About the bookwitch « Bookwitch

About the bookwitch

I once thought I’d be a writer. Many years on I know I’m not one, really. But it can be fun to pretend. Someone who should know better suggested blogging. Particularly about my favourite subjects, authors and their books. And anything else vaguely related. Writing in my second language always causes interesting problems, but never mind. The two offsprings are one of each kind, and they sometimes get involved in my author hunts. Apart from children’s fiction I like crime, but only in books.

17 Comments

17 responses so far ↓

adele geras // February 23, 2007 at 15:14

Big welcome to the Blogosphere ,Bookwitch! You neglect to say that you are an EXCELLENT READER….not very many people are!
Meg Rosoff // March 1, 2007 at 12:13

Well I’m glad the Bookwitch has finally got her act together and started up this terrific blog. Never met such a fanatical children’s book reader, and all I ask is for lots of gossip and scurrilous rumour to come. As I don’t get a chance to read 1/10th of the books coming out at the moment, I look forward to hearing what the witch has to say. She’s also pychic, and always knows who’s going to win book prizes, and is only occasionally wrong!
Ian // March 6, 2007 at 20:38

Crime only in books? I think not. I’ve seen the Bookwitch many a time steal a cup of tea because as she was on the verge of paying, she spotted an author, and simply disappeared…
Lee // May 7, 2007 at 20:31

There’s obviously a secret initiation rite here, but I’m going to assume that even strangers and aliens and ghostwriters are also welcome.
bookwitch // May 7, 2007 at 21:06

Yes, Lee, you’re welcome. Nothing secret here, just nice people who make comments. The stranger the better. I seem to recognise your name from somewhere. Looked you up and will try to read a bit of that book of yours, except I hate reading a lot on screen.
Lee // May 8, 2007 at 5:33

Hi Bookwitch, thanks for the welcome. I only meant that everyone seems to know everyone else, but nothing nasty implied! I came over from Dina’s blog.

If you want to give my book a try, you can always download the PDF file and then print out a small bit.
grannyp // May 29, 2007 at 9:46

I also came over from Dina’s. Will keep an eye.
Ann // June 21, 2007 at 8:18

Hi Bookwitch,

Thanks for coming over to the site. I’ve added you to my daily list and will visit regularly as it’s always good to find another children’s lit. fanatic.
bookwitch // June 21, 2007 at 9:52

Welcome Ann. I got confused and thought you were me for a moment. With a bit of luck none of us will ever have time to read anything but blogs…
Annika // June 21, 2007 at 15:02

Kollar din blogg då och då. Bara så du vet.Bra jobbat!
enid richemont // November 8, 2007 at 12:04

Hi Bookwitch,
I found your site through Scattered Authors (or the alternative SAS). You ARE a writer - you write beautifully.
Try my website sometime. There’ll soon be three more books to be added (for fairly young readers), but please check out my older stuff, mostly with Walker… much of it now out of print but still obtainable.
Enid X
Sadie Jones // November 8, 2007 at 18:34

Bookwitch is great! Keep it up
Its me! // January 14, 2008 at 19:59

At long last I’ve accessed your blog!!! Very interesting, I like the idea of all these bloggs, looks like a good way to communicate and keep in touch!! Hope youve had a good christmas and a happy new year!!!
Cant wait to read more.
Col // February 5, 2008 at 8:56

Just found your blog through Bridge to the Stars, and added it to my Favourites at once.
Alistair Spalding // February 8, 2008 at 13:50

Hi Bookwitch,

You can see our logo on your home page banner image!

You seem to be very well connected in Children’s book publishing already, but I was wondering if you’d like one more connection?

I’d be pleasedto send you some of our advance reader copies to review.

There is a new Catherine Forde I’d like your reaction to.

If you are interested please drop me an email and I’ll send you one.

Best wishes,

Alistair
David Thorpe // March 28, 2008 at 10:17

My friend the fantastic children’s writer Malachy Doyle alerted me to your column on Nick Green’s Cat Kin. I am a writer with a similar fate - the author of Hybrids - Winner of the HarperCollins-Saga Magazine 2006 Childrens Novelist competition.

In November HarperCollins declined to publish a follow-up as their numbercrunchers didn’t think Book One had sold enough copies. V.
disappointing. I too was distinctly underwhelmed with the launch publicity compared to what was promised. I have two further Hybrids books planned which I still hope will see the light of day.

It too got great revews: The Times “A stunningly clever novel. Hybrids will get boys (and girls) talking and thinking about a brave new world without technological stimuli.”

James Lovegrove, Financial Times: “There is vigour and validity in Hybrids… a commendable first novel.”

Orange-prize winning author Helen Dunmore: “The writing is sharp, the dialogue good, and the action pacey and page-turning. But there’s a real depth to this story, too. Like all good fiction it makes the reader see the world in a different light.”

and many more.

Also -

• Hybrids has been shortlisted for the Sefton Super Reads award in the Sefton borough of Merseyside.
• Hybrids is being adapted for the stage by The Comedy Trust, Liverpool
• In Lewisham school librarians and their students shortlisted Hybrids for the second annual Lewisham Book Award.
• Hybrids is currently being adapted for comics by Brazilian artist Felipe Cunha.

I did have an agent. But she was so awful I let her go. I am now without an agent or publisher - but with several very exciting book proposals I am trying to pitch to publishers, and trying to find a new agent.

I agree with a lot of the comments on your blog. If you have any advice on which publishers or agents I might approach, or if you want to feature my story on your blog, that would be much appreciated.
bookwitch // March 30, 2008 at 23:14

Thanks David, for your long comment. I’m sorry to hear about your predicament, and it seems this is not unusual, which is a shame.

My understanding is that it’s no longer worth contacting publishers direct, so you have to charm an agent. I’m afraid I don’t know a lot of them, and I’m puzzled as to how some can be so useless. If they get paid a percentage, it seems strange not to work for your money.