FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP ON THE JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION.
Anonyous
One friend who has been of tremendous help is a non-fiction writer who wishes to remain annonymous. He created the cover for Witch Bay from a photo I purchased. I based my fictional village on Llangrannog, a place I visited often as a child. This is a view of the north beach.
He also took The Land of My Fathers, redid the cover using my own phtograph, and I republished the book. The photograph is one I took of Drefach, Velindre, a village about a mile away from where I grew up.
Steven W. Johnson
Steve and I ended up on the same on-line community and it didn't take me long to learn we shared the same diabolical sense of humour. On a site dealing with the serious issues surrounding writing and marketing, I think the odd touch of zany wit made the place seem friendlier and less bewildering to new members.
Steve is an expert on many self-publishing issues. He made the cover for The Agency from a photo I took of a mock-up agreement draped across my keyboard. I scanned it, sent it to him, and he did the rest.
Steve’s Tubby Wexler stories are hilarious and well worth a read. Steve's touches of humour in Not Much of a Crime make it a very enjoyable and unusual novel.
See Steve's fiction and non-fiction books here: http://www.stevenwjohnson.com/bookstore/index.php
Sheila Deeth
When I first published The Last Druid, I realised I needed a specific reviewer who was familiar with the period when Britain was Roman-occupied. I searched for books written around the same time period and came across Sheila. Her novel Black Widow is the story of Nimue, Boudicca's sister. We swapped books and she did a wonderful review that shows she is well versed in the myths and legends surrounding the druids.
Sheila is a prolific writer and you'll find her books here: http://www.amazon.com/Sheila-Deeth/e/B002CAU8VM
Sharon Dwyer
I met Sharon on line and we exchanged books. She did an excellent review of The Agency. I read and reviewed her novel Dirt, but circumstances meant I didn't get to post it to her or post it on line. I will be doing so in the next few days.
Dirt went on to become a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. I'm not surprised. A YA book, it would appeal equally to adults.
You can meet Sharon here: http://www.sldwyer.com/index/
J. T. Fleming
I met John on an on-line community. He posted a sample of one of his books which I read and enjoyed. I learned we were both interested in history, although our historical research is literally oceans apart, and I consider him a friend. He helped me when I was setting up this website, and for that I am grateful.
I have John's Tracks of Pidgeon-toed Horse on my next-to-read list. It sounds fascinating –history involving mystery. Right up my alley.
Check out his other books at: http://jtflemingbooks.wordpress.com
Emma Meade
I came across Emma on Goodreads. She was offering her services as an editor and I decided to try her out. I thought I was a good writer but Emma showed me the many places where I'd fouled up.
If you are looking for a superb editor or proofreader, I can recommend Emma. She is first class.
A writer herself, she works with both UK and US English. Check her out here: http://giftofthegabediting.wordpress.com
