First words

Beyond Reason, my new novel, is published today. The typescript was delivered to my publisher, Solidus, about a year ago. I started writing the book about two years ago. Turning what started as no more than an idea into a story that you hope may beguile a reader for an hour ot two takes some time. Even a human being only takes nine months to make.

Looking at the finished product, neat in its jacket, do you get a feeling of satisfaction? Of course not. WH Auden said that a poem is never finished, only abandoned. The same can be said for a novel. Your only excuse is that it is the best you can do.

Will the book be reviewed? Some books are, most are not. Luck helps. Contacts help. Hamish Hamilton, the publisher of my first novel, The Money Tree, said he was disappointed by the small number of reviews it attracted, although I was thrilled to see it get any reviews at all. When my next book, Point of Stress, came out he told those of his authors who were also book reviewers in various papers to provide a bit of support to this newcomer to their trade. They responded like good soldiers and gave the book super reviews. Embarrassingly so. The book did reasonably well and went into a second edition, but it never took off. There are various theories why some books sell well and others don't. Word of mouth counts. 'Try this one, you'll like it' is the best review an author can get. Think of the recommendation doubling all the time as it is passed from person to person. It works like compound interest. So try 'Beyond Reason', you'll like it. I think.

This blog is not really intended to be a puff for the book. I see it as the start of an exchange between writers, published or unpublished, or indeed anyone interested in writing. I have had a few adventures in the course of writing ten novels over the years and I'd be interested in hearing of others' experiences.