Thursday, October 31, 2013
Publishing Update
It's been a very hectic few months but this week - in time for Hallowe'en - I've just received my author copies of Horror Upon Horror: A step by step guide to writing the horror novel. There's also a new cover coming up for Charnel House Blues: The Vampyre's Tale but this isn't due for publication until the New Year (2014). My latest novel - House of Strange Gods - is going well and there's another how-to book Creating Meaningful Dialogue in production.
Monday, July 1, 2013
A New Book Contract
Just received the contract from 6th Books (another imprint of John Hunt Publishing) for my latest offering: Charnel House Blues: The Vampyre's Tale - written in the 'faction' style by the master vampire himself: John Polidori's Lord Ruthven.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Available on Kindle
Just downloaded the cover picture and text for The Wild Horseman onto Kindle. This novel was first published in 2003 in a limited edition of 50 copies under the pen name of Harri Slaymaker. It is no on e-book under the names of the original authors - Suzanne Ruthven and Paul Harriss.
On the eve of the German invasion of France, crippled ex-jockey, Richard Todhunter finds himself in the unenviable position of having to get himself, a 16-year old stable girl, an aging greyhound and to valuable racehorses back to England. Everywhere they turn there are strange undercurrents lurking just below the surface, as the rural landscape becomes a vast hunting field - with them as the quarry.
If you liked War Horse, you will love The Wild Horseman.
On the eve of the German invasion of France, crippled ex-jockey, Richard Todhunter finds himself in the unenviable position of having to get himself, a 16-year old stable girl, an aging greyhound and to valuable racehorses back to England. Everywhere they turn there are strange undercurrents lurking just below the surface, as the rural landscape becomes a vast hunting field - with them as the quarry.
If you liked War Horse, you will love The Wild Horseman.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Whittlewood Now Available on Kindle
After a lot of trials and tribulations, my novel Whittlewood is finally available on Kindle. First published in paperback format in 1997, it attracted some glowing reviews at the time, and rather than let it fade into oblivion now that ignotus press has ceased to be, I decided to go for an e-book version at no extra cost. As I'm currently working on my third novel (hopefully The Wild Horseman will also be available as an e-book shortly), I also thought it was a good idea to have the first book still 'in print'.
New Kid on the Block ... But Growing Rapidly
With just over a year since its inception, Compass Books (an imprint
of John Hunt Publishing) already has a diverse collection of titles
in various stages of production. This new writers' resource also
has an impressive stable of authors willing to share their
experience but what makes it different to other writers' how-to book
selections? "People make the mistake of automatically thinking that
how-to books are for beginners," says commissioning editor Suzanne
Ruthven, "but a large number of our titles cater for more
experienced writers looking for a change of direction, or
experimenting with a new genre. The majority of our authors also
have a background in tutoring writing courses, workshops and
writers' weekends, so they have the added advantage of bringing
their teaching skills to the table. They know the how, why, what,
where and when of their particular genre."
As former contributing editor of The New Writer magazine, Ruthven knows that reader-writers like the inclusive approach and quite a few of the Compass authors are names that have frequently appeared in the magazine over the years. "I'm familiar with their publishing history, style, the ability to work to deadlines, innovative ways of thinking, humour and, even more important, I've sat in on their workshop sessions and listened to them in action."
This doesn't mean that unknown writers can't get a foot in the door as new-comer and life-coach Sarah-Beth Watkins has discovered. This writer's field of speciality is what is broadly referred to as 'life-style' and her first book Telling Life's Tales was quickly followed by The Writer's Internet and The Life-Style Writer. How to Write for the Home and Family Market and Life-Coaching for Writers are currently in production.
Titles in the Compass Books pipeline include Writing A Chilling Thriller by novelist Sally Spedding (author of Wringland, Cloven, Cold Remains, Malediction, etc); A Practical Guide to Poetry Forms by Alison Chisholm, tutor for The Writers' Bureau (and "Possibly the best poetry teacher on the planet," according to Ruthven); The Positively Productive Writer and Photography for Writers by prolific non-fiction author Simon Whaley; and How To Write a Western in 30 Days by western author Nik Morton. Ruthven own titles also reflect her personal writing interests - Life-Writes, How To Write for the How-To Market, The Country Writer's Craft, The Pagan Writer's Guide and Horror Upon Horror: Writing The Horror Novel.
Compass Books will consider all full-length proposals for 'how to write' books and has recently added Compass Points to cater for 25,000 word titles on the techniques of writing, which are proving to be extremely popular with those more experienced writers who are looking to expand their own writing outlets. For more information go to www.compass-books.net or www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks.
As former contributing editor of The New Writer magazine, Ruthven knows that reader-writers like the inclusive approach and quite a few of the Compass authors are names that have frequently appeared in the magazine over the years. "I'm familiar with their publishing history, style, the ability to work to deadlines, innovative ways of thinking, humour and, even more important, I've sat in on their workshop sessions and listened to them in action."
This doesn't mean that unknown writers can't get a foot in the door as new-comer and life-coach Sarah-Beth Watkins has discovered. This writer's field of speciality is what is broadly referred to as 'life-style' and her first book Telling Life's Tales was quickly followed by The Writer's Internet and The Life-Style Writer. How to Write for the Home and Family Market and Life-Coaching for Writers are currently in production.
