Forest Brothers novel released on March 4th 2013!
Hi
If you have arrived to this via one of the search engine, you will find more details about the novel on
www.geraintroberts.com
I have tried to keep you updated as much as possible with events. there are a few possibilities under wraps, so I best not chance fate by saying much - yet..........
Book release is 4th March, but then you saw that in the title!
It may be an idea to post the hook next, but I'd best check my guru first!
I have moved my postings about my writing to www.geraintroberts.com . Please feel free to visit!
The forest of biro marks
To give you an idea of what producing a novel entails, I thought I would try and update my blog every so often. Then you get an idea of the journey that the story
'Forest Brothers' has gone through. It will be like walking through a deep Estonian forest but with less midge bites.
I received back my manuscript from the publisher. She put a sheet of lined A4 paper at the front, where she had written in big letters 'This is going to be a superb novel.' Well, I'll attach the photo so you can see. It's very informal and a wonderful boost to morale. I have it as a screen saver,for when I need inspiration.
So what to do first? Nothing, of course. I felt knackered after so many years of trying to make the break-through. More time hoping than trying, I suppose. Those rejection letters were flowery and complimentary, but still a no. Of course, JK Rowling was rejected 35 times before Harry Potter made print, so that's all ok then...
The manuscript that was returned was full of biro notes, done in a very artistic and pleasing manner. Seriously though, my initial emotion was amusement. I immediately saw why she said 'will be'. You can look through a story a hundred times and it won't have the same effect as a critical opinion from a third party. You'll even miss spelling mistakes. Your eyes become lazy. Your mind tells you the story it knows, rather than you reading the page. You can lose perspective. It's hard to stand back.
Also, colloquial speech, social networking, e-mails and texts makes me incredibly lazy with the English language. Read my blog further, and I'm sure it will stick out like a sore thumb. English wot she is wrote.
I am busy working through the manuscript (Mss) and have sent the first 20 pages back for a sanity check. The response was positive. Exactly what was required - only can we do these extra changes, followed by more biro. It seems to me, that when you edit sometimes it gives you a clearer picture of what needs to be done, so you can tweak the tale even further. It's like clearing a box room and believe me... I have an untidy mind. Should I feel frustrated? I actually feel happy. The fact is the tale is getting honed and it's a step closer to the end goal. Even if it feels like baby steps on occasions.
On another point, I had a quiet chat with a local independent bookshop. 'Do you do book launches?'
'Oh yes, we love promoting local authors. Here's our number, let us know when it's out.'
Lovely
Forest Brothers
Forest Brothers is the name of my new novel, due out hopefully Q4 or early next year.
I may subtitle it Metsavennad, as that is the Estonian word for the bands of fugitives that lived hand to mouth in wartime Estonia.
The story is set in 1944, as Germany retreats and the Soviet Union is poised to retake the small nation. This is the current blurb although it may change to reflect the change in title:
December 1919 – The Royal Navy send a squadron of ships to the fledgling Estonian nation to aid their fight for independence. Huw Lloyd, a young navy officer jumps ship, sacrificing his career for the love of a woman. In time he is recaptured and made to suffer for his actions, as the Navy reclaims its own.
September 1944 – Huw is selected for covert operations in an Estonia ravaged by two armies and living in misery fuelled by pain and fear. Though helped by friends, his mission is compromised. In his flight, he is forced to make a choice as he is faced once more with the ghosts of his past and the realisation that nothing remains the same.
As I say, it may change to reflect the title, but it gives you an idea of where we're going!.
I will be posting progress reports as I go. At present, I am editing it with a lovely small press publisher. We have started once more at the beginning and I reacquaint myself with my characters in a great edit with spit, polish and a dab of Brasso where needed.
I have been searching for a good cover pic and have found one to form the basis of a painting.
So now all of a sudden, I'm thrust into some delightful dilemmas that I have never even thought of before. How and where to market?
Where to personally push?
What online and what not?
Market paper and e-versions separately?
Who to send promotional copies to?
Who to send freebies to in thanks?
Distribution of books
Even what name do I put on the title?
I can think of worse decisions to make!
A calmer Christmas
I have to acknowledge that things have moved on pretty fast since Halloween. One major change is I am in work! November proved to be quite a lethargic month, application forms went out, nothing really came of anything and I was beginning to slip into a loop of inactivity on virtually all fronts.
then i got 2 interviews in succession, both involving presentations. The first one at
Lampeter Uni, I thought I flunked. I was pretty upset, as i fancied the job. The second came soon after, a heavy cold dropped my effectiveness for preparation and on the day I gave myself little chance. Of course, that meant I got the job!
I'm now a funding manager for a rehab charity, I have to get the funds in and manage them. i don't see this as being an easy job, but the rewards are massive. I am being paid more (that's two fingers up to the shabby management!), I work less hours, I'm still close to home, there is a work ethic of not taking stuff home, the work is more relaxed and it's the first time I feel I'm doing something to help people's lives - much more than giving them a new telephone.
Some things changed also with me, I closed down all my ongoing
facebook games bar one, they seemed to be taking up my life! I am writing, I occasionally get spare time in lunch breaks and before work. I haven't got into the railway yet, but that needs factoring in. I'm calmer around the house too, that helps everyone. It is all symptomatic that I have turned the corner from those dark days at the Bank.
On the writing front, I managed to win a short story competition. An internal one for a writing press group, but progress nonetheless. I had a lovely rejection from another publisher on the novel too...
So, New Year - for my own personal development I need:
Don't forget to be involved with the family
Grow into the job and start delivering the funds that we need to survive
Write more regularly
Keep trying to get the book published, as the world slowly climbs out of recession.
