Paperbooks

Author post: Mo Foster

My friend is in moscow where women's day is a public holiday and women are given flowers. I was feeling a mild chagrin about our neglect in Britain and the fact that I was supposed to be reading in Berlin and I had cancelled due to the thought of jetsave one armed terrifying me. But then BBC4 came up trumps with programmes about the women's movement in the seventies (omitting much). Then a play about evil bankers (wankers?) with the divine Sarah Parish who has the most gorgeous gob in the business - then greenham common was 'done' , (with the ubiquitous Fay Weldon putting in her 2 pennorth irritating as ever bless 'er)then grunwick. Oh frabjous day! None of these programmes was perfect from my point of view, nothing ever is but until I make my own progs I will shut up!

I went to grunwick once and amid the usual fear of being trampled underfoot, it was inspiring to a serial protestor like me. I went to greenham many times on large protests to embrace the base and with a mate who camped there every weekend - I would slope off home, I was never a camping kind of gal. The only time I stayed for longer than a night - 3 days at green gate - nobody spoke to us (2 women a child and my dog in a 2 man tent) except to say that my dog was unacceptable as he was intact in the balls department. I offered to cut em off but mercifully nobody took me up on it. The soldiers chucked stones at our tent all night to wake the dog who woke us. On the third night people spoke to us and we succumbed to the blandishments of the boozer. Then a trudge back in thick mud and not a taxi in sight. I always found greenham horribly oppressive - the vibes y'know. But I admire the women who stuck it out and I believe that it was a successful campaign BECAUSE it was women only. It did change many women's lives too.

I digress yet again back to TV: then, late, a programme about the first African woman president in Liberia, it looked like she had her work cut out but, having stayed riveted all evening ( I usually kip as soon as I sit ) me and the dog went to bed, I expect it will be repeated, I hope so.

I reckon that's my licence fee well covered.

http://loudwomen.blogspot.com/

Mo

Author Post: Mo Foster

HOME FOR THE ONE ARMED NON HERO

http://loudwomen.blogspot.com/2010/03/home-for-one-armed-non-hero.html

So here I am in splendid isolation the better to write, with my dog for company - though she is a late riser and doesn't show until after 9. I am still one armed though doing my physio and have slung the sling except when I go out,. 4 the sympathy factor - has not yet worked but am hopeful. I discovered a djebella that I got in tangier, adjusting trousers is another thing hard to do with one hand a, along with cutting up food, putting on a beret, picking up dog turds, hanging out washing, peeling spuds and typing. I was very disappointed nobody noticed, was reduced to drawing attention to my exotic wear - somebody mentioned cultural imperialism so I shut up,but I will not be put off.. I have also recycled a few skirts that fit - unfortunately I seem to have become completely tubular so they tend to descend -very slowly but with the inexorable power of gravity, inducing the most godawful feelings of insecurity...so either I buy braces or dump them. I do intend to return to finish my previous WHOOPEE blog and tell about the marvellous meeting I began to speak of. been tuned in to radio 4, it murmurs in the background a lot of stuff about venables the 10 year old killer, emotive stuff too. I think it would be very surprising if, after years of incarceration he had emerged intact - but what do I know....however I was in prison in the 60s and though I met some lovely women I can't say it equipped me for a glittering or dull career, on the contrary I was scared of traffic and institutionalised after 4 months so imagine how traumatised a child would be after many years!!!

Hurray my first exclamation marks for weeks!!!

Mo

Author Blog - Mo Foster

ONE ARM BANDIT

I have not deserted my post but, after having a plastic shoulder inserted, I have been ejected back into the world the very next day armed with enough pain killers to finish off a shire horse. I am depleted somewhat in energy. I expect grumpiness to see me through the minor annoyance of being totally dependent on my friend for nearly everything from cutting up my food to adjusting my knickers. It is embarrassing, after yelling vigorously at somebody, to have to ask them to please put your socks on. And I can't do exclamation marks; even with my elbow because it is all strapped into a complex sling which I have to wear for six weeks. So woe is me and my friend has taken to playing extended games of solitaire and gnashing her teeth.... what can this mean. Also manic laughter and deep exasperated sighs have been heard by me along with curses. Is this paranoia I ask myself? I shall watch those painkillers.

Mo

Mo Foster is the author of the fantastic A Blues for Shindig

Author blog - Mo Foster

ON BLOGGING

I have been threatening myself with blogging for years now - in fact my original publisher set me up with a blog some five years ago. I evaded it. I must explain my relationship with my computer: to me it is a beloved enemy, one that I have little control over but one that I have this love/hate relationship with. I use it as a sort of word processing tool with email facility. I love my emails and Google, I am happy to download maps, even though I have a problem reading maps.

