An Open Letter to All 2012 Debut Writers

Dear Writer, So your first book is coming out in 2012. First of all, congratulations! It’s a huge achievement. But no doubt you are rather nervous about what exactly is going to happen once your book is finally published.

Will it be available in Italy, America, Poland? How much will your publisher do to promote it and how much will I need to do? How does the whole publicity thing work? Do I wait to be asked to do things or do I make your own suggestions? Will my publishers get annoyed if I visit shops on my own? Should I move books around in the shop? Ask why my book is not in the window?

And these questions I’m sure are only the tip of your own personal book-related iceberg. And I will try to answer them honestly. If you have any other questions do ask in the comment box below.

Here goes - Let’s start at the beginning:   What happens on publication day?

The honest answer is not much!

The pr person in your publishing house may have contacted you some time in advance of publication to talk about your media contacts (if you have any – don’t worry if you don’t). This may not happen. Many things I mention may not happen – but in an ideal world they will contact you and you will chat about media possibilities, local and, if you’re lucky, national.

So you may have a few things set up pre-publication, media wise pre publication. You may not. If nothing is planned – see my previous post on marketing and promoting your own book here.

Publication day will be a non event unless YOU celebrate it in some way. Walker Books send me a Happy Publication Day card, signed by the staff, Pan Macmillan send me flowers and their lovely Irish sales rep rings me to say congrats – but I do happen to have rather lovely publishers and I know this is unusual. I’m sure J K Rowling gets flowers, and chocolates, and champagne etc, but don’t expect anything at all and then you won’t be disappointed. Celebrate the day yourself. Go for lunch or dinner with friends or a loved one, go shopping, buy something special to remind you of the day.

What are ‘informal signings’?

About a week after publication your sales rep may take you on a tour of bookshops in your region to meet booksellers and do what’s called an ‘informal signing’. This means there will not be any readers there. Don’t expect people! You are there to meet the booksellers. It also gives them a heads up as to who you are and why they should bother hand selling your book (which is vitally important if you want your book to do well – readers trust booksellers).

Be lovely to the booksellers. They are amazing, dedicated, hard working people. I was a bookseller for many years (and will be again) and I can tell you that we remember the lovely writers and the horrible ones. If we like you, we will go out of our way to hand sell your book, simple as that! If we don’t . . . Oh and if you bake, bring muffins!

Never move your book into the window, or onto a better table or re-arrange the shelves. Booksellers notice these things! We spend all day working with the shelves and displays. Never, ever complain about your book not being in the window. If they are out of stock of your book, don’t scowl, be gracious.

Always let your publisher know that you’d like to visit a particular shop – they will ring the shop and let them know to have stock in to sign. It’s only polite to give them due warning, they are busy, busy people!

Will I be in the newspapers or on the radio?

In the first two weeks of publication (or in the case of magazines, several weeks before this), you may be asked to do some media interviews. Do these with good grace – even small local radio stations on an island off Kerry. If you feel uneasy about telling journalists your secrets – like what you really have for breakfast – make it up! You write fiction after all.

Your book is only new for a month (or two weeks in busy publication months), after that time the next set of ‘new’ books will push your book off the tables and onto the shelves. Make the most of ‘your’ month.

So what about foreign rights? When will my book be available in France, Spain and Poland?

If your publisher has bought world rights, they have the responsibility for selling these at book fairs and to other international publishers that they deal with. If you have an agent (and they have not sold world rights to the publishers), she or he is responsible for these rights. If your book is really, really good you will hear about rights pretty quickly. Otherwise it might take a while. Or you might not sell foreign rights at all. Not all my books have been translated. My first book, Kids Can Cook – a cookery book with mainly Irish recipes – is only available in Ireland for example. Don’t worry about it, maybe your next book will be snapped up by lots of different publishers worldwide. Focus on writing brilliant books and it will happen in time.

Will there be a book launch?

If your publishers are keen to have a launch and you like the idea, great. In the current climate, they may not be keen however. You may like to organize your own launch party, in a local bookshop. Or have a party at home to celebrate. If it’s your first book, absolutely have a launch! First books are very special indeed.

Will my book be reviewed?

It might be, but don’t hold your breath. I review books for Inis magazine and The Irish Independent, and so many great books never get reviewed because of space restrictions. And don’t worry too much about the bestsellers charts either, or the Amazon rankings. If your book is good, it will sell. People will buy it and read it. No book has ever had zero readers!

I feel so helpless. What can I do to help my book sell?

Lots! But make sure to talk to your publishers about it first. Here are some suggestions: A Blog Tour (if you have friends with blogs – if you don’t blog, start!) Join CBI (Children’s Books Ireland) and go to their events to meet fellow readers and writers – if you write for children Set up a Facebook page and hold a competition to win copies of your new book Hold a Twitter competition Write a piece for your local newspaper/school newsletter/parish times etc

Remember no-one cares as much about your book as you do! Do everything you can to promote it.

What if someone gives my book a horrible review on Amazon?

Read it, learn from it and then forget about it. If you want to write for a living you will get many, many reviews, learn to deal with criticism and also praise. There will be good reviews too, I promise.

Will I meet other authors?

Yes, if you attend readers’ days, conferences, and other writers’ launches (often your publisher will invite you to these). Having a writer friend, someone to talk shop with, someone who understands, is important. You could chat to other writers on Twitter – say hi to me for a start @sarahwebbishere – I promise I’ll tweet back!

Why does Derek Landy/Marian Keyes/John Connolly get all the attention and the bookshop space?

Simple answer – they writing amazing books that readers love. Write an amazing book and you’ll get the same attention!

What if my book doesn’t set the world on fire?

Write another one. And keep repeating until you write one that does!

I'd love to tell you that it gets easier, but it doesn't - sorry! OK, maybe it does a little, as long as you know in your heart that you've written the best book you can, you don't worry so much about reviews and things that you can't control. And it is all worth it, honest!

Good luck!

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

How to Promote and Market Your Book and Get Results

The good news is that every writer can do a lot to market and promote their own book. The secret – and yes, there is a secret but like most things it’s this – hard work, organisation and determination. A lot of work can be done behind the scenes months before your book reaches the bookshop shelves.

When I started out in books, I had no experience in marketing or publicity, I just used my head, so what I did, you can do too.

But before that some general points.

First things first, don’t worry about any of this unless you have written a book worth promoting. Put your time and energy into the writing first and foremost.

1/ Marketing - Marketing means promoting your book to the market and in the marketplace, ie the shops. It means getting information about your book to the relevant buyers and booksellers, backing up that information with display material – such as posters and bookmarks. And keeping the bookshops informed of any publicity you have lined up for the book.

In general, your publisher should be on top of the marketing, but if they don’t intend to do posters or bookmarks – say for example they are small, your book is self published, or published in England or the US (this is directed at Irish authors of course!) and there is no marketing spend - think about doing it yourself. And dropping postcards/posters/bookmarks in to your local libraries, bookshops and schools.

Think of investing in business cards, stickers, thank you cards – useful things are good – pens, post cards etc. Chris Judge had some lovely postcards printed up for his debut picture book, The Lonely Beast.

Yes, it costs money. But think of it as money invested in your future as a writer.

The more booksellers know about your book the better chance it has of being recommended, restocked, put on a table, put in promotions. But there is a fine line between being pushy and helpful. Never be pushy, never be arrogant. Treat booksellers like royalty, they are the ones who put your books on the shelves and into adults, parents and children’s hands.

If your book is not on the shelf, it is nothing personal. See it as your problem. Send them some information on your book – or even a copy of the book with a friendly covering note saying you are a local author and would be delighted to see your book on their shelves.

Always check with your publishers before doing this or before calling into bookshops and talking to booksellers. They may like to ask your sales rep to go along and intro you. They may like to use it as a sales opportunity. Work with your publisher.

But remember, no one cares as much about your book as you do. Be passionate and talk about your book with enthusiasm – and as Patrick Ness would say, joy!

And no bookseller wants to hear you grumble about how little your publisher does to promote you – get on with it yourself (and over yourself) – take control.

But one thing I’ll come back to time and time again – be prepared to work hard and do things yourself. Do not leave everything to your publisher. They have a lot of books to market and promote. Your book is your baby. Once your book is published, your journey is just beginning.

There are over 8,000 children’s books published every year. If you want to make your book stand out, and especially if you want to earn living from writing or part of your living from writing, then you must do all you can to promote your book.

The reality is that it is not enough to just write a book and sit back and see what happens. You also have to connect with children, with booksellers, with librarians, with teachers, with parents – with anyone who buys books. You need to make them aware that your book is a/ in the shops now and b/worth buying.

