dancingthroughchaos

‘An unreviewed book is a struck bell that gives no resonance… Reviewing makes reading a participant sport, not a spectator sport.’  Patricia Hampl – American memoirist, writer, lecturer, and educator.

Last month I celebrated the birth, or arrival, of my new book baby: Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories.

While I recognise that my followers on social media may be fed up to the back teeth with all things pumpkin-related, this is part of what is required of authors these days.  We can’t just pop open the bubbly and send our newborn into the world with a cheery wave while wishing it well, as we turn back to a new manuscript. Oh no.

Unless, you are published by one of the ‘big five’ publishers (Penguin/Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Harper Collins or the Hatchette Book Group), you must take responsibility for a good chunk of your marketing. 

This is not good news if, like me, you find this as daunting as facing an advanced course in calculus and logarithms (whatever were they all about?). You really do need to take a lot of deep breaths and pull on your big girl/boy pants as you make a plan, however rudimentary.

One tactic that’s very popular is the evolution of the book blog tour.  This wonderful tool consists of a prescribed period of time during which helpful and (you hope) friendly readers will review your book on their own blog site and you, the writer, funnel as many people their way as possible to your mutual benefit and a soaring number of book sales (you also hope). Everybody wins.  In theory.

Bloggers who are struggling for something to write pretty much pull your arm off at the opportunity to take part; indeed, some devote themselves solely to reviewing other people’s books, whether through their own prose or by interviewing the author and chronicling their interaction.

That’s all very well, but my book is written for the Key Stage 2 age group (Junior school to those somewhat older, and age 7-11 for everyone else), with some elasticity either end of the range.  In all integrity therefore, it seems a little unfair to only invite adults to review the book.

I am grateful to the seven children, from school years 3-7, aged between seven and twelve (just sneaked in there), who gamely offered to come on board with reviewing good ole Charlie Peach. Of course, they don’t have blogs as such, but what they will have is that excruciating, brutal, authentic honesty which – if I wasn’t already embracing the silver – might turn me completely grey before the month is out.

So, I shall take the essence of their reviews and create social media posts on their behalf to scatter through my Instagram writer’s account (https://www.instagram.com/jennysanderswriter/), and Facebook writer’s page (https://www.facebook.com/dancingthroughchaos/) and possibly, if Im feeling brave, on Twitter/X (@jennyhsanders)

I have received three of them so far and was actually bowled over by their response.  I have a lot of writer friends and I know that many of them would give their right arm for such a glowing review.  

Here’s one of them from the lovely Charlotte who is ten years old.

God bless her.  Phrases like ‘completely entrancing’, ‘utterly delightful’, and ‘hilarious characters’, warm my heart like you can’t believe.

Another young man called Nathanael described the book as, ‘six funny little stories with big, important themes.’  What a discerning chap.  

If you want to join the tour, then look out for posts beginning on Monday 13th November and running through to Tuesday 28th November.  

After that there will be two online launches, as I will be back in Cape Town by then.  The Zoom launch will be by invitation only, but you are welcome to join us for the live Facebook extravaganza on Wednesday 29th November for just one hour from 7-8pm GMT.  I’ll try to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed since it will be 9-10pm for me.

I’ll be reading an extract from each story, and be joined by the wonderful Amanda Young in Cornwall who, once again, provided all the wonderful illustrations.

Until then I’m busy putting pumpkin seeds in envelopes to give away to every purchaser (within the UK).  Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories will be available to buy or order from all good bookshops by the middle of the month as well as from online platforms.  It will also be available to purchase as an ebook.

I’m looking forward to discovering what different people (of all ages) enjoyed about the stories.  I’m also busy preparing a fresh bunch of creative writing lessons for primary school visits in summer 2024.

Until the tour then, I’ll leave you with Charlotte’s closing words: ‘I highly recommend this book and I hope much joy and inspiration will be received.’  Let’s hope that’s for reader and writer alike, Charlotte. Thank you!