My computer is the one I scuttle to every morning with a fervour that could be seen as unhealthy. I like to get my words down and in fact I can hardly write in longhand any more. However, my brain does not absorb computer knowledge, it closes down like an obstinate clam at the sight or sound of computer speak. The simplest instruction is lost on me and I feel my mind going off whistling into the distance like an errant teenager - 'I don't care to hear you!' it whistles. 'This is not for me' it sings. It puts it hands over its ears and scuttles off.

This week I decided that I must do a sneaky move on my mind, come upon it from a new angle, so I got a very efficient, competent woman in to 'teach' me how to blog. We were startled, my brain and me but some knowledge seeped through. As soon as she left I panicked, went onto overdrive or underdrive and was sure I could never do this. All the stuff she had told me just flew away and I was back at school in a maths class, baffled with brain in flummox mode and a tantrum building up. Then I would draw cartoons of women, hand them round and disrupt the class. (I got a result, I was allowed to cut maths and do art instead - a result for the teacher too)

Now, I could hardly stage a one-woman rebellion, there was nobody about to witness it. I badly wanted to hold my teacher responsible but common sense walked in and prevailed and I got a grip. I telephoned my teacher' and she was patience incarnate, not engaging in my confusion and with humour and kindness sent me emails that I could refer to. In fact I am quite capable of looking at a piece of paper with exceedingly clear instructions and my panic doesn't allow me to see them. I squeak in terror and have reduced my Internet provider to near tears when she tried to explain how to get my router organised. I am sure there is a word for this malaise and I refuse to believe it is STUPID,

I shall continue with this process!!

Mo

Mo Foster is the author of the brilliant 'A Blues for Shindig'.

New Exclusively Independent Titles Announced!

Into a new cycle for Exclusively Independent, and we're excited to see both a Legend Press, and Paperbooks title in there. Here's the full list:

Hajj (Garnet Publishing)
London Deep by Robin Price and Paul McGrory (Mogzilla)
Roy the Eagle by Kate O'Sullivan and David Harfield (Loose Chippings Books)
London Plaques (Shire)
Sticklers, Sideburns and Bikini's by Graeme Donald (Osprey)
City-lit Berlin (Oxygen Books)
A Blues for Shindig by Mo Foster (Paperbooks)
The Cheesemonger's Tales by Arthur Cunynghame (Loose Chippings Books)
How to Paint the Masters: Van Gogh by Michael Sanders (Search Press)
In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika (Legend Press)

A great new selection, due to be in shops 10 March.

Lauren

Author Blog: Gary Davison

Paperbooks author Gary Davison has been busy over the last week helping to promote Legend Press novel If I Never by fellow North-east author Gary Murning. He has related his busy day in a brilliant blog on his website http://gary-davison.com/ so we thought we would share it with you today. Thanks Gary for your help, you are a star!

I’ve been slinking around town buying dodgy looking golf swag and giving fliers out for my writing pal, Gary Murning.

Gazza is always up to some promotional activity and I’m on his team this week and have the job of dishing out fliers around Newcastle.

First up was the cookie shop in Monument Mal. ‘No bother, love, stick a couple on there.’ ‘You’re a gem, cheers.’

Next up on the hit list was the earring place at the end of Monument Mal. No one around, so I slipped a few on the counter, and made my escape, feeling very Bansky like.

After that, I thought I best get some in a book shop, like he told me to do. This was a secret mission and I was improvising - leaflet dropper on the edge.

Into waterstone at the heart of the books in Newcastle centre, where I was met with open arms, showed through to the executive lounge and given a cup of coffee, meal, signed autographs, and the New York girls were in, so… Hardly. Here’s how it went,

‘Hiya, you alright?’

‘Very well, thanks. How can I help you?’

Out come the leaflets. ‘My mate’s wrote a book, you stock it here, and he’s after a bit of promotion, is there any chance…’

Shakes her little head and it drops off. I hand her her head back and she continues. ‘Sorry, I don’t think we’re aloud..’

‘Read it. It’s a good story, and he can’t get around the stores himself. It’s only five or six copies.’

Over to the manager, who I recognise from when we launched Streakers and took over the place. Does he recognise me? What do you think? YES! It’s that twat that keeps turning his books face out over every time he comes in. Yip, it’s me, and I’m not leaving until I drop these leaflets.

‘I’m sorry, we can only put stuff out produced by Waterstones.’

‘Five copies. Come on, have a look at it.’

We settled on having them spread about the staff room, and I daringly left one on top of the 3for2 pile. Absolute rebel.

Next stop, TK Max. The security guard stops me at the door. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘I’m going in there.’

Grabs me by the scruff of the neck. ‘You’re neither two foot one or seven foot, and from what I can see your arms are the same length. Therefore there is nothing in here for you.’

