50 Stories for Pakistan

The anthology, published to raise money for the Pakistan disaster fund, is published today -and contains a contribution from me.

"Look at the image on the cover of this book.
A man and a boy knee-deep in water. Father and son? Uncle and nephew? Teacher and pupil? Or perhaps just a kid, lost, tagging on to an adult in the hope that he will be taken somewhere safe, dry?
They are wading away from the light into the darkness and gloom. The unknown. Fear. Hunger. Disease. But they are also wading towards you. They can’t ask for your help. You must choose to give it.
A simple way of doing that is to buy this book. Proceeds go to helping the victims of the Pakistan floods.
Now please take one more look at the cover. And remember, they can't ask..."

For more see the box on the right of this blog - thanks.

More on eBooks

OK I appreciate eBooks are dominating the writing world's press at the moment - but it is a big issue for all involved in writing through to reading.

Despite the absurdity of WH Smith requiring my postal address (hardly important for delivering an eBook) and their system insisting on a UK post code - I had entered a my Spanish address my account was eventually opened and the WH Smith world of eBooks was at my feet, so to speak.

I had become seduced by the reviews and publicity surrounding Howard Jacobson's 'The Finkler Question' (recent Man Booker prize winner) so decided to buy the eBook version from WHS - their price was 8.22 whilst the opposition - Waterstones - asked for 13.28. Tough decision.

I had a few technical difficulties but with a little perseverance and patience allowing for this being my first eBook purchase, the file arrived on my computer which I then transferred into my Sony eReader device so now I am reading the Man Booker prize winner.

I just hope that I start to enjoy it at some point as to be honest I have been disappointed with the first 50 pages - and such an auspicious event - my first purchased eBook. There is still time.......

Beware of the eBook Rip Offs!

Most of us are aware of the controversy surrounding eBooks and their impact of traditional publishing. But it does not end there. The Man Booker prize was recently awarded to Howard Jacobson for his 'The Finkler Question'

I decided to see what the options were for purchasing the eBook version:

Waterstones (quoting RRP as 19 pds) are selling for 9.49

whereas WH Smiths (quoting RRP as 20.56) are selling for 8.22

a net difference of 1.27 (13%) Great pity WHS want so much information to setup an account whereas Waterstones only require an email address (which is all that is needed for that to dispatch a eBook) and how can the RRP vary? eBooks seem to attract controversy from every angle.

Writers Abroad Anthology

Tomorrow is the deadline for submissions to my Writers Abroad group anthology. The theme is Expat life and we have had a variety of submissions from all around the world.

Soon we will be making the final decisions regarding which submissions will be published and doing the final edits etc with a view to publishing the anthology to coincide with the UK National Short Story week in November (22-28th) The book's cover will comprise of a collage of members Expat photos.

In the meantime Greg McQueen has reached the final stages of publishing '50 Stories for Pakistan' which will include my contribution.

The Big Debate Goes On

Traditionally an author writes a book, acquires an agent who deals with a publisher who publishes the book having engaged a printer to print it and then via a wholesaler onto the book shop shelves where a buyer pays his money and reads the book.
But - the internet and an eBook reader device now means that a writer could write the book, publish it himself in eBook format - retail it via his own web site and the reader could deal direct (via the internet) with the author to download the eBook and read it on either his computer or eBook reader.
So where does this leave agents, publishers, printers, wholesalers, and book shops - well that is the question that the whole industry and other pundits are discussing at book fairs, on the net and in the trade publications etc. I think the whole issue is fascinating - for more see either this blog  (which also gives a vision of a future book shop) and/or this article

TIM October

The October edition of The Inland Magazine is out now with a healthy 64 pages containing lots of great articles and features.

My contributions are:

The Bibliomaniac page - Book reviews and News - Page 18

The Wine Trail - Page 22

and I have co-ordinated a page from the Dept of Work and Pensions - advice for early retirees Page 42

For more click below or visit here

Open publication - Free publishing - More spain