Blog | Alison Morton Author

Official launch - update

I’m delighted to announce that Sue Cook, writer and broadcaster, will be introducing me at my book launch on 12 March in Tunbridge Wells.

Sue is one of the UK’s most experienced broadcasters. TV viewers know her from many BBC shows – such as Crimewatch UK, the annual Children in Need appeal and Holiday. To radio listeners she’s been a familiar voice since the 70s on many series and individual programmes, including You and Yours and, more recently, Making History for Radio 4. Sue is now a successful novelist and is currently working on adapting her first novel, On Dangerous Ground, for a film of the same title.

Sue was kind enough to read INCEPTIO at proof stage.
“Terrific. Brilliantly plotted original story, grippingly told and cleverly combining the historical with the futuristic. It’s a real edge-of-the-seat read, genuinely hard to put down.”

A gallop through my publishing journey

I’ve had one or two requests to tell you about my publishing journey. Okay, more than one or two. Please feel free to go and look at another post on this site if you feel a mild attack of boredom approaching, but for those who are still with me, here’s the story.

So what happened after I signed my publishing agreement with SilverWood Book on 19 October last year?

The next day, SilverWood Books MD, Helen Hart, asked me for my finalized manuscript of INCEPTIO to go to the editor, a short author biography, a 150 word ‘blurb’ for the back of the book jacket, my ideas for the bookjacket to pass on to the designer, thoughts about recommended retail price, social networking links and author photo. And that was Day 1.

The editing was truly collaborative (I’d had my manuscript edited a few weeks before by a very alert and picky (these are compliments) member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders who worked for some of the leading sci-fi and fantasy publishers. He’d given me some good genre-specific and structural advice.). On 8 November, I had the edited text back from the SilverWood Books editor who’d polished up ready for the final stage; I agreed with 95% of what she suggested.

13 November, and I clicked open another email from SilverWood Books and sat there transfixed. The cover. It was truly stunning – an overused word, but it was. I’d never imagined it would be so perfect. I’d been collecting cover images I liked for several months, mostly to help crystallize in my own mind what I liked and, more importantly, how I thought my book could attract readers. I’d jotted down a few notes about Imperial purple, gold, something modern and had sent it to SilverWood. But I’d never expected anything as impressive. After a few tweaks, we had the perfect cover.

Work continued on the design and on 12 December, I received the first interior proofs. I hadn’t realised just how much there was to designing a book. I was so pleased I hadn’t been tempted to DIY it. I’m reasonably at home with basic graphics and design – that’s what editing a local magazine does for you – but the quality of the work carried out on INCEPTIO was excellent.

I printed the 300 pages off then scrutinised them line by line with the help of my trusty ruler, red pen and Alison Baverstock’s excellent guidelines in The Naked Author – a Guide to Self-Publishing. What else would you do in the run-up to Christmas? I suggested a dramatis personae and a historical note explaining about alternate history, plus a first chapter of the next book, PERFIDITAS should be added.

In the meantime, I approached writing friends and mentors to ask if they would read an advance copy and, if they felt they could, to give me an endorsement. The delightful Adrian Magson provided the terrific cover quote and other lovely friends said some very kind things.
Then everything rushed on – the interior proof was finalised and last wrinkles smoothed away, details were uploaded to Nielsen Bookdata and INCEPTIO appeared on Amazon with a temporary cover. Now it’s the full-blown thing with the ‘Look Inside’ feature activated and available for pre-order. Yikes!

The proof copy from the printer was passed, the first print run ordered and the DHL man almost mugged by me when he brought the boxes of books out of his van.

Parallel to all this, we’ve been ordering posters, postcards, bookmarks, sending out advance copies, I’ve been dropping a few little hints on social media(!) and organising my UK launch with the lovely people at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells (scroll down a little to 12 March 😉 ).

Oh, and I’m having a local French launch here in Thouars, on publication Day itself, 1 March. So I’m not busy…

Throughout the process, SilverWood Books have consulted, advised and supported me at every stage with their experience and professionalism. In cold terms, I’m a client buying in specified professional services to fulfill a project and get it to market. But in human terms, the SilverWood Books team have made the realisation of my emotional investment a life-affirming experience.

A box of books - INCEPTIO arrives

Today, twenty minutes after I had finished a lunch with an amusing, gregarious and fun group of women from the local area, a white van drew up outside our gate. A man in a red fleece with yellow logo opened the back doors. What was it? It couldn’t be the delivery I was longing for? No, that was due Saturday or Monday at the earliest. Then I saw the box in his hands. I flew down the path, tore open the gate. The box label said from DHL. Juno, it was the books!

Support stuff - and we're not talking corsets

These lovely cards and bookmarks have arrived and the eagle still looks stunning.

My box of books will be here next week. I am going to weep with excitement.

What have the Romans ever done for us?

One of my dear friends, the British Airways first officer who helped me with the complex flight regulations over Washington DC, sadly cannot make it to the launch event at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on 12 March, but says he’s looking forward to reading INCEPTIO.

He quipped at the end of his email: “So just what exactly did the Romans ever do for us?”

Here’s the answer (familiar to many, but still hilarious):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso