Making progress with my writing career

You'll have noticed that I haven't been around much lately

This is mainly down to work but I've also been hard at work on my psychology degree and my writing.

I recently discovered a website run by Harper Collins called Authonomy which works in a very similar way to here except for authors.

Anyway, last week I uploaded the first ten or so chapters of my book (Russell Goodfelllow: Master of Disguise - Book 1: The Talisman) and, without any great promoting from me it has got to No1 on the weekly Young Adult chart and No4 (currently) on the overall weekly book charts.

The challenge now is to get it on the Editor's Desk chart (which takes much longer and a lot more work to achieve).

Even so, to have got so far in a week with very little promotional effort on my part is very encouraging.

Graham

[stiffjesus]

Go on there!! That's grand news Mr Brow Jolly well done.
You've patently got the brain and vision for the written word and you fully deserve all the recognition you get.
It must be hard on your part to contain any runaway thoughts of 'names on shelves' after seeing your words do so well but I suppose you'd be forgiven for indulging such thoughts if ever they did break the surface.
Truly pleased for you Graham and again, well done.

[Dave Fountain]

Superb news for you Grey, pleased for you

[Fluid Breaks]

Brill Grey! Well done. I'd be interested to read it

[GreyB]

A link to the book for FB and if anyone else is interested.

View Book

Just click on "Read the book."

[LIQUID]

Have to add my own well done Mr GB I think its a credit to anyone who gets any success in such a difficult industry where talent alone is never enough. Does the site invite feedback perhaps we all could leave a positive comment and push along that way

[GreyB]

Originally Posted by LIQUID

Have to add my own well done Mr GB I think its a credit to anyone who gets any success in such a difficult industry where talent alone is never enough. Does the site invite feedback perhaps we all could leave a positive comment and push along that way

Thank you!

The site does indeed allow for feedback and you can "back" the book by opening a free "readers" account. There are some really good books on the site - although sadly no "download" option as yet which means reading on screen.

My next target is to get into the top five on the "Editor's Desk" - a much longer term project but one which, if you are there at the end of the month, guarantees that your book will be read by a Harper Collins commissioning editor (but not necessarily signed, of course).

The really nice thing, from my point of view, is that the book has succeeded without me really pimping it. I have tried to give comments back to those who have commented on mine but only in a genuine and helpful, rather than a you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours kind of way.

[Superhuman]

Hey Graham, that's great news. I remember reading something you posted up before and was suitably impressed. Great to see that you are getting stuck into a full length novel and even better to see that you are getting positive feedback and notice. I hope it all works out for the best!

[Tuxedo Attack]

Great news. That's a great achievement and even better has been obtained genuinely from the public. Good work!

[Rosemarie]

Go Graham!