Gorgeous cover, Emma.

All this is very exciting. (Plus I've noticed that now you've got an Amazon ranking!)

Ani

Thanks, Roger and Luisa.

Yes, Jim, you're right, I'm not being fair. And her bio is a lot more interesting than most.

Emma

Thanks, Ani. Yes, I like being 'compelling'. And thanks for pointing out the Amazon ranking - though I can see checking it could become a really, really good way of wasting time!

Emma

Well done Emma! I was malingering in my local library today and noticed that the whole front cover of Bookseller magazine displayed the cover of your book. Double well done!

Gosh, Emma, I've been disconnected for the past few days (some internet imp jumbled up this site but only this one) Anyway, it's back now and I saw this. That's fantastic for you. What a wonderful way to start your publishing career! Best of luck with everything (although it doesn't seem as though luck has nothing to do with it)
Ashlinn

<Added>

Next stop, Richard and Judy!

Just re-read the message. Talk about mixing up my negatives. Meant 'although it doesn't seem as though luck has anything to do with it'!

Time Out's cool. I subscribe. Nearly always agree with their reviews.

Cath

Thanks, Sam and Ashlinn. Yes, I was very thrilled about the Bookseller (Headline bought the inside front cover too) but I knew about that in advance, whereas the Time Out mention was a total surprise.

You're right, Cath, Time Out is cool, though I'm still nostalgic for its old agit-prop days.

Emma

Congratulations Emma, from me too. In July, I'll have a glass of champers in your honour and celebrate your book launch. I can't make it to the UK from Sydney for the event but I'll be there in spirit. Enjoy every minute.
I'm looking forward to reading your book.
Best wishes,
Di2

Emma

Just out of interest have Headline discussed their marketing/advertising or PR strategy for TMOL with you? It never ceases to amaze me just how much publishers have to do to sell a book. Advertising space in the Bookseller must be very expensive.

I was very surprised to learn from someone who works in a very reputable small publishing company that booksellers sell the front table in their stores so that publishers can display their top products. This person told me that her firm is not always able to afford the space at the front of shops to allow their authors' books to be seen. Before that I always thought that the books just appeared on the front table. I guess that is really why a larger publisher can make a huge difference. S

Thanks, Di - hope Sydney's sunnier and drier than South East London is this morning.

Shika, no they haven't discussed things with me yet though I gather some sort of meeting is usual, but there's obviously a lot going on behind the scenes, both to get coverage in things like Time Out and reviews nearer the time, and within the trade now it's seen the Bookseller. (I've got to go and have dinner with 'the team from Ottakars' and another with Waterstone's). I'm suddenly having to be not only starving-artist-in-a-garret but also a performing bear. (Not that I mind, I like bears.)

Yes, it's true that publishers pay for store promotions; they even have pay indirectly with huge discounts to be in the 3-for-2s, which is why I try not to succumb to them. And I'm ashamed to say I looked up the Bookseller ad rate card, and was impressed by how much Headline spent.

Emma

Maybe small publishers can't buy space in bookshops, but there is another way of trying to manipulate a buzz - the Amazon piggyback ploy. If WriteWords members want to order Emma's book through Amazon, then the trick is to first order a better book so that Emma's book comes up in the 'People who bought [x] also bought [y]' box, giving her lots of publicity off the back of a better known author.

Not sure what the numbers would be like, I don't know whether there would be enough of us to get her in the top five of the 'people who bought Time Traveller's Wife, also bought this' box, for example - there's some top best-sellers in that one. So perhaps the better plan is to go for a slightly lower selling author? Any suggestions anyone? Emma, what book would you most like to piggy-back?

S

PS There are a couple of other WW members who might also benefit from this strategy this year.

Blimey, Sarah, that's a really neat idea!

And Emma, looking up the page rate in BRAD, or whatever, is a perfectly natural thing for an author do, with her or his 'business' hat on - nothing to do be ashamed of at all. I would do the same, and so would many of us here.

Jim

Sarah, now there's a thought! The book I'm busy avoiding reading at the moment because I know I'm going to love it is Sarah Waters' The Night Watch. Roger, if you're reading this, what's yours?

The alternative in meatspace I suppose is to buy both books in your local independent bookseller, and have a long conversation (pick a quiet Monday morning when they haven't got a rep in, though) about just why they make such a good pair.

Jim, thank you. Mind you, I probably wouldn't have bothered if I'd had to trek to the library to find BRAD, but of course all these things are available on the net these days.

Emma

Thanks, Bege

Emma