Description
With more people writing books than reading them, who’d be an author?
Four disparate, aspiring authors dream of getting their work published. As they strive for a breakthrough they are unaware that, in the world of traditional publishing, editors, agents and authors have enough problems of their own. The odds are stacked against success on both sides of the fence. The only person who seems to be doing well out of the writing game is the owner of The Write Stuff, a company selling ‘how to get published’ help to would-be authors.
Inevitably, all roads eventually lead to The Write Stuff’s annual weekend writing conference. As the wannabe wordsmiths attempt to scramble on the ‘up’ escalator to literary stardom, will they notice the tragic author of many years passing them in the other direction?
As the conference builds to an explosive climax, who’s going to start a new chapter in their life and who’s going to remain stuck on page one?
Four disparate, aspiring authors dream of getting their work published. As they strive for a breakthrough they are unaware that, in the world of traditional publishing, editors, agents and authors have enough problems of their own. The odds are stacked against success on both sides of the fence. The only person who seems to be doing well out of the writing game is the owner of The Write Stuff, a company selling ‘how to get published’ help to would-be authors.
Inevitably, all roads eventually lead to The Write Stuff’s annual weekend writing conference. As the wannabe wordsmiths attempt to scramble on the ‘up’ escalator to literary stardom, will they notice the tragic author of many years passing them in the other direction?
As the conference builds to an explosive climax, who’s going to start a new chapter in their life and who’s going to remain stuck on page one?
Review
Just brilliant - I really enjoyed this book as it was something a little different.
The book introduces us to four aspiring authors. The unfortunately named aging journalist Eric Blair, who maybe has a name to live up to before he's even written a word. Alyson who is already a writer of erotic fiction but wants to swap genres. Con who thinks he's the next great Irish writer and Bronte who is yet to write her opening chapter, but just knows she needs the Write Stuff conference to get her started.
What follows is a close up look at authors, agents and the publishing industry. Many times throughout the book I laughed out loud at the wry and acerbic humour. So many brilliant one liners. There are a few sub plots going on too. One is a real down to earth look at what might seem like harmless office fun until it's seen from a different view point.
All the characters felt believable and so did the settings, especially so when HR got involved. Throw in the established author, his agent and publisher and the whirring admin wheels of the Write Stuff conference with it's host Chapman Hall, and you have a front row seat to a fabulous sight. I think Chapman was my favourite character. He's a real wheeler dealer always looking for the next big literary money making scheme.
The book culminates in the main characters all being at The Write Stuff conference in a sort of Agatha Christie Manor House setting. Who will get a book deal? Who will find a new upcoming author? Who will keep their job?
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author for a copy of the book to review.
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