Friday 9 November 2007

A little voice has been clamouring in my head since I signed the publisher's contract, telling me this is all a dream. That voice has now been silenced. Cut Short by Leigh Russell has appeared on Amazon.


51 comments:

Wizbit said...

Oh wow! you must be so chuffed! That's really exciting :D congrats! Wow, maybe one day I'll be able to say the same thing

ANNA-LYS said...

Congrats my Friend!

... and I am looking forward to read it ... psychology, psychiatry, art and thrillers are my melody ;-)
And when they amalgamates into one the reading and experience touches almost the idea of a perfect leasure time ... ahhh maybe having a killer kissing my neck while reading would be "the cream upon the cake" *lol*

I am very happy for You!!!!

virtual nexus said...

Oh Congratulations...can imagine what this feels like after all you've put into it!! may there be many more in the future.

Serious fun, this eh?

J

The World According To Me said...

Congratulations!! I am chuffed for you.
Exciting things are happening to people with demented looks in their eyes!

Erica Ridley said...

Aaaaaaahhhh! That's so awesome!

Bill Clark said...

Yay, Leigh!!

The little man in my computer was so impressed at the news that he wrote a poem:

Whan that Aprill, cruellest month of all,
Hath filled Leigh's cup with wormwood and with gall,
For that the branch that might have grown full straight
Of laurel, meant to crown her writer's pate,
Instead was cropp'd, as I have heard report,
Before its time; yea, in a phrase, "Cut Short";
Then Leigh, to give her credit where 'tis due,
Refused to harbor bitterness or rue;
Instead she said, with customary dash,
"Forget the plants - just shower me with cash!"

Charles Gramlich said...

Cool. I'm going to check it out now.

Leigh Russell said...

Thank you all for your comments.

ELIZABETH- What a great word chuffed is. It's exactly how I feel. I'm sure you'll be saying the same soon. That's the inspiring thing about my experience - it's happened to me, so why not to you? Keep writing and ENJOYING it!

ANNA-LYS - Thank you very much!!!! I'm not sure about having a killer kiss my neck... I think I'll keep to fiction!

JULIE - serious fun.

WORLD ACCORDING TO YOU - chuffed again. How chuffed can a girl get? I can get away with hiding my demented looks behind sunglasses in the summer. This time of year it gets more difficult... Thank you for your comments.

ERICA - thank you!

BILL - May I reply on your blog as I noticed quite a long reply to my last there. I'm delighted to hear from you, blogbuddy. I was beginning to wonder where you had gotten to. (Note the American expression - it's only a small pond, after all; in the blogworld it's a mere drop. But where's this cash you mentioned? Must be the virtual kind. Shame bills can't be too - your good self excepted of course!)

Leigh Russell said...

Hey CHARLES! That's very exciting.

By the way, I won't repeat my publisher's charming comment about Amazon but the UK site has listed me as Russell and Leigh.... Myself and I did a double take when I first saw it but now I'm in two minds about it... I told my publisher she's got two authors for the price of one but I think she's worried I might both start emailing her... In the meantime, I'm happy to talk and answer myself. (Both of me loves Amazon.)... Sorry I've got to go - I can't hear myself think and there's something I have to say to me....

Unknown said...

Congrats! It's real :-)

Charles Gramlich said...

Leigh, Amazon listed me as Allen Gramlich Charles for a while on the first two Taleran books so I know what you are talking about.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

So exciting for you Leigh. I've pre-ordered Cut Short and am looking forward to reading it.

Anne Lyken-Garner said...

Well, No... actually yeah, I'm jealous, that's what I am.

Jealous,jealous,jealous.

I'll read it though, but don't think I won't still be jealous.

Then I'll get my crime reading buddies to buy it, but hey, that doesn't mean that I won't stay jealous.

Leigh Russell said...

More comments. Thank you.

LIZ - Thank you. It does feel real now. I'm trying to ignore the scared feeling and focus on the excitement for as long as I can.

CHARLES - Thank you for that. I feel a lot better, knowing it's not just me.

DEBS - I phoned my dad straight away to tell him someone's preordered my book on Amazon! Yes! My first sale! Now my book can't be a complete disaster because someone's definitely going to buy it. I love you Debs!

ANNE - what is this jealous? When I'm a hasbeen with a pile of dusty books mouldering in a grey corner of a dilapidated warehouse in a dingy quiet backwater, you might be hitting that best seller list!