Looks do not matter in the least bit, but personality and professionalism do.

Above all, be yourself. Maybe a glittery, happy version of yourself but still yourself. I call it being on – be the person you’d be at a party, or at a job interview. And think about the image you are projecting. Think about what you are wearing when visiting bookshops/schools/going to book conferences.

And get involved with your own publicity but keep your publisher informed of what you intend to do. It can be daunting at the beginning but having a plan makes everything easier.

Publishers are only too delighted to have help – well organised, professional help – talk to them about how you can help.

2/ Publicity - Publicity means using the media to tell people about your book: print, radio, telly.

4 to 6 months before your book is published set up a meeting with the publicity person in the publishing house (if possible) and bring a list of possible publicity angles - I’ll talk about angles in a few minutes - and any media contacts you might have.

In a moment I’m going to fly through the different stages of an ideal publicity plan.

But first – my first book – for my first book I started local. Everyone can do this!

Kids Can Cook – I had no profile at all

I rang Southside News and wrote a piece on cooking with children for them.

My church newsletter – I wrote a piece for them. I also did a piece for my sailing club newsletter.

The Evening Herald did a piece on me - the first cookbook for children in Ireland - I friend of mine worked in the Herald and she set this up. I had an angle, Dublin single mum gets kids cooking.

I did a lot of school events during the Children’s Book Festival that my publisher set up and that I set up. Because I did hands on cookery with the children during the sessions it was something different, and they really liked the idea. And I did several special needs schools also. Also library events. Mostly for free.

If I was bringing out a first book now I would certainly use the internet to reach readers – see below for details.

For Ask Amy Green: boy Trouble, my first children’s novel for age 10+, the publicity plans were a lot more elaborate – Walker Books created a special Amy Green website, and did some super posters, fanzines, pink leather luggage tags and hand outs, but I still did some of the publicity myself.

Here is what I call the ideal publicity plan, with all bases covered. If you can do even some of this great! I hope it will make you think and consider the possibilities. It is not meant to scare you, just to point out what can be done . . .

4 months before publication

Meet the pr person in your publishing house Draw up your pr plan with the pr person

Set up your website – I would advise every writer to get a website – and put the details of the website in your book so readers can contact you and also teachers and librarians can contact you (to book events if you write for children).

Set up a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

If you do not want people to know too much about you, invent a writing persona, a writerly version of yourself. I find it easier to just be myself, but not everyone is comfortable with this. But you must connect with people online these days. Especially if you want an international career.

3 months before publication

Submit feature ideas to magazines Now this many take months, years to get anything taken but keep at it, once you have one piece published, it is so much easier. Are there any specialist magazines you subscribe to? Try submitting an article to them, it's a great place to start. Or internet magazines/newsletters – again, good experience.

You could offer to review for Inis magazine (specialist Irish children’s book mag) – which is how I started reviewing – for free of course – but I got a/ experience and b/ some lovely books! (Contact their review editor here)

2 months before publication

Submit feature ideas to the magazines of newspapers

Set up your book launch if you would like to have one (organise your own in a local bookshop or venue, and yes, you may have to pay for the wine!)

Children’s writers - Set up some school and library events – use your contacts – your child’s school etc But make the events interesting, don’t just expect to go in and read to them. I spend several days a year working on new content for talks, workshops and readings and making it fresh and exciting. Work at it! Practice! Watch other authors in action and pick up ideas. Once these events are fixed, send the details to the listings of the newspapers and also local newspapers.

And on that subject, network, go to children’s book events, join CBI, join the Society of Children’s Writers and Ilustrators.

1 month before publication

Submit ideas to the features pages of newspapers – yes, you need to come up with these ideas yourself – depending on you and your life/book

Think of column ideas for guest columns (realistically this will be down the line when you have some experience of writing articles etc)

Write your press release for sending out with review copies (your publisher will probably do this for you)

3 weeks before publication

Send out the invites to the launch

2 weeks before publication

Send out review copies of your book to relevant newspapers and magazines with your press release, eg Inis, Book Fest etc (your publisher may do this, check with them), the Irish Indo, the Irish Times.

Set up radio interviews – using your press release (again, your pr person may do this) Don’t forget local radio – a great place to start – East Coast for eg. Send a book and a press release and then ring them politely, with the blessing of your publishers of course. Local radio stations love local authors! You could do a competition and give away copies of your book.

After Publication

Start your school events and library events

If you have any news stories, this is the time to use them – advances, film deals, winning competitions, your dog winning a dog show (for the local papers!).

Angles

An ‘angle’ is something that makes you stand out as a person for pr purposes.

Some of the ones I’ve used:

Single mum Parent of teens and toddlers at the same time Partner of a hopeful Olympic sailor

Other people’s angles: Teacher – Eoin Colfer Librarian – Patricia Scanlan Movie geek and ex screen writer – Derek Landy

Anything that makes you different is good – and that you are prepared to talk about!

Everyone has something - Do you keep bees? Can you shoe a horse? Do you dive? Travel a lot? If so, you can write about it

I hope I’ve given you some ideas to think about. You put 100% into writing your book, so why not put 100% into doing the best you can to promote that book? It deserves it. Writing for children, getting published and visiting and meeting young readers are rewarding and joyful experiences, and worth fighting lions and sweating blood for. I wish you all the best of luck with your own journey to publication.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

It's Not Enough to Write a Brilliant Book - You Also Need This

What Do Readers Want From Their Writers These Days? The answer is – as well as a brilliant book - connection!

Once upon a time you could write a book, then sit back and relax. You might get a few letters in the post from readers and you’d answer them in your own good time.

But things have changed - it’s not enough to write a brilliant book anymore, readers want more. They have high expectations. They expect at the very least a website, complete with some way of contacting the writer directly through a message board, forum or email address. If you are also active on Facebook and Twitter this is a bonus. They want to connect with writers, talk to them about their books, and ask questions; sometimes they just want to say ‘hi’.

But how do writers cope with all this extra ‘work’ on top of their writing commitment? At the Patrick Hardy Lecture recently bestselling teen and tween author, Cathy Cassidy spoke about this issue. She gets over 150 emails a day from her readers and responds to them all. That’s a huge time and energy commitment.

‘I get more e-mails now than when I was an agony aunt,’ she said. ‘They don’t all need to be answered immediately but it’s a lot and it’s growing all the time.’

‘I appreciate the input from children and their feedback,’ she added. ‘They share their life with you and ask for your feedback and there may not be other processes available for them to do that.’

Like Cathy, I get emails from children every day, in much smaller quantities however (I have no idea how she deals with 150 a day!). And like Cathy I try to answer one of them honestly and thoughtfully. Yes, it takes time, but if someone has made the effort to write to me, they deserve an answer. And as Cathy says, there may not be another outlet for them. And it’s not hard for people to find me.

Each of my Ask Amy Green books (for age 10+) has details of my Amy Green website – www.askamygreen.com, plus my direct email address – sarah@askamygreen.com and Amy Green Facebook page. As I also write for adults (plus younger children) I also have my own website for my other books – the website hosting this blog - and an adult Facebook page and Twitter account @sarahwebbishere. I have two blogs, one on the Ask Amy Green website and this one. I also blog on the Girls Heart Books collective website once a month. If you google Sarah Webb, you’ll find me!

Luckily I like social networking, I’m a chatty, open kind of person and I’m happy to share some of my thoughts on-line. And I genuinely enjoy meeting readers, in real life, or via email or Facebook messages. It makes me feel more connected to the ‘real’ world, whatever that is! After hours sitting at my desk, I like reading what people have been up to via Facebook or Twitter.

Social networking is also great for running competitions and for letting readers know about book events and festivals. It’s revolutionised the reader/writer relationship. Yes, writers have to work hard to answer all the messages, deal with all the requests, but it’s a small price to pay for all the benefits.

I limit the time I spend on Facebook and Twitter to first thing in the morning, and late afternoon, when I have my writing done, which I think is important. Otherwise large chunks of time could be chewed up and writing is my number one priority.

If you’re a writer, how accessible are you to your readers? If they google you, can they find you? Or does the very thought give you the heebie jeebies? If so, you may want to think again!

Here is an older post for writers about Facebook, Twitter, blogs and websites. And there's a useful piece on setting up a blog here by Michelle Maloney-King.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

Are Bestsellers Taking Over? + Puffin Ireland News

The Bookseller magazine has an interesting article in a recent edition (18th November), looking at children’s frontlist (new) fiction. It says that the received wisdom is that bestselling books and brand authors dominate the children’s market. It quotes agent Caroline Sheldon who says that publishers are now looking for ‘bestsellers’, in any category. They want a book that bowls them over. Curtis Brown (London literary agency) adds that publishers are being very cautious. ‘Authors have to reinvent themselves to have much more high-concept ideas that are instantly appealing, or literary, with prize-winning potential.’

