Paperbooks

Author Post: Jon Haylett

I have a friend in the village whom I shall call Angus. Angus, like too many Scots, is a serious alcoholic. I like him immensely, for he has the most wonderful sense of humour, but I have a problem when he comes to visit. He asks for it, but I do not give him alcohol. Alcohol is killing him. I don’t want to be part of that death.

Africa has the most terrible problems. I used to collect money to help solve those problems. At school, the form I supervised sponsored a little girl in Kenya. I wanted the British Government to increase its aid budgets. I was wrong, terribly wrong. Sending aid is like providing Angus with a constant supply of neat whisky. According to Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian who worked for the World Bank and Goldman Sachs and who has recently published ‘Dead Aid’, aid is killing Africa:

So Africa is becoming more and more like Angus, down-at-heel, dishevelled, increasingly sick, a slight embarrassment, someone best not mentioned and, certainly, best kept over there. Yet, led by our government, we continue to use aid to salve our collective conscience: last year our DFID spent around £1.25 billion on bilateral and regional programmes to reduce poverty in Africa, which will rise to £1.75 billion in 2010/11. Oxfam, Cafod and other charities pour in many more millions. Despite this, the average African is poorer than ever, and getting poorer still.

Moyo doesn’t like to admit it but misplaced generosity has created a huge kleptocracy of corrupt politicians and businessmen who have a vested interest in the continuation of aid. ‘Black Mongoose’, due out at the end of this month from PaperBooks, is a fast, action-packed thriller which tells of how a small group of conspirators sets about freeing their country from its corrupt and repressive elite.

Jon

Jon Haylett's second novel Black Mongoose is out on 25th April

Pre-order your copy now - £7.99 

Work Experience Blog from Olivia

  At the thought of work experience, I was expecting to be well and truly fed up with making tea and coffee for everyone else in the office. Shockingly, from the moment I stepped into the office until the end of my experience here, I have been continually offered cups of 
tea (and from the MD no less!)

This just highlights the friendly and relaxed environment I have been working within over the last week with Legend Press. Instead of just being the seemingly useles tea girl.

In just one week I have been doing sales calls, events organising and book signings, as well as being lucky enough to read authors potential masterpieces (potential being the operative word).

All in all, despite these initial stereotypes of what work experience consists of, I have in fact felt part of a team and not entirely useless.

I would consider it priceless experience and a great insight into the publishing industry.

Olivia

Michael Marr at the first Exclusively Independent Event

   

Here are some images of our very own Michael Marr from last nights first Exclusively Independent event at the Hammersmith Library.

The event was a great success with authors Megan Taylor, Peter Cave, Shanta Everington, Woodrow Phoenix, Stephen Clayton, and Michael Bollen joining Mike to speak about their work, experiences in the industry, and do a reading from their books.

Last nights event showcased a selection of authors from both the first cycle, and second of the EI. It was great to see the variety of work that is displayed in the project, proving that we really do aim to highlight a wide selection of independent talent.

The turn out was reassuring, with about sixty people packed into the venue. This proved the Q&A session to be highly interesting, with questions being asked from all areas of the publishing industry.

So I can breathe a hugh sigh of relief knowing that the first event was a huge success. Visit www.exclusivelyindependent.com to view all of the photos curtesy of Adrian Lewis www.adiphotos.co.uk

Lauren

Work experience Blog

Hi all,

My work experience at Legend Press and Paperbooks has been a breath of fresh air. Having previously spent time at two multinational publishers, it was great to find a really close-knit (and youthful) team who made me feel welcome from the minute I stepped through the door, despite Lucy’s evident astonishment that this was the day I was supposed to be starting. My jobs have been varied and gratifying, from reading submissions to pitching Exclusively Independent to bookshops nationwide, to organising book signings and selling ‘On the Holloway Road’. Particularly memorable was a thwarted quest with the team to find the world’s best bagels, followed by a fairly dismal performance at a pub quiz organised by Nick Griffiths, one of Legend’s authors, and an (unsuccessful) attempt by the team from moonpig.com to headhunt me. All-in-all, as well as learning a great deal, I’ve genuinely enjoyed my time here, so-much-so that I stayed a bit longer than the two weeks I originally signed up for. I can only wish every success to Legend Press and Paperbooks who should be, in my humble opinion, destined for great things.

