KATE HANNEY - Author
  • Home
  • About the Books
  • About The Author
  • Contact Me
  • Buy the Books
  • New Teenage Fiction Blog
  • Links/Permissions
  • Information for Schools/Colleges
    • Teaching Resources
  • Read Opening Chapters
    • WATERMELON
    • HEARTS AND ARROWS
    • SOMEONE DIFFERENT
    • SAFE

Creative Process Blog Tour ... and how I wish I actually had one ...

4/14/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
I’m delighted that the hugely talented Wendy Storer passed the Creative Process Blog Tour torch on to me this week. As above, I do so wish I actually had a process, and that I didn't spend quite so much time scratching my head. But as it is now my leg of the event, I have done my best to answer those four burning questions:
1) What am I working on?
Well, I have a sequel to my Young Adult novel, Watermelon, at the completed first draft stage. Thus far, this has definitely been the most difficult thing I’ve attempted to write, and whilst some parts are pretty much ‘done’, others require a complete re-write. This one is currently on the backburner, happily fermenting away until I can muster up the emotional strength to tackle it again.
Then there’s the short story collection. Six shorts for Young Adults that need a good old fettle – the stories that is, not the Young Adults – and then will be ready to go.
Finally, I have an adult novel in its very early stages that I’m really optimistic about, but need to give some serious time and thought to before I continue with it.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
If indeed it does, I would like to think it has a slight edge on authenticity. Doing the job I do, I’m immersed in the company of Young Adults day in day out, and I think I soak up their thoughts, their language, their mannerisms, their emotions largely as a process of osmosis. This means when I come to commit these to paper, they are very real in my mind, and hopefully that sense of reality is conveyed to the reader.

3)      Why do I write what I do?
Highly unoriginal I’m sure, but it’s what I know. It’s what I love to read myself. It’s what I hope might challenge readers and maybe offer an alternative view of people or events or ways of living.  It’s about presenting characters whose voices are rarely, if at all, heard, and telling their stories in a sensitive and compelling way.

4) How does my writing process work?
If only I blinkin’ knew. It seems to be different for every darn book! Safe was born out of a total naivety as for as writing process is concerned, but I do think my inadvertent lack of regard for writing conventions at the time is what gives it its unique appeal, and that’s why schools all over the world study it with their students. With Watermelon, I started at the end. I knew how the final scene would play out, and worked backwards, building characters and a storyline that all led to that denouement. Someone Different probably had the most definitive plan. Not that I ever actually write a plan - or any other notes to be honest - but in my head, I knew that story pretty much inside out before I started to write; that’s not to say however, that the characters didn’t present me with the odd surprise along the way! In truth, I wish I did have a process; I’m sure I’d be a much more productive, efficient and organised writer if I did. But I suppose, just like most of my characters, I react to what’s in front of me at any given moment in time, and somehow calve some kind of existence out of it all as I go along.

So there you have it. I am now (out of breath and with stitch) running up alongside the very wonderful Lucinda Elliot, whose writing I adore, and passing that mighty flame over into her very original, capable and creative hands. Go, Lucinda!


Picture
Lucinda Elliot was brought up in a series of vast old houses in isolated areas her parents were renovating, which would have made ideal settings for Gothic novels. Maybe that's why she loves writing Gothic stuff.   She now lives in Mid Wales, having survived commuting on the tube for many years in London, for which she received The Order of the Beaten Down Worker.
She works out, gardens when it's not raining, is a classic English Literature and names geek, an opinionated matriarch and a general pain in the ****. She was once a champion Sportsfighter (a long time ago). 

2 Comments

Self-Publishing Targets Review

8/8/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
Back in November I set myself a few marketing targets for my self-publishing venture, and for some time now I’ve been meaning to review them. So, with the summer holidays well and truly underway, I’ve finally found the time and gotten around to doing it.

I’ll take one at a time, and explain where I am with it and why:

1 - Ensure that at least one of my books is featured on an online review website

I didn’t realise it at the time, but this is quiet a toughy. Many review sites just don’t review self-published books, which is a real shame – for everyone concerned – in my opinion. But anyway, I am delighted that the wonderful Author Alliance reviewed Someone Different, and awarded it a fantastic five-star review.

I also came across a lovely review on Chicklish for Someone Different, quite by accident. This is another great site, and well worth a browse.

