Archive for June, 2011
This summer TLC reader Christopher Wakling offers two powerful novels, The Devil’s Mask, published by Faber in June, and What I did, published
by John Murray in August. The Devil’s Mask, is a thrilling story set in the commercial corruption of the Empire and the aftermath of the abolition of the slave trade. What I Did, looks at the unseen consequences of a split second decision, about a childhood interrupted and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. Although Wakling is mostly known for his thrillers, with these two novels Wakling clearly shows that he is equally capable of writing something that is dramatic as well as emotionally subtle and heartbreaking.
Click here to check out Wakling’s website and or see a video with Wakling talking about his book.
Arzu Tahsin, who has been one of TLC’s industry day speaker for the past three years, originally recognized the talent behind the Tiger’s wife and bought it at W & N.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/obreht-takes-orange-prize.html
I bought it and I worked on the editorial side of things with her US editor, Noah Eaker.
TLC reader Rachel Trezise has been chosen as one of the judges for this year’s Dylan Thomas Prize. Trezise won the prize herself in 2006 for her short story collection Fresh Apples. Click here to find out more.
TLC has helped thousands of writers over the past 15 years. Once in a while the editorial feedback leads to a swift sale or contact with an agent, but in most cases the journey is still long and winding. For many writers the exchange with an editor at TLC and the knowledge that they ‘can write’ encourages them to be persistent. In the case of Jim Powell his tenacity helped him to attain terrific results in a notoriously unpredictable industry.
Jim Powell writes: “the immense encouragement and sound practical advice I received from The Literary Consultancy proved to be the bridge between the dream of being a published author and the reality of becoming one.” Nearly ten years ago, when Jim was in his early fifties, he decided he wanted to write novels. He submitted his first novel to agents, but it wasn’t accepted. One agent, however, recognised its potential and suggested he send it to TLC for an objective assessment. Although his reader, Charles Boyle, was immensely positive towards the manuscript and TLC championed his work, agents still did not bite. Then in 2007, Jim sent his second novel The Breaking Of Eggs to TLC for another assessment by Charles. Again TLC was encouraging and after many more twists and turns, Jim was taken on by insightful literary agent Susan Armstrong at Conville & Walsh. She immediately sold the world rights for a six figure sum to Arzu Tahsin at Weidenfeld & Nicolson. The novel was published in March 2010 in the UK (hardback), and in July 2010 in the US by Penguin (paperback). In March this year it was chosen as one of the best 12 first novels of the past two years by the BBC’s The Culture Show.
The success that the novel attained was due to a combination of Jim’s strong-headed approach, TLC’s support en route, and the fact that in the end Conville & Walsh recognised the writer’s potential. Jim writes of TLC: “both critiques gave me a much better insight into what I had written and how it might be viewed. Most importantly, the process helped to give me the self-confidence to believe I could write novels, and the stamina to go on making submissions despite all the rejections, and thus certainly contributed to what happened later.” TLC encourages writers to be realistic in their goals and to seek an objective opinion of their work before self-publishing or submitting their work to agents.
Check out Jim Powell’s website for more information about his previous and current writing projects.
TLC has helped thousands of writers over the past 15 years. Once in a while the editorial feedback leads to a swift sale or contact with an agent, but in most cases the journey is still long and winding. For many writers the exchange with an editor at TLC and the knowledge that they ‘can write’ encourages them to be persistent. In the case of Jim Powell his tenacity helped him to attain terrific results in a notoriously unpredictable industry.
Jim Powell writes: “the immense encouragement and sound practical advice I received from The Literary Consultancy proved to be the bridge between the dream of being a published author and the reality of becoming one.” Nearly ten years ago, when Jim was in his early fifties, he decided he wanted to write novels. He submitted his first novel to agents, but it wasn’t accepted. One agent, however, recognised its potential and suggested he send it to TLC for an objective assessment. Although his reader, Charles Boyle, was immensely positive towards the manuscript and TLC championed his work, agents still did not bite. Then in 2007, Jim sent his second novel The Breaking Of Eggs to TLC for another assessment by Charles. Again TLC was encouraging and after many more twists and turns, Jim was taken on by insightful literary agent Susan Armstrong at Conville & Walsh. She immediately sold the world rights for a six figure sum to Arzu Tahsin at Weidenfeld & Nicolson. The novel was published in March 2010 in the UK (hardback), and in July 2010 in the US by Penguin (paperback). In March this year it was chosen as one of the best 12 first novels of the past two years by the BBC’s The Culture Show.
The success that the novel attained was due to a combination of Jim’s strong-headed approach, TLC’s support en route, and the fact that in the end Conville & Walsh recognised the writer’s potential. Jim writes of TLC: “both critiques gave me a much better insight into what I had written and how it might be viewed. Most importantly, the process helped to give me the self-confidence to believe I could write novels, and the stamina to go on making submissions despite all the rejections, and thus certainly contributed to what happened later.” TLC encourages writers to be realistic in their goals and to seek an objective opinion of their work before self-publishing or submitting their work to agents.
Check out Jim Powell’s website for more information about his previous and current writing projects.
On 19th May, the judges for the Wales Book of the Year whittled down the longlist to three titles, including TLC reader John Harrison for his book Cloud Road: a journey through the Inca Heartland (Parthian, August 2010). Francesca Rhydderch, Chair of the English judges’ panel said: ”Whittling the Long List down from ten to a Short List of three was no easy task. Each of the ten books on the Long List was wonderful and unique, in our opinion. In the end, though, the three titles that made it to the Short List claimed their place there because they were pitch perfect from start to finish: their authors exerted an artistic control over their work (in three very different genres) that was supremely impressive.”
The competition is open to books of all genres and on 7th July, the £10,000 winner is announced. In addition to the shortlisting, John Harrison has also recently been elected to the British Guild of Travel Writers.
TLC is delighted for John and wish him the best of luck on 7th July. Click here to check out John’s website and learn more about his new projects.
TLC film/TV reader Kieron Connolly has launched a blog of his interviews called Film-makers in Conversation. Interviewees include screenwriter and children’s novelist Frank Cottrell Boyce (24 Hour Party People, Welcome to Sarajevo, Millions), screenwriter and playwright Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, the film Atonement) and writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, The Pusher Trilogy). “It’s simply film-makers sharing their experiences, concerns and secrets about their craft and art,” says Kieron. “For new writers these interviews can be inspiring, instructive and, of course, a worthwhile and pleasant diversion from getting on with one’s own writing.” Kieron hopes to add an interview each month.
Extract from the Film-makers in Conversation interview with Frank Cottrell Boyce.
Frank Cottrell Boyce: “I’ve always called myself a hack and I’m quite happy to be one. You do it for the money but not in a bad way. You’re up for an adventure. I’m not an artist. This might be completely humpty-dumpty of me making my own definition, but to me a hack is someone who’s good at it and will play an interesting game with whoever comes along, rather than someone who’ll say: “I have things to say about the world”. I know writers who know exactly what their thing is and I don’t actually know what my thing is. I wouldn’t say I’ve got a voice.”
Click here to read the whole interview or visit previous interviews.