Subscribe to RSS 2.0
Deeply irritating
Google's just launched a new thing which alerts you to websites which might harm your computer - with scripts and so on. Thing is, 100% of the sites I've tried to visit in the last half hour may, apparently, harm my computer. There's no link on the blocker page to carry on regardless, so I am expending many keystrokes more than I would like. Bad google. Fail.
Permanent link | Comments (5) | Leave a comment
Brief hiatus
Sorry if you couldn't accss Snowbooks.com this morning. *Someone* put a very popular 59mb download on the homepage, downloads of which exceeded our bandwidth. Oops.
Anyway, the latest Snowsales post is up. If you are a student on a publishing course, you should ask me for the password. It is useful.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Fun, funniest fun time
I'll admit, I'm a Joss Whedon groupie. I'd watch anything he wrote and/or directed. But somehow I managed to miss the opportunity to download for free his internet musical, Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog. However, I've just received the DVD and I'd like to make the heartiest of hearty recommendations that you get a copy too. Unfortunately I don't think there's a UK version available. I'm not even sure you can buy it on UK iTunes. What you really want is a DVD player that can play American discs and then you can get Amazon.com to mail you a copy for $17 including international shipping. [Update: it's been pointed out to me that this DVD will play in any DVD player, not just an American one.]
Continue reading "Fun, funniest fun time" »
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Demons
That logo should say 'Shine'. Not sure why it's so difficult to make out that fourth letter. Perhaps it's my cruel satire on the quality of their work. Anyway, Shine is the TV production company who made 'Hex' and now they're making 'Demons' which is currently showing on ITV. And sadly Demons is complete Shine.
Permanent link | Comments (3) | Leave a comment
Beatless
I'm never quite sure what to blog about these days. The reason I like the idea of publishing is not so much that I like books (though goodness knows I own enough of them) but that I like what's inside books. I like escaping into a story and I love learning things. But that's storytelling and the whole wide world of knowledge; most of it has little or nothing to do with the art and act of publishing and so isn't necessarily of direct interest to anyone who comes to this page. Most of it has nothing to do with any of our titles; it's much more to do with what's going on in my head. And the feedback we get often focuses on what people don't like rather than what they do which puts tentative crosses against a few of my regular topics but doesn't add any.
Permanent link | Comments (6) | Leave a comment
I can't help it
Quick baby photo. Shhh. Normal publishing will be resumed shortly.
Continue reading "I can't help it" »
Permanent link | Comments (5) | Leave a comment
Smug
I have *so* maintained email zero for, like, weeks now. Tra la la. If you are waiting for anything from me, well, I've lost your email. You'd better resend it. Sorry.
{update} Ooh, Rob makes a good point. That doesn't include submissions, which all go to a separate email address. Don't resend submissions if we haven't replied!
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Ghosts, werewolves, whatever
Werewolves aren't exactly ghosts, but hey - doesn't stop Maneater appearing high on the list of Amazon's bestselling ghost stories!
Rob's update: Amazon obviously update this a lot. When I looked, I came across Paris Immortal before I reached Maneater.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Tip
When you get a new piece of computerised technology, you should remember to change the default password to something else. This applies to laptops and wifi routers and especially to giant, illuminated motorway signs. You can see from the picture the results of someone not following that advice. Click on it for the whole picture. Story here (via BoingBoing).
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Snowsales
This week's snowsales post up now.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Funniest. Product. Ever
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
I must be doing it wrong
Apparently, having a kid costs £9277 a year. At the moment, though, little Ro is a profit centre. I get child benefit of £80 a month. I've been spending £20 a month on clothes for him (hooray for Asda's £3.75 packs of 7 sleepsuits). That leaves quite a lot. I shall buy him a piggy bank, then get him to buy his own Wii, or future equivalent, when he wants one.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Speaking of Thomas Emson
You may have read in The Bookseller recently that Snowbooks has signed up the next eight novels from Thomas Emson. Doesn't sound like cautious old Snowbooks, you are thinking - and you'd be right. But you just read the blurby enticers for these and see if you aren't hopping up and down in your seat desperate to read them.
