Shipping disappointments

Has something gone awry in the courier world?

We have accounts with Lighting Source for our imprints Bridge House, Chapeltown and The Red Telephone. We offer our authors a discount of 25% on our recommended retail price (RRP) and free shipping on orders of five or more books. If the author can’t get free shipping, shipping costs on fewer than five books will push the price over the RRP. At this point the author is better off ordering from Amazon. We can offer this free shipping if we can use the economy offer though sometimes, especially for orders abroad, the tracked shipping is just as cheap and we still make a small profit so can still offer a small royalty. Generally, the orders using the economy untracked shipping have arrived within a few days, taking only a little longer than tracked system. We have been trading since 2008 without any problems.   

Not so this time, however:

·         One order to the Republic of Ireland never arrived at all

·         Another order to the Republic of Ireland was badly damaged

·         The re-order for the above has still not been delivered.

·         We are out of pocket as we have replaced these two orders

·         All other customers have reported exceptionally slow delivery

In addition, I am waiting for a delivery from an Amazon seller. Okay, so the delivery should be between 12 January and 2 February, but more often than not in the past the parcels have arrived sooner rather than later and often earlier that the date stated. I really could do with that book!

Yes, and a few months back a computer we ordered for our son never arrived.

What is going on?

Is it to do with the recent floods? Was there a mini-boom at Christmas and there was the backlog like the ones we used to have in the “good” old days? Are there redundancies and disillusionment in the courier world?  

It’s a serious issue for us and we may have to reconsider how we operate unless someone can reassure us that this is only a blip.                

2015-2016 Janus Report

The Red Telephone

We’re very pleased this year to have published Alex Dunn’s The Demon Magician. This is an exciting paranormal romance where the said magician has dodgy dealings with the underworld. At the same time it’s the story of an ordinary girl who finds the strength of character to take on the magician and his demons. I really enjoyed editing this. Cathy Dunn (Alex is her pseudonym) is really easy to work with.

We’re not open to submissions again until October 2016. We’re concentrating on current titles until then. Do have a look at what we publish if you’re interested in writing for us:

Calling for Angels

XY

DreamGirl

The Demon Magician

The Prophecy

Babel

The Tower

We’re basically YA though may be venturing into New Adult soon.

Also in September 2016 we’re starting our new mentoring scheme / online course for people who wish to write for young adults. Though we can’t guarantee publication, we’ll take a good look at any full script produced by anyone who has taken the full course. We have two more free places to give away. Find out more here.

Bridge House

We were very pleased with our latest anthology, Snowflakes. It’s selling steadily and has some nice reviews. We’re rather proud of our video, too. Watch it here.

We met up with some of the authors, some CaféLit authors and some of those selected for the Shelagh Delaney collection. It’s always good to meet in person.

Next up is putting together the Shelagh Delaney Collection. We’re hoping this may become an annual event. We’ve identified a couple of people who might look after further adult collections and I personally would work with schools. I did after all have a former existence as a school teacher. We hope to have the current collection out by the end of January.

Also today we’re launching our appeal for submission to the 2016 collection, Baubles. Short, snappy, sparkly stories that brighten up the darker nights like baubles enhance the Christmas tree. We’re not talking about things that give you a good belly laugh nor anything that is overly sentimental. Feel good is fine, yes, but just a light touch. You’ll know it when you think of it. Full submission details are here. Note, the celebration event on 3 December. It may or may not be London this time.

CafeLit

The Best of CaféLit 4 is a slim volume but very enjoyable. The Creative Café Project continues to grow. CaféLit as ever is open to submissions. I’m currently working on The Best of CaféLit 5.

It looks like being a productive year.          

                         

And the winner is ....

Everything Is Seen At It's Best In The Dark

 by Neil Campbell 

What  Charlotte Delaney said about all of the short-listed entries:

"There was such a terrific array of characters, settings, styles and tales.  It wasn't easy and I tip my hat to anybody who manages to convey so much in so few words, which is what all of the submissions achieved."

An about the winning entry: 

"Why I chose Everything Is Seen At It's Best In The Dark:

I particularly liked the way a brief moment in time is coupled with enough information about the past to tell the tale of a tragedy and its effects on those concerned.  Particularly Sue.  The description of her regular walk and her regular route, through very ordinary surroundings, is vivid in its simplicity and heartbreaking against the backdrop of grief and loss.  The language is uncluttered and used to great effect.  I am always interested in the aftermath of an event, how people cope, how they don't cope.  This particular story flicked that switch beautifully.

Charlotte Delaney"

Pre-order the Shelagh Delaney Short Story Collection

Would you like to know more about these stories? Would you like to read the book? You may pre-order your copy  here. 

We're not sure of the title yet, nor the cover, but they're going to be good!

Order your copy now!

But, if you're one of our authors, hold you horses. You'll be offered a generous author discount.  

 

Pip, pip, Shelagh Delaney Day Competition Short List Out

In alphabetical order:

A hui hou kakou 

Buried Voices 

Donut 

Everything is Seen at its Best in the Dark 

Fresh out of the Pond  

The Salford Manifesto

The Rain of Salford  

Three in Four Out 

Woot! Woot! 

In one hour's time, we'll announce the winner. 

Shortly after that, we'll reveal the authors.   

 

All in a Day’s Work

We’re putting the final touches to the Snowflakes anthology.

End tasks

Sign off tasks include final proof reads, designing the cover, designing the layout of the book, registering it with Nielsens and uploading it to the printer. There’s always a few anxious moments as we wait for the physical proof. Will we have overlooked something obvious? Once we had no page numbers and another time we had the right cover with somebody else’s book inside. Fortunately the latter was only in one copy of the book but a little nerve-wracking as it was the first one we sold at the launch. Will it be ready in time?

Marketing tasks

Then there’s first marketing steps. We’ve organised the launch / celebration party. Will enough people come? Or will more people want to come than we’ve got space for? It’s always a delicate balance. It’s currently only open to Snowflakes and  CafeLit 4 authors. I’ll be opening it later to the long-listed writers in the Shelagh Delaney competition and then other Bridge House / CafeLit authors. Thereafter, other interested parties.        

Later today I’ll be sending out the front cover so that the authors can use it in their own marketing efforts. Will they like it? It’s probably impossible to satisfy everyone. See the preview here.     

  

I’m also working on the book trailer. It’s almost ready. What have I forgotten? Will they like it?

Then I’ll be lining up authors for the blog and setting up a Facebook page. It’s all go.  

Getting ready for the next one

Yes, very soon the process begins again. No doubt we’ll be discussing next year’s theme in a few weeks’ time.