Through the Ceiriog Valley

As hotel names go, this one’s a little unusual. Across Church Street, in the Welsh Border town of Chirk, is the Hand Hotel.  Parts of it date back to 1610, …

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Permission Procedures

Every time we put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, our words are automatically protected by copyright. This means that nobody else should use our work without our permission, …

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Ask The Agent – Francesca Riccardi

Simon Whaley chats to Francesca Riccardi at the Kate Nash Literary Agency about High Concept Zeitgeist Crime Thrillers. Francesca Riccardi’s journey into the publishing industry began at the RNIB, transcribing …

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Clever Connections

Although self-published authors can benefit from selling their books internationally, it also creates issues. For example, if I advertise one of my books with an eBook link to the UK …

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Beta Feedback

Simon Whaley chats to one author about how beta-readers can lead to better books. Someone once said to me, “Beta readers are an author’s crash-test dummy. They take your book …

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Beautiful Bath

Dear Reader, As any Jane Austen fan knows, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a visitor in possession of some free time is in want of a day out …

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Press Release Protocols

In a promotional world dominated by social media, is there still a place for old-fashioned press releases? Simon Whaley chats with one writer about their experience. Social media dominates the …

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Second Edition Solutions

When I first self-published The Complete Article Writer: How To Write And Sell Magazine Articles, most editors still wanted freelance material submitted by post. Who remembers enclosing a stamped addressed envelope …

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Threads of Tradition

“When I was a toddler,” says Lawrence Robinson, “Mum would sit me on her knee and operate the sewing machine pedals with her feet, while I made pockets and toys.” …

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Exploring Ellesmere

“There’s no inflow or outflow on any of these lakes,” says Stan, leaning on his walking stick. I stare across Cole Mere’s fifty-two acres of water. “You must get a …

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