Jelly Bean is pleased to announce its second ‘Book of the Month’, Old Clothes and Porridge by author Maureen Mullally-Clarke. This wonderful memoir looks back at a bygone age, particularly focusing on the 1930s and ‘40s.
Brought up by her grandmother in Glasgow, Maureen and her little sister Oonagh only saw their parents at eighteen month intervals. Old Clothes and Porridge tells the story of a childhood spent against the backdrop of the Depression, the launch of the Queen Mary, the Jarrow march, the abdication of King Edward VIII, the coronation of George VI, WW2 and the VE Day celebrations. Maureen says: “I wrote this book for my grandchildren. I’ve always told them about my childhood, and they have often said, “Why don’t you write it all down?”, so that’s exactly what I did.”
Candy Jar Publishing Co-ordinator, Keren Williams, says: “It is important to document our lives and the lives of our families, otherwise this information becomes lost. Old Clothes and Porridge is a personal memoir that the world will enjoy, and I’m certain Maureen’s family will treasure. More people should be encouraged to write about their lives, even if it is just for their family.”
Maureen agrees and would encourage others to write down their life stories. She continues: “Yes, I would and in fact I do. I know one woman who used to be a war correspondent and one man who had a brilliant military career. People have fascinating lives and they should be documented.”
One of Candy Jar’s most popular titles is Eileen Younghusband’s One Woman’s War, which offers a vivid insight into the life of a young woman facing the grim reality of war. Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing, says: “Old Clothes and Porridge reminds me so much of One Woman’s War. As soon as I read it, I knew Maureen’s story would touch hearts across the generations. This book is attention grabbing, well-written and also extremely funny. At this time of uncertainty this book is a joyous reminder how wonderful it is to be human. ”
After being advised by her best friend’s granddaughter of the benefits of being in control of the publishing process, Maureen decided to go with Jelly Bean. Maureen says: “It was great to receive an email from Shaun on 19th January and the books arrived on 19th March! And when you hold that book in your hands it’s like having a new baby.”
Overwhelmed by the support of her family and friends, Maureen is really delighted with the end product. She concludes: “I would like to send my gratitude to everyone who has read my book and for the lovely things they have been saying about it. I am so pleased that it now available on Amazon.”
Old Clothes and Porridge is now available worldwide through Amazon. To order the book visit: https://tinyurl.com/ycybtlg3
Until further notice, Jelly Bean has relocated to a number of different properties across the Cardiff area!
I know I speak for all of us – Will, Keren, Andy and myself – when I say that I sincerely hope you are safe and well in these difficult and uncertain times.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve all heard a lot of ideas about how best to keep ourselves occupied in the months to come: whether online classes, box sets – even Joe Wicks workout videos on YouTube!
Of course, you may have your own ideas: maybe working through that to-read pile , putting the final touches on a new manuscript, or starting something else creative.
Sadly, we know that the next three months are not to be ones of leisure. Every one of us will have our own difficulties to face: from setting up a workplace from our bedrooms, providing for vulnerable friends and family, or simply keeping ourselves healthy in body and mind during our suddenly constricted day to day lives.
And of course, the greatest pressures will fall on those of you who are key workers, to whom we can only extend our gratitude and admiration.
To say a big thank you to our clients and customers we will be giving free books away on Kindle every Friday until isolation is over. The first freebie is the Lucy Wilson book, Avatars of the Intelligence (available from 9am Friday morning).
We are also creating a Jelly Bean ‘Book of the Month/Week’ page on our Candy Jar website. If you like your book to be considered for this please get in touch. We will be sending this information out on Twitter, Facebook and via our subscriber list.
On the flipside, if you have any work you need doing such as editing, proofreading, website design, audiobooks or illustration work please do get in touch. If not, please pass this email on to your friends.
We are just a phone call away, and would love to discuss any new projects you may have, with no commitment on your behalf. Although for the foreseeable future, individually we are all holed away in our respective homes, we offer the same personal service as ever. In short, everything to take your work from draft to print and into the hands of readers.
The wheels keep on turning, albeit through a strange new landscape, and soon, I am sure, we will return to familiar ground.
From all of us here at Jelly Bean, stay safe.
Shaun Russell Head of Publishing Jelly Bean / Candy Jar Books
Know Your Product
Your book is a product – and you are hoping to find buyers for it, just like any other product. But to make sure it is the best it can be – you need to know exactly what it is; are you sci-fi? Non-fiction? What is your book about? Is it a quirky encyclopaedia of the world’s weirdest garden sheds? Or a poetry collection focusing on the struggles of motherhood? Think about the objectives of your book. Knowing your product enables you to make it the best it can be in all aspects; marketing strategy, promotion, finding niche markets, editing, cover design etc.