Francesca Dow, MD of Penguin Children’s Books plans to cut output of Penguin Children's titles over the next three years in response to high street bookshops who are reducing their range. This is her strategy (Bookseller, 30th September): ‘To make our big brands bigger, to reinvent our classic brands . . . and to create the brands of tomorrow.’ (For brands, read authors or characters.)

Meanwhile over at Puffin Ireland, they have just let their children’s editor go. David Maybury says in today’s blog – (the full piece is worth reading if you are interested in Irish publishing): After launching the Puffin Ireland editorial post two years ago and the first books earlier this year with much fanfare, Penguin Ireland have decided that they don’t require an editor in-house. Michael McLoughlin (Penguin Ireland MD) insists that Puffin Ireland has not closed, that manuscripts submissions are still very welcome and that he and and Shannon Park (Puffin UK) will be working with the authors and titles already assigned. David goes on to say: Removing the Puffin Ireland editorial position may make good sense if you crunch numbers – but the investment in children’s fiction and the growing relationship and goodwill with reader markets, organisations, booksellers, media, libraries and beyond has hit a hitch. I heartily agree. I’m glad that Irish authors can still send in their manuscripts directly, but saddened that they have let such an experienced and knowledgeable Irish editor go. No doubt Puffin Ireland, like Puffin UK  is looking for books with ‘brand potential’.

Interesting The Bookseller article points out that the received wisdom is incorrent, that only 19% of all children’s sales come from the top 10 authors (2010 figures). Even so, many publishers are looking for ‘instant bestsellers’ and are not publishing the range of books they used to. But young readers are veracious, and boy do they read fast! My daughter has recently taken to re-reading her favourite writers' books, as there are not enough new books being published to satisfy her book habit. I have to buy my son American books on amazon.com to supply his need. I just can’t find enough of the right kind of titles to keep them in books, and I know I’m not the only parent finding this problem. And I live in a house full of books, I have access to review copies and all kinds of book information, and I have publishing and bookselling friends. I can’t imagine what it’s like for average parents.

I am well aware that publishers (and writers!) need to make a living, but don't they also have a responsibility to make sure that young readers, the readers of tomorrow are well served? Too idealistic? Maybe.

Must publishers seem to be following the market, what about trying to set the market? What about grouping together several new authors who write family/friendship tales and promoting them together? Yes, it’s probably a lot of work for not much return, but what if one of these authors goes on, in time to be the ‘next’ Cathy Cassidy or Jacqueline Wilson? Ditto with action/adventure books for boys. And animal tales. And funny books for younger readers. My daughter reads a Wimpy Kid in two days - what's she supposed to read then?

I’m concerned about the new writers coming through and the message they are being given – write a bestseller or an award winner with a good hook, or else don’t bother writing at all. No writer is born fully formed – everyone learns by writing and by making mistakes. Many of the bestselling Irish and international children’s writers have years of experience writing in other mediums or genres. Derek Landy wrote screen plays, some successful, others not successful before writing his Skulduggery series; Eoin Colfer write many books for O’Brien Press before coming up with Artemis Fowl; Judi Curtin cut her teeth on adult popular fiction; Jacqueline Wilson wrote dozens of teen books before inventing Tracy Beaker; Charlie Higson wrote for television and adults before his Young Bond and teen zombie books.

‘New’ Irish children’s authors and Irish Book Award senior category nominees, Anna Carey and Denise Deegan have many years of writing behind them – Anna is an experienced journalist, Denise wrote several adult novels before turning to teen fiction. And this experience shows in their work. (Anna won the award, beating off Darren Shan, Denise and Derek Landy, no mean feat.)

New writers need both experience and encouragement, they need to be allowed to make mistakes and to develop. Maybe the first few books they write are not ‘big’ books, maybe they are funny and charming family and friendship dramas (like Eoin Colfer’s first books), animal tales, or time slip stories. If no-one will publish books like this, which don’t have a huge ‘hook’ and ‘bestseller’ potential, that particular author may get discouraged and stop writing altogether. Which would be a shame. No Artemis Fowl is a horrible thought!

I’ve published nine adult novels and four young teen novels (as well as many other non fiction books) and I feel like I’m only really getting started. And I’m very grateful to the editors and publishers who took an early punt on me and my work, and who are still supporting me and my writing journey.

Luckily there are still children’s publishers out there like my publishers, O’Brien Press and Walker Books (and there are others) who are willing to look at unformed authors, willing to publish books that are sweet and wonderful and not all bells and whistles and bestseller lists (although they publish those too of course – Judi Curtin – O’Brien, and Anthony Horowitz – Walker - for eg), books for thoughtful young readers who want more than just the top ten titles on their bookshelves, and for that I am grateful. Long may they prosper!

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

The Top 20 - My Children's Books of the Year 2011

It's that time of the year again! I'm currently writing my piece on children's books for Christmas for the Irish Independent which will be published in early December, but here is a longer version, in which I've included all my favourite books of the year. Hope you enjoy it. Do let me know which books you loved in 2011. And thank you for reading my blog. I love writing it and I will continue to share my thoughts on books and writing in 2012.

Yours in writing,

Sarah X

Picture Books 

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, HarperCollins

A hardback picture book with stand out illustrations from the wonderful Oliver Jeffers. When Floyd’s kite gets stuck up a tree he throws up his shoe know it down, but that gets stuck too, along with a pot of paint, a ladder, the kitchen sink a whale and many other amazing things. 

 The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge, Andersen Press

Winner of the Junior Category in the Irish Book Awards, this is a fantastic book with stunning, beautifully coloured art work. When a beast gets lonely, he goes on a quest to find new friends with surprising results.

Picture Book of the Year:

Marshall Armstrong is New to This School by David Mackintosh, HarperCollins

Strong artwork, lyrical writing and exceptional design combine to make this a picture book in a million. Marshall is not like other boys, but soon the young narrator begins to realise that this is not altogether a bad thing. Brave and highly original, my picture book of the year.

 It’s a Book by Lane Smith, Macmillan

A great book about, well, books! Simple artwork and witty text.

Sally Go Round the Stars: Rhymes from an Irish Childhood by Sarah Webb and Claire Ranson, illustrated by Steve McCarthy, O’Brien Press  

Yes, it’s one of mine, but I’ve really included it for the artwork. Steve’s illustrations are stellar – warm, funny, touching and very clever indeed. A talent to watch out for in the future!

 Books for Younger Readers 

Marco Moves In by Gerry Boland, illustrated by Aine McGuinness, O’Brien Press

A sweet, warm book featuring the friendship between a young boy, Patrick, and Marco, a grizzly bear who appears on his doorstep one day. Original and highly readable, it would also make a great read aloud.

Penny Dreadful is a Magnet for Disaster by Jo Nadin, Oxford University Press

Laugh out loud funny, this clever, mischief prone character is Horrid Henry with bells on!

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams, Harpercollins

A very funny book, with great illustrations by Quentin Blake. Ideal for Wimpy/Mr Gum/ Horrid Henry fans.

Books for Confident Readers

Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer by Derek Landy, HarperCollins

Derek Landy is a world class writer and this fantasy-horror adventure about a skeleton detective and his teenage side kick is a hilarious, rip roaring read. It’s book six in the series, so if your young reader isn’t a fan yet (and they will be!), best to start at book one.

 Eva’s Holidayby Judi Curtin, O’Brien Press

Curtin has a deliciously warm touch and this book is perfect for girls of 8+. Eva loves fashion and hanging out with her friends, so when she has to spend the whole summer in a cottage down the country, she’s not happy. But soon she finds out that there’s more to life than clothes and having the right friends. Highly recommended.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, Puffin

I love Greg Heffley and his family. Hilarious!

Spirit of the Titanic by Nicola Pierce, O’Brien Press

A beautifully written and highly original book about the ghost of a boy who is killed while building the Titanic. Recommended.

 Novel of the Year for Age 9+:

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Andersen

I LOVE this wonderful book. Part time-travel novel, part family and friendship drama, it’s original, compelling and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s set in New York too, and I love books set in NYC. David Maybury also recommended it in his round up in the Irish Times this week. It's a cracking read. Please give it to every child you know for Christmas!

Marshmallow Skye by Cathy Cassidy, Puffin

Another cracking, warm read from Cathy.  

 Books for Teens

YA Novel of the Year:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness,Walker Books

I also LOVE this book. It made me cry, a lot. It’s sad, gripping and at times almost unbearable to read. It’s about a boy whose mum is dying of cancer. A monster starts to visit him every night in the form of the yew tree in the back garden. Exceptional illustrations. Read it!

