Week beginning 26 April 2023

Publishing

I have begun this week’s blog with a great story about publishing from a Western Australian author, Gordon d’Venables. I referred to his new book, Hunted, last week. Star of the South, which, from what I recall of our discussion in January 2021 in Perth, is rather different from the earlier publications, will be published in 2024.

Writing & Publishing experience in brief

For a couple of years I had an idea circling in my head. I have always enjoyed writers who use words as their vehicle to convey a message. A subtext to the main plot. Understated, but artfully conveyed to the reader. That is what I hoped to achieve with my first book, The Medusa Image.

For me, fashioning those ideas into a book outline is an evolving process. Initially I simply wrote without preparing a format. Most importantly, I knew how I wanted to finish. When an idea flashed into my head, even unrelated to the current draft stage, I committed it to paper. Hunted was more structured. I wrote a lengthy synopsis and would often read it to keep on track.

It is a commonly held view that one must finish a draft before editing. I don’t subscribe to that notion. It’s a matter of preference. I edit each day. When I finish writing for the day I print my work and after a few hours to clear the mind, use the hard copy to hone or strengthen the scene. Before commencing the following day, I make the changes and re-read the work, usually out loud. It’s a slow process but for me it is easier to maintain the flow of the story.

When The Medusa Image manuscript was completed to my satisfaction my wife grabbed the red biro. She did a wonderful job at proofreading and gave excellent editorial advice. I received frank feedback: “What is this paragraph doing in this particular chapter? It’s out of place and doesn’t read well.” “What are you trying to achieve here?” “This sentence doesn’t make sense.” I’m challenged and appreciate that.

After completing another draft I had a trusted friend read the manuscript. Her feedback was also valuable.

I didn’t write The Medusa Image expecting it to be published. I simply wanted my thoughts to be committed to paper for family to read in the fullness of time. After the feedback I received I sent the manuscript to two publishers in England (where the story ended). As instructed, I submitted a synopsis and the first few chapters of the manuscript. The response came thus, “You are invited to submit your full manuscript for further consideration.” It wasn’t a commitment to publish. That came three months later with an apology for the length of time the process had taken. “We receive hundreds of new submissions every month and after considering every book’s literary merit and commercial viability we take a small percentage to the final review stage.”

To my surprise, both publishers offered a contract. My legal background caused me to examine the fine detail of the contracts. I preferred the offer from Pegasus Publishers on the basis I was only required to give them first right of refusal for my next two pieces of work as opposed to the other agreement demanding everything I write.

In the following twelve months I received two sets of proofs with ‘track changes’ activated for my consideration. I was provided with a Publication Guide, asked to submit photographs, complete a questionnaire about my background, and provide my thoughts on a cover design. Pegasus also provided bookmarks and flyers.

Fifteen months after providing the manuscript for consideration the book was released. Promotional information was added to the data base of Nielsen, Gardners, Ingram, Amazon, Legal deposit libraries and others. The Marketing Department sent press releases to national newspapers, radio stations, and magazines, hoping to gain an article or a review.

Acceptance of both Hunted (to be published on 27 April) and Star of the South (to be published early in 2024) only took a few weeks. For Hunted, the preparation for ultimate publication has taken about fifteen months. Editorial feedback from Pegasus has been embarrassingly positive. Good for the ego I suppose.

Gordon d’Venables

Kathy George Estella Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction),  2023.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Fiction, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Estella is yet another novel in which an author takes a secondary, or even the main character, from a classic and weaves a new story. As is so often the case, the female character has previously been posed against a male character who takes centre stage. In Estella, the female character takes that place, and we see her relationships with her adopted mother, a lawyer, the various men who attract her attention, and whose attention she attracts, from her perspective. In addition, Estella has some interests that are hers alone rather than associated with a love interest. At the same time, Estella is a romantic novel, both in its attention to Estella’s romantic interests, its resolution and its depiction of the landscape in which Estella grows to maturity…

…I have some reservations about the novel as, although it is well written, I did not find it exceptionally engaging.  See Books: Reviews for the complete review.

Weekly COVID-19 update as at 1:28pm AEDT, 21 Apr 2023 (from the ACT Report)

236,248 Total cases since March 2020.

581 New cases this week; 128 New PCR cases this week; 453 New RAT cases this week.

38 In hospital; 1 In ICU; 0 Ventilated; 1 Life lost this week.

231 Total lives lost since March 2020

Sadly, ACT Health has been notified of one COVID-19 related death during this reporting period; a man in his 80’s. ACT Health extends its sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Note: for the latest COVID-19 vaccination data in Australia and ACT, visit Department of Health – Vaccination numbers and statistics. View detailed report. Routine reporting provides an overview of the COVID-19 situation in the ACT.

Cindy Lou brunches in Canberra

Trevs at Dickson

Trevs at Dickson has an extensive breakfast /brunch menu, and I was glad to return to this pleasant eating spot on a sunny Canberra morning. The outdoor seating is benches and tables, four at a reasonable distance from each other. This was important as the dogs at three of the tables were far enough away from each other to offer only glances and superior looks as their owners gave them treats (or not). It was sunny so there was no need for heating – and it seems that this will not be offered later on, so it is worth taking advantage of the current pleasant weather to eat out at Trevs.

We chose the $25 option – three choices from seventeen delicious small meals and a small juice. Water is provided, and this and the menus arrived promptly. Each meal was excellent, and certainly the three were quite enough. The photos are probably self-explanatory, but here is the list|: granola, fruit and yoghurt; bocconcini and tomatoes on bruschetta; BELT slider; avocado and dukka; potato pancake with smoked salmon; and a corn fritter.

Bookplate at the National Library of Australia

A marvellous school holiday activity, Make your Own Boardgame, brought me to the National Library. I reviewed a book about making board games, Jesse Terrance Daniels’ Make Your Own Board Game in the blog, 26 May 2021, so was interested in the school holiday workshop. Attendance was impressive with a wide age range. Some parents and grandparents stayed, others ate at Bookplate, and others waited in a comfortable sitting area. According to one participant the presenters were fairly hands off. This fostered independent activities so that the board games that were produced were quite different. The presenters were diligent with handing out materials, fostering even greater creativity. Participants were able to return home with their board game, a dice and figures for playing their game. At the workshop they had notepads, protractors and rulers, a compass, a range of drawing implements -pencils, crayons and textas, and coloured paper.

The website provided access to relevant products so that participants could follow up with further board games.

Bookplate has a good menu, as well as a variety of sandwiches and cakes. The coffee was excellent, and the service pleasant and efficient. There is indoor and outdoor seating, both of which have special features. The Leonard French panels in Bookplate are wonderful, and outside Lake Burley Griffin makes a colourful panorama with the High Court of Australia and National Gallery of Australia in the distance.

President Joe Biden announces that he will run again

Announced on Morning Joe Tuesday morning with a video. It is worthwhile watching: the diversity is uplifting; Vice President, Kamala Harris, has a prominent role: and important themes are the fight for democracy, liberties and rights. He said “Let’s Finish The Job”.