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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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Writing for publication: It’s all a bed of roses?

8/6/2015

16 Comments

 
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Writing last week from the hospital bedside of her dear friend, Charli Mills invited Rough Writers to compose a 99-word story featuring a rose. I immediately thought of a scene from my forthcoming novel, Sugar and Snails, in which the main character, Diana, looks back on her childhood. There’s not much of a narrative arc in this episode, but I thought I’d share it anyway, slightly amended, although it works better in context where it gains an additional layer of meaning:

“Don’t think it’s all a bed of roses,” said my mother, handing me the potato peeler and nudging me towards the sink.

Since my sister had left home, I’d taken to helping out with cooking and cleaning. I didn’t mind, but I was embarrassed that my mother would think I was hankering after a future as a housewife. It seemed to me that a bed of roses summed up my mother’s life exactly: perfumed petals imprisoned within a tangle of thorns. I wanted to ramble beyond the pot of soil in which she’d planted me. I wanted to bloom.

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Then I got to thinking, a prickly rose would make a good symbol for my character and, if I didn’t already have such a gorgeous cover, and if it hadn’t been done so much before, a rose among thorns might have done the trick. Diana wants to be a rose but she thinks she has to excise all her thorns to become one. Painful as the process is, she still doesn’t manage to remove them all. Sadly, until she can recognise the flower she’s always been, her remaining thorns hold back the very people who might be able to help.

I suppose much of life is like a bed of roses; if we’re lucky, if we’re nurtured, we’ll blossom so vibrantly we’ll hardly notice the thorns. In the slice of life that is the publication journey, however, the thorns are so dense it can be hard to believe those tiny buds will ever break through to the light. Even with a thick pair of gloves to hack back the thicket, we’ll get scratched in the process of bringing our darlings into the world.

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But, with just over six weeks to publication day, I’m at a very good point in that journey at the moment. Of course, I’m nervous that my roses won’t smell sweetly as I’d like them to, the petals won’t be as silky as they ought. But they’re genuine blooms and, most importantly, much bigger than the thorns.

So enough with stretching metaphors; let me give you a quick update on what’s been happening since the cover reveal seven weeks ago. The text has been proofread and formatted, and advance copies sent out to early reviewers and potential endorsers (the results of which I’m hoping to be able to make public soon). Mr A has read it for the first time and found it “not a chore to read” (high praise from him and, to be fair, it’s not his genre, but I don’t think we’ll be using his feedback as part of the promotional guff, even though he reported feeling rather emotional at the end). I’ve read it for the nth time and generated a lengthy list of minor changes (mostly word substitutions) that will improve the flow. (Interestingly, although it’s a serious book on a serious subject, it’s not without humour, and I’ve found it funnier each time I come back to it.) I think we’re on track for the e-book version to be available for preorder early next month.

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Meanwhile, we’re sampling wine for the launch parties – sounds idyllic, but we’re not big drinkers in this household, and we’re going for boxes, being both more economical and easier than bottles to transport to the venues – and (excited about meeting up with old friends and with new ones from the blogosphere) trying to keep track of who’s confirmed they’re going to come. There’s been a brilliant response to my request for bloggers to host guest posts and I’ve had the pleasure of completing my first author Q&A. I’ve also got three events booked so far in local libraries during August and my publisher is organising bookshop signings as well. It feels rather frantic at times keeping on top of it, but mostly it’s great fun and I’m so pleased it’s happening.

Any other suggestions as to where I ought to be at this stage are most welcome. Thanks, as always, for your feedback and support.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
16 Comments
Tracey Scott-Townsend link
8/6/2015 04:47:13 am

Mr A's comment about your book made me laugh, Anne. 'Mr T' was halfway through reading my latest, Another Rebecca, but I could tell it was a slight chore for him. However he's racing through my next novel The Eliza Doll, and actually enjoying it! So I'm really happy that it's a smooth read. Sounds to me like you're doing everything right with Sugar and Snails!Can't wat for the launch :)

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:39:53 am

I wonder what's the difference between the two novels so that he struggled with one but not the other (apart from the fact that they're are entirely different stories, of course). Thanks for your support and see you at the launch!

