Geraint Roberts - Ramblings of a would-be published novelist

Wot next?

The trials and tribulations of trying to get published! I wait patiently for a response from my ex-tutor as to my storyline. Once we have had the chat, I will move on to knocking on the next door.
I think there are 4 more publishers in Wales who might be worth trying, one of whom also offers a sort of co-op publishing arm - which means you have to stump up 75%of the cost, but recoup 67% of revenue. Well, we'll see.
Have been back to Aberystwyth over the weekend and apart from sampling my father's excellent malt whisky (recommend Isle of Jura...), I got some quality time reading old newspapers in the National Library of wales. the Aberystwyth Observer for 1882-6 to be precise.
They are hard work to read, no main headings, all narrow columns of text. Of interest though is the change of attitude of what is news. They will go into great lengths on events - garden parties, Eisteddfod and so on, Who sang what - very important, being Wales. The weekly takings of the Cambrian Railways, um...right, hold the back page.
I was interested in how they report the news from outside, General Gordon's defeat at Khartoum and the Irish famine. It would appear that there was great knowledge of the famine and calls for help. Then one report in 1886 tells me the health and clothing of the poor is fairly good. Like 'ok, nothing to worry about.'
Next we are told the figures of the thousands of emigres to the US from the 'blighted land'. A tragic tale and I can see how easy it was to let happen as the news was muddled and those that chose put in misguiding information. Never again, anywhere. Please.
Local newspapers of the time seemed to believe you had an idea of the main stories of the world, like you took it as a supplement. However to the poor miners, it was probably the only source of news. They discussed politics at the break. A thousand feet below the damp Mid Wales countryside, the old boys were probably waxing lyrical about Gladstone's home rule bill and the Boer War later on, in fact when Ladysmith was relieved, the mayor of the village of Ysbytty Ystwyth was on his horse and the village marched behind him three miles to the next village in celebration! They do that over here every time Northampton Saints win a rugby match...

posted by Geraint @ 6:20 pm