Where
Before publishing – think about how and where you are going to sell your book. Do you want to approach retailers and bookshops or is your book just something small you want to keep for yourself? Either or, this will dictate the kind of services you require from Jelly Bean Self Publishing. For example, if you want to try and get your books into stores and libraries you will need as ISBN. These kind of thing will all shape what kind of book and deal you want to arrange with us. As a result, we recommend putting some forethought into how you’re going to sell.
Who
Think about who will read your book. If it’s a children’s book – the answer is obvious. The steps to capturing your readers might involve going to school’s to do readings or organising a reading event for children and parents in the area. Jelly Bean Self Publishing author Molly Arbuthnott reached out to schools in the UK and ended up getting orders of her book Oscar the Ferry Cat through her reaching out! So hitting the right market is really important and can really help improve your book’s success in terms of moving copies. See here for more information about Molly’s story…
How
How will you sell? Marketing. Marketing is how you will sell. People need to know your book is out there, and they aren’t going to find you – you need to find them. Here at Jelly Bean Self Publishing we do offer small marketing support, but a lot of it lies on the author’s shoulders to self promote if you want your book to do the best it can.
Attending literary events (or events to do with what your book is about) and doing readings, getting on to social media, interacting with readers and writers who follow you online, entering yourself into competitions – all of these are ways to self promote that cost little-to-nothing. If your book has a niche – make yourself known in these circles. If your book is niche – this can be both an advantage or disadvantage. You might have lots of people in the waiting for a book like yours or your niche might not exist out there – so be aware of either or and do some research if you can.
We recommend thinking of marketing as a little business; overseeing the practicalities of what will bring sales in is so important in ensuring your book’s success.
Why not send your book to Jelly Bean Self-Publishing?
A great way to get your book off your computer and into the world, and with 10% off this Black Friday why wait?
Just send your manuscript to submissions@jellybeanselfpublishing.co.uk with the words ‘strawberry pencil’ as the subject to receive 10% off and we will be in touch.
Here at Jelly Bean Self-Publishing, we want to start a reading revolution. Here are just a few reasons to put down your phone, turn off the TV, and for a few hours an evening enjoy an actual book…
In the modern world, where much of our interaction with words takes place on screens (mobile phones, tablets, computers, etc.), it is certainly worth reiterating the health and lifestyle benefits of reading a good book.
Not that reading off a screen is so bad – after all, it’s led you here! But it is estimated we spend up to a whopping ten hours (!) staring at screens every day.
Reading brings to life neural pathways in the brain. This in turn leads to the creation of new memories, and as such creates new synapses that strengthen our brains. So basically, reading is like taking your brain to the gym!
Reading can reduce anxiety and alleviate stress. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, reading offers us the magic of escapism. It frees our minds, which in turn lightens the pressures of day-to-day life.
Reading asks you to consider abstract concepts, developing critical thinking skills.
Has a friend ever bolstered you to participate in an activity you were apprehensive about? It has been proven that readers who admire a fictional character’s courage to partake in physical challenges that scare them (g. riding a horse, climbing a mountain, sailing a boat, etc.), are themselves better able to muster the bravery to try new activities in their own life.
It goes without saying that reading improves your vocabulary and communicative ability. If anyone’s going to impress their peers with a quick-witted remark, it’s an avid reader.
Reading gives us a sense of self-accomplishment, boosting self-esteem.
If you’re the sort of person to fall for fictional characters (aren’t we all?), then studies show you are a more empathetic person for it. In imagining life from another’s perspective, you yourself become a more caring, understanding person (go you!).
Reading a book in bed helps you sleep better. Conversely, the glare of a TV screen or a smart-phone makes it more difficult to drop off.
Do you know of any positive impacts of reading we’ve missed? If so, please feel free to get in touch. Thanks for reading, and keep up the good work!
Kurt Vonnegut was an American writer and author of fourteen books, including classics such as Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle and Breakfast of Champions. His writing is an amalgamation of styles and genres. In his short story collection Bagombo Snuff Box, Vonnegut described eight rules for writing.
Now lend me your ears. Here is Creative Writing 101:
Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
But the great man also had one very important caveat:
The greatest American short story writer of my generation was Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964). She broke practically every one of my rules but the first. Great writers tend to do that.’
Let’s talk fonts. No, no, wait… come back. It’s fun, I promise. Well, it’s important, anyway. I mean, check this out:
Now, if you were James Joyce and you’d sprung for a self-publishing contract, this isn’t exactly what you’d want, is it? It’s a detail that many, authors and readers alike, often do not consider, but the right font is essential to a book’s success.
