Book Shows, Editing and Tennis
Apologies for been away so long. I’m battling away editing a
historical novel, which is fascinating in many ways but problematic on others,
as well as organising sets of critiques for customers at a time when a lot of
reviewers are either on holiday or inundated because everyone else is. Sigh…but
it is nice to be busy. I had a little break in June, another reason why the
blogging stopped, first at Eastbourne for the tennis, which I was able to visit
with an editor friend, and then one lovely day at Wimbledon. Then there was
catching up…
I’m now having a look in my diary to see what’s around the
corner. A writer friend and I had hoped to go the Harrogate for the Crime Writing
Festival this week, and were bitterly disappointed that they’d run out of
tickets. So I had a look to see what else was out there…
Coming up on September 22nd is something called
The Book Show, taking place for the first time, at Luton. It’s a one-day event
and is run by digital publishers Andrews UK. From the website – which is all
I’m going on here, I have no inside knowledge – the focus is unsurprisingly on
self-publishing, although they do say agents (Watson Little, no less, and Brie
Burkemann) and authors will be speaking. The authors, so far as I can tell, are
all writers of celebrity biography or of erotic fiction; an interesting mix. Some
are self-publishers. So, for writers of mainstream fiction, I don’t think
you’re going to find your idols here, and Fiction Feedback won’t be attending.
Still, it looks like a nice way to spend a day, if you happen to be near Luton
– and if you have quite a bit of dosh to spare. Ninety quid seems a bit steep,
although that does include breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. If you buy
before August 1st, you get an early bird discount and pay £80. Check
out the website and see what you think, www.thebookshow.co.uk
I’ll be back soon to report on any more unusual shows or festivals
I hear about, and let you know the latest news at Fiction Feedback.
