Sunday 28 April 2013

Hold the front page

Sometimes you meet people in the workplace that you instantly 'click' with.  People who share your sense of humour and values and who make going into work a bit easier when you would much rather just stay at home.  I'm really lucky to have one of those kind of people in my office and luckier still that two parts of my job involve working closely with her.  We work well together and, having a mutual love of the meerkat insurance advert, liken ourselves to Aleksandr and Sergei.  (I'm the overworked assistant!) 
Now one thing you should know about her is that she has been writing stories for many a year.  Some short stories have been published in magazines but her real aspiration is to have a proper book published.  Many a manuscript has been sent off but no success - until now.  Her daughter works in the publishing industry and she suggested that her mum self-publish her first book on Kindle.  So one weekend, a front cover was designed, an authors note was drafted and 'Fractured' was available for download on Kindle.  Check it out here! Sales at first were a little slow, but over the Easter holidays she sold 10,000 downloads.  Amazing!  since then she's sold nearly 2000 more and is in the top 50 overall kindle fiction books and I think that last weekend she told me she was in the top 5 fictional books.
So imagine the excitement in the office on Thursday when she received a message from a literary agent asking to meet her this week as she was very interested in her work.  After years of her approaching agents, here was an agent approaching her!  She's such a talented lady and I wanted to make her a 'well done' card.  How fortuitous that Sian wrote this blog post to show a website she had found to make a mock up of a newspaper page.  I immediately clicked on the link to fodey.com and made an image to use.
We always joke that when she is rich and famous she has to hire me as her personal assistant as I am the only one who understands her!  So I hope that she will find this card amusing.  Thanks Sian for the link, I would never have found it on my own!

17 comments:

helena said...

what a great use for the newspaper thingy

just downloaded the book for my kindle - sounds intriguing

Cheri said...

Based on your recommendation, I found the book on Amazon U.S. and downloaded it. I'm in the middle of something else right now, but will get to it eventually.

scrappyjacky said...

Sadly I don't have an e-reader....so hopefully she may actually get it published in paper now so that I can read it!
A perfect card.

Sandie said...

what a wonderful story! Just goes to show the power of the internet. This is also a reminder to go check out Sian's link - thank you. A really positive post and full of inspiration. A reminder of 'keep doing what you love'.

Abi said...

That is wonderful story and I love the way you used the newspaper. You have famous friends- how exciting!

Anonymous said...

What a great story. The best of luck to her. Love how you used Sian's link for the card - a perfect use of it. I'll be checking out your friend's book as soon as my kindle is finished charging.

Jo.C said...

So is this the one where a similar character to you appears? Another download so once I've finished the series I'm reading it will be next. The reviews are fabulous :0)
Great card too, saw it on Sian's but will have to check it out x

Sian said...

What a fantastic success story! A blog post like this with your pleasure in her achievement is a real joy to read...and then I saw the card. it's perfect!

Sian said...

ps, I just checked it out and I love the opening. I don't have a kindle..obviously a mistake!

Ruth said...

Great news about your friend and how brilliant that Sian's post appeared when it did.

Anonymous said...

What talents you both have well done to your friend and fab card x

Maria Ontiveros said...

Congrats to your friend, and what a great card for her!
I'm so happy to see the scavenger hunt button on your blog!!!
Thanks,
Rinda

Unknown said...

What a fan success story! I will definitely check out the book! That idea from Sian was just perfect for this event...great card...I'm sure she'll be blown away by it!! :D

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Congrats to her on her success! I have a friend who has self published a book too. She says the self promotion is really the hardest part.

Sounds like an interesting book. I may have to add it to my to be read pile.

Alison said...

I must go check the book out...how fortuitous that Sian had just blogged about the newspaper post!
Alison xx

Lou said...

funny enough i only heard recently that the way to go is by publishing on Kindle. So pleased to hear that your friend is doing well - i will check out your link. a perfect card too x

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oh this is fantastic, Deb. The news about your friend's book, and the cute card you made her. I love hearing success stories like this! :o)