2 - Notify my local press and convince them my books are worth a mention

Well, unexpectedly, I received an email from Sam Gould, who writes for The Independent’s arts’ blog. Sam interviewed me about my books, and the wider issues they relate to, and produced this superb article which appeared on the The Indepedent’s site in April.

In addition to this national media interest, I did also feature in our local press, and the piece that appeared in The Sheffield Star can be found here.

3 - Be guest blogger for other well-respected literary websites/organisations

As you can tell from the number of blogs on here, blogging is something that often slips down my priority list ... well down, if I’m honest. However, I was incredibly pleased to be guest blogger for the awesome children’s writer Wendy Storer, and I enjoyed producing a piece regarding the dilemma of writing realistic, but optimistic endings.

I was also honoured to have a series of blogs featured on the esteemed Cornerstones Literary Consultancy’s page. Two pieces have appeared so far – How easy is it for a self-published book to make a splash, and From Manuscript to Book. More posts are planned for the near future.

4 - Respond to every review I receive on Amazon

I started off well with this, but admit I need to catch up on some of the more recent ones. I would like to stress though, that I am so, so grateful for every single review I receive. I appreciate readers’ comments more than they will ever know, and cherish every review.

5 - Organise a competition as soon as the books are available in paperback

Tick! Wendy and I gave away an amazing Kindle Fire back in June. The competition, offered through our writing co-operative, Applecore Books, involved people reading through our opening chapters and answering a question. We were thrilled to send out the Kindle Fire to the young winner.

6 - Persuade at least one of my local Waterstones to hold an event

Yep, did that one as well! A huge thanks to Waterstones, (Park Lane, Meadowhall) for hosting my book signing event at the beginning of June, and an even bigger thanks for inviting me back to do another one in the run-up to Christmas. It really was a great experience, and an invaluable opportunity to speak to book buyers.

7 - Triple (minimum) my following on Facebook and Twitter

50/50 on this one. My twitter following (@kate_hanney) has grown organically, and is now approaching 2,000.  I’m really grateful to all my followers for their support, and especially to those who have tweeted to say they’ve bought my books and reviewed them.

Facebook; not so much. I don’t push it as much as I should – well, not at all, really – and consequently my author page could really do with some attention. If you would like to give it some, it can be found here. Thanks!

So, to summarise, I’m very happy with how my marketing strategy has progressed so far; very happy indeed. But is it all working, you might well ask. Because you can have all the Twitter followers in the world, articles in national press, blogs on highly-regarded websites, but it don’t amount to a hill of beans if you aren’t selling any books. Well - yes, is the simple answer. In addition to all of the above, I’ve just run a promotion for Watermelon on Amazon, and as we speak, it is the number 1 most popular book in Kindle teenage fiction. Result!



1 Comment

Walking a Fine Line

4/27/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the content in Young Adult fiction, and what is, or isn’t considered ‘suitable’. In fact, I’ve thought about it a lot in the past as well, but never got around to committing my thoughts to paper. So here they are.

I have so many questions in my head around this issue, for example, do our young people need to be exposed to material that might be described as ‘upsetting’ or even ‘disturbing’? To what extent does historical and cultural setting influence a reader’s responses? And how does contemporary fiction compare to more classical fiction in terms of issues, acceptability and language?

The main ‘problem’ some people have with my books, I think, is that they are contemporary. Being set in the here and now seems to make the issues raised more acute. There isn’t the distance of time, or culture, or language. The issues faced by my characters – physical abuse, underage sex, teenage pregnancy, drug use, gangs, knife and gun crime etc – are very close to us – whether we like it or not. And it seems that some people just don’t like it. I can see why we don’t like to think about these things happening to our young people, what I can’t understand, is why some people don’t like to even acknowledge that these things happen.

One could argue that our young people don’t need to know about such issues, even if they are real. But why not? Obviously, I’m not going to be reading WATERMELON to my six year old, but in a few years’ time, I will absolutely be putting that book in front of her. It’s great that my kids read about middle-class girls with ponies, about youngsters who go off on adventures to exotic places, and about kids who live in warm, safe homes with caring parents and a Labrador. But equally, I want them to know that not all kids have this. I want them to know that some kids grow up in abusive households, some kids go hungry, some kids have no-one to hug them at night. It’s important. If they don’t know, how can they ever develop any appreciation of how our society works?

