What a bloody week it has been. Lulu have royally stuffed up. I thought it suspicious when the 16 books I ordered last Thursday were dispatched on Friday (given that it normally takes a week to print one book). When they arrived on Monday, I opened the box to discover all the Summersets had Mad about the Boy covers and vice versa. After contacting Lulu (they don’t do phones, had to all be done by email) I had to take photographs of the books to prove they’d stuffed up, even though I’d asked them just to take the dodgy books back and reprint proper ones. Thankfully they believed me and said they’ll re-order the books to be properly done and I can keep the sixteen dodgy ones. At first I thought I could make a bonfire in the garden. Then it came to me that there are such things as labels. So I’m going to make a plain cover for both books and stick labels with the right titles over the top of the dodgy covers and give them away.
So, if you would like a free copy of Summerset or Mad About the Boy, let me know and I’ll send you one (limited obviously as I only have sixteen).
I’ve nearly finished The Pioneers. It’s been great fun writing the book basing fictional characters on real people. I wonder if anyone will guess who they’re supposed to be. Two people are reading it as I’m writing it – my mum and my mate Kelly. My mum has passed no comment on it so I get the feeling she hates it, whereas Kelly loves it so I presume that it appeals to a younger audience. Funny seeing as it’s set in my mum’s era.
As well as this, I’ve found another cover for 2b1. It’s not as appropriate as the other one, but the woman never got back to me so I had no choice but to look elsewhere. I just hope Lulu don’t stuff up on that one or I will seriously consider going elsewhere.
One great thing that’s come out of writing The Pioneers is that I’ve had to absorb myself in the music of the 1970s to get a feel for the era and I’ve so discovered Roxy Music. Because I was only wee when they were at their biggest, up until now, my only knowledge of the Eno era Roxy was Virginia Plain. I was always more aware of later stuff like Avalon, Angel Eyes etc. Eno era Roxy is bloody astounding and even the period just after he left still felt his influence. Songs like In Every Dreamhome A Heartache and Do the Strand rock. I also want to know why Bryan Ferry who is a bit of a pretentious prat who at times looks like Hitler and can’t dance, can still be sexy. I can definitely see why ladies loved him back in the day but he is still a bit weird and at times sinister – weird.
I’d finally like to give a shout out to my friend Angela’s Book Big Brother’s Big Blubber. It’s a bloody hilarious take on the world of Big Brother and Celebrity in general with interesting cameos from everyone from the Queen to George W Bush!
You can buy it right here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Brothers-Blubber-2008/dp/1438924143/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227879059&sr=8-1
Ciao for now x
Friday 28 November 2008
Friday 21 November 2008
Le Grand Sale!
In the spirit of Christmas and the fact we're in the middle of a Credit Crunch, I am holding a sale of my books. Visit my website http://sites.google.com/site/authorkarenmason/ to find out just how cheap my books are!
Monday 17 November 2008
Softly Softly Gently Does It
This week I was quite astounded to read that Ofcom are investigating complaints from the Great British unwashed about the supposed bullying of John Sergeant on Strictly Come Dancing. For readers not in the UK, JS is an elderly political reporter who has entered our version of Dancing with the Stars (the original version!) and his dancing ability is limited to say the least. For some reason he is still in the competition at the expense of much better dancers. Now, this of course is the nature of reality TV but people are only voting for him because he is the underdog and has cultivated the image of the cuddly old gentleman doing his best (when in reality when interviewed he is actually quite arrogant and shows very little compassion or empathy towards the better contestants who have been forced to leave because of this public campaign). Anyway, the whys and wherefores to this are not important – everyone has their own opinion on John and that’s fine. What worries me is that the judges on the show are being accused of bullying him because they are expressing valid opinions. They are there to judge technical ability and quite frankly John has none whatsoever.
I find this astounding in a week when the news has been dominated by the tragic and horrendous death of a beautiful 17-month-old baby at the hands of his mother, step-father and the lodger. I’m not even going to repeat what was done to this poor child (who was overlooked by social services and all the people who should be looking after him) because it breaks my heart to even think about it. But I can’t help but wonder if that same teenage mother is a product of the same society that is up in arms moaning about the alleged bullying of a rather pompous old man.