 Flick by Geraldine Meade, Little Island

A wonderfully honest coming of age story about a gay teenager called Flick (Felicity), by a debut Irish author.

 A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle, Scholastic

Unusual ghost story about four generations of women who go on a road trip. Beautifully written and very touching.

Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy, PuffinIreland

Excellent family/romance drama with a supernatural twist.

The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey, O’Brien Press

Funny, sweet story about Irish teen, Rebecca and her embarrassing mother. Won the Senior Children’s Category at the Irish Book Awards. 

 And By the Way by Denise Deegan, Hachette

Strong drama set in Dublin by an experienced Irish writer. Funny and touching, with a great teen voice.

 Bruised by Siobhan Parkinson, Hachette

Gritty teen drama by an award winning Irish author and the current Children’s Laureate.

Another Brilliant YA Novel:

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Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Speak (Penguin USA)

One of the best YA novels I've read in years. It came out in 2010 so it's not strictly new, but I only read it this year and it rocks, big time. If you have a son or daughter of 15+, or you yourself are looking for a funny, touching, gritty read about the most honest and most odd teenagers you're every likely to meet, this is the book for you. I found it on Amazon.com. It is truly wonderful.

Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012

Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2012:

Picture Books

Oliver Jeffers has not one but two new titles in 2012 – The New Jumper in the spring, and another picture book in the autumn

Chris Haughton’s Oh, No George is brilliant (out in March) – I’ve seen a proof and loved it. Fantastic vibrant colours and very funny.

Chris Judge also has a new title out – based on a young explorer which is also fantastic. Arthur’s Boat by Polly Dunbar also looks great, and Irish newbie Sheena Dempsey’s debut picture book, Ruby and Oliver looks wonderful.

And finally, The Frank Show by David Mackintosh is also coming in the spring – I love his work and I’m REALLY looking forward to this one.

Younger Readers

More Penny Dreadful by Jo Nadin – Penny is a very, very funny character!

And more Marco the Bear – Marco: Master of Disguise from Gerry Boland – very touching and well written tales about a boy and his friend, a grizzly bear.

Age 9+

More Skulduggery Pleasant of course! Can the Landy do no wrong?

Zom-B by Darren Shan – a brand new series that sounds fantastic

Two more from Judi Curtin – book 2 in her time travel series, Friends Forever and also a brand new Eva book in the autumn I hope. Eva’s Holiday was so funny and warm and sweet.

Summer’s Dream by Cathy Cassidy – out in July - it’s about ballet and I love ballet books. My next Amy Green is called Dancing Daze (out autumn 2012) and is also about dance. Go the ballet girls!

And Soonchild by Russel Hoban is so lyrical and magical - with fantastic illustrations by Alexis Deacon - a really special book.

YA Novels

and from this list, 2012 is an ultra-strong YA year already!

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The Hunger Games movie is out in March, so prepare for the onslaught of all things Hunger. And do read the books first – they are fantastic. I’m not reading any more dystopian novels unless they are highly recommended by a friend in books. Enough with the dystopia already!

A book that I certainly will be reading is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. He’s a remarkable writer and this sounds wonderful – very punchy and honest – about a teenage girl with cancer. And if you haven’t read it yet, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is amazing too (out and available on Amazon through the US – no Irish or UK edition as yet – I live in hope!).

Wonder by R J Palacino – I’ve heard Wonder-ful things about this one too! It’s about a boy with a disfigured face and is fantastic apparently.

Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale – how can you face your future when your past is a lie? Sounds great.

Saving Daisy by Phil Earle – more grit and greatness from the super newish writer of Being Billy.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg – a clever book about a teenage girl who has just died and is looking back over the relationship that literally broke her heart. Nicely written.

Fever by Dee Shulman – I’m reading this at the moment and it’s very clever and readable. It features a modern teenage girl and a teen Roman gladiator. Time travelling historical romance – and it works really well!

The Look by Sophia Bennett – Sophia is the author of the Threads books and this looks smashing – about a teen model and her sister. She writes wonderfully.

Eighteen Kisses by Laura Jane Cassidy – her last one was excellent.

Team Human by Sarah Rees Brennan & Justine Larbalestier – Sounds brilliant – very twisty and cool.

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long – Debut fantasy novel by another Irish author with a fantastic cover.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – a new series of fairy tales set in the future with feisty female lead roles.

Adult Books (I do read some adult fiction!)

Smart Popular Fiction by Some of My Favourite Authors

Mercy Close by Marian Keyes – another book about the brilliant Walsh sisters, Helen this time. Can’t wait! I’m a huge fan.

And Saved by Cake: Over 80 Ways to Bake Yourself Happy, also by Marian which is coming in February and is all about baking – sounds fantastic too.

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella – I love her writing voice, funny, funny, funny!

The Shoestring Club by Sarah Webb – Yes, my book! I really can’t wait for this one to be published. I’m at that nail biting pre-publication stage at the moment. Out in February in Ireland and September in the UK.

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Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend by Sarra Manning – a very witty writer indeed.

A Message to Your Heart by Niamh Greene – This one sounds fantastic – a literary agent’s life goes crazy!

And Finally - Other Novels

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach – I adore books about sport, which is odd as I don’t watch or play sport. I sail and kayak, I guess. Does that count? But any sport movie or book, I’m in there! This one is about a college baseball player and sounds fantastic.

The Truth About Writing Popular Fiction

I have a friend – a much published, very experienced writer of popular fiction – who is worried about finishing her latest novel. She’s almost 50,000 words in and she knows she has at least another 40 to 50k more to write. Her pre-Christmas deadline is looming and she’s freaking out a little. She has no idea how she’s going to finish it in time as she says it’s like pulling teeth. Plus she’s not enjoying the writing anymore. In the same week, another writer – again, popular fiction - posted her worries about finishing a book in time on Facebook. Both have young children to mind, husbands to listen to, bills to pay, other writing jobs on the side. This is the writing for a living story that often goes untold.

Publishers are under more pressure than ever to produce novels that sell widely. With ebooks starting to make inroads into the market, things are very uncertain at the moment. Writers are under extra pressure to write faster, deliver earlier. Popular fiction writers are expected to produce a book a year without fail. Recently I’ve heard several top authors say they are now being asked to write a book every nine months, or to consider adding a book of short stories to their yearly output.

I believe that putting writers under this sort of pressure is counter productive. I’m lucky - I’m a fairly fast, consistent writer. I write 2,000 words a day, four days a week (five if I have a deadline). I write full time. I can sit down at my desk at 10am and stay there until 2pm which is a great luxury. Some weeks – during the Children’s Book Festival and around book publication time - I have other things on like school visits, shop visits, interviews, and I have to take time off from writing. But generally I’m at my desk. Even so, I still find it stressful sometimes.

Stress is the enemy of the writer. It can physically stop you writing as my friend has found. It can block ideas, it can stifle your flow; it can start making you think ‘I can’t do this/I’m rubbish/I’m not a writer/This is all a joke’. And once you start thinking that you can’t write, then you can’t physically write.

The year before last – 2010 – I had a bit of a writing meltdown. I was working flat out on 2 Amy Green novels and an adult novel (and an early reader in fact) and I just couldn’t keep up the pace. Towards the end of the year, I was trying to finish my adult novel but it just wasn’t happening. I didn’t like the story all that much, the characters weren’t working and I just wanted to crawl into bed and forget about writing ever again. So I called a halt. I told my agent and my publishers that I couldn’t deliver my manuscript, that I needed a lot more time. They weren’t exactly thrilled but they were very understanding and they gave me the time I needed to find my way out of the slump.

I took some time off. I read good fiction. I stopped beating myself up about not being Wonderwoman Writer. And gradually when I got some energy back, I started picking apart the book I had been working on and I pretty much started again. I decided I needed to put everything I had into the book, and everything I’d learned over the years about writing popular fiction – big characters, high stakes, drama, emotion, dealing with subjects that matter both to me and to readers. And the book (The Shoestring Club – out in early 2012) is a far better book because of it. In fact, although it has flaws, I think it’s the best adult novel I’ve written so far. And the next one (the one I’m working on at the moment) is even better. Because I’m enjoying the writing process, I WANT to write and, most importantly, I’m minding my writing energy. If I need a day off writing, I take a day off writing. I’m not agreeing to any deadlines I can’t meet and I’m not saying yes to any projects that take me away from the desk unless they are very special.

Writing is a tough business. I’ve been writing full time for nine years now and it’s not getting any easier. But I still love it. And that’s the truth. It’s still my dream job. So I’ll cling to it tooth and nail. But my life is also important, my kids, my partner, my family, my friends, my health. We all need to mind ourselves as writers AND mind ourselves as mothers, partners, girlfriends, aunties, sisters too.

