Saturday 8 May 2010

Waterstones Chart

The dye is cast... ROAD CLOSED goes into production tomorrow!
Nearly time to post a sneak preview here...? What do you think?

I was very pleased this week when a fan emailed me a photo she took in Waterstones in Harrow, with my own debut thriller CUT SHORT displayed at number 3 on their bestsellers chart. You can see it here on the third shelf down (click on the image to see it enlarged).

CUT SHORT has been selling so fast that my publisher reprinted twice in six months, and a third reprint is scheduled this year. That makes four print runs in a year - not too shabby for a new author. As if that's not enough excitement for one author, ROAD CLOSED, the second in my series, has gone into production for publication this June. The B format books look fantastic. Here is the new cover for CUT SHORT and the cover for ROAD CLOSED. You may notice the quantity of blood growing. Some of my fans have joked that the cover of the next in the series, DEAD END, will be all blood...


Personally, I'm happy if my name is slightly larger on each cover. That's when you know you've 'arrived' as an author, when your name alone can be relied on to sell books.

28 comments:

Emily Cross said...

Congratulations!!

Leigh Russell said...

Very exciting! but distracting from finishing first draft of my next book. I was really into it, and now I keep thinking about ROAD CLOSED.

Stella Jones said...

Yes indeed. I would also be very proud that it is at no. 3, when Stieg Larsson is at no. 8. It's getting to be a case of me bragging...'I know that author, you know.' well they don't know, but they will...

Well done. I'm proud that I have been able to follow your achievements.

If I could only get myself published now!

Blessings, Star

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Star - I'm not quite snapping at Stieg Larsson's heels yet... but I'm having fun on my own little journey and meeting some lovely people along the way.
I'm sure it will happen for you one day. Just keep on keeping on. It's all any of us can do.
Good to hear from you.

Leigh Russell said...

Star - I hadn't noticed sales of CUT SHORT were higher than Stieg Larsson in my local Waterstones. Thank you for pointing that out. Drat! now my head's too big to go through the door...

Barbara Martin said...

This is great news, Leigh.

Leigh Russell said...

Thank you, Barbara. I hope you enjoy ROAD CLOSED sitting on a comfortable bench, and have time to review it.

Emily Cross said...

Hi Leigh,

I posted the review there:

http://thebookbundle.blogspot.com/2010/05/cut-short-leigh-russell.html

Perhaps we can do interview mid june, if that suits?

TomCat said...

Wooo Hooo, Leigh!! You go, girl!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Emily, thanks for the review. Mid-June would be great, thank you.

Leigh Russell said...

I'm going, I'm going, TomCat. (Not sure where I'm going... but I'm going)

DJ Kirkby said...

Wow great photo and huge congrats to you, after all your hard work you deserve lots of high times :) That was an interesting point you made about author name size on book covers, I'd never looked at it that way before but it's very true.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Wow, that's so impressive. Congratulations!

TomCat said...

Sounds like you're doing great to me.

Happy Mothers Day.

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks, DJ Kirkby. I may not be right, of course, it's only a theory, but it does make sense, doesn't it? Check out the authors' names on book covers and see what you think.

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks Debs.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi TomCat - Mother's Day here is in March, so my super sleuthing powers tell me you're not in the UK. Just call me Sherlock Holmes...

HelenMWalters said...

Fantastic stuff!

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks, Helen, and congratulations again on your stories.

Stella Jones said...

Look on my Blog and you will see your book has arrived in Tennessee.
Look at the end of my latest post.
Blessings, Star

Russell CJ Duffy said...

Oh luv, how I envy you. Congratulations. I must get a copy form the Chelmsford branch of Waterstones.

Cheers!

CJ

Middle Ditch said...

NO 3!! Wow! Well done you!!

Leigh Russell said...

Thank you, Star. I have your lovely photo saved in my 'Travelling Book' folder where I keep all the piccies readers send me of CUT SHORT around the world. I'll post it on my blog soon. First I have a few pictures from a recent meeting to post about. But CUT SHORT in Tennessee... ! Thank you VERY much.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi CrystlePiper8455 - that's an interesting name. I wonder how you came by it? I like the comment. It's good to be reminded of that when you're an impatient person (like me).

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks, CJ Duffy. Please come back and let me know what you think of it.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Monique. The only trouble is, I've been so busy I haven't even had time to visit Middle Ditch lately. It's hard juggling working, writing and book promotion. So much to do!

Unknown said...

I want to read your books, I'm going to go on amazon right now. By the way, I have an award for you at my blog.

CD

Leigh Russell said...

Thank you, Clarissa. I meet a lot of authors who are only interested in sales of thousands, but I'm still very excited when one person tells me they are going to buy my books. I hope you enjoy them. Please come back and let me know what you think, and let me know if you'd like an interview as the publication date for ROAD CLOSED approaches.
The printing process starts tomorrow!