The business-end of writing
Publicising a new book is hard work but enjoyable... and rewarding
The Lady in the Lake is almost here
My new book is out this week.
It’s exciting. I really don’t know what impact, if any, it’s going to make. Like my first book, it’s true crime, but unlike that earlier publication (about an Agatha Christie-era double murder), this one is about a murder case that I reported on as a reporter early in my career.
The book is called The Lady in the Lake: A Reporter’s Memoir of a Murder. The clue is in the word ‘memoir’. This is not just a straight recounting of a strange and notorious murder case. It is a story in which I play a (small) part.
Writing such a memoir brought a host of ethical considerations (which I will write about in a future post). It has also left me feeling somewhat exposed; I’ve never been comfortable writing about myself — I guess I’ve been a reporter for too long.
Nevertheless, the process of writing about my own experiences, my thoughts and feelings in the context of a book that is the first full account of the 1997 Coniston Water murder has been good for me as a writer. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I have pushed the limits — I believe — of what I can do.
Publicity
Much of my spare time in the past few weeks has been taken up with publicity for the book.
Working with the excellent publicity team at Mirror Books, I’ve sent out dozens of press releases (both generic and bespoke for specific local, regional and national media). I’ve pitched countless ideas for features to national and regional newspapers, and received commissions from several.
I’ve got dates to give interviews to BBC Radio and true crime podcasts.
It’s been exhilarating, but also exhausting (my day job is teaching university journalism students).
I can’t complain — this is what being an author looks like: publicising your work is a sizeable proportion of the job. Writing is only part of it.
So, my book is out on Thursday (10th October). I will post more details shortly.
Until then…