Will writing popular fiction always be so pressurised? I’m not sure. I’m hoping the market will settle down soon for all our sakes. 

But at the moment if you want to write popular fiction, you need to keep strong, keep mentally and physically fit, and keep writing about things you truly care about.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

What Children Can Teach Us About Writing

I've been visiting schools, libraries and festivals since 1996 when my first book was published. Over the years I've talked to thousands of children about books and writing. I've also given many writing workshops to children of all ages and this is what I've discovered:1/ Children are not afraid of making mistakes - if their story isn't going well they'll just shrug and start another story, no big deal. They never worry about looking stupid on paper or getting it 'wrong'. 2/ Children love creating big, funny, unusual characters - because their books are full of larger than life characters - think of Matilda, Mr Gum, Artemis Fowl, Tracy Beaker and Skulduggery Pleasant. They know when it comes to characters, BIG is good. 3/ Children understand that stories have to be exciting, fast, funny and full of emotion (and explosions in the case of boys - maybe slightly too many explosions!). 4/ Children don't get too hung up about grammar or spelling, they just keep writing. They know they can correct that stuff later. 5/ Children write 'cos they love to write, not because they want to get published/show off to the neighbours/make a million like that Harry Potter lady. 6/ Children believe that everyone has the right to write. 7/ Children don't twist themselves up in knots about genre. If zombies appear half way through their romance, then cool, it's a zombie romance! 8/ Children write for themselves, plain and simple, and because it's fun. (However they ARE very fond of ending their stories with 'and I woke up and it was all a dream'!)

And finally they never, ever finish a book they are not enjoying. They would never say 'I spent good money on that book so I'm going to finish it' or 'It's for my book club, I have to get to the end' - they think that's crazy behaviour! We have a lot to learn from these smart kids! (But I woudn't recommend the 'I woke up and it was all a dream' ending!)

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

Why Writers Need to Run Away

 Today I’m writing to you from West Cork. I’ve run away! I’ve always wanted to write a book about a woman who runs away from her life and starts up anew. And let’s be honest, we’ve all thought about it, haven’t we? Just grabbing the passport and a few things, emptying out the current account and running off to Paris, or Montana or wherever the first flight out of Dublin takes you. Life can get pretty stressful sometimes, and it’s normal to want to escape now and then.  I haven’t really run away (as you’ve probably guessed). I’m on a writing retreat. I’m hiding away in my parents’ holiday home in a quiet little village. There’s no internet connection here (so I won’t be posting this until I get back), no mobile reception and the only people who know I’m here are my family and close friends. I can’t play with Facebook or Twitter, I can’t check out clothes I can’t afford (and don’t really need) on Netaporter, I can’t read blogs. It’s only when I’m down here that I realise what a distraction the internet truly is.

 I’ve only been here a day now and I’ve already written a 5,000 word short story for a teen collection called ‘And Then He Kissed Me’ which will be out in 2013. This evening I’m going to work on Amy Green 5; tomorrow I’ll do more Amy 5, plus talk to two local schools in the afternoon. Friday I’ll do more Amy and write a review of the new Maurice Sendak, Bumble-Ardy, hardly a chore! I ADORE Maurice Sendak.

 I’ve also walked, day dreamed, scribbled some notes for a new children’s series, danced around the living room to Madonna’s Like a Prayer, and Eye of the Tiger (I probably shouldn’t admit this but hey!). I haven’t brushed my hair or looked in a mirror once. And I LOVE it. I feel free. And my mind is full of ideas, all kinds of wonderful thoughts – some completely crazy, some not so crazy. At home my brain is so full of ‘stuff’ – a lot of it other people’s stuff – that it doesn’t have time to breath, let alone invent.

 For a writer, getting away from everyday life once in a while is vital. Being alone is important. Having time to think or just be is important. Our lives are so busy, it’s increasingly difficult to find the time to just sit and think. We always think we should be doing something, filling up our hours – reading, writing, watching telly, Facebooking, cooking, socialising . . . it’s endless.

 It’s taken me a long time to enjoy being alone. Now I positively relish it. It refreshes me. It wakes up my mind, fires my imagination.

 When was the last time you allowed yourself some time out? Even one free afternoon, or one free hour wandering around an art gallery, sitting on a park bench, or walking in the park is worth fighting for.

 If you can get away for a few days, even better. Maybe someone has a holiday house they don’t use much in the winter? Or maybe there’s a mid week hotel break you can take advantage of. They’ll survive without you for a few days back home, honest!

 You’ll be amazed at how much writing you can get done AND how much bad dancing. And you’ll feel all the better for both, believe me!

 Yours in writing,

 Sarah XXX

What Are Children's Agents Looking For?

I chaired a most interesting Irish Pen night last week on Writing for Children and Getting Published and I took some notes for you all. (See how nice I am?) The panel included - Anna Carey, newbie author who is on the current shortlist for the Irish Book Awards; Oisin McGann, highly experienced author and illustrator;  and Julia Churchill from Greenhouse Literary Agency, London. Click on that link to read an interview with Julia. So here goes - what Julia wants - she said she'd love a big love story set in space, but she's not all that concerned with the market. She loves the slush pile.

This is what she is looking for in a nutshell:

1/ concept 2/ character 3/ story 4/ theme 5/ voice 6/ setting

She wants books with a great hook and premise and she needs to get excited about a book to take it on. She likes books with high stakes and for her, character is vital. She likes books with a strong sense of place like the Northern Lights series (Oxford). Overall, she is a young, hard working, vibrant agent who is worth considering if you are the next Derek Landy or Eoin Colfer.

So there you go - some thoughts to get your writing teeth into.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

This is an updated version of a previous post.

Why Writers Need a Bit of Passion in Their Lives

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Passion. It’s a great word, isn’t it? It conjures up images of Mills and Boon-type heroes with bare, oiled chests; flame haired women in Gone With the Wind ball dresses . . . or maybe that’s just me.

The paranormal romances riding high in the current books charts are all about swoon and passion. In fact, the latest Lauren Kate novel in her bestselling Fallen series is called just that, Passion.

I was at one of Lauren’s talks in Eason, O’Connell Street, Dublin recently and she certainly spoke with passion about her characters and her plots. She based one of the love interests on her own husband, she admitted with a shy smile. And she wants Ed Westwick (Gossip Girls) to play the character in the movie version. I hear you, Kate!

But today I’m talking about passion for your subject, for your writing, for your characters, not romantic passion. It’s so important to write with passion, every day. To approach the page with all the energy, and enthusiasm and sheer ferocity that you can muster. And believe me, I know it isn’t always easy, especially if you’re tired, or feeling a bit glandy, or are in a dark mood. I’ve been there, trust me! But here’s the thing, if you want to finish your book, you have to work through that.

And I can genuinely say that in nearly nine years of writing full time, I’ve never once sat down to write and not managed at least 500 words. Usually I aim to write 2,000 words a day; often I don’t achieve it, but that’s the goal. I have a little notebook beside my desk and I jot down my word count every day. It’s one way of keeping myself motivated. (It probably sounds very stressy and controlling– and yep, it certainly is, but whatever gets you through, right?!)

In Friday’s Irish Times there was an interesting piece on social networking, Facebook in particular. The journalist, Karlin Lillington interviewed Carol Rozwell, an expert in these matters and Carol said (about Facebook): “It ain’t about the brand. It’s passion about an issue or a topic.” She (Carol) gives Adidas and Nike as good examples of companies using social media tools such as Facebook. “People are not going there because the companies have introduced a new sneaker. They’re going there because of their own passion about fitness and running and so on. So, via social media, the companies are taking what was a transaction and turning it into a relationship.”

Again, it’s all about passion. That’s why I think writers love Facebook and Twitter so much, they love sharing their passions with other people. And they love hearing about other peoples’ passions too. Writers are big passion fans! And that’s how it should be.

What are YOU passionate about? If you want to be a published writer, you need to put writing top of that list. And you need to make sure it stays there!

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

Why Do Writers Teach Creative Writing? Is It For The Money?

There was an interesting conference today in Dublin all about writing classes/workshops which I've been following on Twitter. A question came up - why do writers teach creative writing? Is it for the money? Book sales? To find material. And it got me thinking. Why do I teach?

In fact I was teaching only last night - Writing for Children at the Irish Writer's Centre. We talked about what makes a good children's book - unforgettable characters, beautiful writing, a cracking plot, emotion, drama . . . ? We talked about memory and using our past to shape fictional characters. And above all, it was fun. I learned a lot and I hope the other writers did too!

