Tag Archives: Blog
Reviews – Are They Really All That?
The accepted wisdom in publishing is that reviews are critical to the success of a book. On Amazon in particular, people claim that a host of five star reviews is key to turning your book into a best seller. But … Continue reading
Just the Ticket – Not!
In 1983 Kiss put on their first proper tour of the UK. Aged 14, four of us got tickets by getting an older sibling to phone the box office on the morning they were released. They cost £5 each, and … Continue reading
Forever Young
It’s 1980, I’m eleven years old, and I’m lying in the bath. At the side of the tub is my radio/cassette player. The cable snakes out under the door and into the upstairs hall, where it’s plugged into the nearest … Continue reading
I’m A Pulp Pusher!
I am incredibly happy to say that one of my favourite Scottish authors, Tony Black, has invited me to guest on his esteemed blog; Pulp Pusher. If you want to read a bit about what inspired me to write, and … Continue reading
To Pay or Not to Pay
Earlier today I noticed a book promotion site being used by lots of writers via a hashtag on Twitter. It looked interesting, so I went to the website and started to delve into the detail. The main headline declared that they … Continue reading
The Price You Pay
Why certain books sell, while others don’t, is a conundrum. Some terrible books sell by the barrowload and some fantastic books…don’t. Books lauded by the great and the good, with terrific reviews and recommendations from others, flounder in the lower … Continue reading
Trainspotting Again
Nineteen years ago, in June 1994, I married Sharon; a momentous and memorable day indeed. One of Sharon’s bridesmaids, Carol, gave me a wee present to take on honeymoon with me – a copy of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting. For some … Continue reading
Old Dog…New Tricks
As an indie writer, you learn a lot as you go along from trial and error. Actually, that’s life in general, isn’t it? Anyway, it’s true to say that, like anything else you might do regularly, you find yourself improving. … Continue reading
Dilemmas of Independence
In 2014 Scotland will have a referendum to decide whether or not we’d like to become an independent nation. The democratic process in action; people exercising their free choice and then most of them not getting what they wanted. Then … Continue reading
Getting Your McVoice Heard!
As an indie writer, with limited resources and back-up, it can sometimes feel like you’re on your own as far as promotion and selling is concerned. You’re not really of course – family, friends, Dave Lyons at Ravencrest and some … Continue reading