Congratulations & Happy Anniversary

 Thirty years an author By Helen Hollick

 

A week after my 40^th birthday in April 1993, I received news that my Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy had been accepted for publication by William Heinemann (now a part of Random House UK). The first two novels had been written, (The Kingmaking and Pendragon’s Banner) with part three, Shadow of the King in my head, but not written down. The dream of becoming a published author was to be a reality – after more than ten years of writing and re-writing my more plausible version of the Arthurian story. There is no Holy Grail, no knights in armour, no Merlin and no Lancelot. Instead, my tale is of the man who became the legend; a man with dreams, ambitions and human flaws. A soldier, a warlord who united the collapsing province of post-Roman Britain and who held the heart of the love of his life, Gwenhwyfar,  and who emerged from legend as the most enduring hero of all time. A different telling of the later Medieval tales. My trilogy is the story of King Arthur as it might have really happened...

 

But being accepted by a prestigious traditional publishing house was to have a bumpy road ahead. I think every self-published indie author today longs for that lucrative publishing contract, but the thirty years between 1993 and 2023 has taught me much about this darn silly job that we do. I mean, long, solitary hours of tapping away at a keyboard or staring into space with not a coherent word in our heads. Hours of editing, editing and re-editing only to find there are still typos in the finished version... and all for very little financial reward. (Unless we are very lucky.)

 

It was exciting to see my books in print, but this was in the days before social media. All marketing was done by the publisher, and I soon discovered that unless your book is an instant best seller then marketing consists of only a few weeks. I was let down when book two came out, barely any marketing. I was told: ‘We’ll push the boat out when book three is published.” Well, the boat either sank or never made it out of dry dock, for the marketing didn’t happen, despite several different editions being produced. (With varying standards of covers from absolutely awful to just about tolerable.) Despite assurances, in most cases authors do not get much consultation about cover design.

 Unaided by a less than helpful agent, I had two more historical novels published, by which time it was the early 2000s and HistFic had gone out of fashion. In 2006 my agent (ex-agent) dropped me and so did the publisher. I spent two weeks sobbing, then encouraged by wonderful writer friends Elizabeth Chadwick and the late Sharon K. Penman I decided to go ‘indie’. Unfortunately the assisted publishing company I went with eventually turned out to be owned by a charlatan, with unpaid bills, unpaid royalties and unpaid staff.

 Top Tip 1) If using a company to publish your books check them out thoroughly! I was fortunate enough, however, in 2011 to meet up with Helen Hart of Silverwood Books Ltd who produced lovely new editions for me, and at the same time found the talented graphics designer, Cathy Helms of Avalon Graphics for my covers.

 A lot of water has passed under several bridges since that happy day in 1993, and discovering the right – and wrong – way to go about being an Indie/self-published author has been a sharp learning curve. Some of my books are also traditionally published in the USA, Canada and Germany, so I have the benefit of both publishing worlds, but of the two, what is best? Frankly, the answer is indie. The covers are my choice. Mistakes are my mistakes,  but I can quickly and easily put them right. I can see sales at a glance on the KDP (Amazon) dashboard, no waiting for quarterly, half-yearly or annual statements. I am in complete control of my books.

 And for the new or novice writer, setting out on your own new, Grand Adventure? I like helping authors reach for their dream. Other authors helped me along the way, so by encouraging others is a way to say thank you.

  

Top Tip 2) Remember MySpace? That was my marketing platform until Facebook, Twitter, Blogger et al came along. To sell books you have to advertise – market. It is no good having a beautifully designed website or your book on Amazon if no one knows about it. Look upon social media as your shop window. You do not have to post pictures of kittens or a day out with the family – post things that interest you and are relevant to your book. Keep personal events and opinions to where they belong, the privacy of email.

 

Top Tip 3) Blog tours are worth doing to get yourself noticed. (But not necessarily to achieve sales.) You do not need your own blog to do a blog tour (but see below Top Tip 4). Getting your name known is a good thing. Blog tours are virtual book tours on line. There are several run by professional organisers (and there is a fee, usually a fairly steep one, but a lot of effort goes into the organising!) Or approach bloggers yourself and ask if they would be willing to give you a spotlight spot, or an article or – if you’re very lucky – a review. But be polite, take your time to browse the sort of blogs that welcome guests. If accepted or invited send as much information as you can: the book cover, a picture and short bio about yourself. A short piece about the book (the same blurb that is on Amazon as a minimum). Links to your website and Facebook and/or Twitter, if you have them. And most important links to where the book can be bought – and this means UK, USA, Canada and Australia. The Internet is accessed worldwide. You might be in the UK or USA, but your books, if on Amazon, can be purchased worldwide, so you don’t want to just be advertising a UK link – you’re losing potential sales.

 

Top Tip 4) Have a blog, either with or instead of a website. Ensure you have your books on your blog/website with ‘where to buy’ links (worldwide!) Have a contact page so interested authors (or agents, film makers, publishers) can easily reach you.

You could post interesting articles or become a tour host yourself. It is hard work but it will alert new, potential readers to your books.

 

Browse Pauline’s blog while you are here, or take a look at mine as a good example... https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

 

And if someone invites or accepts you as a guest? As a thank you to your host – buy one of their books, and if you enjoy reading it, leave a review on Amazon.

 

Good luck, happy writing and reading, and do join in with my online anniversary/birthday celebration!

 

© Helen Hollick

 

Helen’s new, self-published, editions with beautiful covers designed by Cathy Helms of www.avalongraphics.org are, alas, only available outside of USA and Canada, where the same books are published by Sourcebooks Inc. (The new covers were offered – free – to Sourcebooks, but the offer was declined.)

 

The Boy Who became a Man:

Who became a King:

Who became a Legend... KING ARTHUR

 

All knew the oath of allegiance:

‘To you, lord, I give my sword and shield, my heart and soul. To you, my Lord Pendragon, I give my life, to command as you will.’

 

“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story and writes consistently readable books” Bernard Cornwell

"If only all historical fiction could be this good." Historical Novels Review

"... Juggles a large cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill. " Publishers Weekly

 

"Hollick's writing is one of the best I've come across - her descriptions are so vivid it seems as if there's a movie screen in front of you, playing out the scenes."

Passages To The Past

 

"Hollick adds her own unique twists and turns to the familiar mythology" Booklist

"Uniquely compelling... bound to have a lasting and resounding impact on Arthurian literature." Books Magazine

 

The Kingmaking: Book One

Pendragon’s Banner: Book Two

Shadow of the King: Book Three

(contains scenes of an adult nature)

 

BUY THE BOOKS:

 

THE PENDRAGON's BANNER TRILOGY 

New Editions available worldwide except USA/Canada

https://mybook.to/KingArthurTrilogy

 

Available USA/Canada 

US TRILOGY

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074C38TXN?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks

CANADA TRILOGY

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B074C38TXN?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks

 

ABOUT HELEN:

First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writes a nautical adventure/fantasy series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella, 'Cosy Mystery' genre with her Jan Christopher Murder Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant.

 

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon and occasionally gets time to write...

 

Website: https://helenhollick.net

All Helen’s books are available on Amazon: 

https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Subscribe to Helen’s Newsletter:  https://tinyletter.com/HelenHollick

Her Blog: https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Twitter: @HelenHollick https://twitter.com/HelenHollick

 

Follow Helen’s Celebration Tour https://www.helenhollick.net/