Invisible on Thursdays by Peppy Barlow

 

How we came to publish this one

We were privileged to be asked to run the Waterloo Festival Wring Competition 2018 . We put out a call for short stories and pieces of creative non-fiction and we had a pleasing number of very good entries, making it quite difficult to pick the winners.   

The title

This was the theme for the festival so the title was really there before we began. 

Some notes about the process

Two of us judged the entries. We allotted each piece points for story / structure, quality of the writing, how well the piece corresponded to the theme and professionalism. When we had selected the stories. They went through one or two edits. There is usually little need for a structural edit on stories selected this way. They have already been selected for their good story and / or structure. Often the copy edit and first proof read blends into one.

The cover

We asked contributors to find pictures on pixabay that evoked the theme for them.  We then shortlisted the ones that would work technically and commercially and contributors were invited to vote for their favourite.  

Some notes about style

There is quite a literary voice in most of them They are otherwise very varied in their style.

Who we think the reader is

The readers will include friends, family, fans and follows of the individual writers and of the festival. There will also be some of our own loyal readers. Does the fact that this was part of the Waterloo Festival attract a few other readers?

What else

Two more e-books were published in connection with the festivals in 2019 and 2020. In 2020 all three collections were also published in one volume as a paperback.   

Review copies

It’s always great if you can buy the book and give us a review. Just click on the link to be taken to Amazon. If you would like to review and you are strapped for cash, just get in touch for a free PDF or Kindle file.         

 

 

For alternative ways to buy, click here. 

To Be … To become

How we came to publish this one

We were privileged to be asked to run the Waterloo Festival Wring Competition 2018 . We put out a call for short stories and pieces of creative non-fiction and we had a pleasing number of very good entries, making it quite difficult to pick the winners.    

The title

This was the theme for the festival so the title was really there before we began.  

Some notes about the process

Two of us judged the entries. We allotted each piece points for story / structure, quality of the writing, how well the piece corresponded to the theme and professionalism. When we had selected the stories. They went through one or two edits. There is usually little need for a structural edit on stories selected this way. They have already been selected for their good story and / or structure. Often the copy edit and first proof read blends into one.

The cover

We asked contributors to find pictures on pixabay that evoked the theme for them.  We then shortlisted the ones that would work technically and commercially and contributors were invited to vote for their favourite.   

Some notes about style

There is quite a literary voice in most of them They are otherwise very varied in their style.

Who we think the reader is

The readers will include friends, family, fans and follows of the individual writers and of the festival. There will also be some of our own loyal readers. Does the fact that this was part of the Waterloo Festival attract a few other readers?

What else

Two more e-books were published in connection with the festivals in 2019 and 2020. In 2020 all three collections were also published in one volume as a paperback.    

Review copies

It’s always great if you can buy the book and give us a review. Just click on the link to be taken to Amazon. If you would like to review and you are strapped for cash, just get in touch for a free PDF or Kindle file.         

 

Where the Wild Birds Shriek by Christian Lea

How we came to publish this one

I first met the author Christian Lea when he was one of my students at the University of Salford. I always like his writing. He has quite a literary style. He won a competition amongst the undergrads. The prize was mentorship with The Red Telephone, our imprint that publishes young adult texts.                      

The title

The title changed a couple of time but Where Wild Birds Shriek was the original title and we eventually settled back on that.

Some notes about the process

We went through the normal three stages of editing. Christian was easy to work with; he knew quite a bit about the process as he works for a publisher.     

The cover

Christian designed the cover himself. Authors frequently don’t understand everything involved in cover design. However Christian was different. A comment from our designer: “This guy was really easy to work with. He has a good grasp of all of the issues.   

Some notes about style

There is quite a literary style in this. The author makes good use of the senses. There is also a pleasing narrative balance of dialogue, action and inner monologue.      

Who we think the reader is

The story features young people in their early twenties. Relationships are to a large extent dysfunctional. This will appeal to the new adults   

What else

There is a map at the front of the book which shows us more about the setting. Christina designed this himself.

Review copies

It’s always great if you can buy the book and give us a review. Just click on the link to be taken to Amazon. If you would like to review and you are strapped for cash, just get in touch for a free PDF or Kindle file.