Suddenly, bullying is the sexiest word on the planet. The line between constructive criticism and bullying has become blurry and for several years now teachers have been encouraged not to criticise children, to encourage them and overlook the more odious traits in their nature. In an ideal world this would work but let’s take a look at the society it has produced – feral teenagers who think the world owes them a living because they’ve spent most of their time in an education system that is too frightened to criticise because they will be accused of bullying. There is nothing wrong with being brought down a peg or two. No one is advocating bringing back the birch or making children stand in corners but we’ve got to lose this obsession with bullying.
So even though John Sergeant is an insignificant contestant on an equally insignificant TV show, this whole furore about bullying is a reflection on how we now look on society. On a similar vein, switch on any TV channel during the day and every advert is about how to claim compensation because you’ve had an accident (which may have occurred because you weren’t looking where you were going in the first place). It’s all about blaming someone else and not taking responsibility for your own actions. I find it all quite scary.
I find this astounding in a week when the news has been dominated by the tragic and horrendous death of a beautiful 17-month-old baby at the hands of his mother, step-father and the lodger. I’m not even going to repeat what was done to this poor child (who was overlooked by social services and all the people who should be looking after him) because it breaks my heart to even think about it. But I can’t help but wonder if that same teenage mother is a product of the same society that is up in arms moaning about the alleged bullying of a rather pompous old man.
Suddenly, bullying is the sexiest word on the planet. The line between constructive criticism and bullying has become blurry and for several years now teachers have been encouraged not to criticise children, to encourage them and overlook the more odious traits in their nature. In an ideal world this would work but let’s take a look at the society it has produced – feral teenagers who think the world owes them a living because they’ve spent most of their time in an education system that is too frightened to criticise because they will be accused of bullying. There is nothing wrong with being brought down a peg or two. No one is advocating bringing back the birch or making children stand in corners but we’ve got to lose this obsession with bullying.
So even though John Sergeant is an insignificant contestant on an equally insignificant TV show, this whole furore about bullying is a reflection on how we now look on society. On a similar vein, switch on any TV channel during the day and every advert is about how to claim compensation because you’ve had an accident (which may have occurred because you weren’t looking where you were going in the first place). It’s all about blaming someone else and not taking responsibility for your own actions. I find it all quite scary.
Monday 10 November 2008
Do you remember the first time?
My books sales have stalled a little - maybe it's the credit crunch, maybe it's because Mills & Boon are 100 years old and every flipping programme (especially on the BBC) is dedicated to them and everyone and their mother are buying M&B books instead of 'proper' ones - I don't know. I personally think it's because my marketing isn't working.
So, I am conducting a major study into what made you choose your first book by your favourite author? If I can find out why people bought what they did and where, maybe I can target my audience. So, in the comments section can you please answer the following questions;
Who is your favourite author?
Where did you first discover them? (ie picked up randomly in a book shop, bought in a second hand shop, did a friend lend you the book etc.)
What attracted you to the book? (ie the cover, the blurb, friend's recommendation, author's reputation, media advertising)
Thanks for taking the time to do this
Karen
So, I am conducting a major study into what made you choose your first book by your favourite author? If I can find out why people bought what they did and where, maybe I can target my audience. So, in the comments section can you please answer the following questions;
Who is your favourite author?
Where did you first discover them? (ie picked up randomly in a book shop, bought in a second hand shop, did a friend lend you the book etc.)
What attracted you to the book? (ie the cover, the blurb, friend's recommendation, author's reputation, media advertising)
Thanks for taking the time to do this
Karen
Wednesday 5 November 2008
A new day for America – is it time to draw a line under the past?
