Newsletter January 2024
Hi everyone,
Belated Happy New Year. What a wet, blustery, cold January it has been. I hope you have all survived without any flooding, fallen trees etc. Hold on in there, signs of spring are popping through the soil. I just love snowdrops.
Update re Oscar the
Owl book:
·
I was able to send the Willow Foundation a
donation of £40 at Christmas time from those who donated for signed copies of
Oscar the Owl. Do look up Willow
Foundation if you know anyone between 17-40 years of age going through Cancer
treatments as they offer a lovely day to remember during difficult treatments
etc. https://willowfoundation.org.uk
·
Statistics – from the end of August to December
2023 approx. 100 copies of Oscar the Owl have been sold by Amazon and myself, including
two e-books.
· Reviews on Amazon: Did you know that you don’t need to have purchased Oscar from Amazon in order to review the book? As long as you are a regular customer of Amazon you can post a review even if you had your copy from me direct, either by post or from a stall. You will see the difference next to the stars on reviews.
If you haven’t already got a copy but would
like one as a present here’s the link: https://amzn.eu/d/bqy7S7x
or email me and arrange one to be posted to you (sueflint13@hotmail.com).
·
I recently took Oscar and my tree of home-made
owls to Sutton Coldfield for a National Trust meeting. There were a few stalls
in a big hall and over 100 guests listening to a very interesting talk about
women in aviation down the years. I sold a few copies of the book and had some
lovely chats with people. I hope to visit again in October.
·
Promotional work – Writing a book is not just
about writing and getting published. There is a lot of ‘admins’ to do as well
as venues to arrange. Those of you who are on social media will see me often on
Facebook – Sue Flint, Author page; Twitter/X @tweetsue13 and occasionally on
other platforms that I haven’t quite got to grips with: Threads, Instagram,
Linked-in etc. I have written to 4 schools, two W.I groups, sent out submissions
to a few publishers with 2 more children’s books and still working on acquiring
an agent/publisher for my novel. Phew, I feel tired just typing all that. How
do I fit it all in you may ask? Well, this week I have blocked out a whole page
in my diary to tell myself to knuckle down to it and am doing well thus far.
Other times I try to have two days a week or 3 mornings in which to do all
these things related to and actually writing, editing, researching etc.
·
Novel update – I have a zoom with SWWJ
International Feedback Group 29th Jan and I will discuss my first
pages and perhaps a change of title with them. I’m considering going to the
London Book fair this year in hope to make good connections. But that will be a
challenge.
·
Another challenge I have is to attend the 130th
Anniversary of SWWJ (Society of Women Writers and Journalists) also in London.
At the HOUSE OF LORDS, no less! Baroness Floella Benjamin, who is president of
SWWJ, will be in attendance and it would be so lovely to meet someone I have
admired since she presented Playschool on television all those years ago.
·
I continue to attend Tamworth Writers Group
which, over the winter, is just one evening a month in an award-winning town
centre pub called The Tap. Although some of us find the stairs to the top floor
quite a feat, we have a lovely time together listening to any work we want to
share, discussing writing topics and having a laugh or two. As a group we have
again contributed to a 2nd anthology being put together by Tamworth
Castle. Watch this space for further news next month.
·
I have booked to attend Swanwick Writers Summer
School again in August, my 8th year and their 75th
anniversary. This is held at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire and I am
there for the full board experience again after going part-time only since the
pandemic years. If you are a writer at any stage, from beginner to experienced,
of any genre, fiction/non-fiction, poetry, scriptwriter, song writer etc. do
look them up. So many courses to attend, great food and entertainment. Or just
a cosy room to retreat to write in, lovely grounds to walk around. Then talking
the talk at breaks and meals is so encouraging being with like-minded people.
Seek me out if you book your place. www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk
·
Writers often read a lot of books too. I read two
Christmas books by two of my favourite authors: Cathy Bramley Merrily Ever
After & The Christmas Love Letters by Sue Moorcroft. Both very enjoyable,
as all of their novels are. See my reviews on www.goodreads.com.
My delight in knowing that children are enjoying Oscar the Owl cannot be put into words. I have had a number of photos sent me, but I have permission to share these of my great-niece.
