Is this what happens in a meeting between an author and his literary agent?

Mitchell and Webb’s portrayal of an author discussing his oeuvre with a literary agent.

This was tweeted by Jonny Geller of the famous Curtis Brown agency .

Tears streamed down my face from beginning to end.
Of depression? Or frustration? No, of laughter.

I hope.

 

January 26th, 2012 | Tags: , | Category: Getting published | 2 comments - (Comments are closed)

Friends, Romans, Londoners

I visited the Museum of London last weekend, something I hadn’t done for several years. The displays are very attractive, well-labelled and intelligently set out. Rooms had been reconstructed painstakingly following decoration and description from original sites or authors, but the artefacts in them are original.
(Photos taken on my phone, so apologies for the quality)

 

 

Two other visitors were fascinated by a map of the Roman Empire at its height but were troubled by the name Pannonia. Was that modern day Bulgaria, they asked each other? Unable to stop myself, I stepped in and murmured it was Hungary and next door Noricum was more or less Austria. Other remarks around me confirmed my suspicion that neither history nor geography is taught well these days.

 

 

 

But the museum was full, so people are taking the initiative themselves to find out. And enjoying themselves in the process.

And a great excuse for me under the heading ‘research’.

 

 

 

 

 

2016 update:
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA. The fifth in the series, INSURRECTIO, was published in April 2016.

Get INCEPTIO, the series starter, for FREE when you sign up to Alison’s free monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be first to know about Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.

January 22nd, 2012 | Tags: , , , | Category: Research, Roman life, Roman traditions, Romans | 6 comments - (Comments are closed)

Beta readers

Photo courtesy of Piotr Bizior

When I opened up an email today after a long weekend away, I was thrilled to find to read this from a beta reader:
(All character names changed – you’ll have to buy the book when it’s published.)

“Finished part 1 and having a great time!
I like X’s character. She is much less headstrong than the heroine in Elizabeth Moon’s book.
There is the baddie (he seems to hate her more than he should, is there something I don’t know?)  who I think I will see more of in part 2 and oh I want so bad for X to get together with Y! Will they?
I love the idea of going from a nobody to someone of importance in another world/culture. This theme resonates quite strongly with people and works well as in Harry Potter!
Methinks this is so much better than Dan Brown and so far it has the same thrill, the same fast pace but superior writing.
I think X will shine later on and become a true heroine. Maybe she will save Y? Or Z?
I am loving it!”

And a few minutes later a new one pinged into my inbox:
“Wish I didn’t have to go to work! I want to finish it!”

Now all I need to find is an agent and/or publisher…

 

January 18th, 2012 | Category: Books | 2 comments - (Comments are closed)
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