All my life I have absolutely refused to refer to my race unless I have to (usually filling in application forms for jobs, which still bugs me). To me I am a human being first and foremost and I think in life I will always face far more discrimination due to my gender rather than the colour of my skin but even I had to shed a tear of pride on seeing Barack Obama elected as the President of the United States. I say this as a person of mixed heritage, not a black person or a white person. On paper Obama is black and even though I’ve read on many forums that he is as much white as he is black and while that is technically true, these comments are usually said by exactly the same racists who if the BNP or the Ku Klux Klan or whoever came to power, we would be top of the list to be kicked out because they’d never see us as white. I was told by one person once on the Sun discussions forum that I would have no right to ever stand as an MP in the UK because I’m half black. Forgetting that I was born in this country, my dad’s been a British citizen since the early 1960s and most of all my mum’s family can be traced back to Birmingham as far back as the early 18th century, my grand-dad fought in both world wars etc etc. Just because I don’t need fake bake means I could never stand for parliament – ridiculous.
I take comments like this with a pinch of salt and always have done thankfully but I am sure President Obama, along with people like Lewis Hamilton, Leona Lewis, Melanie B and many other mixed race people have faced the same discrimination from both sides of our heritage. Quite often black people don’t recognise you as belonging with them and white people see you as black. I think younger mixed race people probably have it a bit easier because it’s quite common now, but when I was at school in the 1970s, there was only me and one other mixed race girl in a school of 300! It gives you the ability to see the very best and worst of human nature on all sides and I think this will give Obama the ability to embrace all Americans.
What moves me the most about the whole election is that it shows the majority of Americans are willing to look beyond a person’s skin colour and judge them for the person they are and what they can offer. Given that this is a country that had slavery up until the 19th century, and indeed when Obama was born the Rev Martin Luther King was fighting for equal rights for blacks, this is a fantastic move forward and it is so sad the Reverend isn’t alive today to see this. I am pretty confident in saying that if a black or mixed race person came along in the UK offering a proper alternative to Gordon Brown, we too would elect them as we’re all pretty much as fed up with New Labour and the Americans were with Bush.
This is a time for people of colour to be proud of their achievements but also to realise the majority of white people are not racist and will judge you as a human being first and foremost. You are always going to get racist knuckleheads but they’re not even worth bothering about in the first place as whatever their ridiculous views are, it’s their problem not yours.
Here’s the stinger – my only reservation with Obama is that he is actually a secret muslim…….only joking. No, seriously, I see echoes of Tony Blair – the young dynamic politician promising change after years of stagnation, the young, cute family and the lawyer wife who I am led to believe is a bit of a liability and doesn’t know when to shut up. Tony Blair came to power 11 years ago promising to change Britain for the better and instead this country is in a terrible mess due to his weak leadership, stupid politics and willingness to sell us out to the EU (something that won’t happen to American obviously). Obama might seem like a breath of fresh air and I sincerely hope for the US that it isn’t the same, but Blair did for us and was full of nothing but empty promises.
That’s just me being cautious. But that aside, congratulations America - I think you chose really well!
I take comments like this with a pinch of salt and always have done thankfully but I am sure President Obama, along with people like Lewis Hamilton, Leona Lewis, Melanie B and many other mixed race people have faced the same discrimination from both sides of our heritage. Quite often black people don’t recognise you as belonging with them and white people see you as black. I think younger mixed race people probably have it a bit easier because it’s quite common now, but when I was at school in the 1970s, there was only me and one other mixed race girl in a school of 300! It gives you the ability to see the very best and worst of human nature on all sides and I think this will give Obama the ability to embrace all Americans.
What moves me the most about the whole election is that it shows the majority of Americans are willing to look beyond a person’s skin colour and judge them for the person they are and what they can offer. Given that this is a country that had slavery up until the 19th century, and indeed when Obama was born the Rev Martin Luther King was fighting for equal rights for blacks, this is a fantastic move forward and it is so sad the Reverend isn’t alive today to see this. I am pretty confident in saying that if a black or mixed race person came along in the UK offering a proper alternative to Gordon Brown, we too would elect them as we’re all pretty much as fed up with New Labour and the Americans were with Bush.
This is a time for people of colour to be proud of their achievements but also to realise the majority of white people are not racist and will judge you as a human being first and foremost. You are always going to get racist knuckleheads but they’re not even worth bothering about in the first place as whatever their ridiculous views are, it’s their problem not yours.
