets sent out to reviewers, as well as to other authors to try to get cover quotes. This is the point where it starts to feel real - that it is a book and is going to be out there soon. The first sales have gone through on Amazon too - I checked the other day and the book has a sales rank now :)

It's hard to read your own book and see anything but the process you've been through. You know it so well at this stage. I do wonder if there ever comes a time when you can read your own book as a reader, in any true sense. I'm not sure; I've had that kind of experience with a few short stories that I didn't read for years but, then I probably never knew any of those as well as I did my novels.

I am reading Starfishing, though. Making what I can of it. And I'm pleased with what I've done. It wasn't an easy book to write. Second novel syndrome hit at various stages and for various reasons. But I got over that, I finished it, and I am very happy with the result. Here's everything crossed that the reviewers are too.

Someone said something very nice to me today about my other book that's coming out next year; The Okinawa Dragon. Five Leaves press are publishing this as part of their Crime Express imprint. I've just sent my latest draft off to the publisher and am waiting on his comments. I have to say this was fun to write. 15 000 words, an unusual length, and to have the opportunity to write something like this to be published as a book is unique and very satifying. Long live small local publishers.

And long live the bigger ones that put my longer novels out there, help me make them read so well, make them look so good, publicise them but, most of all, make them look like a book. I don't think I'll ever get bored with seeing my name on the spine :)

Nicola x

Possibly the last Killing Jar event?

One thing that has taken me by surprise about being a published writer is how much I've enjoyed the 'being on stage' bit. I didn't think I was a 'being on stage' kinda gell, but it just shows how wrong you can be.

Admittedly, the first couple of shots I had at it, the adrenaline was aflow; my heart still beats fast as I wait for an event to start and prepare myself for a reading. I wouldn't be natural if I didn't feel something at these times. But the shock is that I actually enjoy all of it. Turns out I'm a bit of a show off. This hasn't come as such a surprise to my friends and family - just me lol.

I was at Lowdham today, with crime gents (and prize winners) Chris Ewan and Allan Guthrie. I've read Chris's book, which was very entertaining and original, and I bought two of Allan's today and can't wait to get into them. He's one of the few people I've met along the way who are writing from the same point of view as me; the bad guys. I was into what he said about this, how the psychology of these people interested him more and how he was influenced by noir fiction and movies.

The last two events I've been at have been low key. Intimate, if you like, but it's all exposure and it all builds your profile, of that I am sure. My reading has improved immeasurably since my first time. I finally know how Kerrie's voice should sound out loud and I get into character. Which is a shame really; very soon it will be a different book I'm reading from. Frankie (my main character in Starfishing) has a very different voice, much more similar in tone to my own when I'm not trying to be Nottin-um.

I was struck a little by a strange kind of sadness today. The feeling that I'd been pimping around town with this book just about forever. The understanding that I was heading towards the end of that. I'm excited about the new novel, of course I am. A lot of writers compare putting out novels to giving birth, though I'm not sure it's quite that painful or important. Still, using that image, what's happening to me now is my kid leaving home. She's only two ffs!!! How will she look after hersen?

Time to focus on the new baby, next year, I guess. Or two of them. Or even three... We'll just have to wait and find out.

Nicola x

Blog silence

Apologies for the lack of posting recently. I've had a lot on personally, have been redrafting the Okinawa Dragon, and been working really hard at The National Academy of Writing.

In the words of Arnie, I'll be back.

(Soon)

Nicola