When they see a homeless teenager begging on the street, what do I want them to think? That the person’s there by choice? That they’re enjoying the experience? That they’re loving the freedom of being addicted to drugs, turning to prostitution, being alone, hungry, begging for a few quid?

No, I don’t. I want them to think, how did that kid end up there? What must their life have been like before, for this existence to be preferable? And that also goes for the kids who join gangs, kids in care, kids who end-up in Young Offending Institutes. Yes, I know some young people make some awful choices and do some awful things, but what influences and experience have led them to that point?

So, for teenagers who don’t go through these experiences, I believe they need to know it happens. For teenagers who do, they need to know it’s not just them. They need to know not everyone has the hugs or the Labrador or the ponies. Not every other child is loved, and fed and kept safe at night; they aren’t on their own.

Of course, kids having a difficult time is nothing new in literature. Oliver Twist immediately springs to mind. Orphaned boy, runs away from cruel and abusive carers, joins a criminal ‘gang’, tries to make the right choices, gets dragged back into a word of crime, commits thefts, witnesses violence and murder.  Commonly taught in primary schools.

Let’s consider some of the texts listed on the GCSE syllabus: Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, Tsotsi, To Kill a Mocking Bird. Issues raised: racism, teenage sex, poverty, mugging, knife-crime, murder, gangs, kidnapping, rape, violence, enforced marriage.

No one bats an eyelid.

And what do they have in common? They aren’t set in the here and now. We are separated from them by either time or culture. And because these issues aren’t happening on our doorstep, we are encouraged, compelled even by the exam boards, to read and study these texts with our young people.

Contemporary, issue based novels however, often solicit a very different response. For some adults, they seem to represent a more threatening, damaging force. There is a fear that our young people will be corrupted, that they will enter into the dark, dangerous worlds that these novels present. But this is how I see it: kids who are already involved in these worlds know all about it anyway, and these novels might just help them to feel less alone, possibly identify a way out and make some positive choices. Kids who aren’t involved, have avoided these situations for a reason; they have other influences in their life that keep them safe. And these influences aren’t going to disappear simply because they read a book.

For me, there is very little that can’t be tackled in fiction for young adults, as long as it’s presented in an honest and sensitive and responsible way. There is nothing glamorous about the issues I deal with – even if the characters, just like the young people involved, think so initially – and I hope I show this unreservedly. But what I also hope I show, is how these youngsters came to be who they are and why they do what they do. And ultimately, what I want my readers to consider, is if they’d had that life, would they be any different?



4 Comments

Interview with The Independent

4/4/2013

0 Comments

 
Well, I am most honoured and delighted to have been interviewed by the brilliant Sam Gould this week. 


Amongst other media interests and roles, Sam writes for The Independent's art's blog, and you can read his interview with me here. 


In it, I talk about what inspired me to write, my thoughts on how teenagers are portrayed in the media, the lives some teenagers live, and much, much more. Please do take a look, and I'd love to know your thoughts if you'd like to leave a comment. Thanks!
0 Comments

Why Writing for Young Adults is Totally Brilliant!

4/4/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Apart from the fact they're all amazing people, why else do I write for Young Adults? 


The wonderful people over at  Book Junkies have posted an article about it!

0 Comments

From Manuscript to Book!

1/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
This week, I'm delighted to be guest blogger for the lovely people over at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. To read my 'in a nutshell' guide to transform your manuscript into a book - either for download, or in paperback - please visit their blogspot and  feel free to leave a comment!
0 Comments

The Importance of Target Setting in Publishing

11/21/2012

3 Comments

 
Picture
Well, 'tis done! On the 10th of November I uploaded my new, 'compelling' novels, SOMEONE DIFFERENT and WATERMELON, on to the Amazon website. They are proudly published by Applecore Books, an independent writing co-operative founded by myself and my brilliant author friend, Wendy Storer. Currently, they can be read on Kindle, Ipad, Android, PCs etc, and within the next few weeks they will also be available to buy as paperbacks.

So what now? 

I've probably spent hundreds or even thousands of hours writing them, loving them, nurturing them. I've formatted them, I've finalised the covers, I've settled on the exact wording for the blurbs. I've got to the end of that process and clicked 'Save and Publish'. 

Finito! 
 
Well, not quite, because now I need to let everyone know they are out there. Mmm, what to do?

