Diane Chandler hosts Abigail Dean at Chiswick Book Festival
Blackbird novelist Diane Chandler will host the Abigail Dean event at the 2025 Chiswick Book Festival.
This is an ONLINE event. Wherever you are in the world, come and meet Diane and Abigail at the online Chiswickbuzz Book Club - Words With Wine in W4 and join in the discussion about Abigail's latest novel THE DEATH OF US.
WEDNESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER
18.00-18.45 BST
ONLINE
£4.00
TICKETS: https://www.chiswickbookfestival.net/tickets/
Susie Kelly back in the charts
A new boost for Susie Kelly's Best Foot Forward: A 500-Mile Walk Through Hidden France as readers of the controversy surrounding Raynor Winn's The Salt Path discover Susie's books.
Fun Day Out at The Writing Coach's Getting Published Event
It was such a treat to be invited to talk at The Writing Coach's annual Getting Published Day.
I really enjoyed chatting with Jacqui’s writers plus the two literary agent speakers and her special guest, Louise Doughty. But it was also a chance to reflect. I was glad to be able to share just how much the landscape has changed since I got my first publishing deal as a novelist back in 2001.
Blackbird was the UK’s first digital publishing company, launched in 2009 when there was still a great deal of scepticism around ebooks, digital publishing and so-called ‘vanity’ self-publishing. It all began by accident. I was writing about experimenting with ebook production on my (anonymous) author blog. The (wonderfully funny) travel writer Susie Kelly got in touch to ask if I’d be interested in e-publishing her book The Valley of Heaven and Hell: Cycling in the Shadow of Marie-Antoinette. She had published successfully with Transworld until her agent died and she found herself out of contract.
At that time ebooks were only available on US Amazon. Valley soared up the Amazon US charts, and we've worked together ever since. I think we've published around 15 titles to date, including her Transworld rights-reverted backlist. I imagine publishing contracts have tightened up since then, and those backlist rights aren’t so easily come by. Another backlist title Blackbird is proud to publish is The Writing Coach founder Jacqui Lofthouse’s much-lauded Bloomsbury novel Bluethroat Morning.
Self-publishing has truly come of age. The publishing options for writers today are many and varied. Some go on from self-publishing to secure major contracts with mainstream publishers - often genre-focused authors of thrillers or romantasy. Others publish new work or backlists with small digital publishers like Blackbird. Some become authorpreneurs, managing their own author businesses. This takes learning and dedication, especially in marketing and Facebook advertising, and isn’t for everyone. But these days, it is possible to make a decent living, or more, through writing.
My favourite outcome from all the changes in publishing over the years is the growing respect the industry now has for authors. Even more important, perhaps, is the self-respect that savvy self-published authors now have as they split their working days between writing and marketing and earn a good living doing so.
A shout-out to Jacqui’s fantastic artist husband David - isn’t he great? As a cartoonist, live illustrator and caricaturist, he’s hugely in demand for corporate events, weddings, and big birthdays (including HM The Queen’s 80th!). If you can book early enough, check him out here: David Lewis – Live Illustrator. And of course, to Jacqui and all of her Writing Coach consultants: whatever genre you’re writing in, fiction, memoir or non-fiction and, I believe, screenwriting, she’ll be able to match you with a personal mentor. There’s also a terrific community element, with online and in-person workshops and outings. Just look at this sumptuous writing retreat in Portugal currently on offer!
Come and Meet Me at The Writing Coach's "Getting Published" Day
I'm delighted to be taking part in The Writing Coach's 2025 "Getting Published" Day.
To be held in central London on Saturday, 21st June 2025.
I will be talking alongside The Writing Coach founder and novelist Jacqui Lofthouse; literary agents Salma Begum and Jemma McDonagh, and bestselling Apple Tree Yard novelist, screenwriter and producer, Louise Doughty.
Here, below, are a few details taken from The Writing Coach's website.
To find out more and reserve your place, please go to:
https://thewritingcoach.co.uk/courses/getting-published-day/
Stephanie
The Writing Coach "Getting Published" Day
Novel London at Riverside Studios
Novel London's new monthly novel readings at Riverside Studios kicked off on 10th Feb with 5 authors reading from their work. I took the opportunity to accept the invitation to read the opening chapters of my work-in-progress INTERBEING - A Digital Fairytale.
It was a sharp wake-up call, switching from editor and publisher of others' works, back to author after such a long time behind the scenes. A timely reminder of what it is to be an author. Out front. Vulnerable. Hyper-sensitive.
More writers' evenings are scheduled, details at Novel London.
Stephanie
Meet fantasy author, Kelly Alleyn
Fantasy writer, Fairy Dogmother, dreamer. Kelly divides her time between London and SW France.
THE BEWITCHED TRILOGY
***** 'Addictive and page turning!'
***** 'Finished it in one sitting!'
***** 'The twists and turns were brilliant!'
***** 'Decima is the classic love to hate character!'
***** 'This book will make you smile, and if it doesn't make you care about Alice then you've got a heart of stone. It's fun, fun, fun, a perfect holiday read.'
The B*tch's Tale
Book 1 of The Bewitched Trilogy, a contemporary fantasy romance series
by Kelly Alleyn
Beware the wrath of a wronged B*tch Diva. Fuelled by envy, she'll do anything to keep her men and destroy her rival.
Ruthless TV presenter of The Witch's Hour and boss of a 4-man harem, Decima Gauld fakes a witch persona for the sake of the show. Her naive, kind PA Alice has secrets of her own. She's a real witch rearing a fighting demon and in love with a man she can never have.When, one-by-one, Decima's four guys fall for Alice's gentle charms, the Queen of Dirty Tricks will stop at nothing to ruin her. Alice must summon all of her witchy powers to survive. But can she? The Tower of Secrets is Book 1 of Bewitched, a closed door fantasy romance trilogy set in the modern world.
The Witch's Tale
Book 2 of The Bewitched Trilogy
by Kelly Alleyn
Dark forces align against Alice and her tormentor
Seemingly naive secret witch Alice is promoted to TV chat show co-presenter alongside ruthless, manipulative Decima. As Alice's self-confidence grows, so too does the crew's passion for her. Her problems as the unwitting target for Decima's bitter jealousy grow. But Alice’s magical powers are a good match for Decima’s dirty tricks, and she uses them in ways that leave Decima increasingly bewildered. Away from the studio, there are momentous changes in Alice’s personal life whilst Decima finds the true meaning of love in an unlikely place. As their skirmish continues, dark forces capable of destroying them both align. When the world as they know it crumbles, an evening of terror leads to a dramatic twist of fate... The Witch's Tale is Book 2 of Bewitched, a closed door fantasy romance trilogy set in the modern world.
Twists of Fate
Book 3 of The Bewitched Trilogy
by Kelly Alleyn
In a shocking final twist, the Tower’s biggest secret is unveiled...
With the world they once knew destroyed, Alice, Decima and the surviving crew of CGO TV must find ways to rebuild their lives. Whilst exploring fresh opportunities and new relationships, they are unaware of a growing danger. Through the highs and lows of love and loss, hope and fear, it takes a touch of magic to bring them the true happiness they seek. . Twists of Fate is Book 3 of Bewitched, a closed door fantasy romance trilogy set in the modern world.
