Buying houses in cash and selling millions: meet self-publishing's 'hidden' authors
theguardian.com – Thursday June 8, 2017
When Keith Houghton bought his four-bedroom detached house earlier this year, he did a rare thing for an author: he paid cash, with earnings from his books.
Keith who, you may ask? Houghton is one of a handful of so-called “hidden” bestsellers: his self-published crime thrillers are ebooks, sales of which are not monitored by the UK’s official book charts (if they don’t have ISBNs, which self-published titles often don’t).
Houghton made his money over the past six years by selling more than 500,000 books, chiefly through his Gabe Quinn series of thrillers. In a world in which traditionally published authors struggle to make £7,000 a year from their work, it is no wonder Houghton says: “I feel like I have won the lottery.”
Audible launches £10,000 writing grant
thebookseller.com – Wednesday June 7, 2017
Audible has launched a £10,000 audio-exclusive writing grant for unpublished writers.
The Audible New Writing Grant: The Crime Edition invites crime writers to submit an unpublished thriller of 50,000 words or more to a panel including two-time Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year winner Mark Billingham; CWA Dagger In The Library winner Sharon Bolton; The Girl On The Train and The Widow narrator Clare Corbett, the Daily Telegraph’s crime critic Jake Kerridge and Audible’s director Of content Laurence Howell.
New Scottish crime writing course offers forensic attention to detail
heraldscotland.com – Tuesday June 6, 2017
It will be the crime writing course for those who want to develop a forensic grasp of detective fiction.
A new Scottish university course is offering aspiring crime writers the chance to learn how to write detective fiction, as well as learns about the realities of forensic science.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday June 5, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reviews;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Submit 4-6 poems, or prose up to 2,500 words, by email or by post. No submissions via links/downloads. See website for full details.
Andrea Mara on having the confidence to write a novel
irishexaminer.com – Friday June 2, 2017
THIS time three years ago, I got up, put on a dress and heels, and drove to my office in Dublin’s Financial Services Centre to look at my long to-do list.
I know this not because it stands out in any way, but because back then it’s what I did every day.
Today, I’m sitting at my kitchen table in jeans and flats, looking at an equally long but very different to-do list, and getting set to launch my first book, a psychological thriller about a woman who sees something strange in her next-door neighbour’s garden.
Crediton Short Story Competition 2017 Shortlist announced
firstwriter.com – Thursday June 1, 2017
The shortlisted entries for the Crediton Short Story Competition 2017 have been announced:
- Echoes From The Somme by Frances Colville
- Entanglement by Alex Reece Abbott
- The Apple and the Tree by Mary Sheehan
- Down at the End of Lonely Street by Roger Tayler
- Being Beryl by Eleanor Westwood
The shortlisted entries can be read at: http://credfest.co.uk
Lanny Noveck & Liz Robinson Launch Boutique Literary Management Firm
deadline.com – Thursday June 1, 2017
Literary representation veterans Lanny Noveck and Liz Robinson have teamed to form Signature Ltd., a boutique literary management firm. This is a re-teaming of the duo who first worked together as agents at the William Morris Agency.
Stuck While Writing? Try This Brilliant Advice
themarysue.com – Wednesday May 31, 2017
Every writer knows that while there are the blessed moments where words seem to pour forth in a magical river, sometimes the act of writing is like pulling teeth. Actually, pulling teeth sounds a lot easier than attempting to write when you’re blocked. The following approaches to getting unstuck could prove extremely helpful—I know they’ve helped me.
Inkitt Free Novel Writing Competition 2017
firstwriter.com – Wednesday May 31, 2017
Inkitt is now accepting submissions of novels of 20,000 words and over for its Free Novel Writing Competition: an ongoing writing competition which every month selects a new novel for publication.
The competition is free to enter, and is open to any genre of novel, and writers from anywhere in the world.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday May 30, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry; Scripts;
Areas include: Arts; Autobiography; Biography; Business; Crime; Culture; Current Affairs; Fantasy; Finance; Health; Historical; Humour; Lifestyle; Literature; Media; Military; Music; Mystery; Nature; Philosophy; Politics; Psychology; Religious; Science; Self-Help; Sociology; Sport; Travel;
Markets: Academic; Children's; Professional; Youth;
Preferred styles: Commercial; Literary; Popular
Publisher with offices in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Accepts queries by email. See website for detailed instructions.
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