Cold War Books – an Editor in Frankfurt
Cold War books abound What are your favourite Cold War books? You probably think about John le Carré. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold. Smiley's People. Long raincoats and murky [...]
In Want of a Dictionary – Samuel’s Struggles
Editor in want of a dictionary A good editor possessed of a copy-editing job must be in want of a dictionary. Today this dictionary will be Oxford, Chambers or, perhaps, [...]
Steer Clear of Vanity Publishers
Vanity publishers Watch out for vanity publishers. Here follows an all-too familiar tale. The rejected actor Rodney, a resting actor, has turned his hand to writing. Rodney’s career on the [...]
Freelance Careers – Then and Now
Freelance Careers Then Back in the day, freelance careers were limited. A freelance or freelancer was a mercenary soldier. He sold his services to any nobleman or monarch who would [...]
Chaucer, and the Copy-editor’s Tale
A Canterbury tale In Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales there gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark a motley and diverse crew of storytellers. The knight, the squire, the clerk, the priest, the [...]
The Light Bulb and the Business Plan
The Business Plan Most businesses, whether publishing or air fresheners, start with a business plan. Ours didn’t. We began what is now Chapterhouse because we had run out of work and [...]
The Bestseller Code
Write a Bestseller Are you driven by the desire for fame? Or do you want to get rich by writing? Perhaps you have read books about how to write a [...]
Money, Money, Money – Get Rich Quick!
Money for Books Can I quit my job and make a living from writing? I've always loved books. I’m sure I’ve got a book in me. When I have time [...]
Lie With Me – Sabine Durrant
Rating: 5 stars I picked up Sabine Durrant’s Lie With Me in Marylebone station, because I wanted something to read on a long train journey. It was late, and I figured I would [...]
LETTER TO PUBLISHER
Dear Daniel, When we met at the London Book Fair, a couple of years back now, you kindly said over that warm Chardonnay so generously provided by Slavering Wretch Press [...]