Tag Archives: Publishing a novel

Half Way Through 2026 ~ Where am I now in my plans, hopes and dreams?

We have just passed the longest day and now is a time when we experience light for about 19 hours in Scotland, dependent on the weather. Here’s a general catch up in what I’m doing:

WIP

My current work in progress is complete (HOORAY!), has undergone proof-reading, editing for content, authenticity and copy. It has one more hoop to go through before publication, a cover designed and a date to set, probably in late autumn. I will not reveal the title as yet, only to share that it is the final book in my ‘Mystery Inspired by History series’ and, although stand-alone, the sequel to MISSING Past and Present.

MEANWHILE ADVENTURES…

Roger and I decided that 2026 would be a year of mini adventures, with old friends and new. Having moved to Fife ten years ago (11 year with a break of a year in between) we left special people down in Bedfordshire, but they were not forgotten. So far this year we have visited the Lake District, Gairloch, The Chelsea Flower Show, Arran and the Wirrel. With other adventures still to come, we are overwhelmed by the love and affection we feel with those we have shared these precious moments. It is heart-warming, albeit exhausting. I aim to share some of these trips with you on this blog in the coming weeks, as I await news of the publication of new novel.

FUTURE WRITING PLANS

I have one final book I would dearly like to write before I review the future, and that is the third book in my ‘Riduna Series’. I have begun the serious research for this novel, difficult to do so far away in Fife from the South Coast and the Channel Islands. Nevertheless I’ve made a start. Thus I will write more about these trips in due course. Apart from rough notes of events in history I would like to include, a reread of book two and a draft of the first chapter, this is very early days.

A BIG THANK YOU

A big thank you to those of you who have followed my writing journey from the outset and those new readers and casual visitors along the way. I would not have continued in good faith without you!

Photo by u0158aj Vaishnaw on Pexels.com

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Inspiration, MISSING Past and Present, Mystery inspired by history series, Publishing your novel, Research

What Music has Shaped your Life? (1) ~ Messages to Authors and Musicians Alike

Last weekend The Times had an article about The Zombies:

“This will be their (60th) year”

A St Albans band, where I grew up, It is with fondness that I remember watching them back in their day, at the Civic Centre. Great band. The article goes on to ask whether they were an unlucky band, because they disbanded months before their album “Odyssey and Oracle” became a hit.

This will be our year’ was almost prophetic!

I was struck by a thought that their process of producing the record was equivalent to self publishing books, in that they made all the decisions about the album without produces or agents.

I’m not sure whether my favourite Zombies track is Time of the Season or She’s not there. Both iconic tracks.

Rod Argent went on to form ‘Argent’, another band from St Albans, and I vividly remember dancing to God Gave Rock and Roll to you and Hold Your Head up Woman‘ yet again at St Albans Civic. Both tunes, especially the latter, still send shivers down my spine. My faith and my belief in keeping my head held high in times of adversity, still resonate today.

‘This will be our Year’ and ‘Hold Your Head up’ are certainly anthems pertinent to authors today, too.

Keep believing!

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Inspiration, Publishing your novel

The Journey into Publishing Part 2 ~The Mission Statement of Eventispress

Once you have made the decision to set up your own publishing company you need to make some fundamental decisions:

1. The name of the company. I found the name ‘Eventis’ when browsing through an obscure book of Roman and Greek Deity. I cannot find reference to it on the internet but the book just listed it as a Goddess of opportunity and news. It suited my needs, continuing in my Roman theme for titles, which I will write about in another blog. I really wished I had written down the name of the book now but at the time I was waiting to have a meeting with Mike Buchannan, a man who has set up his own company, in a small library north of Bedford and put the book down just as he arrived.

a.  Carry out a search to see if anyone else is using it

b. Register the name as company (through Company house or other if in another country)

c. Claim your websites. I claimed http://www.eventispress.co.uk and http://www.eventispress.com

2. The Logo. I chose an obscure font for the logo called Marquisette Bin Lined rather than a picture or symbol.

3. Your Vision. For this you need to answer a few questions:

a.What the ethics of your company?

b.What are you striving to achieve and for whom?

c.What is your ultimate motivation? – Seeing your book in print? – Making money? – Finding a readership who appreciates your writing? – Finding like minded writers? – being more in control? – an awareness of environmental issues?……..

d. Are you only going to publish your own books?

e. If the answer to (d) is ‘no’ then who else might you be willing to publish and under what terms.

f. Are you going to publish e books only?

g. If the answer to (f) is ‘no’ then are you going to just go with POD (Print on Demand) or have a print run

h. Are your target audience more likely to buy paperbacks or hardbacks?

i. If you decide on ‘paperbacks’ who is going to sell it? This subject will be a blog in itself but you may decide to keep costs down and have a website in order to send out the books yourself. This has advantages and disadvantages.

j. How do you intend to market the books?

k. Do you hope to get your books into bookshops?

4. Website Have a company website designed. Ours is still in progress although there is a holding page which explains what the company stands for and how to contact. www.eventispress.co.uk

I am sure I could write one hundred questions and there would still be more. If you find this all a bit daunting then I suggest you look back at Part 1 of this series of blogs and find a company who will do all this for you. Taking this step is not for the feint hearted, I can assure you!

And so what is our vision or the mission statement for ‘Eventispress’?

“Eventispress aims to work with experienced people in order to publish professionally produced quality books in paperback, as e books and in some cases in hardback. Once established, the aim is to publish work of local people initially, working more in the form of a cooperative, where the author takes an active part in the experience. Eventispress sells books both on the internet and through bookshops.”

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Filed under Book Shops, Libraries, Publishing your novel, Writing a novel