Titles in the Compass Books pipeline include Writing A Chilling Thriller by novelist Sally Spedding (author of Wringland, Cloven, Cold Remains, Malediction, etc); A Practical Guide to Poetry Forms by Alison Chisholm, tutor for The Writers' Bureau (and "Possibly the best poetry teacher on the planet," according to Ruthven); The Positively Productive Writer and Photography for Writers by prolific non-fiction author Simon Whaley; and How To Write a Western in 30 Days by western author Nik Morton. Ruthven own titles also reflect her personal writing interests - Life-Writes, How To Write for the How-To Market, The Country Writer's Craft, The Pagan Writer's Guide and Horror Upon Horror: Writing The Horror Novel.
Compass Books will consider all full-length proposals for 'how to write' books and has recently added Compass Points to cater for 25,000 word titles on the techniques of writing, which are proving to be extremely popular with those more experienced writers who are looking to expand their own writing outlets. For more information go to www.compass-books.net or www.facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
New Books ...
We now have a publication dates of 31st May for The Country Writer's Craft; 28th June for How To Write for the How-To Markets and 26th July for The Pagan Writer's Guide. I'm just putting the finishing touches to the horror writers' guide and this should be in print by the end of the year ...
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The latest gossip ...
Since leaving The New Writer the work load hasn't lessened and I can report that both The Country Writer's Craft and How To Write For The How-To Market are both in production and should be available later this year. The typescript for The Pagan Writer's Guide is also in the proofing stages, while I'm half-way through compiling Horror Upon Horror (how to write horror fiction) and Vampyre - a serious look at the vampire cult for 6th Books - which I'm enjoying immensely. All the old Gothic Society memories come flooding back ... oh, happy days!
You can also keep up to date with what's going on at the Compass Books facebook: facebook.com/JHPCompass Books
where you'll find lots of opportunities for writers in all sorts of different genre and catch up with old friends from The New Writer.
You can also keep up to date with what's going on at the Compass Books facebook: facebook.com/JHPCompass Books
where you'll find lots of opportunities for writers in all sorts of different genre and catch up with old friends from The New Writer.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Even more changes ...
PRESS RELEASE: Reading and writing joined up
"Guy Pringle, publisher of newbooks and tBkmag magazines has acquired The New Writer (TNW) magazine. Having steered TNW through its first sixteen years, Merric Davidson is stepping down from the role of Publisher but will continue to be involved with the magazine and website as Editorial Consultant. Suzanne Ruthven steps down as Editor to fulfil other obligations.
Pringle said, “In the last twelve years of publishing newbooks, I have often speculated about adding a magazine for writers to our stable. With The New Writer we have acquired a well-established and highly regarded player in the market. Over the coming issues we plan to introduce into TNW some of the expertise we have acquired, always remembering that the reader comes first.”
“Whether the readers of TNW are just starting out or have achieved publication in their own right, we will continue to offer them support and guidance appropriate to their needs and interests.”
Alison Glinn and Madelaine Smith are appointed as co-Editors in addition to their roles within newbooks."
Yes, it's all over bar the shouting and after 16 years I've made the decision to step down as editor of The New Writer. It seems a very long time since I started the editorial ball rolling in 1987 with Quartos Magazine, and then joining up with Merric to produce TNW but like all aspects of Life, publishing moves on and I have new commitments with Compass Books to occupy my time.
"Guy Pringle, publisher of newbooks and tBkmag magazines has acquired The New Writer (TNW) magazine. Having steered TNW through its first sixteen years, Merric Davidson is stepping down from the role of Publisher but will continue to be involved with the magazine and website as Editorial Consultant. Suzanne Ruthven steps down as Editor to fulfil other obligations.
Pringle said, “In the last twelve years of publishing newbooks, I have often speculated about adding a magazine for writers to our stable. With The New Writer we have acquired a well-established and highly regarded player in the market. Over the coming issues we plan to introduce into TNW some of the expertise we have acquired, always remembering that the reader comes first.”
“Whether the readers of TNW are just starting out or have achieved publication in their own right, we will continue to offer them support and guidance appropriate to their needs and interests.”
Alison Glinn and Madelaine Smith are appointed as co-Editors in addition to their roles within newbooks."
Yes, it's all over bar the shouting and after 16 years I've made the decision to step down as editor of The New Writer. It seems a very long time since I started the editorial ball rolling in 1987 with Quartos Magazine, and then joining up with Merric to produce TNW but like all aspects of Life, publishing moves on and I have new commitments with Compass Books to occupy my time.
Friday, January 4, 2013
A New Year Update
It's been a busy close to the year with all the proofing for How To Write for the How-To Markets and The Country Write's Guide, together with the completion of The Pagan Writer's Guide - all of which should see the light of day during 2013. There are lots of ideas in the pipeline, including getting my old novel, Whittlewood, ready to go onto Kindle.
The work on Compass Books is mounting and interested parties can keep in touch by going to facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks where there are a lot of old friends coming out of the woodwork - some are from The New Writer and hopefully, will be writing for me in the coming year.
A time for taking on new things and discarding the old ...
The work on Compass Books is mounting and interested parties can keep in touch by going to facebook.com/JHPCompassBooks where there are a lot of old friends coming out of the woodwork - some are from The New Writer and hopefully, will be writing for me in the coming year.
A time for taking on new things and discarding the old ...
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