Continue reading "Speaking of Thomas Emson" »
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Skarlet extract
Go here to read an exciting extract from Thomas Emson's forthcoming vampire novel, Skarlet.
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Snowsales bonus post
There's an extra bonus post up tonight. It's worth asking me for a password for this post alone. I'm not going to turn anyone down, unless we're sworn enemies, so ask away - it's password protected so I can see who's reading, because I'm nosey.
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Interloper alert!
Seems that Jon Snow has a new blog. Yep, he's called it the SnowBlog. As the original and still the best, we shall be magnaminous and allow him to nick our name - just so long as we keep our #1 google ranking!
Thanks to Sarah for the tip-off.
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
My pal, Obama
It is funny. I keep going to the news sites to see how my pal Obama is getting on. I genuinely feel like he and I know each other, and I'm rooting for him, as a friend, to do well. This is probably some psychological problem on my behalf: you know, delusions of grandeur, that sort of thing. Or perhaps it's to do with the fact that I'd like to know such a clever, rounded, personable, brilliant chap. It makes the world seem sunnier, knowing he's in charge.
In other news: Ro, meet London.
Continue reading "My pal, Obama" »
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Maclet
I don't seem to have much time to write for this here blog at the moment. I seem to be leaving it all up to Em. Who has a business to run and a small baby to amuse. It's not fair really. I'm very busy, but not with anything anyone would want to read about. But I did make something the other day that some of you might like. I've been having trouble with the little netbook I bought a while back. It keeps crashing. So I thought I'd get a replacement. But I wanted a Mac. Only they don't (yet) make a Mac netbook. So I made my own (with lots of help from the internets). Continue reading to see a couple of pictures.
Permanent link | Comments (3) | Leave a comment
I'm so proud to be an American!
Oh. Oops. I'm not an American. But I wouldn't mind being, today. The tv doesn't come on in our house very often, so Ro's first introduction to the concept was to watch President Obama take the oath and deliver his speech. Both of us shed a tear (although I think Ro was just a bit peckish, rather than being overcome with the enormity of the event). We salute you, President Obama. Good luck to you, sir.
Permanent link | Comments (8) | Leave a comment
Reviews
Read a review of The Clamour King here. Also, there's a review of The J-Word in the Canada Post (scroll to the bottom and click on books)
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Straw poll
If I attended a conference with Ro in a sling, would that be shocking and annoying for other conference-goers or within the bounds of acceptability? Before having him, I would have thought it was very weird, but now I think it would be OK. He doesn't make a noise in his sling. Honest thoughts very welcome.
Permanent link | Comments (10) | Leave a comment
Children's music
After your wonderful recommendations for baby books, does anyone have any good recommendations for baby music? I have got a nursery rhymes CD (god, aren't the lyrics violent? 'When the bough breaks the cradle will fall / Down will come baby, cradle and all" What are they trying to do, traumatise the kid?) but wondered if anyone had any good ideas for proper music. Thanks!
Permanent link | Comments (4) | Leave a comment
Snowsales
Latest post up here.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Jebus
You know me. I'm quite handy with the ol' computer. Well, the last twenty minutes make me look like a person who's never come across one in their life before. See, I've been trying to format a report in Sage.
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
e4books
Yey, we've got our e4books accreditation for 2009!
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Children's books
So for the first time in my adult life I have an interest in children's books. Indeed, I already know a few of them off by heart. Here are my reviews of some of the ones we've read so far.
Continue reading "Children's books" »
Permanent link | Comments (10) | Leave a comment
Mini spruce
It is true. Sometimes I choose titles for my blog posts because I know which picture Rob will come up with (for newcomers, Rob's main job at Snowbooks - as well as being chairman - is to put pictures on the blog posts.) Today I've given a dust to the Snowbooks homepage. It is now, as befits our recessionary era, full of free stuff. Go! Enjoy! (You might have to refresh the page.)
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Twittertastic
Did you know that this blog feeds our Twitter account, so every time there's a new post the first 140 characters plus a link to the rest appears. Amazingly we have 165 followers. It's interesting because unlike this blog I have no idea who's reading as so few of you comment. With Twitter I can view the profiles of people. You're a varied bunch, and I note a number of authors among you. Make sure you submit your work to us, especially horror and fantasy, as we're actively looking.
