American Amazon jumps the gun...

30/10/2011

0 Comments

 

American Amazon jumps the gun...

I feel I ought to let everyone know that amazon.com in the United States of America have been very, very naughty. They have ignored my publisher's embargo on releasing Catching the Eagle before 8th December. It is now available to buy in the USA on the Amazon.com website.

http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Eagle-Regency-Reivers-Charlton/dp/1908483032/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319987765&sr=8-1
...
If you live in the states and are interested in buying a copy of the hardback novel for Xmas presents or personal pleasure, then this is your chance to get in there before the Brits.  We got the Harry Potter books before you did - but you can get Catching the Eagle first.   Likewise if you have any American friends or family whom you think may be interested in purchasing a copy then please forward the news.

And please don't forget to leave a review on the Amazon website once you have read it... ;)

I am slightly bemused by all this and have been warned that Amazon.co.uk may follow suit. It is completely out of our control. We just have to go with the flow. Amazon seem to be a law unto themselves.  Nothing changes at the UK end as far as I am concerned - the book launches etc. will commence as planned. I am hoping for a silver lining out of this confusion.   Hopefully, we will get more sales as the next couple of months are the biggest book buying months of the year...  :)
Add Comment
 

The Sweet and Sour price of fame...

29/10/2011

2 Comments

 

The Sweet and Sour Price of fame...

I was really touched earlier this week by the excitement of the librarians in my local community about the forthcoming release of  Catching the Eagle.  I'm still recuperating from minor surgery and was getting a bit of cabin fever, so I decided to bimble into the village and call in at the  library to ask a random question about Public Lending Rights.   The next thing I knew, my details had been taken along with a handful of my promotional postcards. 

Emails must have been flying around the county that afternoon because within 24 hours we had a phone call at the house, asking if I would talk to a readers' group in Skelton in January.  There could be about 35 people present and they intend to sell tickets for the event.  Naturally, I said 'yes' and just asked for my petrol expenses to be covered.  However, as Skelton is the next village along, it is probably bit mean to be asking for even that.  I am acutely aware that the library service the length and breadth of Britain is suffering dramatically under the government cutbacks;  it feels right to try and help them in someway.  

I love libraries and I am quite nostalgic about them.  Mum and Dad used to take us every fortnight to Oakwood Library in Leeds to get an armful of books.  This was a popular family outing, no one seemed to bother back then about a teenage girl helping herself to books from the adult section - even the racy ones. I usually came home with armfuls of historical fiction (especially Jean Plaidy)  and I also remember a series of saucy historical romances about some heroine called 'Marianne' who had quite a thing for pirates.  ;)

On a more sour note this week, I have noticed a new arrival on Catching the Eagle's Amazon book page.  (Yes, I check it daily - the novelty has not worn off yet.  :)  Apart from Amazon, some bookseller in Florida is now also claiming that he has my novel in stock and for a cool £30+ he is offering to sell it.  This of course, is a complete lie.  The book is not available to buy yet (although it can be pre-ordered through Amazon or the Knox Robinson Publishing website) and any poor customer who is taken in by this add is going to be sadly disappointed; they won't get the book before anyone else.

Fortunately, this seller has had a lot of poor feedback and anyone who bothers to check this out before ordering should be warned off. I spent sometime trying to work out how to leave a cross message but yet again was baffled by the technology and backed off.

Beware: there's some wrong un's out there.  :(
2 Comments
 

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED...

26/10/2011

4 Comments

 

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED...

I am absolutely delighted.
Last week we recieved the first pre-publication copy of Catching the Eagle.  I have actually held my novel in my hands and it is a wonderful, wonderful feeling.

The book is longer and slimmer than I imagined and the pages feel lovely and smooth.  Everything about it from the cover to the font looks enticing and professional.  Even my photo on the fly sheet is not too frightening for small children. 

At the moment, we have only the one precious copy and it is sitting up on my bookshelf where I can see it at all times when I am working at my desk.

I cannot put into words how delighted I am - and as soon as I find where the kids have hidden the ruddy camera, I will photograph it and post pictures on here.  :)

P.S. The camera finally turned up - in a safe place.  ;)
Picture
One happy lady with her novel
4 Comments
 

OMG I'm on Amazon...

14/10/2011

3 Comments

 

OMG - I'M ON AMAZON...

It is time to pinch myself again.

Catching the Eagle is now featured on Amazon and available to pre-order.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catching-Eagle-Regency-Reivers-Charlton/dp/1908483032/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318620745&sr=1-1

According to Dana, it will a day or two yet before all the details (like the blurb) are downloaded onto this site - but I'm up there - amongst the real writers.  Catching the Eagle is available for pre-order from Amazon.  If there was one thing which really could  bring home to me how far my dream has come - then this is it.

You may notice that this page has already been 'liked' by one sad little person..........guess who?  (LOL)
3 Comments