YOU ARE INVITED TO A VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH
Publication approaches and preparations to launch Cut Short on an unsuspecting world are gathering pace. Only you, my friends on the blog, are privy to these delusions of grandeur - Cut Short, best seller; Cut Short, cult book of the month - the year - the decade! ( loud crash as Leigh struggles to get her big head through the door) For a brief heady period I became an amazon watcher, studying the brief rise and fall of Cut Short in the Sales Ratings on amazon.com. At one point, my friends around the world, someone somewhere was ordering my book on amazon.com, enough orders, in fact, to push the sales rating a significant way up the list. This was seriously good news. Then it began to fall and the whole exercise lost its appeal.
The date of the VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH approaches
I've succeeded in scanning my signature - (don't panic, friends - Leigh Russell is not my real name and no documents or bank accounts exist in that name.) Here's how it works -
On 10th June, publication date, I'll publish my email address on this blog. When you receive your copy of Cut Short, please send me an email telling me who you'd like me to sign the book for (just as you would at any other book signing.) I will reply asap, with a personal signed message from Leigh Russell which you can print and stick in the front of your copy of Cut Short.
As you do this, please feel free to drink a glass of wine. I promise to drink one at the same time, so we can share a virtual drink. (I realise this means I may have to drink solidly for some time, but a writer has to make some sacrifices for her reading public...)
Please send any questions about the virtual launch to this blog before 10th June. (I may not be in a fit state to repy after that.) And if you haven't already put in your order for Cut Short - what are you waiting for?
Remember to check 10th June post when you receive your copy.
44 comments:
Wee, sounds great. I note that down under the book isn't being released until August. So to get it on time, I may have to order in from o/seas. I'll try to suss that out a bit more and see if somewhere it is being offered here on time.
Cheers for the Big Launch anyway!
Aggie, I think you may find it's available from June. The website just isn't up-to-date with the details displayed. But don't worry - I'll be more than happy to sign your copy virtually in August, or whenever you like. Any time's good for me. Thank you again for your support, Aggie.
I pre ordered from www.bookdepository.co.uk.
Sorry if that bolloxed up your ratings!
Can I do the virtual signing and an 'actual' one if I make it to Brighton?!
Yes, sleepy. Then you can tell us which is better, a virtual signing or a real one. When my book becomes a Hollywood film (screenplay by Monique) you could extend your comparison into a thesis by comparing the film and the book, and become Dr Sleepy with your PhD. You'd be so familiar with my book by then, you could even win Mastermind, special subject Leigh Russell.
Hey Leigh-I wanted to come over here and wish you every success in the world with your book!!! I loved your comment about the screenplay with Monique also! I will find a way to get a copy-by hook or by crook-legally of course;-) and will let you know when I do-I know of one blogger who has an "Amazon wish list" at his blog-of course his blog has more people on it in a minute than mine has in a day or week-and I certainly dont expect folks to buy me books-for me anyway as a bibliophile it is so much nicer to own than have to always worry about returning to library-Had I ever know I would have been this poor I never woulda traded like three quarters of my books in-granted they were for other books-but you get don't get as many "new" in return-O well I am rambling on and on here-I will figure something out and in the meantime I echo everyone's sentiments here and repeating Aggie-I say Cheers for the Big Launch anyway!! I am also hoping that for you-of course this is obviously your choice-but I hope you continue to write and get published-that is my dream and I am so happy you have realized it-all the best!!
Thanks, Devin. You're welcome to come and ramble here. That's the beauty of blogging. You're completely free to ramble.
Leigh Russell as a specialist subject??
Should I be afraid?
Oh, Oh, If you get a mad 'Copycat Killer' acting out your storylines, I could be called in like 'Fitz'!
I will start drinking Scotch, eating lard and gambling in preparation!
PS.. Have you practised your book signing signature?
Did you feel 12 again practising your name with 1st boyfriend's surname?!
Yes, Sleepy, I have been practising my new signature. It was great fun. I felt like a spy, adopting a new identity. I remember writing my name followed by a "boyfriend's" surname, but never went as far as practising my signature, at twelve. Or did I? It's so long ago, I can't remember.
Hey Leigh, got a response from amazon
"Dear Customer,
Thank you for your recent contact to Amazon.co.uk in relation to the pre-order of the item "Cut Short" by Leigh Russell.
I am delighted to inform you that the item is now available to pre-order on the website. You can locate the book by typing in either the words "cut short" or by typing the unique ISBN 1842432710.
Thank you for shopping with Amazon.co.uk
Warmest regards
Georgina O`M
Amazon.co.uk"
I checked it out (using the ISBN) because it didn't come up on the front page otherwise.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cut-Short-DI-Geraldine-Steel/dp/1842432710/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1240496936&sr=11-1
Congrats!
Yes Emily, we've finally arrived. Cut Short is listed on Amazon! Let's hope lots of people order it and it shoots up through the sales ratings - for 24 hours at least! I'm grateful to everyone who helped my campaign.
Emiy - I think you need to search amazon for Leigh Russell rather than Cut Short - or both. There are too many listings for Cut Short.
Sorry, Emily - missed out your L (I need a proof reader on my blog!)
What a brilliant idea. Roll on 10th June, so exciting.
Thanks, Debs. I would like to share my little celebration with friends on the blog who've been so supportive throughout this personal roller coaster.
Crikey this is exciting!
