books

I’ve just received the proof copies of my book of short stories called Slightly Twisted. I had these copies produced by Lulu, and intend the final to be produced by IngramSpark, and I’ll therefore be able to compare them for speed of publication, cost, convenience, and so on. I learned about IngramSpark from the crime writers, as they seem to use either Ingram or Smashwords, which is another option. I just used AI to produce a cover image, but will replace it for the final copy. I’ve given one copy to a friend from the critique group, and will proof the other myself before handing it to someone else.

Update June 2025: The book is now finished and available as an ebook. It will soon be available globally as a print-on-demand paperback as well.

I’ve done nothing on the novel or the screenplay as things at home have been too difficult for the last several months. Dad deteriorated and was in and out of hospitals, and we couldn’t get a nursing home place for him, so he came to live with me. Then he wanted to go home, so I went to live with him. His final trip to hospital ended with his death on 13th September. Since then, two friends of mine have also died. So I have not been in a good headspace for serious editing of the novel. I did nothing at all until this month, but decided to put my efforts into selecting some of my existing short stories and making a book of them, even if it ends up only being for me, friends and family. Most of the stories have been published already in online magazines or anthologies. Receiving the proof copies of the book this morning has given me a well-needed lift.

I’ve decided against even trying to get a traditional publisher for the short story book this time, but I’m assured by my crime writer friends and others that having a book self-published won’t prevent me from getting a traditional publisher later. I know some agents won’t look at your work if you’ve had anything self-published, but I’m cooling on the idea of looking for an agent yet anyway, and I already have a self-published book, so one more makes no difference. I just need to get more words down and on the page, and when I have a decent backlist, publishers and agents may be more interested. Anyway, that’s the plan at the moment.

I’ve also joined Jericho Writers to try to get back in the groove, do some of their video courses, and perhaps do some networking, but I’ve done very little with it yet. I’m getting there.

The critique group Create-Write that I’m a founder member of is going well. We have a number of members who are writing novels or short story collections and are either published, submitting for publication, or getting close to that point. Our numbers are capped to allow us to give detailed and worthwhile critiques.

I printed five copies of my draft mystery novel some time ago via Lulu.com, and distributed them to Create-Write members. I found it easier for everyone (and slightly cheaper) to print and distribute the book as a paperback proof copy than to give everyone half a ream of printed A4 sheets. It was also good for me to see it as a book, albeit a draft still in need of plenty of work. Since then I’ve received editing comments, reviews and suggestions from everyone, and have incorporated those into the novel to produce another draft. The next step is to go through this draft (the umpteenth), see if it’s as good as I can get it, and then start submitting to an agent or a publisher, or perhaps self-publish.

I also went to the crime writers group in the city last weekend, to meet up with other writers. It was a small group, but it was good to meet them, and I will go again. Most are self-published, and I will consider going that way too, because even with an agent or publisher, authors still need to do all the marketing and get far less in royalties. At the moment, I’m still hoping for traditional publication, but we’ll see. The first and most important step is to continue polishing to make the book as good as I can get it. I’m itching to get on with the next Ben Lovely mystery novel, and also to return to the black comedy screenplay I’ve finished, which is waiting for me to get back to it.

On a personal note, I’ve been dealing with my 96-year-old father, who has been living independently until now, but who is nearing the end of that independence. He’s done well to live alone for so long and so successfully but he’s ready and even eager to go into a nursing home, and we’re currently going through the endless loops required to get him there. Everything seems so difficult, and it leaves little energy for the other things. But, that’s life.

Lin Edwards

Short Story Book

Progress report