Here’s the stinger – my only reservation with Obama is that he is actually a secret muslim…….only joking. No, seriously, I see echoes of Tony Blair – the young dynamic politician promising change after years of stagnation, the young, cute family and the lawyer wife who I am led to believe is a bit of a liability and doesn’t know when to shut up. Tony Blair came to power 11 years ago promising to change Britain for the better and instead this country is in a terrible mess due to his weak leadership, stupid politics and willingness to sell us out to the EU (something that won’t happen to American obviously). Obama might seem like a breath of fresh air and I sincerely hope for the US that it isn’t the same, but Blair did for us and was full of nothing but empty promises.
That’s just me being cautious. But that aside, congratulations America - I think you chose really well!
Tuesday 4 November 2008
Don't Stop Me Now
It’s almost the end of the year and I’m looking forward to 2009. This year has been a phenomenal one for me in that I’ve published three books, written several more and bought my first car (even though I actually failed my test). Finding true love would have been the icing on the cake but I guess I’ve got to accept I’m an old lady now and that the chances of finding my Mr Right are slipping away. Never mind.
I am waiting for the photographer of my chosen cover for Two Become One to contact me. I pretty pissed off because I love the photo I’ve chosen and it’s royalty free but I can’t use it without the owner’s permission. I contacted her two weeks ago and was supposed to receive a response within four days. Ho hum. I really don’t want to hunt around for another one.
I’ve decided to add a new page to my website dedicate to reviews. I’m being sent books by fellow authors and feel I might as well put their reviews on my site. I’ve just finished reading The Beatle Man by Scott Liddell and I’m about to finish the Armchair Bride by Mo Fanning now I’m reading Big Blubber by Bluebella and waiting for Kelly Moran’s books to arrive – phew! A whole new string to my bow.
I’ve also been thinking about dramatising Summerset next year. Several people who have read it have said to me that it would make a great movie and so when I’ve done Two Become One and before I start work on the others, I might transform Summerset into a TV drama. Put that Media Studies degree to good use.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of setting up my own imprint. The success of Mills & Boon makes me realise women like reading short, easily accessible romance stories. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to go about it or even if I will but it’s another thing in the pipeline. I’m determined to raise the profile of self-published authors in 2009 and not just me.
On a slightly different note, I’m loving Will Young’s new album Let It Go. I wonder if I should send him a copy of Mad About the Boy and let him know he was the inspiration for Bertie.
And lastly, I’ve just seen a bit of British Style Genius and Robert Elms was on it giving his opinion. That man is on every single ‘talking head’ programme on British TV. Does he actually do anything for a living? I still can’t believe Sade wrote ‘Your Love is King’ about him.
Ciao for now
I am waiting for the photographer of my chosen cover for Two Become One to contact me. I pretty pissed off because I love the photo I’ve chosen and it’s royalty free but I can’t use it without the owner’s permission. I contacted her two weeks ago and was supposed to receive a response within four days. Ho hum. I really don’t want to hunt around for another one.
I’ve decided to add a new page to my website dedicate to reviews. I’m being sent books by fellow authors and feel I might as well put their reviews on my site. I’ve just finished reading The Beatle Man by Scott Liddell and I’m about to finish the Armchair Bride by Mo Fanning now I’m reading Big Blubber by Bluebella and waiting for Kelly Moran’s books to arrive – phew! A whole new string to my bow.
I’ve also been thinking about dramatising Summerset next year. Several people who have read it have said to me that it would make a great movie and so when I’ve done Two Become One and before I start work on the others, I might transform Summerset into a TV drama. Put that Media Studies degree to good use.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of setting up my own imprint. The success of Mills & Boon makes me realise women like reading short, easily accessible romance stories. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to go about it or even if I will but it’s another thing in the pipeline. I’m determined to raise the profile of self-published authors in 2009 and not just me.
On a slightly different note, I’m loving Will Young’s new album Let It Go. I wonder if I should send him a copy of Mad About the Boy and let him know he was the inspiration for Bertie.
And lastly, I’ve just seen a bit of British Style Genius and Robert Elms was on it giving his opinion. That man is on every single ‘talking head’ programme on British TV. Does he actually do anything for a living? I still can’t believe Sade wrote ‘Your Love is King’ about him.
Ciao for now
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