But seriously, I would like any budding writers reading this blog to feel encouraged by my experience. It's happened to me, so why not you? Just let the writing flow.

fizzycat said...

That is so cool you are real now.Can't wait to read it.
About the cotton wool, there is one supervisor at the hotel who hates the stuff and really dislikes refilling the containers.Usually she will get someone to do it for her.Be interesting if she ever met that guest.

Leigh Russell said...

Hey FIZZY thank you for your kind thoughts.

I see a Jekyll and Hyde situation with your cotton wool obsessed guest and the hotel supervisor..... are they physically alike in any way? Have you ever seen the two of them together? Or one enter a room and the other leave it??? (cue spooky music ... ooOOoo ooOOoo)

(How can anyone love cotton wool? or hate it? There's definitely something strange going on here... ooOOoo)

Cheryl Snell said...

How exciting! Amazon does have a way of making it all real, doesn't it. Continued success...

fizzycat said...

Yes could make a good book!

Leigh Russell said...

OK FIZZY, let's write it together. Someone mysteriously chokes... and the murder weapon is discovered... a handful of cotton wool balls. But why are there no cotton wool balls on the supervisor's trolley? It writes itself. Why didn't I think of this?

(To anyone reading this who's now been completely put off buying my book, can I hasten to assure you there isn't a single mention of cotton wool in Cut Short!)

Alis said...

I know the feeling - couldn't quite believe it when i Googled myself for the first time the other day and there it was on Amazong - Testament, coming on January 4th 2008!! Quite takes your breath away, doesn't it?

virtual nexus said...

EBAY any remainders? Dah, here's to a sellout run!

I like mildly satirical fantasy spoofs so am tinkering about with one...

Flowerpot said...

Well done you - many many congratulations and good to meet you!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi ALIS and well done! I found your book on Amazon. I couldn't remember your full name but just typed in Testament Alis and there it was!

JULIE - I like the sound of your mildly satirical fantasy spoof. If it's anything like Hitchhikers Guide, I'm a fan already.

Hi FLOWERPOT nice of you to drop by. Keep in touch.

Mopsa said...

Leigh, thanks for popping over and many congratulations. I think a bit of smugness is deserved.

Leigh Russell said...

smug? me? Damn, I thought I was hiding it so well. Actually, Mopsa, I'm excited rather than smug, I think, as I'm far too nervous about the whole "other people reading my book" thing to feel smug.

I must must stop fretting about what other people will think of Cut Short. I enjoyed writing it and if that's the best feedback I ever get, that's fine with me. (not!)

Kara Dunn said...

Oh, Leigh, I forgot to stop by for a couple of days and you go off and expose yourself at Amazon! LOL! I'm so pleased for you. So... truth... how many times a day to you float over there to just stare? Doing a happy dance in Maine!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Kara, and thank you.
As far as frequency goes, let's just say, if I bought a copy every time I checked it was still there, I would've bought up every copy by now.

May I ask how your writing's going, as I can't comment on your blog.

virtual nexus said...

Hi, Leigh....

Glad you're still basking in the warm glow.I was rather puzzled with Amazon and then realized I'd typed in 'The Final Cut'....!

Ooo, tricksy tricksy fiction. I'm years out of date with it...and wish I did have the nous to write a HGTTG...(don't we all!)

Nah, I haven't read/seen enough modern SF/FF to do it but it gives free play for experiments. Dated, daft, predictable and beginnerish so far, and no plotline...

Still,gotta dive in somewhere.Back to the murky world of Blog...I'll leave some lying around in Journey if you want to see where Im at.

atb J

Pauline Rowson said...

Congratulations Leigh. I'm glad I've found you - you posted a comment on my blog, remember the man, the taxi and the suitcase in London? I know what a fantastic feeling it is to see your work published especially if, like me, you have been working towards that goal for so long (twenty years in my case). Now the next trick is to build readership and sales, but judging by the number of comments on your blog you don't seem to be doing too bad - unless you have an awful lot of friends! But that's cool too. How about a reciprocal link on our blogs - I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

Bill Clark said...

What a great word chuffed is. It's exactly how I feel.

Well, naturally...the escutcheon of the City of Canterbury bears three choughs, as I recall. :-)

Anonymous said...

Leigh, I came to your blog through Tara's Books and Cooks blog. I work at a library in Texas and am a great lover of mysteries and crime novels of all kinds. I am starting a mystery book group at my library in 2008 and am always looking for new books to recommend to my patrons and my friends. Congratulations on your success and I'll be looking forward to reading your book. Love the cover!

