Forgot the mirror image when printed. (Black square)
I don’t know what to think of this but hope I am not smelling a rat, perhaps just a whiff of a small mouse? I have received by overseas post, (yes remember post?) a letter where my initial submission of ‘Almost There’ was received favourably by ‘a board of editors.’ Really? I have been asked by ‘this board of editors’ to submit my entire manuscript by a Word attachment.
The address of this publishing house is impressive. Canary Wharf, London. Images of gleaming floors and whispering voices, a battery of computer-screens with assistant sub-editors smashing glass ceilings. Huge screens being lit up by the latest book releases and their screaming jackets. Appointments with TV channels, interviews with new and budding literary giants. The pale looking manager rushing to the elevator to meet dead lines. A frantic hub of activity.
In the midst of all that a special executive room with a large table surrounded by smart black chairs on which are seated ‘a board of editors’ all discussing gerard Oostermans ‘Almost There’.
Sometimes, when things are just too good to be true. They usually are. My Helvi is telling me to calm down and just send the manuscript and see what happens.
What do you reckon, dear readers and followers? Do you smell a rat?
Tags: Canary Wharf, Helvi, London, Manuscript, TV
Oosterman Treats Blog 
March 14, 2016 at 9:51 pm |
You don’t give the publisher’s name and Canary Warfe is not a centre of publishing. However, if it is Austin Macauley, they are perfectly respectable, so go for it.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:30 pm |
Yes, they are. I am over the moon with your assessment of them. I am over half way now with again trawling over the whole thing with so many words reading strange.
The jacket has a photo of all of us sleeping on the floor of the asbestos garage after our arrival. H thinks it is just too grim a picture. I think it is what the book of dodgy memoirs is about. Not grim but just a bit serious and somewhat funny.
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March 15, 2016 at 7:13 am
Best of luck. This is only a few rungs up the ladder, and it is a game of snakes and ladders out there, so don’t get too excited. I don’t know anything about Austin Macauley myself, but I did a quick run round the information on them on the Internet and it is OK.
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March 15, 2016 at 8:54 am
Yes, I know Hilary. Snakes and ladders. I am not getting too excited. I read some good and some bad things about all sorts of well known publishers.
We shall see.
Did you read ‘The Daily Life’ and an article by Pippa Mason on writers and publishers?
http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/work-and-money/the-page-turner-20160309-gnef3r.html
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March 15, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Just to say, that if they do run a mixture of trad and vanity publishing, the warning light should come on if anyone asked you for money. In mainstream publishing you do not part with a penny to get your book into print (I’m not counting all the money you put into launch parties, flyers etc, that’s your choice).
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March 14, 2016 at 10:16 pm |
Despite the fact that canaries might require, much less possess their own wharf, being highly suggestive of scamative activity, there is no record of Helvi ever being wrong.
Don’t forget your copyright stamps.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:39 pm |
There are so many scammers about, Mike. I keep getting warnings from ‘an account manager’ who wants, for just one dollar, make sure my files won’t be deleted. I keep getting that pesty e-mail.
Irritating how much tension is caused by all this internet stuff. I feel like I should wear a helmet or some protective suit.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:30 pm |
Canaty Wharf was all glass skyscraper banks a few years ago when I was there.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:35 pm |
I have never been to Canary wharf. I stayed at Shepherd’s Bush many years ago. It was the year the Dutch won an important soccer match.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Canary Wharf has been built up within less than the last two decades. So it may not have been there for you to see.
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March 15, 2016 at 5:03 pm
I’ve seen it recently as my husband worked there before retirement. It is another world within London.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:31 pm |
oops 1 Pressed a wrong button. This publishing world is like a different planet to me.
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March 14, 2016 at 10:40 pm |
Yes, I know the feeling. One wrong push, and things could go haywire.
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March 15, 2016 at 12:52 am |
Just from curiosity, is your letter signed by an individual? Is there a phone number? Is there a nice paragraph describing the process your manuscript will go through? Is there any mention of rights that you reserve until they accept the manuscript?
This is more curiosity than warning. When I had some poetry published in an anthology, both the editor of the book and the publisher’s representative were in contact personally, outlining every step of the process, all along the way.
Oh — and will this editorial board be making changes to your manuscript? If so, are you ok with that? That’s one reason I think I’d prefer self-publishing, if I ever whomp up the whatever to do it. I want to keep control of my words.Silly, self-important me!