Jon

Exclusively Independent Call for Submissions - Now Closed

Two weeks ago, the third cycle of Exclusively Independent was open for submissions. The reaction from independent publishers has been overwhelming, and it's great to see such enthusiasm for the project.

We have had submissions from a huge variety of companies, from genre's such as travel, sport, fiction, non fiction, poetry, illustrations, historical novels, and childrens books.

The submissions pack will be distributed to the panel today, where they will have a further two weeks to read through the pack, and select their personal favourite ten.

The pack is collating the submissions from publishers across the country, and so the panel have quite the task on their hands. In two weeks, we'll meet and discuss our favourites, when the final ten titles will be chosen to highlight independent talent.

So check back here in two weeks, to see what the final then 'Independent Picks of the Month' will be!

Lauren

Legend Press and Paperbooks excel at quiz!

 Last week we took part in the Popbitch quiz in the Lord Nelson pub, Southwark. The quizmaster, our very own Nick Griffiths, (author of In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose and Who Goes There), wrote some very difficult questions - with a whole round dedicated to serial killers (maybe we should be worried!) 

In the end we came a respectable 7th (out of 8) thanks to some harsh marking and controversy over a dalek head of our most useless team mate (who shall remain nameless!). Our excellent placing won us a brilliant array of cd's including the Alan Titchmarsh collection (nicely placed next to Lauren in the photo). 'Music for housewives' was taken away by our company secretary, much to his glee!

Lucy

A few words from Gary Davison's blog...

 I was looking for something in my bookshelf and came across this little beauty. A note book. RRP 69p, but it means so much more to me. This is one of the first set of notes I made when I started teaching myself to write. Must have been getting on for ten years ago, and it’s unbelievable how I started off.

Can you read that? Here're a few of the corkers:

Too many his and her

Too many adjectives - his green old battered Honda

Use dialogue more to reveal characters and move story along quicker

Watch out for wordiness - using same word a lot

Try not to make judgements about a character

Mix dialogue with actions

When editing if you have mentioned the senses, try changing them for actions ie I could smell the cigar smoke - his face was obscured by a puff of cigar smoke

Replace verbs with strong verbs

Don’t use single quotes for thoughts use italics

I’m exhausted just thinking about it! Christ almighty, them were t’days. If you’re starting out writing, this should be the boost you need to know you can get published. I’m far from the real deal or finished article and I’m still teaching myself, but if I can get from that level to Waterstones, there’s hope for us all.

Gary

To read more blogs from Gary visit www.gary-davison.com

Publishing conference for June

On Thursday 25th June, Legend Press and Paperbooks will be hosting a major new conference entitled ‘Publishing Laid Bare’ with leading industry experts debating the problems, solutions and future of the current book industry.

Using a panel-based format including some of the most influential people in publishing, and from the outside business world, speakers will debate the current hot topics in the industry. The conference will be tailored to its attendee’s requirements, with delegates actively invited to submit questions prior to the event to be included as part of the discussion. The panels will include:

- Amber Pearson, Daily Mail
- Caroline Mileham, Buying Manager, Play.com
- Mark Thwaite, Editor, Book Depository & ReadySteadyBook
- Steve Potter, Buyer, Book Depository
- Scott Pack, The Friday Project
- Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller
- Nicholas Clee, journalist
- Stuart Rock, Publisher, Real Business magazine
- Greg Eden, Waterstones.com
- James Wills, Director, Watson Little Literary Agency
- Shortlisted candidates from the UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007
- Bookgroup.info

The conference will be held at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square from 10am – 5pm. Tickets are £100 +vat, including lunch and refreshments, with an early-bird rate of £80 +vat until 31st March 2009.

To request further information and to book your place please email conference@legend-paperbooks.co.uk

Lucy