Leigh Russell said...

JULIE - what is HGTTG? Pardon my ignorance (again!)

Hi PAULINE, How could I forget the man, the taxi and the suitcase? It could easily have been the starting point for another book if I'd followed your man ... but you saw him first. Even if you're not planning on using him right now, who knows when he might pop into your head again?
I'm afraid you've seen right through me - I have no friends! (but if any friends read this, ignore it, please. I'm canvassing the sympathy vote Pauline offered so she might rush on to Amazon and buy my book) (Did I mention Cut Short is on Amazon!!!)

BILL - you are totally awesome and perfectly correct, as always. The three choughs on the Canterbury crest, which come from Thomas a Becket for some reason I couldn't find on the internet - er - I mean some reason I can't remember right now...
Still, if Bill Clark doesn't know, then I'm in good company. (Although you never said you don't know why Becket had chuffs on his crest... do you know?)

Leigh Russell said...

KAY, welcome to my blog. I've returned your visit and left a comment. Lovely to meet you, blogbuddy. I hope you come back soon.

fizzycat said...

Hmm why are there more black rubbish bags piled up at the end of the day in this hotel.Why is the hotel menu containing more meat based dishes.

Leigh Russell said...

FIZZYCAT I see we think alike... come in, I've been expecting you... Hmmmm interesting.(stroking my chin, for originality) We could set up a hotel together - oh woops - I forgot, we're on the side of law and order aren't we? ooOOoo ooOOoo or should that be duh duh duh duh duh oh forget it. My onscreen atmospheric 'music' as about as tuneful as my singing!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi BILL - I just reread my last comment to you here. It's always a mistake to reread my writing, I find. I managed to change one sentence so it no longer makes sense, but breaks off half way through, and three choughs have been chuffed. (That's an interesting passive construction .... I wonder what it feels like...)

virtual nexus said...

It'll have floated well downstream by now... but HGTTG is Hitchhikers guide, not to be confused with STTNG - to bravely go where no blogger has gone before...

No, copying other people's style is like planting dead wood and waiting for it to grow.

Leigh Russell said...

JULIE - silly me! Of course. I mentioned Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy myself in an earlier comment to you. I really must start paying attention to myself...

Leigh Russell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Leigh Russell said...

That deletion wasn't a comment from anyone weird - I just entered my last comment twice so deleted the second one. So, like I said, it wasn't comment from anyone weird......

Lily Moon said...

Wow! Congratualtions! That's brilliant! I'm a little behind reading stuff, so have just read your Friday post. How did you feel seeing it there? I'm going to have a look!

Lily Moon said...

One more thing, as a starting out writer, I am inspired, and will keep reading to know more. Well done

Bill Clark said...

Oh, dear, Leigh, you take me back to the days when I had to memorize all this:

Canterbury Arms: Argent three Cornish Choughs proper two and one on a Chief Gules a Lion passant guardant Or.

Motto 'AVE MATER ANGLIAE'; Hail, Mother of England.

The lion, from the Arms of England, recalls the City's links with royalty - it has been a royal city since at least the sixth century. The choughs are from the arms ascribed to Thomas Becket, and their combination with the royal lion is a reminder of the quarrel between Henry II and the Archbishop.


There - that's what I can dredge up on short notice. (It was enough to get me through the O Levels, at least.)

Interestingly, Thomas Becket (the "a" is a Norman affectation) was my hero when I was a schoolboy in Canterbury. There was one particular roundel of stained glass that I loved, showing a puny man about to be dashed to the ground by a giant holding him over his head. The text reads: "Minor desperatus Sanctam Thomam invocat" - the lesser man, in despair, calls on St. Thomas.

And lo! the giant was borne to earth, and the shrimp won the trial by combat (and his life). (And St. Thomas got credit for another miracle.)

I used to say those words before my exams in those days, and also on the train to London to take my SATs at the ES-U so that I could get into an American college when I returned to the States. What can I say? - I aced the O Levels, much to the chagrin of the headmaster, who did not think it seemly that a Yank should best his home-grown British boys, and I got an 800 on the English SAT (which I thought I'd flubbed) and a 780 on the math (which I was sure I'd aced).

Now that my exam-taking days are behind me (I think), I offer these words to any and all who would like to try them. Hey! - they worked for me!

Leigh Russell said...