I sneaked back in and tried some well dodgy t-shirts on for my golf trip to Portugal. Colour blind doesn’t come into it. I keep telling everyone, forget the fact it’s purple or illuminous, it’s the texture of the cloth on the skin. That’s what counts. Looking a twat, means nothing.

I left a leaflet in the changing room.

Finally, with my trump card, I thought: Big Issue Seller. At this rate I could be on the next episode of The Apprentice. Get to the seller, slip him an extra 50p when I buy a copy and give him some fliers. Bought the copy, reached in my pocket - no fliers left.

Not to worry, it wasn’t  too shabby.

Oh, I nearly forgot. The wide-boy trying to get me to sign up to giving a monthly donation to charity for kids. What a laugh. He was giving me his leaflet and I was trying to give him mine and he was moving his hand away like I was handing him a piece of shit. In the end he took mine and i took his and we went our separate ways. He was git, I could tell.

Have a nice weekend everyone and get Gazza’s book bought if you haven’t already done so, it’s a sound read.

Lucy

Company profiled on The View from Here Magazine online

Legend Press and Paperbooks have been featured on The View from Here website. Tom was interviewed about the company history, our submissions process and what we are looking for in a book. Below is a taster:

Could you begin by telling us a bit about the background of Legend Press and PaperBooks?

I set up Legend Press in 2005, having worked in publishing for two-and-a-half years, and initially ran it by myself from home. Starting with a short story collection (The Remarkable Everyday), we then published two novels in 2006 and have roughly doubled in size each year since, currently with 54 authors on our books. We now also publish a selection of non-fiction, have a business list – Legend Business – as well as offering a print-on-demand service, New Generation Publishing. We have also recently taken on the management of the newly launched Books etc site.

In 2007, I was approached by the previous owner of PaperBooks, Keirsten Clark, about taking on the company. Having previously recognised it as one of the most interesting new lists and having a huge amount of potential, I was delighted to acquire it and set up PaperBooks Publishing. We have ambitious plans for PaperBooks, generating a really strong brand for writers and growing alongside Legend Press.

Both companies are based at our small but well-formed office in London and I have the brilliant assistance of Marketing Director Lucy Boguslawski and Publishing Manager Lauren Parsons, as well as a number of regular freelancers. We are very excited about the books we have coming out this year, with great new writers such as Matthew Crow (Ashes) and Ruth Dugdall (Woman Before Me), Gurpeep Mattu (Sons and Fascination), newly acquired high-profile writers such as Zoe Jenny (The Sky is Changing) and further books for existing writers such as Mark Liam Piggott (Out of Office), William Coles (Mr Two Bombs), Nick Griffiths (Looking for Mrs Dextrose) and Paul Burman (The Grease Monkey’s Tale).

To read the interview in full click here

Lucy

Booksetc.co.uk to launch on Monday!

The new BOOKS etc website www.booksetc.co.uk is to launch on Monday 22nd February. Capital Organisation purchased the Books etc name, website, and Borders database in January, and took on Legend Press to handle the site’s management.

The site will run weekly promotions, which will not just focus on best-sellers but will include expert-selected ranges. It will also offer a loyalty scheme and a school’s project. The site will include e-books, the chance to sell second-hand books at the best prices in the market and further social networking in due course. The site will look for national and international growth.

www.booksetc.co.uk will also develop a range of additional products, such as e-books, DVDs and CDs. Pre-launch BOOKS etc emailed the company’s 1.3 million customer database asking what type of loyalty scheme they would prefer. As a result, all registered users have been offered 5% off all purchases made on the site during its launch week.

Books Etc is a strong brand and the company’s sourcing capability, coupled with a social media push, will cement it as a powerful competitor in the books market. The site will compete both on price and personality.

Fat Tuesday today! I'm getting hungry already!

Today is Fat Tuesday, an annual festival to celebrate the anniversary of Gary Davison's first published novel!! Wikipedia seems to think differently:

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday), referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

I hope everyone is looking forward to pancakes this evening. Paperbooks will be using Delia's finest recipe. Click here for details!

Lucy

Another triumphant moral victory at the quiz!

Last night the Paperbooks and Legend Press team re-entered the notorious Popbitch Quiz in Southwark. Unfortunately our record placing of second to last was not beaten, but we feel there was a moral victory in part - mainly due to our complete lack of music knowledge! Whilst scoring nearly zero in this round we still managed to not produce a disgraceful score in comparison to the other teams. This was mainly due to the romantic comedy round - which Lauren and I as young girls in our early twenties had the upperhand on the crowds!

Despite coming 10th we still managed to bag ourselves a prize, and here we are wielding our winnings! Some CDs (which I think were supposed to be ironic - but Lauren and I love all the songs) and some dubious sweet chestnuts (enjoyed by Tom only). Look at our happy faces!

Lucy