Reply
Charli Mills
8/6/2015 05:39:46 pm

I think the metaphors flexed well in this post! I also think that your character is a prickly rose I look forward to reading. Wow -- six weeks! And wine! Exciting times! Love this line: "perfumed petals imprisoned within a tangle of thorns." And your photographed darlings are as beautiful as your written ones.

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:43:12 am

I'm certainly hoping people will see past Diana's prickles when they come to read the novel, as well as come to understand why they're there. Thanks so much for your support, Charli. I think actually my roses are somewhat wind damaged but they struggle on, despite a regime of neglect!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
8/6/2015 06:29:38 pm

Congratulations on all this wonderful progress, sharing your blooms with the world. I love the passage you have taken from your book and the need for Diana to ramble beyond the pot in which she had been planted, a need to bloom. I'm pleased I wrote my ff before reading this as I feel she has much in common with Marnie. I am waiting anxiously for your book to be published and wish I could be there in person at your launches. How very exciting. As soon as the ebook pre-orders are open, I'll be in! Will it have the same cover I wonder?
I love that you enjoy the humour in your book, and more each time you read it. That's a good sign. I think the further we are from the composition, the more we can appreciate its true value. And getting Mr A to take an interest and read. My my! But how wonderful to have that affirmation for your passion and activity.
I'm so looking forward to reading Diana's story and learning how she manages to remove the thorns and let her flower bloom. :)

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:51:10 am

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I too wish you could be with us at the party. in this case, because the publisher is fairly low budget, the paperback and e-book will have the same cover, but why would I want anything different, hard to imagine any design could beat the one I've got.
Interesting you see the connection with Marnie, and I wonder if that will still be so when you read the novel. No helpful schoolteacher for my character, unfortunately, but she does have a very nice GP (a small part, but Mr A's favourite character).
Aside from not much liking my style of writing, Mr A has been a tremendous support through the ups and downs of the process, including acting as a sounding board for ongoing plot problems. Having got used to the differences between us, I did find it gratifying that he actually liked this novel. I'm sure he'd be supportive anyway when the negative reviews come in, but knowing he'll disagree with them (presumably) will make it even easier.

Reply
Lori Schafer link
8/6/2015 09:34:01 pm

Counting down the days for you, Anne! So exciting! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:53:28 am

Thanks, Lori, so glad of your support and I'll always appreciate that spoof cover you made for me with the snails sliding across the sugar.

Reply
irene waters link
9/6/2015 12:32:22 am

Loved the passage from your book and look forward to reading it when it is available as an ebook. Like Norah it would be lovely to be able to attend the launch but will have to suffice with congratulating you long distance.

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:55:52 am

Thanks, Irene, glad it worked for you. Having had so much international support in the blogosphere over the last couple of years, it'll be quite strange to have such an important event without you all being able to be there. I'll have to make sure there are photos to share!

Reply
Kate
9/6/2015 12:57:24 am

It's great to read your progress through to publication. I'm excited for you, looking forward to reading your novel & meeting you at the Northern launch!

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:56:48 am

Thanks, Kate, looking forward to meeting you too.

Reply
Clare O'Dea link
9/6/2015 01:41:24 am

Wonderful to read about your progress Anne and to see the novel cross all the hurdles before our eyes. Will send you a message separately about a guest post.

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 11:57:54 am

Thanks, Clare, would really appreciate having a piece on your lovely blog as part of the process.

Reply
geoff link
9/6/2015 02:05:42 am

Phew, getting to the wire, eh? Squeaky bum time as someone said (probably inappropriate,,, soz). This is such an exciting moment, this anticipation. I'm going to pick your brain clean of what you did in terms of this launch so I can replicate it. No point both of us going through all this pain if I can piggyback, eh?
The flash/extract works very well. As a taster it's very subtle and as a stand alone piece very intriguing.
And I'm looking forward to the launch, even if the wine can be supped by others.

Reply
Annecdotist
9/6/2015 12:01:30 pm

Thanks, Geoff, glad you can come. Not sure I'll be on the wine, either, I'll be drunk enough without it.
I intend to post on the launch before or after (or both) so very happy for you to pick my brains, and happy at the prospect of cheering you on at your own event.

Reply



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