Monday 9 January 2012

In the news

I'm expecting to be in a nice feature in the Essex Chronicle newspaper this week - together with Elizabeth Lord from http://elizabeth-lord.blogspot.com. We're both Essex authors and members of the Essex group of the Romantic Novelists' Association. I contacted the paper a week or so back, as part of my promotion for 'Sophie Being Single', my new Kindle e-book. Local papers can be a great source of support (so can local radio) - and the Chronicle have been very good, giving me a mention every time I've had anything new to report on my writing career, right back to when my first book was published in 2003. I told them about the Kindle book, and offered to tell them more or even write a bit myself for the paper, explaining about why writers (especially those of us who are previously published) are making the decision to self-publish e-books. Instead, they called me to say they'd decided to produce a double-page spread about the subject, interviewing me and hoping I could suggest other Essex writers who would fit the bill.
Luckily Elizabeth Lord did fit the bill - but my other friends from the Essex RNA happen to live in the wrong area of Essex for the paper! What a shame. So I'll be interested to see whether the paper has managed to produce any other suitable Essex authors themselves, to be interviewed, or whether it's just going to be the two of us! (In which case I doubt whether it'll run to a double page spread!)
So this morning I had a date with their photographer, which is always a bit of fun - posing with my Kindle and a pile of books. Hope I don't look too ancient in the pic they choose ... but as they always like to quote people's ages in articles like this, I suppose it won't make any difference!

12 comments:

  1. Hi, Olivia. Yes - I've found the local paper (and radio) a great source of support/publicity. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope the article turns out well! Yes - why do local papers always have to quote your age??!x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds great. And the Chronicle sounds like a brilliant newspaper x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Frances! The Editor has just e-mailed me to say the feature makes a really nice spread and will be in this week's paper, 'complete with a lovely picture of yourself'. Hmm ...!!

    I know, Lydia - isn't it strange. ALL papers seem to have to quote everyone's age - I wonder why it's relevant! I don't really care, though!

    It is a brilliant newspaper, Teresa. They even came to my work (at the hospital) to take photos of me when I was first published! Caused a bit of a stir!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well done Olivia. Local newspapers can be a great way to get yourself noticed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Maggie. Yes, I'm hoping it might help! Working at the local hospital used to be really useful - I was quite well-known in the area then, and the hospital staff and even the management were quite supportive and helped give me publicity! (I think the management liked to show off about having a published author working for them!). It's not so easy now I'm retired!

    ReplyDelete
  7. There's a lot NOT to be said for retirement. I used to write little snippets about the adult residential college I worked for, but not any more.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hope the article is great, Olivia!

    Julie xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree, Maggie - I do miss the ideas I used to get, from working with such a cross section of people! (staff and patients!). But NO - I don't miss being at work at all, apart from missing the people. I wouldn't want to go back!

    Thanks, Julie. I'll let you know ...!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just been on the front page of my own local paper tonight -they were reporting the launch of my e-book and guess what: there was my age hanging out for all to see! Good job I don't care! x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yay! Well done Lydia! WHY are they so determined to print our ages, though? Like you, I don't care in the least, but I do wonder what the reason is!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Who knows? One of the vagaries of local press, but it they're supportive, who cares! x

    ReplyDelete