And that's the main reason I teach: because it's fun. Writing is a lonely old business, and now and again it's very healthy to step out from behind the desk and meet 'real people'. I also teach because I believe in passing things on. I've been very lucky in my writing life, many, many people have been very kind and helpful to me. And if I can help someone else, even in a small way, I believe it's my duty to do so.

I've been involved in the book world as a writer and a bookseller for nearly twenty years now, and I like passing on what I know about the business to people who are interested. Plus I adore talking about books, and as most writers are also huge readers, the book chat in workshops is always fascinating.

To answer the question posed on Twitter (and above): I genuinely don't do it for the money. Depending on the organisation, I don't always charge for workshops or talks. I don't do it for book sales - I'm not sure 15 sales (the max number I like to take in a class) would make the slightest bit of difference overall. To find material? If this means being wowed by the amazing people in the class and their life stories, then yes, often they do inspire me. I love meeting new people and, like most writers, I'm always curious about what makes or made them who they are. But their writing doesn't give me material as such, no. Writers have to find their own obsessions to write about, and my passion for Hungarian ballet probably isn't your passion for example!

For me the answer really is: I teach because 1/ I have something to share with other writers, and 2/ it's fun. Teaching children can be the most fun of all, but that's a blog for another day. Young writers can teach us oldies so much about writing.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

PS The best writing talk I've ever heard was given by Patrick Ness who told the audience to 'write with joy'. If he's in Dublin again soon, check him out! He's a remarkable speaker.

How to Drive Traffic to Your Website – Tips and Suggestions

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So you have a shiny new website and you want as many people to visit it as possible. After all, what’s the point of putting time and energy into the whole online shebang otherwise?I’m a writer, not an internet expert, but luckily I have access to many people who are far smarter and more net savvy than I am, and I’ve picked their brains just for you. The one thing they have all agreed on is that having a fancy smancy looking website is all very well, but CONTENT IS KING. Content is what drives readers to your website in the first place and it’s what keeps them coming back time after time. And a WEEKLY BLOG is a great way of adding to that content, and updating your website on a regular basis. Luckily, I like blogging. I like telling people about books, writing, the publishing world. I have something to say. And that’s so important – having something to say. When I started my blog several years ago it was originally called ‘The Launch Lizard’. I covered book launches I attended in Dublin and all over. But there aren’t so many of them anymore, and I tend to put any launch photos or info up on Facebook these days instead. So I decided to make it a blog about what I do – about writing. From the feedback (and thanks to anyone who has sent in a comment or emailed me), it’s been useful to other writers, and I’ve enjoyed and continue to enjoy doing it which is also important. Blogs work best if you are passionate about subject and willing to share everything you know with an on-line community. My friend David Maybury has a great blog

here 

where he posts all kinds of articles, reviews and links – all related to children’s books. It’s well worth checking out. He puts in a lot of work and he has a lot of readers because of this. If you are a writer or an author/illustrator, maybe you could blog about your own work – how you write your books, your techniques, and how you got published, found your agent etc. I’m always jealous of illustrators as they can make your blogs really come alive with their art. But everyone can share photographs – pages from their writing notebooks, book cover art etc. The important thing is to make your blog interesting, relevant and useful. Yes, it takes time and effort, but if you want readers, that’s what it takes, hard work and lots of it! Also think about your target market. Who exactly are you writing for? A good blog should also say something about who you are too. That’s why I believe that writers are ideally suited to blogging. They have a writing voice and they aren’t afraid to use it. And finally, post your blog on Facebook and Twitter and encourage people to share it and retweet it. Good luck with your own blog!

In a nutshell: 1/ Content is King 2/ Try to blog at least once a week 3/ Find something interesting and useful to blog about 4/ The more work you put into your blog, the more regular readers you will have 5/ Share you blog posts on Facebook and Twitter

Yours in writing, Sarah XXX

So Your Book is On the Shelves, What Next?

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So what happens after a book is published? I’ve had two books out this month – Ask Amy Green: Love and Other Drama-ramas (Amy 4 for short) and Sally Go Round the Stars: Rhymes from an Irish Childhood. I know a lot of people think that all kinds of exciting things happen on publication day like fireworks and lunches with champagne, and maybe they do, if you are JK Rowling! But nice things do happen if you have the right publishers. Walker Books sent me a Happy Publication Day card, signed by my editors and all the other people I work with. This is a lovely thing to do, very sweet!

The publishers of my adult novels, Pan Macmillan always send me flowers on publication day (although I’m not sure if they still do this in the ‘current climate’ as I don’t have a book out with them this year). Again, a thoughtful, kind thing to do.

Sometimes books have launches, sometimes not. This depends largely on the marketing budget for the particular book, and the publishing house’s policy on launches. I had a very glam dinner for the first Amy Green book, with booksellers, journalists and reviewers. For Amy 3, I had a launch in a bookshop. I also launched two other books at the same time (it was a busy year!), Emma the Penguin and The Loving Kind. It was a really fun night and all my friends and family came along to celebrate the ‘christening’ of the books with me.

This year, I didn’t have a launch for either Sally or Amy 4. O’Brien Press didn’t have time to organise one for Sally (sadly), and I didn’t have the energy to do it myself after a hectic few weeks of book festivals and back to school activity. And I decided not to have one for Amy 4 as I had a lot of events organised around publication day anyway. I’ll definitely have one for Amy 5 however, as a launch is a fantastic way of celebrating a book and giving it a good send off.

So if there’s no launch what happens to the book?

Basically it is put on the shelves of the local and national bookshops after the ‘publication date’. Often the books appear on the shelves before this date. It’s quite a stressful time. You wonder ‘Will anyone buy the book?’, ‘Will anyone review it?’, ‘If they do review it, will they like it?’ It’s only natural to worry about your book’s reception. I always try to tell myself that I’ve written the best book I can, I’ve promoted it to the best of my ability, and now it’s out of my hands. Whatever happens, I am doing a job I love, every day of my life, and that’s the important bit. And that’s it pretty much! Doesn’t sound too exciting, does it? But of course, then comes the marketing and publicity.

Marketing and publicity

About a week after the publication date, my publishers (being proactive and organised people) generally invite me to visit the bookshops and do an informal stock signing. This means calling into the shops, saying hi to the booksellers (fab, hardworking individuals – I used to be one so I’m biased of course!), and sign the stock they have on the shelves. It’s a chance to thank booksellers for stocking your book. And if the shop doesn’t have the book at all, it’s a heads up for them to order some before you arrive.

If you’re lucky, you might be invited to do some pr for the book. I have a wonderful publicity team both here and in the UK, and I often get asked to appear on shows like Elev8 (RTE), the TV3’s morning show. I also write blogs for my own and other peoples’ sites around publication time, like writing.ie, articles for newspapers and other bits and pieces. I also visit a lot of schools to talk about my new books (this only happens for the children’s books obviously). And after the launch (if there is one), the ‘will anyone buy it’ angst, the signings, the publicity, life goes pretty much back to normal and it’s on to the next book.

I do try to celebrate publication day in my own special way – I often buying myself a special gift, take a day off to visit an art gallery, or meet a friend for lunch – just to mark the occasion. But for me, the actual writing of the book is the part I love the most. A good writing day, when everything clicks into place and I’m happy with my work beats a publication day hands down.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

A Who's Who of Exceptional Children's Literary Agents

Who represents Eoin Colfer? Who is Darren Shan’s agent? Who helped Derek Landy climb to the top? As this month I have two new children's books out - Ask Amy Green: Love and Other Drama-ramas (Walker Books) and Sally Go Round the Stars (O'Brien Press), I thought I'd focus on writing for children.

You’ve written a book for children (or teenagers) and you’d like to get it published, so what’s next?

If you are interested in reaching the widest readership possible and giving your work the best possible chance to be successful, you’ll need to find a good agent.

Why do you need an agent? Can’t you just go it alone?

In Ireland we are lucky to have the O’Brien Press where the editors are happy to read unsolicited manuscripts. You can send your book directly to one of their editors. Details of how to do this are here. But most UK publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts so you will need to submit your work through an agent.

