Friday 22 August 2014

Edgar Allan Poe - quotes



I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.


http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.html


Fascinated by the use of language - not even a horror fan but you can't argue with the eloquence! I wish I were so articulate!

Me and Oscar Wilde!


Only I could release a book and then go on holiday with no internet connection! (Well, very limited) so any idea of promotions has had to wait until I return! But I am back now, so we are a go!

Sadie is on Amazon (site) and Authorhouse, and has been released on kindle. All royalties for the time being are going to two of my adopted charities so I would urge any of you to take a look, especially at the Kindle version as it IS much less than the paperback.


http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000953538

I am reassured that some have read the book in a day or two, having been unable to put it down, and this gives me some comfort. For I am not Oscar Wilde, whose rhetoric I envy enormously. I could not ever write like that. I tried to read Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the World” once but the amount of huge words and scientific language eventually got the better of me and I gave up half way through. I am not proud of this. I once read a graphic pirate novel by Wilbur smith that had had me wincing and peeking though my hands at the gory bits, but I was determined to finish as I do not often give up on a book. I am not a Jane Austen fan and don’t read her for pleasure but studied several novels as part of my degree. But I can certainly stand in awe of her talent as a writer. I am not any of these people. I am just little old me, and I write how I write. Good or bad, that’s it.

I have been told that my writing is very conversational, and certainly it is on here. I suppose we all find our own style. I know that Sadie isn’t for everyone, but I like to think that it is a “nice” book – a word I use cautiously. It has the elements I look for in a book, a heroine, a villain, a supernatural element, obstacles to overcome, tension, action and a revelation. Suddenly, now it’s out there, I feel a bit like one of those dreams you have where you have gone to school naked or without your underwear and everyone is looking and judging and I feel quite self-conscious. I hope that this will pass very quickly!

So if anyone is expecting Oscar, Jules or Jane to jump out at them from the pages of my book, then you will be disappointed. But if you enjoy a light fantasy, a story of family, friendship, love and hope, a story with some excitement and action and a bit of a reveal at the end and with two more sequels to follow, then you might just enjoy taking a look at Sadie’s House; The Key.

 
 (love this quote!)
 
 
Meanwhile I need to get cracking now with the meet and greet, the key rings and bookmarks, the approach to the book stores, the press release and the advertising! And back to school next week! It’s going to be a busy month……..!!

Wednesday 13 August 2014

This is really happening!

My book arrived the other day! This was very exciting and it has become very real. I have ordered some copies and am now making plans for marketing and publicity. I did read on the internet somewhere (so it must be true....???) that marketing is the thing that authors and writers are least good at, so I am trying my best to think of everything I can to get my name and the book out there. So far I have contacted a publicity company and arranged a press release to national and local media, a google ad, plans for bookmarks and key rings, the possibility of an informal meet and greet/signing event in a local bar/café, preparations to contact libraries and I have made assorted contacts with regard to signing events.
But guess what! I am off on holiday on Friday! I have promised the family that I will leave it alone whilst we are away - after all it all becomes a bit of a madness doesn't it! All of this, on top of writing the sequel, social networking, updating the website, looking for new ideas, etc etc. Did I know it was going to be this much hard work? Would it have made any difference it I  had known?

I know there are assorted websites I can contact and I am interested in building my blog with guest bloggers in return for the favour, but I don't know how to do that yet. Undaunted by this prospect, I will soldier on. If anyone has any other ideas that you might be willing to share for marketing, I would be very grateful! But its all very exciting!

Wednesday 6 August 2014

Its my book and I like it.......

I saw a brilliant post on Facebook the other day. I have already shared this with my FB friends, but I think that they will forgive me for repeating. It said, and I paraphrase;
"This is my book. It may not be a "great" book, but it is mine and I like it. It may not make me rich or famous, but that is not why I wrote it."

I wrote "Sadie" as a gift to myself for a special birthday (largely to see if I could make sense of the million ideas that were floating around in my head). And, as the quote says, it is mine and I like it. the story may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is exactly the sort of story I love, with some drama and suspense, a secret and an element of fantasy and the supernatural. I am well on with the sequel, which I can hardly tear myself away from because it is filled with more secrets, more drama, more supernatural and a huge twist at the end. But more of Albie closer to completion.

My journey into self publishing came about for very personal reasons which I cannot disclose here and now, but 3 weeks after starting, I had an offer from a publisher. This might give some a bit of reassurance of the quality. I have declined for now as I was well into my journey but I hope to return to this possibility at a later date. I will keep you informed.

I don't want to ramble on, but just to say again that all royalties for now are going to charity - at the moment this is not a money making venture. More of a learning curve from which I am discovering a HUGE amount about the world of publishing. It's all very exciting, and hopefully I might be able to help others interested in taking similar steps in the future. And of course, I'm sure I am not the only one that lives in hope that the film makers are out there just looking for their next big project....

Over here Mr Speilberg........

Sadie's House; The Key has gone live!

Exciting news! Sadie's House;The key has now gone live! There are still a few issues to iron out and I have not officially launched but it is available to order. It will be on Kindle shortly at £2.99 and in paperback on the following links;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sadies-House-K-Elaine-Taff/dp/1496987047/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407250296&sr=8-3&keywords=sadies+house


http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Sadies%20House%20the%20key


For the time being, all royalties will be donated to charity - I am supporting Macmillan Cancer Nurses and Help for Heroes so some of your money is going to two very worthy causes.

You can also see me on

http://etaff3.wix.com/kelainetaff

https://www.facebook.com/Sadieshousetrilogy?ref=hl

Hope to see you there!