Write some play ideas
work on model railway, perhaps do some kit assembly when the family watches TV
Enjoy life
All was quiet upstairs... Gareth was asleep - or so we thought.
Thing is, the hand prints are so linear and the colours are not linear. He has an eye for art of sorts...
A turning point - but to where?
I cannot believe I haven't blogged for 10 months! but reading the last one, I'm not in the least surprised. The first 8 months of this year have been pure hell. The job pushed me to seeing the Doctor for high anxiety (Damn, how I loved that movie...) and I was not in a nice place. i kept getting strung along for my probation period and the micro-management from above gave me no chance to settle. thrown in the deep end with limited support and a staffing level that seemed to lurch from 40-60%. Ah well, I'm shot of it. i quit on 8
th august and walked away with my head held high.
Been a bit quiet since, I've been applying for about 3 jobs a week and it's tough to even get a reply. Must do better.
The world has suddenly become brighter, despite the lack of gainful employment. I have begun to write new and edit old work. My character has left Stafford and is linking up nicely back in
Aberystwyth. I have sent some work off to a publisher on spec. I have even begun to build a model railway! I need to get more relaxed about the place, I know I'll be settled when I redecorate! At the mo, I still have doubts over whether the move was for my benefit or the whole family's.
Aile has moved jobs and is
paid much more for um less, so she says!
Evelin complains about the lack of shopping and
leisure opportunities that Northampton used to hold for her. I thank God from the bottom of my bank account.
Gareth is a very active 3yo. he has started school, 2 hours a day. It is the welsh speaking school, as I want him to have the chance - if he wants to stay. the lack of fluent Welsh may well be holding me back. I must post some pics of an event...
Time for a change?
The year comes to a close and it's time to sit back and reflect.
This time last year, we had a nice warm house in Northampton, nice new heating system. Cosy, knocking along nothing special. Then voluntary redundancy came up and by that time, I 'd had my fill of
BT's bureaucracy and
offshoring by stealth. I wanted to go. Aile said categorically no. 24 hours later, she said categorically yes. To get me out of the rut I'd created.
My rationale was simple. Better quality of life, right time for kids, closer to my ageing parents. I signed up and we sold up within 4 months. Pretty miraculous judging by the world now. I sit here now in
Ceredigion and reflect on the move. There have been times I've wondered what I have let my family in for. Now I hope it's a work in progress. Bit like my novels!
I left
BT in March and Aile quickly gained work here in the office of a garage. She moved first with
Gareth. I moved Evelin in May and followed soon after. An interview in
Aber involving a 432 mile round trip was enough for me.
By the end of May, I had found work. i attended an interview in
Oswestry, they offered me a job on the spot. Nice if you can get it. The job? Branch Manager of Abbey in
Aberystwyth. We bought a house in
Llanilar in August. On paper, that's brilliant. Why have I felt at times I let the side down?
The job took 8 weeks to be confirmed. On the day I received the letter, giving me 3 working days notice of start, I received a call offering me an interview for the post of Train Driver in
Machynlleth. Yes, turned it down. Had to, money in hand against the possibility of a dream. Well, I still kick myself on that. The job has turned out to be hell at times. The branch only has 5 staff and when your 2 cashiers leave (one with a week's notice) and your deputy is off for 6 weeks out of 10, you struggle. Most do not appreciate Banks are in it for sales. Nothing but Sales, you live and die by them. Ours have been predictably poor, am expecting the chop in January. As I write this, I actually am looking forward to it. Would have walked, but for the company saying they would bill me for training and an Insurance policy against redundancy. My guys have great potential and they will get there - if we are left alone to build. That isn't happening and I ain't a happy bunny. I thankfully still have some redundancy due next year, which will pay the way for the short term. Ride out the recession? Who knows.
Aile's job is ticking over. it has its frustrations, mostly she could do better. It's a case of keeping tabs on the opportunities - if 2009 brings any. Who knows what the world will do, scary times.
Evelin in the meantime has settled into my old school easily. I find it amusing that all her buddies have parents I went to school with! She had the biggest wrench, as she had gained a good social circle in a good school over the border, so it's heartening to see.
Gareth has developed fast. His grandma pushes him kindly, so he now recites the alphabet
amid mutters nursery rhymes. At 2 and a half, he is still prone to the epic major tantrums that drive me nuts at times. Like today. Least tonight we ended the day with a cuddle and a laugh. One day, he'll play for Scarlets, trust me...
The house is nice and cosy. Smaller garden, but flatter. Now full of fruit bushes. Nice conservatory, nice quiet village. Nice pub serving
Felinfoel and an old railway footpath to explore. I never appreciated how beautiful the
Ystwyth valley was. Now I get to
appreciate it every day, this is great. We have been exhausted by the move and not much has been changed. Having to live 2 months in University digs after a spectacular fallout with my parents wasn't the best moving in practice, but there we go. Nobody said it would be easy. I halved the mortgage with my redundancy money and am glad now I did.
What makes it all tiring is lack of social activities. I have yet to replace the wonderful writers club I had and the model railway is mothballed, awaiting me to open the shed. One day, when I don't feel like death as I arrive home... we have managed a few concerts, but baby needs watching and Evelin is just too young for now.
My writing has suffered and I have managed about 4 chapters since March. The story is stuck (in Stafford at the moment, but soon to come back West). I need to start writing again, touting my work and doing competitions.
Right now, it still feels a good move, but one which still has much to sort out.
When the sun starts shining again, maybe we can explore the beaches and hills we had started to in the summer. Definitely do something, as I won't be writing the same stuff next year.
Happy
Xmas to you all and hope 2009 is a good year.