Thanks, Eryl! Crikey is right. Review copies of the book are going out, which I thought was great... We just had an email from a branch manager at Waterstones to say she'd received her copy, thank you, and would read it soon. Suddenly all the fun has been overwhelmed by panic. This is real. (I won't read any reviews. I won't! Just let me have my launch party and then I'll go away quietly.)
Hi, Leigh. I just wanted to drop by and say congratulations on the book lauch. :)
Thanks for visiting, Cora.
Many congrats, Leigh. And I'm very impressed by the number of author appearances and signings you've got lined up. That's very unusual these days!!! Did you organise these yourself, or did your publisher? If they did it, then congrats again for having found a very pro-active publisher. If you did it yourself, what's your secret????
Sounds like a great idea, incidentally just received an e-mail from Amazon telling me Cut Short is now available to order!
Hi Write Woman, thanks for your support. Now I'll have to wait and see what happens. It will certainly be a busy summer, while I'm on holiday from school. I'm really looking forward to my travels as an author!
Hello Leigh - thanks for visiting my blog. Congratulations on your book and wishing you masses of success. 'Stick our neck out for your dreams!'
Very exciting - and I'm always up for anything that involves a glass of wine!
Hi Ralph - I'm not sure if you meant to write our neck or your neck. I quite like our neck... Thank you for stopping by to comment. You're right. Sometimes you (we?) do stick our necks above the parapet. I feel quite vulnerable right now, but, as Mgnus Magnusson used to say, "I've started so I'll finish."
Yay, Flowerpot, that's the spirit - or the wine, I should say. Best not to take oneself too seriously. I look forward to sharing a virtual glass of wine with you as my virtual signature zaps its way across the net to your lovely part of the world. I'm thinking about your picture of the patient fisherman... I wish I could be a more patient person.
hiay,thanks for visiting my blog :) and the request to give my opinion of your book cover. Since I don't really know anything about the book my impression based on the cover is that it suggests a loss of someone in their prime or younger, and a violent loss. I can't see a close up of the eye but there is a reflection that I suspect gives a clue.
I like the cover, the fact that it is black and white (which suggests a harshness) with the slash of red tear drop really appeals to me.
All the best with your book, really exciting :)
Gadzooks, I hadn't thought about reviews! Just remember that some of our most revered authors have suffered from bad reviews: critics are ordinary people with ordinary tastes and highly subjective opinions, even if they think they're not.
That's a very detailed analysis of the book cover, from an artist's eye. The image seems to suggest something about the book. Yes, someone young dies, and yes, it's a violent death. The harshness also seems in keeping, I think. I'm glad you found the tear drop effective. I like the cover. Hopefully it's quite eye catching and memorable. Thank you for your visit, and your perceptive comments, JafaBrit.
Crikey andgadzooks, Eryl. Whatever next?
"Some of our most revered authors have suffered from bad reviews" - I hope I won't need to remember that, Eryl, but if necessary I'll print it out and stick it on the back of my hand where it will be in my field of vision at all times.
G'day and thanks for the visit and comment. The launch of a book is truly a special occasion.
Great idea for a virtual launch - reminds me of the pen device that margaret atwood has devised for distance signings!
Thanks, David. It's good to have support from down under!
Hi liz - hope you can join in. I don't know about Margaret Attwood's pen but will look that up now. Sounds intriguing.
Hello Leigh Russell!Sorry it's not an instant reply.
I'm glad that you dropped by my blog and I really appreciate your comment.
I feel lucky enough to be invited to be one of your readers and I'll always be.^^
Greeting from China.
A comment from China. That's very exciting, Shuo and thank you. You are very welcome here.
Hi Leigh, only 6 weeks to go! I actually can't wait to read your book, and I'll certainly drink a glass or two of wine on your launch day!
If you have a few glasses of wine before reading Cut Short, do you think you'll view the book through rose tinted spectacles, dabrah? Perhaps I should ask you to write a review of it . . . before the hangover! Thank you for the support.
I love the international communication possibilities the internet opens up. I've blogged with people in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, China... and I can't even remember where besides, as well as bloggers in the UK. I find that quite exciting. If only we could break down all the barriers between people and nations...
Holland.... Dubai... Phillipines... and I'm sure I'll remember more as I'm driving home. Is is just me that finds that amazing?
Hi Leigh
You asked me to write on your blog so here I am. Well done in getting a publisher; each time I tried them they weren't taking on new authors - eventually I found a small independent to publish my crime thriller Pain Wears No Mask. So we're on the same page there, at least. Best of luck with your virtual launch; I'm sure it'll be a Cut Above many others...
Hi Nik I looked your title up on amazon. It looks great. Well done. Have you written any more? I must go back and check.
Thank you for your comments - a cut above - let's hope so!
I didn't try any of the larger publishers as they won't even look at unsolicited MS. I submitted my MS to three publishers who specialise in crime fiction. When I checked again, I discovered one of them didn't accept unsolicited MS but they were the publisher who took me on. I was so lucky they took a look and liked what they saw! Of the other two, one rejected me after about three months, and the third still hasn't replied, two years on! But my publisher phoned me after two weeks to express an interest. The rest, as they say, is history or, at least, water under the bridge.
Keep in touch, Nik, and thanks for stopping to comment. I'll think of you out there enjoying the sunshine as I scramble for my umbrella... I bet you miss England, don't you?
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