Hello lovely supporters and a belated very Happy New Year! The turn of the year started brilliantly for me as in early January (while on a much needed extended break) I discovered that Bone Lines had become a number 1 bestseller in two of its categories on Amazon! This came after the book made ‘my best reads of 2018’ listings in three book-blogger roundups, including among the ‘best thought-provoking reads.’
Facebook bookclubs have figured strongly recently, too, as I had the honour of being Author of the Week on the lovely Fiction Café Book Club and then I entered this gorgeous pic of my friend’s little Westie, Flake, into a ‘Pets Reading Books’ photo competition at First Edition (the bookclub for The Times newspaper) and he won!
So after the Amazon chart-topping, what’s ‘rocking’ up next?
As you may know I do love an event or two and I have set up a series of appearances with other authors I very much admire, which includes the brilliant sold-out evening I have just enjoyed at Max Minerva’s independent bookshop in Bristol. This was an event exploring alternative approaches to historical fiction with fellow Unbounders Alice Jolly and Robert Woodshaw.
Coming up in March I am one of four female Unbound authors (Alice again, Miranda Gold and Sarah K Marr) presenting: Past Tense, Present Fiction – an event exploring the unsung roles and lost voices of women for Women’s History Month at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 23rd March at 11.25am.
After that I’ll be the ‘support act’ if you like, along with Robert Woodshaw again, to the venerable author Lindsay Clarke (an honour I could not have contemplated just a couple of years ago) in a series of yet-to-be-confirmed bookshop dates in the south-west of England. The theme for these events is Myth, Memory and Imagination. (see the promo graphic below.)
I’m also currently running a signed copy giveaway for sign ups to my mailing list on www.stephaniebretherton.com by April 10th, in case that’s of interest?
And so, what about the writing?
Well, as I‘ve had a few enquiries from readers about when they can expect Book 2 in the Children of Sarah series, I must crack on with that... and so please watch out in due course for the new campaign for that! (There’s also a new ‘trailer’ style video for Bone Lines on my Unbound page to replace the old ‘funding’ one and to reflect all the great comments, reviews and bestseller news.)
However, I also heard an extraordinary and very moving story over Christmas dinner which I’ve been given permission to develop as a fictionalised account, so I will also begin the research for that. It’s a family drama rooted in wartime, and could take some time to pull together, but it’s a really exciting prospect.
A little liking goes a long way...
Lastly, please don't forget, if you have read Bone Lines it really helps authors to get both reviews and 'likes’ for the best reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. And even if you haven't read it yet, it's really helpful on goodreads to get a 'Want to Read' click – or, if you see some nice positive reviews that you agree with, or which would make you want to read the book (especially those already at the top of the pile) then 'liking' these makes them become even more visible, particularly on search engine previews. This also helps to balance out those who love to click on negative reviews, even when they haven’t read the book, which sadly seems to be a ‘thing.’ But, hey, let’s keeping looking on the positive side...
Thanks, as ever, for all your amazing support.
Very best
Stephanie