tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post8941067930871490486..comments2023-12-12T16:30:15.159+00:00Comments on Floor to Ceiling Books: Sea Witch by Helen Hollick (self-published)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-43013541114299881932011-08-09T11:01:26.205+01:002011-08-09T11:01:26.205+01:00What a fabulous review to end my month long Sea Wi...What a fabulous review to end my month long Sea Witch Blog Tour! Thank you Amanda (excuse me while I sit here and have a bit of a blub....)<br />I was not certain about self publishing this series after twice being let down by mainstream publishers; first time my back list was dropped, so I found a small indie company who published them instead - which then went belly up a few months ago leaving me high and dry. I owed it to my characters and my readers to keep the books in print, so I self published via an assisted publishing company (SilverWood Books of Bristol UK) It's wonderful to know I made the right decision.<br />When starting out,I was uncertain about introducing the supernatural element into the Sea Witch series - but part of the pleasure of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies - and similar things like Indiana Jones (and James Bond)is the element of "unreality"; the suspension of belief, be it supernatural, magic, or plain "that could never happen". (I mean, how many times does Richard Sharpe, Indiana Jones or James Bond manage to survive an impossible situation?) The whole point of these sort of movies is to provide pleasurable entertainment - they are not meant to be taken seriously. That is why I wanted to write my Sea Witch Voyages, they are a sailor's yarn romp. Fun to write, fun to read.<br /><br />I would like to add that I think the copy I sent for review was one published by the company which has now folded. The new SilverWood editions have been re-edited and are produced to a much better standard. I hope we've picked up on those few errors.... (I have a theory that typos remain invisible until the final print run though...)<br />I don't think it is the occasional missed word or a comma in the wrong place that makes the difference between mainstream or self published - there are far more errors in my US mainstream published historical books than in the self published Sea Witch series. It is the technique of writing and the care during editing and production that makes the difference. Self Published authors, if they want to be taken seriously, must be prepared to listen to honest criticism. I would urge all prospective SP authors to have a professional critique of their work. A must is to have the work fully edited, then copy edited and then proof read by a professional editor, and then ensure that the book is produced at a quality mainstream standard. Double spacing between paragraphs or the text left justified, for instance, is unprofessional. <br />The thing is, anyone can write a book but not everyone can write a readable book.<br /><br />There is absolutely no reason why self published books cannot be every bit as good as any traditional mainstream novel - as long as the author thinks "professional" from rough draft to publication.<br /><br />Thank you again Amanda for taking the time and interest in my books - and for supporting me on your blog.Helen Hollickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292983846350273039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-71125870993306801742011-08-09T06:27:29.020+01:002011-08-09T06:27:29.020+01:00It's good to see a self published work that is...It's good to see a self published work that is actually very good; I've had nothing but bad luck with self published titles so far :(Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-51971297421666404162011-08-09T05:58:31.240+01:002011-08-09T05:58:31.240+01:00I'm excited to start on this series. I have it...I'm excited to start on this series. I have it on my iPad. I plan on reading it after the baby is born. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Your review makes me that much more excited to start on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com