Welcome to Part 3 of my Launches in Lockdown series.
My guests tonight hail from that wonderful phenomenon known as the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, believed to the oldest residential writing school in the world. See its website for more.
The cancellation of the 2020 Swanwick was the first cancellation in its 70 year history and deeply saddened all who love this wonderful celebration of all things connected with writing. We all hope it will be the only cancellation too.
I am delighted to welcome back to Chandler’s Ford Today Jennifer C Wilson and Val Penny, who have kept busy with their writing despite everything else going on in 2020.
(Mind you, that is a good thing. I would far rather focus on something positive and creative, wouldn’t you?!).
First up this week – Jennifer C Wilson
Jennifer C Wilson
Hi Allison, and thank you so much for welcoming me back to your blog!
(Allison: You’re welcome!).
1. What book(s) did you launch in 2020?
There were a couple actually – 2020 was a busier writing year than I would have thought, when we were all suddenly locked down, back in March.
Of my own work, there was Kindred Spirits: Ephemera (mybook.to/Ephemera), then my first foray into non-fiction with A Novel Approach (mybook.to/ANovelApproach), as well as contributing to the first Ocelot Press anthology, Doorways to the Past (mybook.to/DoorwaysToThePast), and a charity anthology, Yorkist Stories (mybook.to/YorkistStories2).
2. How did you do this?
It was a shame not to be able to celebrate any of these things in person, but in terms of a wider launch, nothing really changed from what I would have planned anyway, other than probably having a party for local family and friends on Tyneside when each was released.
For each book, we had an online launch through Facebook Events, and for my own two books, I also invested in a blog tour, with Rachel’s Random Resources and the Coffee Pot Book Club, to help spread the word.
3. Why did you pick those options?
I’ve enjoyed doing online Facebook events for each of my books in the past, and as everyone was stuck indoors, and on social media more as a result, it seemed a good idea to put more emphasis on the online side of things.
In terms of the blog tours, I think they’re useful to get the word of your new release out to a wider audience. Using your own social media is obviously important, but one of the things I have always struggled with is finding ways to break out of my own social media circle, and into other peoples’. Through the kind sharing of information by book-bloggers, you’re able to get information about your release further than you would manage on your own.
4. How do you think these events went?
Both blog tours went well, and I was thrilled to get some lovely reviews for Ephemera especially. It’s always a nerve-wracking thing, when a book goes out ‘into the wild’ and beyond your control.
I enjoyed the online events too, catching up with friends via chats in the event, and seeing what others shared during guest spots. Online book events are perhaps smaller than they used to be, but it’s nice to be part of the writing community, supporting each other, and sharing each other’s news.
5. What have you missed most about not being able to hold signings etc in the usual way?
I’ve not held many talks or other events in the past, other than my own celebratory parties, but it’s been the other events I’ve missed most, like hosting the North Tyneside Writers’ Circle, where we can share news about what’s coming up, our new releases etc. Not being able to talk about our work with actual people has been odd.
6. What have you learned from your experiences here?
Darkstroke have been great throughout lockdown, holding Zoom calls between us all, and one thing that came up time and time again was the importance of e-books, pages read, and the general shift of the reading world online in terms of books, book-buying, and book-reading.
Paperbacks will always be important, and I love being able to look at my bookshelf and see books from people I have met, and having signed copies etc. (Allison: Me too!).
But, on the whole, with the shift into e-books, perhaps any tips learned during lockdown will be far more important going forward, even when we can all get back into our beloved libraries and bookshops.
7. Name one top tip based on your experience of your launch(es) in 2020.
For me, it’s been to spread my social media wings a little. Thanks to Canva, I’ve been trying some new graphics specifically designed for Instagram, which I hadn’t really used before now. But I’ve been looking at what others do on the platform, and I think that’s something I am certainly going to embrace in 2021. The Coffee Pot Book Club produces beautiful Instagram-friendly graphics as part of their tours, and it’s inspired me to get creative.
About Jennifer
Jennifer C. Wilson stalks dead people (usually monarchs, mostly Mary Queen of Scots and Richard III). Inspired by childhood visits to as many castles and historical sites her parents could find, and losing herself in their stories (not to mention quite often the castles themselves!), at least now her daydreams make it onto the page.
After returning to the north-east of England for work, she joined a creative writing class, and has been filling notebooks ever since. Jennifer won North Tyneside Libraries’ Story Tyne short story competition in 2014, and in 2015, her debut novel, Kindred Spirits: Tower of London was published by Crooked Cat Books.
The full series was re-released by Darkstroke in January 2020. Jennifer is a founder and host of the award-winning North Tyneside Writers’ Circle, and has been running writing workshops in North Tyneside since 2015.
She also publishes historical fiction novels with Ocelot Press. She lives in Whitley Bay, and is very proud of her two-inch view of the North Sea.
You can connect with Jennifer online at:-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifercwilsonwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkjunkie1984
Blog: https://jennifercwilsonwriter.wordpress.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennifer-C-Wilson/e/B018UBP1ZO/
And now time to welcome back Scottish crime writer, Val Penny. Good to see you here again, Val!
