Struggling Authors

Hi!

I just thought I'd let off some steam and tell you that I am now officially published. By myself
Let's face it, getting someone else to publish stuff for you is kinda hard if you don't have contacts or an already famous name.
I've done great so far. Even before the books has reached the shop I've sold 100 copies to two big companies and the two local newspapers are both writing about me and my book.
As if this wasn't enough the bookshop in town wanted to sell my books and they even wanted me to meet the audience and sign some copies in August.

And what is it exactly I want to have said with this?
Basically: anyone can do it!

I've dreamed about this for so long and if I can do it I'm sure you can do it too!

Congratulations, that's brilliant news! Hope that book signing goes well

Not only should you be very proud, but it could lead to something better! I started off self-publishing, and then got accepted by a small publisher, then a middle-sized publisher and now a huge publisher (in my field which is MBS). So, it's great that you're doing so well, but it could open doors for you too in the long run.

Thanks! That is exactly what I'm hoping for!
I've started to get some contacts with other authors, I have another book signing this Sunday, I've been in a few newspapers and next week I'm going to be on a radio show talking about my book. Hard work now will hopefully lead to something even better, just like it did for you

Do you have any advice for me perhaps? It would be very kind as it's difficult to come up with new ways to put my name out there.

Hi Eastmountain,

Congratulations, yours is the kind of story we love to hear about! If you would like a bit of extra publicity then please put together a press release and send it via the contact form on the main site > http://strugglingauthors.co.uk/contactus.aspx - we promise to help raise your online profile where we can.

We do try to help any and all unpublished and newly published writers wherever we can so don't be afraid - blow that trumpet and we'll get you some followers

RG

Hi RG,

That sounds great I'll get started on it right away

The book I have written is in Swedish as that is my native tongue, however I'm right now in the middle of writing my first book in English in an effort to reach a wider audience. I hope to have this ready for printing and distribution by March 2010.

Ooops I double-posted!

Hey East Mountain
It sounds like you're doing really well already! Everything you are doing will be good practise for when the 'big time' hits. People like guests who are relaxed and easy to talk to. If you feel you have an interesting personal story, another good way to attract publishers' attention is to get it into a 'real story' type of magazine. I did that and then managed to get a regular column out of it. That really helped on my CV as publishers like authors who have a way to get books some plugs in the magazines.

This is an example of the way to get a publisher's attention if you can manage it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... test-.html

I'm currently writing what I hope will be my first big fiction. I'm lucky enough to have two best-selling non-fiction books, with two more to come out yet, but my real love is writing fiction. I love the freedom! So, I may be coming to the forum for advice myself soon.

It's even more difficult now to get in with publishers - even my current one has now started refusing unsolicited material, so I got in just in the nick of time!

The first problem is to get personal contact with an editor, otherwise your manuscript will just end up on the slush pile - to be read by a work experience student - if you're lucky! There is this amazing website: http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com/ which really helps you to find direct contact with a publisher's editor. Do some research on there and you might get lucky!