Persistence
and determination
Ten years ago, I started thrusting books on the world. Broadcaster Sue Cook, a long-standing friend of Roma Nova, commented by my third book that she admired my persistence. Now there are nine. And persistence is the key to a successful writing career. So how did this work out?
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| Alison & Sue Cook |
August 2009: A really bad film sends me to my desk, and within 90 days, I have typed a story of 90,000 words. No clue what to do with the finished manuscript, but it’s bound to be snapped up and sold in every shop and airport.
2010-12:
A humbling apprenticeship.
I discover I know nothing about the book world or novel writing craft despite
being a life-long avid reader. Although ‘high concept and well-written’
according to professional assessors, my story is covered in layers of
wishy-washyness and undirected – certainly not ready for agents, publishers or unprotected
readers. I start a blog, though (https://alison-morton.com), as I knew from
my business days that you need a wholly owned presence in cyberspace.
I
join a writers’ circle, acquire a critique writing partner, go to conferences,
read craft books, study on courses and in classes, and hone. And I mean hone.
You have never seen such scalpel action on a writer’s work. I put it through
professional assessments – tough and even tougher. At last, a reasonably
publishing manuscript emerges.
My
desk isn’t visible through the layers of multiple rejection letters saying, ‘intelligent
and well-crafted, but we don’t know how to market it’. I despair. I know my
work is of publishable standard; feedback from many quarters said the story was
good to go.
During
this ‘apprenticeship’, I make connections and come across self-publishing
experts in person and virtually like Helen Hollick.
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| Alison, Anna Belfrage, Helen Hollick |
2013:
Structurally and
copy-edited, proofed and put together beautifully by SilverWood Books, INCEPTIO hits the
world. PERFIDITAS
follows six months later (It’s fully drafted by the time INCEPTIO came
out, so I’m not being super-productive!). Am taken aback by the amount of
PR/marketing needed: blog tours, reviews, guest posts, competitions, talks,
local radio, let alone feeding my own blog.
2014: SUCCESSIO comes out
in June and I’m interviewed by no less a person than broadcaster Sue Cook (https://youtu.be/56IL5BPB1p8)!
I
start to get onto the speaking ladder at conferences – small spots but
exciting. But I realise my writing life has to change. It’s the fine choice
indies have to make – writing or marketing. The answer is both. Planning is key whether it’s speaking,
attending, selling your books, requesting reviews, running your social media, writing
guest posts, packing your exhibition box or considering next year’s events.
And
you learn to write on planes and trains.
2015: AURELIA comes
out – the first of a new trilogy – set the late 1960s. Originally, it was going
to be a single sequel, but I have too much story, so another trilogy. That will
be it. Or so I think. I go to the US and chair the indie panel at the
Historical Novel Society conference with Helen, Anna Belfrage and Geri Clouston
of IndieBRAG.
2016: The year the Ryanair crew recognise me
when I came back home to France from my tenth gig in the UK. I realise I’m
doing too much. Still, I’d chair the indie panel at the 2016 HNS Conference, launch
my fifth book, INSURRECTIO
(endorsed by Conn Iggulden!) at the London Book Fair and speak at an event with
Kate Mosse!
2017: RETALIO comes out
in April followed by CARINA,
a novella, in November. I only achieve this by gluing myself into my chair and
doing fewer events, although I had the pleasure of speaking in Dublin for the
first time.
2018: Persuaded by the dynamic force known as
Helen Hollick, I move several light years from my comfort zone and write a
short story for 1066
Turned Upside Down alternative history collection. No problem with the alternative
history side; this was the genre I write in – I give talks in it – but a short
story? Um… I write 90-100,000 word
books. But somehow it works. This impels me to publish a short story collection
of my own – ROMA
NOVA EXTRA. Oh, and I represent the indie world on a panel at
CrimeFest.
2019: The great change in Roma Nova:
reorganisation and brand new covers! Each heroine will now have four books –
three novels and a novella to their name – and the series will split into the
Carina and Aurelia strands. If there’s one thing that’s constant in indie
publishing, it’s change. NEXUS,
the novella that completes the Aurelia strand, came out in September 2019.
Where
next? Who knows, but that’s the unnerving, but always exciting roll of indie
author life.
About the Roma
Nova thrillers
Roma Nova is an imaginary country somewhere in South Central Europe. Developing along an alternative timeline from ours, it’s a survivor from the mess at the end of the Roman Empire, its people value strength, service and loyalty.
Roma Nova is an imaginary country somewhere in South Central Europe. Developing along an alternative timeline from ours, it’s a survivor from the mess at the end of the Roman Empire, its people value strength, service and loyalty.
Women have always been prominent from the first day they
buckled on armour and stood side by side with their men to defend their tiny
country. They run the government, businesses and families. But men
are in no way disadvantaged.
Two ‘strands’ centre
round two tough but fallible heroines – Carina and Aurelia – both from the leading Mitela family.
They are so similar in character, but their temperaments are different. Coffee
is a must for both, but Aurelia likes a French brandy and Carina a chilled
Castra Lucillan white wine. But both will scale Olympus and fight to their own
death to defend Roma Nova from its enemies.
Alison’s
Amazon page: http://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon
(All books also available on Apple, Kobo and Nook and also as paperbacks)
A
bonus! You can download a free
guide to the Roma Nova books or if you sign
up to my mailing list, you also get two free short stories.
Who
is Alison?
Alison Morton writes the award-winning Roma Nova
thriller series – ‘intelligent adventure
thrillers with heart.’ She blends her deep love of Roman history with six
years’ military service and a life of reading crime, adventure and thriller
fiction. On the way, she collected an MA History.
All six full-length Roma Nova novels have been awarded the BRAG
Medallion. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel
Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices.
AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. SUCCESSIO was
selected as an Editor’s Choice in The Bookseller.
A ‘Roman nut’ since age 11, Alison
misspent decades clambering over Roman sites throughout Europe. Fascinated by
the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and
value-driven Roman civilisation, she started wondering what a modern Roman
society would be like if run by strong women...
Now she continues to write thrillers,
cultivates a Roman herb garden and drinks wine in France with her husband.
Where
to find Alison on social media
Click HERE (and scroll down to 'M') to find our reviews of Alison Morton's books on Discovering Diamonds
If your novel/s have been reviewed by Discovering Diamonds
and you would like to participate in our
Guest Spot
click HERE for details
Fascinating and informative 'thumbnail' of your journey, Alison. I was new to reviewing when I first came upon The imaginative world of Roma Nova but I think you know I was captivated from the start.
ReplyDelete(Reposting from yesterday as Blogger had a bad hair day and ate my post)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Richard. Yes, persistence (aka bloodymindedness) is probably a writer's best asset. ;-) I'm delighted that you were so captivated; Roma Nova has no intention of letting you go!
thank you both (above) Like Richard I was captivated with the very first Roma Nova novel - my one annoyance is that I didn't think of the idea myself! LOL
ReplyDeleteWhen I first wrote the first story, I did it for myself, but then I discovered the sheer pleasure of sharing Roma Nova with others. Readers (and fellow authors!) can give you some many fresh perspectives.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are sharing Alison - you are a brilliant writer!
Delete*Blushes* ;-)
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