Tuesday 2 September 2008
A wee bit magic
Ok, so I didn't win the Kelpie's Prize 2008... a nice woman called Sharon Tregenza did. But Floris Books have e-mailed me to say they would still like to publish my 'Chesspiece Magician' and that should happen in the Autumn next year. I will be read, a book sitting on a bookshelf in shops and libraries, and read - albeit in the previous incarnation of being a children's writer. Now if only my fiction could also break into the adult market.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Huzzah! You rule, D. Hope you're celebrating...
Hey, that's wonderful news! DOn't knock the children's market, there's a lotta money to be made there, I believe, as well as the undying love of many children.
Thanks Ms Flood... celebrating every second thought I have.
Thanks, too, Tania - am a teacher of children and already the recipient of much adulation... and have three of my own... and not knocking the market... there was a time when a writer of children's books was all I wanted to be... and it will still be oh so cool... but for three years I have been writing for the adult me and it is my current goal to be read in that market place.
But who knows, maybe this is the door I am meant to go through... and on the other side? We will see.
Thanks
D
As for the money - it is never about that for me... it is about the process and the wonder of reading something that lights me up and does not seem like mine when I read it.
D
Hey, Just thought I'd pop over and say congrats here too.
Nik
Thanks, Nik. Thanks for popping by and thanks for your second round of congrats.
I wrote this book 12 years ago... sent it out there... to only one place... got a warm but not hot reception... and in my naivete thought it mustn't be good enough, so threw it into a drawer. This year my grown up son (21), for whom the book was written, reminded me of it... so I dug it out, gave it a wee polish and subbed to Kelpie... so this IS a wee bit magic having my 'twelve year old' ready to be born again.
Read your interview with Tania... very interesting. Have just read through the stories in her book... loved 'Rainstiffness' and 'North Cold' and 'My Name is Henry'.
Best
D
That's quite some story; is there a lesson about patience/things happening for reasons and/or at the right time, I wonder. When's it due out?
I've not yet got my hands on Tania's book, can't wait to though.
Nik
Nik
every word is truth... Don't know about things happening for reasons... but that they happen is so.
Am waiting for the contract to come through the door, but won't be out until the Autumn 2009... got to meet with the editorial staff in the spring.
I see that you have a children's book out there with some neat reviews... how's that doing? Are you writing another?
If you want to read something more grown up by me then flip to current Storyglossia magazine for 'Sufferin's For Them as Lives With the Loss'... be interested to know what you think.
Best
D
I'll have a look at your grown-up stuff soon.
I think I'm in a similarish boat to you, in that certainly over the past year I've been concentrating on more grown-up stuff; short stories, poems and a wee novel. I'll be getting back to children's stuff before long though, I'm sure.
Best of luck with all the meetings and all! EXciting times...
A 'wee novel' Nik?... What's that then? For grown-ups? How's it going?
Me, I have not written for children for over three years... longer, really... may have to look into this again on the back of this wee bit magic.
Am trying to get a collection of stories together - actually have got that already... and some! Now looking for someone to take it on. And another novel beginning to sprout in my head, germinating... so maybe work will start on that this winter.
Exciting times, indeed.
Thanks for popping by again.
D
Yup, the little novel's definitely for grown-ups. And it feels almost finished, which is good and worrying at the same time.
Good luck with the collection assembly; it seems that they're making a bit of a comeback, which is definitely a Good Thing.
Nik
Nik - Almost finished and a worry? How so? If there's a worry then already you know where to improve it? Or are you just worried about it going out into the world... with all them slings and arrers out there, and your 'wee' book so new and vulnerable?
Best of luck with it.
What will you do with it next? What's it about? Or is that a closely guarded thing? So many questions... hope that's not too intrusive at this early birthing stage.
Best
D
Ha! Well, the worry I'd say, as with all stories of mine at this stage, is: it's finished (great); but is it good enough and interesting (eek!)? You know? I'm not worried about the actual story, or won't be once it's done. I think what I'm feeling are probably responsible nerves.
No, can't tell what it's about yet; you'll have to wait and (hopefully!) see...
As for what's next - I've plenty in mind.
Nik
Ah... the need for others to tell us what we have done is worth something...
Some of the things I have written and that I love the best are not at all valued by anyone else... does that make them something less?
It's a funny old game this writing thingy.
Really, best of luck with finding a home for what you have... and then maybe I'll see.
D
Well, it'd probably be more accurate to say that the craving is for people to say they'd spend their money on what I've created!
Of course not all that we produce needs to be recognised by, or even shown to, anyone else. But when there's a living to be made...!
Thanks for the good wishes. Keep us posted with the developments. I'll be watching keenly.
Nik
Post a Comment