SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT
48 MARCH 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.ukWITH HIS
WRITTER’S HAT ON‘I’ve always been a
writer – jotting stuff
down, reviewing
music releases and
restaurants, adding my
real-life experiences
to TripAdvisor,
producing corporate
work plans and
reports, writing
intranet and internet
pages, letters in
magazines, etc,’
writes subscriber
Phil Edwards. In
fact, thinking about
it now, I can still
remember the final
sentence of the essay I wrote for my English
O level, which I failed.
‘But I rarely thought about being an actual
author; yes, on occasions I would dream of
the life I’d be leading in my Malibu mansion
when discussing the latest screenplay that
a major movie company had purchased
from me and insisting that nobody less than
double Oscar winner Frances McDormand
played the lead role.
‘Whilst those ambitions are yet to be
realised, I have had one of my short stories
entitled The Error of His Ways printed in the
most recent anthology When It Is Time by
Michael Terence Publishing. It’s the tale of
a small-time gangster trying to go straight
despite his entire life being caught up in a
life off the straight and narrow; he wants to
do the right thing, but is struggling to work
out how to achieve this.
‘I read the other day that the difference
between a writer and an author is that the
latter has been published; so now I can
honestly call myself an “author”, which is a
great thrill. I even have a baseball cap which
has the legend “Writter” (sic) emblazoned
across it. To date, no-one has challenged me
on the spelling.
‘I currently have a number of projects on
the go including screenplays of differing
genres at various stages of completion, half-
finished novels, short stories and numerous
germs of ideas for even more.
‘Someone once said “A
dream without a plan is
simply that – a dream.” I
have both.’
Website: https://author
phile.wordpress.com/‘Getting a publishing contract for me was like waiting for a
bus; nothing for years and then two came along in the space
of a week,’ writes subscriber Emma Jackson.
‘My first offer was for A Mistletoe Miracle, my festive
romantic comedy, which I had been working on for over five
years, squeezing in the writing around having my two young
daughters. But, at the beginning of 2019 I decided it was
time to focus seriously on trying to make writing my career and
I applied for a place on the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s
New Writers’ Scheme. It was at the RNA conference that Orion
announced the launch of their new digital-first imprint Orion
Dash and how eager they were to find a Christmas story. I
submitted my manuscript and received an offer in September to
publish A Mistletoe Miracle just in time for Christmas!
‘My second offer was for The Devil’s Bride, a completely
different type of novel, which I originally began writing to send
in to one of Carina Press’s open proposal calls. The idea had been
to push myself to write something different and explore the other
genres I love to read, which is how I ended up with a historical
paranormal romance, about a vengeful heroine undercover in a
highway gang, a haunted manor house and the cursed, illegitimate
son of a baron. I submitted the full manuscript to Carina and
Darkstroke at the end of the summer, and it was the latter who
loved it. The Devil’s Bride will be released on 5 February.
‘If sales go well, I have two more books planned in the series and
am working on another contemporary romance, because variety is
the spice of life.’
Website: http://www.esjackson.co.ukPARALLEL ROUTES
‘I’m part of the national Careers Writers Association, which has
just produced a book co-authored by a number of its members,’
writes subscriber Gill Sharp.
‘Aimed at parents and guardians, it guides the reader through
all the key careers information and decision-making that their
children will need from the beginning of secondary education to
starting university. The book is called Career Journeys for Young
People and is available in print or e formats. Bulk buying by
schools and other educational institutions is also available.
‘We are very excited about this, as career choices are very complex nowadays. Parents
and carers can feel left behind, excluded or just simply unable to offer appropriate help
and advice to their teens and twenties. And while there are many careers books aimed
at specific age groups or job areas, no-one has ever before mapped out the full journey
and its possible transition points so comprehensively. So we are seeing this as a great
resource for families with several children at different stages of education and careers
thinking or those looking to find out what’s on offer for individual young people.
‘The writers involved are all experienced authors and most of them work in the
careers field in schools, colleges or, like myself, universities.
The book taps into the experience and wisdom of each author.
‘We are proud of this venture and hope that it benefits the
wider community. Any profits will be ploughed back into the
Association so we can continue our work and hopefully go on
to create more useful materials on this collaborative basis.’
Website: http://www.bookcareers.comCareers advisory service
‘I’ve always been a
writer – jotting stuff
down, reviewing
music releases and
restaurants, adding my
real-life experiences
to TripAdvisor,
producing corporate
work plans andtime to focus seriously on trying to make writing my career andin to one of Carina Press’s open proposal calls. The idea had beenThe book taps into the experience and wisdom of each author.‘I’m part of the national Careers Writers Association, which has
just produced a book co-authored by a number of its members,’
writes subscriber Gill Sharp.all the key careers information and decision-making that their