What does an agent do exactly? 1/ An agent can advise you on your manuscript and on how to make it more attractive to a publisher. Some of them will act as unofficial ‘editors’ to their clients or at the very least can suggest changes or improvements. 2/ An agent can find the right editor or publisher for your work – like a book matchmaker. And they can sell your UK, US, digital and foreign rights. They can also look after any film or television rights. 3/ Agents deal with the difficult and technical area of contracts. This is particularly important at the moment, with ebooks coming to the fore. 4/ Financial back up - they can chase up your royalties and talk to your publishers about outstanding monies owed to you.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when writing for children is not paying enough attention to the age range. Who is your book for? An early reader of 5 to7? A confident reader of 8 to 10? A strong reader of 10 to 13? Your characters/language/themes must be appropriate for and also interest the age you are writing for. Read award winning and bestselling books in the age group you are writing for to get a clear idea of what works best. I’ll come back to this again in another post as it’s so important – you must write for children for the love of it – not because you want to make your fortune. Write because you can’t not write. And be very aware that these days writing for children means schools visits and events – and a lot of them! If you are not good with children you might need to reconsider. The very best children’s writers have a child like quality and also remember what it feels like to be a child or teen – to be 4, or 13, or 17.

So back to finding an agent: My own children’s agent is called Philippa Milnes-Smith from the LAW Agency (details below). She used to be the MD of Puffin, which gives her a brilliant insight into the market and a great eye for what works and doesn’t work in books. I have a different, equally brilliant agent for my adult books (also in LAW). These days having potential isn’t enough, your manuscript must be as perfect as you can make it before it goes anywhere near an editor – this especially goes for children's and YA fiction. A good agent can play a vital role in this process.

So to the Good Bit - The Agents Who Represent the Most Successful Irish Children’s Writers (with Contact Details)

 Remember to check each agent’s website for submission guidelines before you send anything out. Or ring the agency for details first – I know it’s daunting but they are always happy to advise you on how (or if) to submit. Be warned – you may get the agent herself/himself on the phone. Be prepared!

Eoin Colfer is represented by Sophie Hicks sophie@edvictor.com 0044 (0) 2073044100

Derek Landy is represented by Michelle (Who also represents Patrick Ness) office@michellekass.co.uk 0044 (0) 207 74391624

Darren Shan is represented by Christopher Little Christopher Little Literary Agency 10 Eel Brook Studios 125 Moore Park Road London SW6 4PS Tel: +44 (0) 207 736 4455 Fax: +44 (0) 207 736 4490 For general enquiries please email: info@christopherlittle.net

Sarah Webb is represented by Philippa Milnes Smith at LAW Contact: All submissions should be sent, in hard copy, by post to: LAW, 14 Vernon Street, London, W14 0RJ www.lawagency.co.uk

Cathy Cassidy is represented by Darley Anderson (Spends a lot of time in Ireland and a lovely woman so I’ve included her!) Contact: Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency Estelle House 11 Eustace Road London SW6 1JB Tel: 00 44 (0)20 7385 6652 Fax:00 44 (0)20 7386 5571 Email: enquiries@darleyanderson.com

Judi Curtin and Marita Conlon McKenna are both represented by Caroline Sheldon Contact via: www.carolinesheldon.co.uk 71 Hillgate Place, London W8 7SS

And finally John Boyne is represented by Simon Trewin

See www.simontrewin.com for details

Other Recommended Children's Agents:

Julia Churchill Greenhouse Literary Agency  submissions@greenhouseliterary.com 

And note this - Check our submission guidelines on this site for full information before querying.  Please note, we no longer accept snail-mail queries or email attachments. We are sorry that we cannot take (or return) phone queries regarding submissions. 

Eve White, Eve White Literary Agency (represents Andy ‘Mr Gum’ Stanton) eve@evewhite.co.uk 00 44 (0) 207 6301155

Veronique Baxter at David Higham Contact: David Higham Associates 5–8 Lower John Street Golden Square London W1F 9HA Switchboard: 00 44 (0)20 7434 5900 Fax: 044 (0)20 7437 1072 E-mail: dha@davidhigham.co.uk

Review of Roddy Doyle's New Book for Children

DoyleRod

Roddy Doyle

Roddy Doyle may be best known as an adult novelist but his children’s books have sold over half a million copies worldwide and have won him many plaudits, including an Irish Book Award in 2008 for 'Wilderness'. His latest book for readers of 10+, 'A Grey Hound of a Girl' is another award winner in the making.

This beautifully crafted and highly original book features four generations of the same family, three alive and one dead - twelve-year-old Mary O’Hara; her mother, Scarlett; Mary’s hospitalised granny, Emer; and finally Tansey (Anastasia), the ghost of Mary’s great-granny.

As the book opens, Mary, a strong, feisty and often ‘cheeky’ girl is bereft. Her best friend, Alva has just moved away and no-one understands how alone and cut off she feels. While walking past Alva’s empty house, Mary spots a woman dressed in old-fashioned clothing and stops to talk to her. As always Doyle’s simple yet telling description of the woman paints a vivid picture for the reader. ‘She was wearing a dress that looked like it came from an old film . . . she looked like a woman who milked cows and threw hay with a pitchfork.’ This woman, ‘shimmering as if she was stepping behind a sheet of clear plastic’ is the Tansey, one of the most ‘real’ and robust ghosts I’ve ever encountered in any book; with Tansey, Doyle rips up the ghost handbook and re-writes it.

The story moves from the present (narrated through Mary’s eyes), to the past, telling each adult woman’s story in turn, weaving in and out of time - describing Tansey’s life on the farm in her mid twenties, and how she died of flu when Emer was a toddler; and adding vivid, telling scenes from Emer and Scarlett’s childhoods. In the hands of a lesser writer this time travel could prove confusing, but in Doyle’s strong, confident hands it works perfectly and adds a depth and substance that makes this novel a stand out read.

All four women finally meet in the last quarter of the book when Mary and her mother, Scarlett sneak Emer out of the hospital to meet Tansey’s ghost. After Emer’s initial shock (and a very touching and funny reconciliation scene with her ghost mum), Emer wants to drive to Wexford to see the farm when she was raised (by her father after Tansey’s early death), and the four women take a road trip through the night. I won’t spoil the ending, but there is a deep sense of peace at the close of the book, a gentle quietness, of four lives that have all changed from the experience, and two that have come full circle.

Doyle’s dialogue is masterful – pithy, clever, direct and is one of the great joys of reading this book; and while I adored all four characters I fell in love with Tansey, a character I will never forget. Doyle uses the theme of mothers living on through their daughters to great effect – the lynchpin of a previous picture book ‘Her Mother’s Face’ in fact - ‘When you want to see your mother, look at your own face in the mirror’; and this book is also a meditation on life and death and the nature of ageing – how the child we once were is still in all of us. I would highly recommend this masterful family drama with a ghostly twist to any reader of ten plus. It may be short, but it packs a lasting punch.

This review first appeared in The Irish Independent

What Every Writer Can Learn From Cathy, Darren and Derek

Sarah Gets Strangled by Darren Shan

The Mountains to Sea Book Festival has just finished - phew - and I'm back to my desk. I programmed the children's events this year and had such fun watching the authors in action and helping at their mammoth signings. Three authors in particular really impressed me. Cathy Cassidy, Darren Shan and Derek Landy. They have such huge respect for their readers and do everything they can to send every reader home with a big smile on her or his face.

My own nephew isn't a big reader but after Darren's inspiring event went home and started writing a zombie story. My sister was astonished. Darren read two extracts from his work - one so spooky it made everyone jump in their seats and scream. Then he talked about his life as a writer and took questions from the floor. And then - then! - he signed for 3 hours solid, greeting each young reader with warmth and interest, chatting away to their parents and grandparents. It was a joy to watch.

Cathy Cassidy was equally charming to her long line of fans. She posed for photos, gave out sweets and chocolate, chatted to the girls and asked them questions about Dublin and what they liked to read. She basically made them all feel really special.

The last event of the festival was a hilarious delve into Derek Landy's weird and wonderful mind. His fans are something - I spotted lots of Skulduggery T-shirts, several hand-made Skulduggery bags and even a pair of Skulduggery runners. Again, he signed with patience and a big grin, making all his young readers laugh with him.

If a reader arrived with a pile of books, they all signed each and every book. If a child arrived with a grubby piece of paper, that was signed too. Nothing was too much trouble.

It was utterly inspiring and reminded me exactly why I love the children's book world so much - the writers are just so darned decent and lovely. To a man or woman - the picture book gang, the Irish writers, the UK writers, the Americans (Meg Rosoff and Patrick Ness) - all exceptional people. I'm sure they have their grumpy days like we all do, but they give everything they have to their readers and for that I salute them.

I'm so grateful to them all for making our festival so successful and giving so many readers an experience they will never forget.

We can all learn a lot about how to treat our readers from Cathy, Darren and Derek!