Twittering also means that I must endeavour to make the first 140 characters more interesting. Hmm. That's like someone pointing at you and shouting 'Be funny!' Too late for this post, anyway.
In summary: hello Twitterers!
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Land of 10,000 (frozen) Lakes
My window in the morning. (click the image for a bigger picture).
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Snowsales
The second SnowSales post is up now where you can see our sales by title by retailer for the last week. Read my original blog post to find out what I'm talking about, visit SnowSales and email me if you want a password.
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Paperback preview
Six years ago I phoned the editor of the Bookseller's paperback preview. I asked, rather boldly, if she'd like to include my titles. She was very nice but patted me on the head (as much as one can do over the phone) and gently let me down, saying "my dear, the paperback preview is only for the books which are going to sell tens of thousands of copies'.
I'm delighted to say, then, that we make our debut in this year's edition - with pictures! Another huge milestone reached - very satisying.
Permanent link | Comments (5) | Leave a comment
Returns
Galleycat reports that a publisher in the US is suing Borders for $1m for 'excessive orders' which were then returned. Fascinating. I hate returns as you well know, but suing your customers is never going to end well. Goes to highlight both the strength of feeling and the crippling effect of returns, though.
Permanent link | Comments (2) | Leave a comment
Post Xmas musings
The Barnes household had the best Christmas ever this year. It was a truly wonderful Christmas day and we've had a brilliant two weeks. But boy, am I glad to be back at work.
Continue reading "Post Xmas musings" »
Permanent link | Comments (1) | Leave a comment
Red Men accolades
Here's what the Professor of English at Detroit Uni says about The Red Men.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Snowflakes
I can't not point this out, especially as it's snowing outside my window at the moment.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Where in the world?
Click on the thumbnail if you want to see the view from my window this morning. And no, despite the snow, it's not the UK. I left my camera in the car, so it's just a phonecam picture and you don't really get the sharpness of the sunrise orange/pink on glittering snow or the vibrant and solid CGI quality of warm steam rising from a factory chimney into frigid, moistureless air. In a few minutes I'm going to walk over the local Denny's and have myself a veggie-cheese omelette and most likely be called darlin' by the waitress. Then, later today, I may go to one of my favouritest stores in the world (link). Hope whatever you're all doing, it's as much fun.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Round up of 2008's posts
I thought I'd do a round up of my favourite Snowblog posts in 2008.
Continue reading "Round up of 2008's posts" »
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
First innovation of the year
Wanting to start the year on an innovative foot, here's a new thing.
I have created a new blog, www.snowsales.co.uk, which contains password-protected Snowbooks sales data. As I mention in its first post:
We’re providing data on this blog because it’s a cheap, easy to maintain and quick way to improve our authors’ experience with Snowbooks. We also would like to make our data available to others for benchmarking or study purposes. Whilst some company data is indeed commercially sensitive, we don’t think that you can do much harm to our company by knowing our sales data. Indeed, we think that by being open and sharing data we can all benefit:
Authors - you can keep an eye on whether your local stores are ordering, or let us know if you think there are additional opportunities we’re not getting. Plus you can get a feel for how your book is selling rather than waiting for the 6 monthly royalty statements, or trying to figure out the Amazon rankings algorithm. You can also benchmark your book’s performance against other Snowbooks titles.
Fellow publishers - you can benchmark your sales against ours, to see if there are any stores we sell to who might like your books, and vice versa. If you see any gaps in our customer base, reciprocate and let us know!
Students - we’ve been asked a number of times for actual data to help students understand the realities of publishing, so we hope this helps you to become better publishers when you graduate. Do acknowledge us in your essays and projects if you find these data useful.
Email me now to request your password.
Permanent link | Comments (0) | Leave a comment
Happy new year
Alas, I was in bed by half nine, as is my way nowadays what with the bairn and all, but a barrage of cannon-like shots around midnight proved that it was indeed New Year's Eve. So happy new year, one and all. May your 2009 be filled with fine books, fine times and fine amounts of money. Thanks for supporting Snowbooks in 2008 and thanks in advance for keeping us going in 2009 and beyond!