BILL - flubbed has enchanted me... I'll have to read the rest of your interesting comment again slowly, but none of it resonated with me like flubbed. I'd like to say I want to be a flubber too, but I'm afraid, from the context, that might not be a terribly grand ambition. Still, 800 in a test - that's got to be a good score. Respect, you clever boy. And sucks boo yah the headmaster. (Yours as a pupil, not my revered boss just in case he ever casts his gimlet eyes this way... if you do, SIR, gimlet eyed is a joke, SIR.)

Kara Dunn said...

It's going. I'm working on the third novella in a three part anthology and the bugger doesn't seem to want to reveal itself. So I entertain myself and my muse by floating around to blogs. *vbg* Not very productive! But I appreciate you asking!

Bill Clark said...

Too funny, Leigh!

Gimlet eye has now become eagle-eyed, by the way - per my last comment to you on my blog.

To "flub" is to mess up, to err, to goof, to make an ass of oneself (a la Bottom in MSND, where the rustics manage to flub their lines in the play-within-the-play quite thoroughly).

Does your headmaster really roam the hallways and offices with a gimlet eye? Mine did!

I remember one time a first-former had snitched a prefect's cap, and we were all made to stand in the school courtyard during our free time after lunch. Being a rebellious colonial, I allowed as how I wasn't having any, and could be found (as usual) up in the school library. To which I then repaired.

The snotty prefects ratted me out, and pretty soon I was called on the carpet in front of the headmaster, one Mr. Christopher H. Rieu by name (he did the Penguin translation of The Acts of the Apostles, which he made us all buy for his weekly Bible class he inflicted on us).

Mr. Rieu was not pleased. I explained that in America we would never punish a whole group for the misdeeds of one person (I hope that's still true, though I'm no longer as certain as I was then), and that his prefects' behavio[u]r was just plain silly. He turned a bit purple in the face, but finally decided that as I was an uncouth Yank without proper upbringing, he would overlook my trangression (what - reading Shakespeare in the library is a transgression in England?!) just this once. So I went back to the library, where the prefects' mouths all fell open - they were sure I was going to be caned and sent home.

Ah, England...oh, to be in England, now that November's there...or any other month, for that matter. *Bill waxes nostalgic for his schoolboy days*

I feel like a jerk for mentioning the 800 - which is the tippy-top of the scale, BTW - I was only trying to give credit to St. Thomas where due.

Ironically, I learned years later than I descend from Henry II, and thus had to do some rethinking of where I stood in the matter of Rex v. Archiepiscopens. I decided that Henry was doing his best to moderiz[s]e his kingdom and replace the two-tier system of justice (church courts and civil courts) with one single system for everybody. I mean, in those days, you could just recite the "neck verse" (Psalm 51:1 - Miserere mei, Domine, miserere mei, et secundum magnam misericordam tuam, dele iniquitatem meam) and walk away scot-free.

(You can see that I have the verse memoriz[s]ed in case I am ever teletransported back to the Middle Ages and accused of witchcraft for talking about blogging and the Internet and Al Gore.) ;-)

Anyhow, I decided that Henry II was really an OK king, but badly misunderstood by his wildcat wife (and my progenitor) Eleanor of Acquitaine and his kids. Hey - it can happen to all of us, even today.

Guess I'd better stop now before the blog police come along and tell me to report to the Head Blogger for exceeding the line limit!

virtual nexus said...

Bill - Hope you don't mind me looking in; I'm still laughing at the bit about being transported to the middle ages.
Nice one...

Leigh Russell said...

Hi BILL
Gimlet eye has now become eagle-eyed - I know, but gimlet eyed has a certain ring to it, don't you think?

definition of flub - please don't patronise me, Bill, you're talking to an expert here!

Your school tale reminds me of Roald Dahl's Great Mouse Plot in Boy (do you know it?) only of course, Roald Dahl was caned. Serves him right for not reading Shakespeare in the library.

I was only trying to give credit to St Thomas yeah, yeah. Clever clogs.

Your Majesty, accept my humble thanks that you should honour me with your gracious presence on my poor but honest blog.

and finally, the Head Blogger... You think you can move on from your school days, but there's no getting away from it, and we're back in the first form again...

Leigh Russell said...

Hi JULIE, you're always welcome.

Mima said...

Congratulations, well I have a mission now in mind! You must be over the moon with excitement, all the best for such a special day.

Mary said...

Congratulations! I will go get it!