There are certain fonts that you’re used to seeing in certain contexts, and while you might not think about it consciously, when one wanders into the wrong book you can be sure you’re brain notices. Bearing in mind that ‘font’ includes variables such as line spacing and style, imagine, say, Stephen King set up like this:
Weird, right? Sort of undermines the whole effect. That’s because we’re used to seeing wide line spacing like that in children’s books, to help young readers focus on the words. Or how about this:
Dense, claustrophobic, intense… Probably not what A.A. Milne was going for when hewrote that particular piece. Now cast about you for the nearest professionally produced book. A Penguin classic or something. See the difference?
Don’t let your hard work be undermined by inappropriate stylistic choices. It won’t matter how much care and thought you’ve put into your writing if all a reader can think when they open your book of is ugh, Comic Sans…Drop Jelly Bean Self-Publishing’s experienced typesetters a line, and let us find the right clothes for your writing to wear out into the world…
So you’ve written your book. First of all: kudos. They say everyone’s got a book in them, but not everyone has the work ethic to get that book onto the page. But what about the next step, getting it from the page and into print? It’s often the case that prospective authors find this stage as daunting as the writing process itself.
Of course, there is a well trodden path that authors can take: finding yourself an agent and letting them pitch your work to publishers. But of the literally thousands of literary agents out there, which is the best fit for you? And how can you guarantee that the publishers they approach are the right ones for your work? Authors are a dime a dozen to agents and publishers; there’s no guarantee that they will share your vision for your book, let alone give it the attention and care that it deserves. Perhaps they love it, but the next gap in their publishing schedule is in two years time; or perhaps instead of X, the main character did Y and Z instead? Oh, you don’t agree? Well, that’s a shame…
So that’s it. You’ve slaved over your manuscript, crafted it into something you’re proud of, and now you have to hand it over to a group of people you’ve met perhaps once or twice, to do with what they will, to release when it suits them, over which to exercise executive control in regards to the final text, cover art, illustrations, marketing, etc. etc.
Remember when I said, ‘So you’ve written your book’? Well, it’s not your book anymore…
Of course, many authors who pursue traditional publishing routes have positive experiences; but all of them, regardless of how happy they are with the final product, have to relinquish direct control of their work in the very early stages of the publishing process. It is this control that self-publishing seeks to return to the author. Authors who self-publish have the final say over every single aspect of their book: the text, the art, the design, even the blurb.
Of course, it is also the job of a self-publishers to advise you in your decisions. Here at Jelly Bean, our experienced industry professionals offer their guidance every step of the publishing process, from initial editing through to marketing. But that’s the key word: guidance. While guaranteeing that your book is professionally viable, we will never forget that it is very personal to you. We will ensure your book reads how you want it to; that it looks just as you imagined it; that it is ready to be sold in the kind of environments you envisaged; that it will appeal to the people that you want it to buy it — all through a process tailored from the get go to your specific requirements, and costed accordingly.
Simply put, Jelly Bean Self-Publishing puts you, the author, first.
You’re welcome — firstly for all for the hours of entertainment I’ve just provided, but secondly, and far more importantly, for warning you against the single biggest and most common mistake self-published authors make.
No matter how the old saying goes, everyone judges a book by its cover. It may not be fair, but it’s absolutely true. Pick one of the covers you’ve just seen. Imagine if that had been for the first edition of, say, The Great Gatsby. I think if that were the case it’s a pretty safe bet that old Gatsby wouldn’t be all he’s considered to be today.
Now, we shouldn’t be too critical of the unfortunate authors who’ve found themselves featured in such lists. Publishing a book yourself can be a daunting process, and there’s a lot more to consider than most first-time authors expect. It’s also fair to say that many literary minded people are perhaps not so astute when it comes to judging design. And when you’ve already handed over your hard earned cash to a designer only to be presented with, well, whatever some of those covers are supposed to be, I think some self-rationalisation is understandable.
This is why it’s so important to ensure that the design of your book cover is in good hands before you part with your money. At Jelly Bean Self-Publishing, we employ the same cover designers as those who work with our sister imprint, award-winning independent publisher Candy Jar Books, ensuring cover art of the highest standard. You put your name to the words; our artists put theirs to the art; we stake our professional reputation on the finished product. Together, we’ll try and stay laughing at those ‘lousy cover’ lists — not featuring on them.
So you’ve written your book. First of all: kudos. They say everyone’s got a book in them, but not everyone has the work ethic to get that book onto the page. But what about the next step, getting it from the page and into print? It’s often the case that prospective authors find this stage as daunting as the writing process itself.
Do me a quick favour: Google ‘lousy book covers’.