On 1st
March, my first comic novel, Unreliable Histories, reached the top of the
charts on Authonomy - a site on which
independent authors review one another's works. It's a large and thriving
community, and each month's 'top five ' books go on to be reviewed on the
Harper Collins Editor's Desk.
It would be
fair -though something of an understatement - to say I was pleased. However, there
now follows a nervous wait for a publishing editor's professional review.
Getting to
'the desk' was by no means the result of a solo effort. Scores of writers
provided invaluable help and support and I wanted to take the opportunity to
thank them. Their feedback has enabled me to address flaws that I would never have
seen, had I been left to my own devices. As a result of their scrutiny and
suggestions, I have edited, clarified
and re-written, and I'm sure the finished draft is a far superior work as a
result.
Many
individual writers have helped and I have thanked some of them personally, but
I wanted to say a public thank you to Rob Wingfield, for suggesting I join the
site in the first place and to the members of the Comedy Literature Only Group
(CLOG). A finer and more supportive group of people you will never find.
Another CLOG
member who is drawing excitingly close to the Editor's Desk is the talented and
generous-hearted Alastair Miles. If you enjoy truly 'creative' writing and
individuality, you could do a lot worse than to sign up on Authonomy and read
his metaphysical comedy 'Going Afterlife.'
You don't have
to be a writer to join Authonomy, incidentally. There are lots of people there
who just enjoy reading and commenting on indie works, so feel free to jump in
and browse. And whilst you're there,
here are a few other novels that are well worth a look. (Unless otherwise shown, all works may be previewed on Authonomy.com.)
Aaron Gray
and the Dragon War
Bad Business
Elves and
Such
End Time
Gentlemen
Escape
God's
Captain
Last Action
Zero
Midge Fly
and the End of the World
Mirrorsmith
Saltus
Show and
Tell
Slow Poison
Soul Hosts
Summer of
Forbidden Love
Teatime for
the Dead
That
Scoundrel Emile Dubois
The Book In
The Bottle
The Cotton
Smile
The Exit Man
The Flatpack
Observer
The Legend
Of Gilangelly
The Origin
Of Writing In The Footprints Of Birds
The Private
Rage of George
The
Snobgoblin
The Suicide
Faerie
Tall(er)
Tales: The Legend of P.P. Pirate
The
Transition of Johnny Swift
The Worst
Man on Mars
These
Ithacas
This Iron
Race: Acts of the Servant
White Matter
These are
just a few examples and, of course, I've only read a fraction of all the works
on offer. The site really is something of a treasure trove. Why not have a look
and treat yourself?
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