Michelle Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Of course you can join them! Have you added your name?
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Assuming cost is an issue, Kate, you might like to know that all my books are available "used" (which often means new) on Amazon starting at
Michelle Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Linda, the problem with marketplace books is that you have to add £2.45 to each book for postage. But yes, I gree, even with that added, it can be cheaper than buying direct from amazon. That is interesting about the libraries. Is it true that you do get a payment whenever a book is taken out.. even though it's TINY?
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Have you ever thought about creating a main character and doing a series of books? Or do you prefer doing something different every time? I would love to create a character who could sustain a series of books! This would be wonderful for a variety of reasons... 1. I miss my characters dreadfully when I've finished a book. It's a form of bereavement. (Some of them I'm still not over and don't suppose I ever will be, eg Rory and Flora Dunbar in A LIFETIME BURNING.) 2. It would halve the work in creating a new book since character creation is something that takes a lot of thinking time and emotional input. 3. Publishers and readers like series and so do tv production companies, so a book that is part of a series is probably going to be more commercial. But I suspect it will never happen for me. (If I could manage a sequel, I'd be chuffed! ) I have a suspicion series characters don't on the whole develop very much, they just get older and life happens to them. (Some pretty much stay the same like Lord Peter Wimsey, Jeeves & Wooster, Inspector Rebus.) Series books are mainly about the plot - often a formulaic plot, like a crime novel - less about the central character. My books are always about character and plot is secondary. (This is a gross generalisation I know and you might not agree, but I think it serves for the purposes of discussion.) I think too in a book I'm trying to resolve a character's issues in a way that feels emotionally satisfying, sometimes conclusive. That doesn't lend itself even to a sequel, let alone a series. There are exceptions to my generalisations above: Dorothy Dunnett's and Patrick O' Brian's historical novels where there are characters of such complexity and depth that they can be explored over a series of books (although it's generally thought that P O'B was spreading his material rather thin by the end. I'm currently reading no. 11 in the series and there's no sign of that yet.) The only character of my own I've ever felt inclined to write a sequel for is Rory Dunbar in A LIFETIME BURNING. I considered it and then realised it just wouldn't work. There's no doubt in my mind that Rory would have been dead within the year after the conclusion of ALB!
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Is it true that you do get a payment whenever a book is taken out.. even though it's TINY? Yes. This is known as PLR - Public Lending Rate - and it is a major contributor to the pathetic income that most authors earn. (Average author's income is estimated by the Society of Authors to be
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Linda, the problem with marketplace books is that you have to add
Michelle Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Ah, but Linda.. the bookrings here have lovely short queues, so they're a much better bet! (And I think most are registered on bookcrossing too.)
madcow Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 The library will reserve copies of books, I have just done it for A Lifetime Burning, it cost me 60p payable when I picked up the book. I also know that if there are no copies of a particular book (newish ones not out of print ones) the library will purchase it from places like Amazon they did this for Hannah when a book she wanted to read wasn't available anywhere in Lancashire.
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 the bookrings here have lovely short queues, so they're a much better bet! (And I think most are registered on bookcrossing too.) Yes, I wasn't sure about the overlap between the 2 sites - BCF and BC. I've come across Michelle on the BC site. To be fair to BC, I think it's probably only the queues for STAR GAZING that are loooong and that's because there aren't many copies registered yet. Thank you, Madcow, for reserving ALB. I hope you'll think it was worth the 60p investment!
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Btw, Michelle, which book of mine isn't offered in a BCF book ring? Twist my arm and I'll donate a copy to the cause. I still have your address somewhere.
Michelle Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 I've offered my copy of EG and SG, but not my copy of ALB, because it's signed, and I treasure those. If I could twist your arm (gently of course), that would be lovely.
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 OK, consider my arm twisted. Do you want me to send it to you, Michelle, or to the address of someone waiting to read? (You could send me that offlist.)
Michelle Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 If I could start the book ring, and then ask you to send it to the first person, that would be great. Thank you Linda, that is very generous.
madcow Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Thank you, Madcow, for reserving ALB. I hope you'll think it was worth the 60p investment! Most definately
Inver Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 The best bet for the impecunious is www.bookcrossing.com There are lots of bookrings for my books but some of the queues are long. I occasionally donate books to shorten the waiting time! I've also heard that by the time a book gets to the end of a bookring it's showing signs of wear and tear and has had to be repaired. (But that's quite something isn't it? For your book to be read to death? ) And if it wasn't for Lyzzybee and her bookrings on there you wouldn't be here....lol....that is how I found you, then recommended you to Michelle.
Linda Gillard Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 I couldn't begin to estimate what I owe Lyzzybee and BookCrossing, something I always acknowledge when I speak publicly. There's a photo of some BookCrossers (incl Liz) on my website under the Credits section, and many BookCrossing reviews are quoted in my Reviews sections, alongside those from press and bookblogs. I was honoured to be asked to speak and teach at the 10th Anniversary BC Convention in London earlier this year which was terrific fun and a wonderful opportunity to meet readers and BC friends.
Inver Posted June 25, 2008 Posted June 25, 2008 Still disappointed I didn't get to meet you that time you were in Aberdeen
Linda Gillard Posted June 25, 2008 Posted June 25, 2008 Yes, that was a shame, wasn't it? I've heard rumours that the next BC UnConvention might be in Edinburgh or Glasgow. So maybe there?...
Linda Gillard Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 I'm featured today on my publisher's blog answering Qs about writing. See http://tinyurl.com/5rkuaw Not sure why they didn't post a photo of me. Maybe they think I'm too old and wrinkly?...
Linda Gillard Posted June 28, 2008 Posted June 28, 2008 (edited) Inver, I'm in the Press & Journal today! And they've spelled my surname wrong not once, but twice! It's a nice feature apart from my name being wrong. (GILLAN instead of GILLARD.) Ho hum... Edited June 29, 2008 by Linda Gillard
Kate Posted June 28, 2008 Posted June 28, 2008 I received A Lifetime Burning from Linda today - thank you
Inver Posted June 29, 2008 Posted June 29, 2008 Inver, I'm in the Press & Journal today! And they've spelled my surname wrong not once, but twice! It's a nice feature apart from my name being wrong. (GILLAN instead of GILLARD.) Ho hum... Numpties:irked: I don't get the P&J must see if my friend still has it.
Michelle Posted June 30, 2008 Author Posted June 30, 2008 Linda, it's been an absolute pleasure having you here, thank you for your time. Hopefully we've gotten some more people interested in your writing.. make sure you come along and tell us about your next book when it's released. Does anyone have any last minute, burning questions?
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