You will know from my previous update that the lockdown has had an impact on getting Dolly Considine’s Hotel onto bookshelves. But Unbound’s Editorial Desk has been in touch (today) to tell me they can now appoint an editor, and work will start shortly on the design for the book cover.

“Wow.” My own editor, appointed by the Editorial Desk. I don’t want to get gushy but just typing “Editorial Desk” gives me such good feelings. I refuse to describe those feelings as “awesome,” or “confidence boosting,” or “affirming,” because they are so inadequate for describing how pleased I am, and maybe a bit too new-agey for my curmudgeonly taste. Nonetheless, I can’t help being excited, delighted, thrilled, ecstatic, exuberant, and jubilant, at being able to share this news with you.

I took advantage of the delay caused by the lockdown to read the entire 140k words aloud to try and locate bits that sounded wrong or confused. I found lots. I changed hundreds of sentences, and hopefully made them more readable, more meaningful, and more enjoyable. It was quite a task, and the lockdown helped, at least some of the time.

What now Mr Somers? Manage expectations, maximise profile?

I subscribe to a Facebook page for Unbound authors. I get advice, encouragement when I am feeling down, and sometimes we even come together for a drink; virtually in recent times. Amy Lord has a blog and has written about her experiences in the year following the publication of her novel “The Disappeared.” It reads like a guidebook for my activities over the next year and beyond: Readings, interviews, publicity opportunities, early reviews, lining up of bookshops, planning the big launch party; are all on the menu.  A whole new career. Please help!

http://www.tenpennydreams.com/2020/05/02/things-ive-learned-in-my-first-year-as-a-published-author/

Dolly is 101% funded, but the web page is still alive and accepting advance sales, which, if made now, will mean pledgers get their names included in the list of lovely supporters.

If you have any ideas for the design of the book cover, please let me know. If/when Unbound issues options for the cover, I will invite supporters to vote for their favourite. And if you can help with “raising my profile” or help to get attention for Dolly, then I would love to hear from you. Actually, I’d love to hear from you anyway.

Eamon