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March 15, 2016 at 2:23 am |
Yes, Linda. The letter is signed and Austin Macauley has a registered VAT number and is a Registered business. All they said so far is that they want to see the rest of the manuscript. There is nothing promised. They, their editors ‘favourably’ reported on my initial submission.
The company has been working since 2006. I checked some of their authors and their books that have been published. There are some unfriendly Google articles about this publisher, but Penguin, Random House, Hachette’s and almost all the main players in publishing are not spared harsh criticism by some.
Perhaps it is a hard game and people might smart badly when things go wrong. That’s why I have the backing of nice people and beautiful Windflowers to fall back on. In any case; all this keeps me off the streets. I like putting down words, regardless.
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March 15, 2016 at 2:29 am
It occurs to me that the publishing business might be akin to the restaurant business in this regard: there are people who spend their time putting down one establishment or the other, all to drive business to their own. It’s a strange practice, but not inconceivable. I wouldn’t worry much about negative comments in articles, forums, and so on.
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March 15, 2016 at 8:43 am
Any business is there to make money. A publisher is not any different. There are millions of manuscripts which writers submit. The publisher is struggling the same as the writer.
One of the most intriguing bit of news to come out is that colouring-in books for adults are taking the world by storm.
It seems that grown adults seek relief from life by colouring in.
How does a writer get accepted in getting his book of colouring- in published? Perhaps include the colouring-in pencils.
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March 15, 2016 at 3:24 am |
Sounds great Gerard, can i have a signed first edition.
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March 15, 2016 at 8:45 am |
Yes, you will, Dot. I’ll sign the book on your shoulder while being mobbed by thousands.
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March 15, 2016 at 3:50 am |
Weelll I don’t know about that. How do you ensure that your book is not stolen? Check and check and even have some of your blogger friends in England see what they can find out for you. Someone very trust worthy and one name comes to mind here but I will not mention his name for fear he might be offended. I know he has much on his plate but maybe there are other bloggers who can check out the publisher for you.
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March 15, 2016 at 8:47 am |
Getting a manuscript stolen is the highest praise one could wish for. Only kidding. 😉 But, it is a well know fact that thieves stealing art works only push up the prize of the work.
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March 17, 2016 at 4:35 am
Hmm that is something to ponder. 🙂
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March 15, 2016 at 4:57 am |
We’re all learning a lot from this latest experience of yours, Gerard. How exciting to receive that letter. Your many fans wish you the best of British luck. (And, don’t forget us little folks when you’re a published author, and they’re making a movie of your memoir!)
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March 15, 2016 at 8:49 am |
Yes, I won’t get all snotty if that happens. I might just sit in the back of the theatre and have a choc-top.
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March 15, 2016 at 10:07 am |
I’d never heard of this publisher, so have just done some quick internet digging. It seems that they do offer traditional publishing contracts, but they also offer contracts that involve author contributions (they do say that on their site). I couldn’t find any info on sums involved. It appears that they have some satisfied customers, as well as some disgruntled ones. My advice would be to research thoroughly and then go with your gut! If you are happy to invest in self publishing, I would go with a publisher for which you can get recommendations from sources you respect.
I don’t know London, but Canary Wharf is, I understand, largely a business district.
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March 15, 2016 at 10:07 pm |
Yes, I understand that this publisher has a policy of sometimes asking contributions from the author to get a book published. We shall see. So far I have spent money on editing and that was a very modest sum for an excellent editor ( Dave Burton https://economyedits.wordpress.com/diaryschedule/ ) who went out of his way to get it up to scratch.
I am now almost to the end of getting it formatted and print-ready. We shall see.
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March 15, 2016 at 5:58 pm |
It’s important to protect your manuscript which I’m sure you have already done. You are at a scary point toward fame. All that glitters isn’t gold but “no pain, no gain” as they say. I too did a little internet research as Julia Lund did and they look legit. At any rate, I am thrilled beyond words as all your blogger friends are at the progress.
BTW, I like your etching.
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March 16, 2016 at 6:54 pm |
Gerard!!! I’m busting with excitement for you! This sounds like VERY good news to me. Please keep us posted!
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March 26, 2016 at 1:32 am |
Canary Wharf?? It could be the Cybermen! Or the Daleks! Be careful, Gerard.
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March 29, 2016 at 9:24 pm |
I always smell rats…better not to ask!
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