Coming from a teaching background, I am well versed in the world of target setting, monitoring and assessment and I got to wondering; what's the place for this in publishing? And more specifically, marketing?
  
So far, I've dabbled. There's the obvious Facebook and Twitter campaigns, and people have been so great in supporting me in those, but what's needed now, I think, is to reach a wider audience. And to do this, I need a plan, and that plan, needs targets.  So to keep me a) motivated b) on track c) focussed d) awake late into the night, I'm going to make my targets public, then there's no getting away from them; they're here, on the world wide web, nudging me in the ribs constantly. 

 And so, in the near future I AM going to:

 - Ensure that at least one of my books is featured on an online review website

 - Notify my local press and convince them my books are worthy of a mention (at the very least, a mention)

 - Be guest blogger  for other well-respected literary websites/organisations

 - Respond to every review I receive on Amazon

 - Organise a competition as soon as the books are out in paperback

 - Persuade at least one of my local Waterstones to host an 'event'

- Triple (minimum) my following on Facebook and Twitter

Is there anything I've missed? 

Well, I will be sure to keep you up to date as I tick off the targets that are met, but if any more experienced marketeers can suggest additional targets, I would love to hear from you; always up for a challenge, that's me! 


3 Comments

SOMEONE DIFFERENT FINALLY HAS A COVER!

11/8/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
My other new cover, for my other new book! Not long now till they are out!

Soooo excited!

0 Comments

WATERMELON FRONT COVER

11/7/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Well, after deliberating over the cover of SOMEONE DIFFERENT for several weeks, my amazing brother, Michael, has just sent me this as an idea for my other new book, and I'm besotted. Bingo; first time!!


Isn't it fab?


1 Comment

Books and Covers and Judging and All That

11/4/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
I will be self-publishing my two new books, Someone Different and Watermelon, shortly, and in this blog I talk about the trials, tribulations but great satisfaction I'm experiencing as I try to get the cover images absolutely right!

Books and Covers and Judging, and All That


How hard can it be? You’ve done the difficult bit; you’ve spent hundreds of hours drafting and editing and proofreading, and editing again, and then proofreading again, and finally, you can more or less allow yourself to believe that the book is actually finished. All you need to do now is get the cover done, and that won’t take long, because you know exactly what you want, right?

It’s got to be striking. People - specifically in my case teenagers - have to be utterly compelled to pick it up off the shelf. But it’s not got to be over-played, not too literal, or obvious. It’s got to be subtle, atmospheric; classy even. 

So you speak to your designer – in my case, my very talented brother, Michael Hanney – and he comes up with some images, and they’re good, amazingly good. They’re all variations on exactly the theme you asked for; all stunning in their own way, all a little different. So you begin to cherry pick. ‘Could we have that font on this one? ... Could we crop it just a bit but without losing those streetlights?’ And, ‘What if we had that image, but with the light more like it is in this one?’ 

So he smiles obligingly and goes away, and then he comes back. And there are more discussions, this time about those vital elements like the exact shade of blue the lad’s jeans ought to be, the precise distance the two figures should be apart, should the font be all uppercase, all lowercase, or just with uppercase initial letters, should it have a shadow, if so, how much, in which colour ...

He’s still smiling, but it’s looking far more forced now. Not because I’m being so particular, I don’t  think ...? But because I am so very, very painfully indecisive. Because I just want it to be right – exactly right, and getting it right is hard. 

But do you know what? I’m still thrilled to be doing this myself. My understanding is that many publishers give their authors only limited input when it comes to cover designs for their books, and for a control freak like me, that would be tricky. If it was along the lines of what I had in mind, then great; I’m sure they’d make a spectacular job of it. But what if it wasn’t? It’d belike someone dressing your baby in clothes that you hate, you having to look at her all day long, and take her out in public, and explain to everyone you meet that it wasn’t your choice. 

And so my bother and I will keep on tweaking and looking and thinking, and we will come up with the perfect cover image for Someone Different.

And then, when that’s done, I will very quietly and very tactfully remind him, that we still need to do one for Watermelon ...


4 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Kate Hanney - author of gritty, contemporary fiction for Young Adults. Current titles:
    SAFE
    WATERMELON
    SOMEONE DIFFERENT

    Archives

    April 2014
    August 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    June 2009

    Categories

    All
    Book Cover Designs
    Self-publishing
    Teenage/Young Adult Fiction

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.