Blog Posts for Caroline Rance

Creating mystery

Caroline Rance — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:28:35 -0700

One or two people have described my book as ‘gripping’ or mysterious. I’m not relating this in order to show off but because it’s about time I did a proper blog post about writing, so I thought I’d describe my process of building up tension and mystery.Plot events, however exciting, don’t create much mystery on their own. They need foreshadowing by little clues that encourage the ...

More books go out into the world

Caroline Rance — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:56:51 -0700

Just a couple of pics from my Borders Cheshire Oaks signing on 15 August, because although I don’t want to fill up my blog with me-sitting-gormlessly-in-a-shop photos, it is nice to have a record of each event.Borders was really well geared up for signings – note the smart tablecloth, backdrop and book stands! The staff were friendly and professional and set everything up for me and I was ...

The Modern Writing Day: A Beginner's Guide

Caroline Rance — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:25:58 -0700

Originally posted on my blog at http://writingandallthat.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/the-modern-writing-day-a-beginners-guide/

Review from Farm Lane Books

Caroline Rance — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:01:17 -0700

A good review here from Jackie at Farm Lane Books, who recommends Kill-Grief to “historical fiction fans with a stomach of steel!” There are some great comments from her readers too.I’ve been following this blog for a while and really like it. The reviews are helpful and concise, and there’s a good balance of well-known books and less high-profile ones. An excellent place to find ...

Are book signings worth it?

Caroline Rance — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:55:17 -0700

Some authors and publishers are ambivalent about the value of book signings – or even dead against them. The über-famous know that people will buy the books anyway, so a signing is just a treat for the fans. For others it hardly seems worth sitting awkwardly in a shop for three hours being asked where the latest Jade Goody biography is.For those of us, however, who are counting our sales in ...

Jack of all trades

Caroline Rance — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:16:29 -0700

When I was first doing the submissions/rejections thing, I had an idealistic vision of post-publication life.That is, I thought it would be pretty much the same as before.I would have a book with my name on it, but other than that I'd still be sitting in the same chair, writing another novel at the same computer. The only differences would be that I'd have a valid excuse for doing it, and if I ...

Book signing - this weekend

Caroline Rance — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:59:26 -0700

I will be signing Kill-Grief at Waterstone’s in Chesham, Bucks, this Saturday (18 July) from 11am until 2pm, so if you are in the area and would like to pop in and say hello, I will be delighted to see you. For a map and further details, click here or contact me via my website.I have been doing some publicity for this over the past couple of weeks and it has occurred to me how useful a ...

Heatwave London

Caroline Rance — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:14:55 -0700

I was at the Exclusively Independent event at Fulham library last night, and had a great time meeting the other writers and reading from my book… but blimey, I hope the next event is in the winter. Out here in sedate Great Missenden it has been possible to keep cool by staying indoors or going out in the Jeep with the roof down, but the Tube during the rush hour was quite a different ...

Online Book Promotion for Idiots

Caroline Rance — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:37:16 -0700

With fewer publisher pounds going into publicity these days, authors are increasingly expected to do the bulk of their own book promotion. Fortunately for us, the web provides a wealth of free opportunities. Unfortunately for everyone else, some authors don't realise what will do more harm than good. Here are the instructions for becoming one of those authors...1. Join every book-related forum ...

It's not all it's cracked up to be, dear

Caroline Rance — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:32:31 -0700

You know what really annoyed me when I was going through the submissions/rejections process?Actually, it still annoys me.Published people telling so-called ‘aspiring’ writers that ‘being published won’t sort your whole life out, you know’ or ‘It’s not the be-all and end-all.’It was OK for them to have spent years working towards their goal, coping with the frustrations, getting ...