Pick of the Week in the Observer's travel section on Sunday 20th April 2008
We are hugely excited to be launching TLC Literary Adventures - a new concept in writing holidays where inspiration and improvisation meet under the guidance of experienced tutors and in the company of some of our best-known writers and artists.
This September, we will be travelling to the stunning Aiyapura Resort & Spa in Thailand (www.aiyapura.com).
Accompanying us will be best-selling author Kate Mosse and her husband Greg (www.sepulchre.co.uk), and concert violinist Nadia Myerscough.
A full programme and booking details is available at www.literaryadventures.co.uk.
CHAPTER & VERSE
Due to popular demand, we are delighted to say that we have now run out of the forty subsidised rate placements for Chapter & Verse, our new mentoring scheme. For information about full price placements, do see full details under 'Mentoring' on the list of services in the menu.
INDUSTRY-LINKS
TLC continues to make links in the literary world at a higher rate that ever. Just published is 'Speaking of Love' by Angela Young who kindly says ' I really don't think any writer should try to get anything published before submitting to TLC.' Her reader was Birkbeck's Julia Bell.
Recently, Giles Kristian signed a three-book deal with Transworld on the strength of a novel 'Raven' which was read by Daniel Jeffreys. Bethan Roberts sold her novel 'The Pools' to Serpent's Tail after an editorial boost from a TLC read.
In addition, we are thrilled that Jenny Downham, who came to us via the Arts Council Free Read scheme, achieved a fantastic deal through the Felicity Bryan agency for her work 'Before I Die'.
We are proud to add Angela, Giles, Bethan and Jenny to the list of writers we have helped navigate their way through the complex and competitive world of modern publishing.
Also, look out for Nick Taussig, whose second novel Gorilla Guerilla hits the shelves as I write.
OTHER EVENTS
I have travelled this year thanks to the British Council to a literary Festival in Jaipur where colleague Chris Gribble and I helped judge a national writing competition (www.britishcouncil.org/arts-literature-amiwritingrubbish.htm)
And I am just back from China, where I worked with novice writers at the Bookworm bookshop in Chengdu (www.chengdubookworm.com).
Life in the creative writing front line is never dull.
Meanwhile, our core work however continues with the manuscript assessment and mentoring. Thank you as ever to those of you who have entrusted us with looking at your work. Receiving feedback can be a delicate process and I do think it is brave for writers to seek to get professional help. That said, we do of course endeavor to be constructive whatever the market-judgement.
Finally, I would like to remind you that Jess Porter and myself are available to discuss your work in-house if you want to tell us about what you are working on and find out if getting an assessment is a good idea.
The smooth running of the in-house team from our established office at Diorama Arts enables TLC to keep abreast of market developments and trends in order to inform our clients better. We can also continue to research and work with the best readers, editors and agents available.
We are here to help you if we can.
With best wishes,
Rebecca Swift
Director, TLC
March 2008
Rebecca Swift was short-listed for the prestigious Kim Scott Walwyn Memorial Prize and attended a prize-giving ceremony and dinner at Oxford University Press in December 2004, where Kym worked as an editor. Trustees for the prize included Dame Gillian Beer, Francine Stock and Hermione Lee among others. The prize honours an outstanding achievement by a woman in publishing or related fields. The winner was Rights Manager Lynette Owen. Visit www.booktrust.org.uk for more details.
Winter 2006
TLC’s innovative mentoring
scheme Chapter and Verse
has places available.
Click here for more information
Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, with which TLC gave
me excellent editorial help, sold 30,000 copies to the consumer in hardback.
Your fine and necessary service made it possible for me as a novice to
write a bestseller.
Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Transworld
Editorial acumen and wisdom is difficult to find, and
TLC possesses both. My first novel has found its way onto Waterstone’s
Summer Reads list and it would have not got there without TLC.
Nick Taussig, Love and Mayhem, Revolver Books
Thanks to TLC I got an agent and secured a deal with Hodder
Headline. The help you provided was invaluable.
Max Kinnings, Hitman and The Fixer, Hodder
I found it invaluable to receive a thoughtful and perceptive
report on the strengths and weaknesses of my novel from a professional
whose opinions I could trust.
Christine Coleman, The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society, Transita
If it wasn’t for TLC, my novel just wouldn’t
have made it.
Heather Reyes, Zade, Saqi
Macmillan have commissioned my fourth children’s
book in the Jammy Dodgers series. Without the Literary Consultancy’s
help with the first book I would never have got this far.
Brenda Sivers Bowering, Jammy Dodgers series, Macmillan
I would like to thank TLC for making my book publishable.
Pam Smart, Who’s Afraid of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Chipmunk Publishing
It is no exaggeration to say that The Literary Consultancy’s
advice and encouragement was invaluable to me when I was writing my first
novel, Isabella.
Fiona Mountain, Pale as the Dead and Isabella, Orion
I think it’s fair to say that I owe my career to
TLC, editorially and financially. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend
their services to anyone.
James Flint, Habitus and 52 Ways to Magic America, Fourth Estate
TLC’s report and recommendation enabled me to secure
an excellent agent and a superb two book deal.
Kim Lloyd, Erskine’s Box, Sceptre
TLC’s feedback motivated me to keep going with my
first novel,
which is now on the bookshop shelves!
Helen Salter, Does Snogging Count as Exercise?, Piccadilly Press
I am awed by your reader’s philosophical, novelistic
and teaching skills. I can’t thank her enough.
Y. J.M Bonavero, Something in the Sea, Bloomsbury
Thank you for your kindness and encouragement and for
choosing such a perfect reader.
Norman Thomas, The Thousand Petalled Daisy, Maia Press
TLC was invaluable to me for my novel. I wouldn’t
dream of sending a completed novel to my publisher without having TLC
look at it first.
Prue Leith, Leaving Patrick, Sisters and A Lovesome Thing, Penguin Books
I am convinced my book’s success is due to the down
to earth, practical advice The Literary Consultancy gave me.
Tony Booth, Cox’s Navy, Pen and Sword
Many thanks to your excellent consultancy for its invaluable
contribution to making this possible.
Michael Richardson, The Pig Bin, Tindall Street Press
TLC introduced my work to agents and publishers on my behalf.
I suspect no-one would have looked at it otherwise.
Jenny Downham, Before I Die, David Fickling Books, Random House
The advice I received from Anna was detailed, forthright yet encouraging, and pretty spot on.
When my agent sent the book off again, we secured a deal with Serpent’s Tail.
Bethan Roberts, The Pools, Serpent’s Tail
www.pynto.com