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

Welcome to My New Website

WEBB, S 28.11.08 0086

This month is a busy one for me, with two new books out: Ask Amy Green: Love and Other Drama-ramas and Sally Go Round the Stars, a nursery rhyme collection. I'm also involved in the Dun Laoghaire Mountains to Sea Book Festival (I'm the Children's Programmer), which is hard work but a lot of fun. And I’m also launching this lovely new website. So in true book form, here are my acknowledgements:

Thanks are due to Lisa Haran who designed the site and put up with all my daft questions! She has the patience of a saint and is wonderfully talented to boot – a great combination for a website designer. If you’re interested in hiring Lisa (which I’d highly recommend) you can find her here. Because of Lisa, I can do that clever link thing!

I’d love some feedback on the new site, so do comment below or Facebook me on my new Sarah Webb page - see, did the clever link thing again. OK, I’ll stop slapping myself on the back now. But you have no idea how exciting these things are to a computer muppet like me.

Thanks are also due to the wonderful Sarah Conroy who also did lots of clever teckie things to get the site up and running.

And to Ben, for endless ‘Which looks better, the pink type or the bold?’ questions. He also has the patience of a saint.

So to the website itself. It’s a Wordpress site, which means I can sneak in behind the pages and change things to my heart’s content. So expect lots and lots of updates, photos, blog entries, author interviews and You Tube clips. The media box on the home page will be added to over time – another clever feature. It currently has a pic of me and my latest book and an Ask Amy Green video clip.

I’ll be continuing my Yours in Writing blog, telling you all about my writing life. So please do stay tuned. Next week I’ll write about what happens once your book hits the shelves, plus what every writer could learn from Darren Shan.

The next newsletter will go out in December, so do join the mailing list for that also on the home page. As always, thanks for reading and I do hope you enjoy the new site!

Yours in Writing, Sarah XXX

Pre-publication Nerves

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Out Next Week!

I have two books out this month – Ask Amy Green: Love and Other Drama-ramas and Sally Go Round the Stars: Rhymes from an Irish Childhood – and as always I’m dreadfully nervous. Will readers like them? Will they pick them up in a bookshop? Will they buy them? Are the covers right? Did I find all the typos? This morning I woke up at 6am, my head already full of my To Do list: finish putting content on my new website (more on that in a second), write Amy 5, think about the short story I have to write for a Walker Books anthology called ‘And Then He Kissed Me’, write articles for the launch of both books, write this blog, and let’s not mention the tax return hanging over my head or the rewrite of Shoestring 2! I also programme the children’s section of a book festival, Mountains to Sea in Dun Laoghaire which starts in, gulp, a week.

My new website is almost ready to go live – on 6th September. Lisa, the designer has done an amazing job. It’s fresh looking and easy to navigate, it has a Facebook feed and all kinds of clever things like a media box (for video clips and photos). I’ve updated all the content and added lots of new content, like exclusive background details to all my books – how the titles were picked, where the idea came from etc. I’ve very proud of it and I can’t wait to share it with you all in September. I will of course be continuing my writing blog, and do please keep reading!

Writers at every stage of their careers are riddled with doubts and insecurities, especially around publication time. I’ve written eleven adult novels now (nine published, two out in the next two years), I’ve written four Amy Green novels, and lots of other children’s books, but I’m still horribly nervous about the reaction to each and every new book.

Seeing your new book on the shelf for the first time is terrifying, yet exhilarating. Not seeing it on the shelves when it’s supposed to be there is of course, far worse! I’m in the very lucky position of having publishers behind me who believe in my work and do all they can to edit, market and promote my books to the very best of their ability. And I try to do my part, writing articles for papers, magazines, blogs and websites, being interviewed by journalists on all kinds of things – yesterday it was on proposing to Ben, my partner, for the Irish Examiner – visiting the bookshops to say hi to the booksellers and to sign stock, doing school events, library events, festivals. Around publication time I generally set aside a full month to work on the publicity side of things. There is no point spending a whole year writing and rewriting a book and then just sitting back and letting it find its own way in the market, I like to get out there and do as much as I can to help it on its way.

I know some unpublished writers look forward to the bookshop visits, the interviews, talking to school children or reading their work to adults, but many don’t. After over fifteen years writing and publishing books, I guess I’m just used to it; but publication month never gets any easier – it’s exciting, joyful, stressful and exhausting. But you have to embrace all the publicity and the marketing for what it is – part of every writer’s job. And I’m very, very grateful that people actually want to read my articles, want to interview me, want me to visit their students. October is Children’s Book Festival month and I’ll be travelling around the country talking to young readers about writing and my books. But in November it’s back to my desk to finish Amy 5. And I’m already looking forward to it. Sometimes I think publication month is there to send us writers scurrying back to our desks with added dedication and vim, ready to type again until our fingers throb.

But in the meantime I’m going to take a deep breath, jump into September head first and embrace all the madness of publication month. And now I can cross ‘write blog’ off my To Do list!

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

A Who's Who of Popular Fiction Agents

Who is Marian Keyes’s agent? Who looks after Cathy Kelly and Sheila O’Flanagan? Who helped Melissa Hill climb to the top? If you write popular fiction, live in Ireland and would like to get published, these are the agents to try first as they have a proven track record with Irish authors. Now, because they have such high flying clients they may not have the time to take on new authors, but if they spot talent, they may pass you on to another agent in their company.

I secured my first agent (who was with Curtis Brown at the time) via a recommendation by Cathy Kelly. This agent and I have since amicably parted ways, but I found my new agent via another writer friend, the wonderful ‘Vampirate’ Justin Somper. I’m currently represented by Peta Nightingale in Lucas Alexander Whitley on the adult side (I also write for children). I’m her only Irish popular fiction client, but many of the other agents on my list have several ‘Irish girls’ in their stable, such as Sheila Crowley in Curtis Brown.

Peta has been a wonderful asset in many different ways. She worked as an editor for many years and has a brilliant eye for plot and character. She’s very honest and she pushes me, makes me want to be a better writer, which is vital at this stage of my career. When it came to writing my new book, The Shoestring Club (due early 2012), her help was invaluable.

These days having ‘potential’ isn’t enough, your manuscript must be as perfect as you can make it before it goes anywhere near an editor – this especially goes for popular fiction. A good agents can play a vital role in this process.

If you are looking for an agent, Godspeed. Hopefully this list may help you in some small way.

Yours in writing,

Sarah XXX

Who Represents Who? Irish Popular Fiction Writers and Their Agents with Contact Details c/o Sarah Webb www.sarahwebb.ie

Remember to check each agent’s website before you send anything out for submission guidelines.

Maeve Binchy is represented by Christine Green

Tel. 020 7401 8844 info@christinegreen.co.uk Christine Green Authors' Agent 6 Whitehorse Mews Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7QD

Marian Keyes Cathy Kelly Monica McInerney are all represented by Jonathan Lloyd (also CEO of Curtis Brown)

0044 (0)20 7393 4418 lucia@curtisbrown.co.uk

Sheila O’Flanagan is represented by Carole Blake

Blake Friedmann Literary, Film & TV Agency 122 Arlington Road London NW1 7HP

Telephone: 020 7284 0408 Fax: 020 7284 0442 email: info@blakefriedmann.co.uk

Cecelia Ahern is represented by Marianne Gunn O’Connor Marianne represents Claudia Carroll, Anita Notaro and Sinead Moriarty

Marianne Gunn O'Connor Literary Agency Morrison Chambers, Suite 17 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2 mgoclitagency@eircom.net

Melissa Hill is represented by Sheila Crowley Sheila also represents Emma Hannigan, Sarah Harte

00 44 (0)20 7393 4492 crowleyoffice@curtisbrown.co.uk

Sarah Webb is represented by Peta Nightingale at LAW (LAW also represent Sophie Kinsella – Irish name, but not actually Irish!)

All submissions should be sent, in hard copy, by post to: LAW, 14 Vernon Street, London, W14 0RJ www.lawagency.co.uk

Clare Dowling is represented by Darley Anderson

Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency Estelle House 11 Eustace Road London SW6 1JB Tel: 020 7385 6652 Fax: 020 7386 5571 Email: enquiries@darleyanderson.com

Marita Conlon McKenna is represented by Caroline Sheldon

www.carolinesheldon.co.uk 71 Hillgate Place, London W8 7SS

Patricia Scanlan is represented by Lutyens & Rubenstein Literary Agency

www.lutyensrubinstein.co.uk 21 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU

Other Recommended Popular Fiction Agents:

Madeleine Buston at Darley Anderson

Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency Estelle House 11 Eustace Road London SW6 1JB Tel: 020 7385 6652 Fax: 020 7386 5571 Email: enquiries@darleyanderson.com

Lizzie Kremer at David Higham David Higham Associates 5–8 Lower John Street Golden Square London W1F 9HA Switchboard: 020 7434 5900 Fax: 020 7437 1072 E-mail: dha@davidhigham.co.uk