Val Penny
1. What book(s) did you launch in 2020?
During the first period of lockdown, in Spring 2020, the weather was warm and beautiful. However, the activities that were permitted outside the home were limited. So after I had had my morning constitutional walk about the village, I set about writing. The first book I produced was my non-fiction book, Let’s Get Published. I then surprised my publishers by being ahead of time with submitting the manuscript for my fiction novel, Hunter’s Secret. This is the fifth book in the series, The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries.
2. How did you do this?
I had been planning to write a book on getting your book into the world for some time and took the opportunity of lockdown to pull my research together. The book was technically self-published.
However, I had never self-published a book before and hired a design company to produce the cover for me and my publishers assisted me with the formatting of Let’s Get Published. I was grateful for that assistance and am glad the book has been so well received.
Hunter’s Secret was published by my usual publishers, darkstroke. This is a crime and horror imprint of Crooked Cat Books. The novel was due to be published in the summer of 2020 and, indeed, was launched on 8th August.
3. Why did you pick those options?
I decided to self-publish Let’s Get Published because this gave me the freedom to launch the book into the world quickly and not be subject to the time constraints that are inherent with traditional publishing.
My novel, Hunter’s Secret, was commissioned by my publishers and therefore, the appropriate course of action was to submit the manuscript to them in good time for the launch on 8th August.
4. How do you think these events went?
I had online launches for both Let’s Get Published and Hunter’s Secret. These were well attended and a lot of fun. Unfortunately, due to coronavirus restrictions, no live launches were possible.
5. What have you missed most about not being able to hold signings etc in the usual way?
Meeting my readers, exchanging stories and chatting with them face to face is the thing I have missed most this year. However, I have started a Facebook Group, Val’s Book Bundle, and that is a lovely place to meet and talk with other writers and readers.
6. What have you learned from your experiences here?
The experience of lockdown during 2020 made me value my friends, family and modern technology that allowed me to keep in touch with them. It also focused my mind and allowed me to concentrate on my writing. I am grateful that I can work from home without breaching any health restrictions or government guidelines.
7. Name one top tip based on your experience of your launch(es) in 2020.
Enjoy the publication of your books, celebrate the fruition of your work with your friends, family and readers, wherever and however the launch takes place. Have fun.
Author Contact Details
www.valpenny.com
www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739
www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303
https://twitter.com/valeriepenny
Buy Links
mybook.to/hunterssecret
bit.ly/LetsGetPublished
Author Biography
Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University.
She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However, she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, and novels.
Her crime novels, Hunter’s Chase, Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force and Hunter’s Blood are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by darkstroke. The fifth book in the series, Hunter’s Secret, follows shortly. Her first nonfiction book, Let’s Get Published, is available now.
Conclusion
Many thanks, Jennifer and Val, for your insights over what has been a strange twelve months for us all. Am looking forward to catching up with both of you at Swanwick later in the year, hopefully, though there is Zoom in the meantime!
Next week I’ll be talking to friends from Bridge House Publishing/Cafelit/Chapeltown Books.
Related Posts:-
A Novel Approach – Jennifer C Wilson In Conversation With Allison Symes
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:
Hi Allison. This was another very informative edition. I was unaware of Facebook Events, so it was good to hear about that feature. I’m in the process of thinking about what to do when my books are published this year, you’ve given me some more good ideas and things to think about. Thank you for that!!
Many thanks, Jim. Good luck with your launches!
Dare we look forward to the return of literary festivals? I’ve had my jabs with no problems, my spouse had her jab followed by every side effect except death. We still do not feel safe going out.
Currently enjoying what George Saunders says about Russian short stories in ‘A swim in a pond in the rain.’
I think so, Mike. It really is a question of timing. So far a lot of the festivals are planning an “in case” Zoom alternative, which is very sensible.
Glad to hear you have had the jabs. Hope Brenda is soon feeling much better. Am looking forward to getting my jab in due course. I know the reactions are a pain for those poor souls unlucky enough to have them but, given I’m asthmatic, I’d rather take my chance with the jab every time!
As for the not feeling safe, it is also going to be a question of building up confidence slowly I think. The more people that have the jab, well the R rate will HAVE to fall, that in turn will help with confidence levels. But it all takes time.
Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Allison. It was lovely to give some real thought to launching books at this difficult time.
Stay safe and well.
Val Penny
Many thanks, Val. What I hope this series does is give encouragement to those who are wondering how on earth they can have their book launches given none of us can know when restrictions will be lifted.
Great to read about these examples of launching books in lockdown.
Many thanks, Gail. Hopefully this series will give ideas for people who may be wondering what on earth they do with their launches this year.
I’m really enjoying your series, Allison. It’s interesting to see how other authors have coped, and also to get new ideas about getting the word out there about our books. Thank you!
Many thanks, Teresa. It’s important to keep our spirits up. There ARE still plenty of ways to launch books, even if they all have to be online for now.