A plea for help

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Sat, 2003-01-11 23:46

A plea for help

I feel uncomfortable asking this but want it badly enough to try. Below is the synopsis of my new novel about to be published. My publisher has said that he will drop ALL publishing costs if I can get 100 advance orders. What I'm asking is, could anyone who might have bought my book if they saw it in the shops please consider buying it now instead. If you could e-mail me your name, address, and phone number a copy of my paperback book will be sent to you and you will be invoiced for 9:99 plus p+p on reciept No money needed up front. I'm sorry to ask like this and promise not to plug any of my other books in such a manner, but this is the only way I can afford to do this. Afterwards it will be available in the normal way at all the usual outlets as long as I can get these hundred orders. Thank-you my friends for your time and any orders. sooz.006@virgin.net "

Better the Devil you Know.

Eve’s never written a novel, though she has several in or around the bestseller list. Eve is twenty-seven but has not yet begun to live. Ellie is the same age and is learning how to die. She is coming to terms with a terminal illness and as if that’s not bad enough death has other plans for her when she becomes the victim of a psychotic stalker.

After her boyfriend Matthew is savagely attacked Ellie’s horrified to discover that the stalker wears her face. But neither her tormentor, nor her illness combined, equals the evil that is lurking in the shadows of her eyes.

Ellie goes to a rendezvous in a burnt out research facility where her nemesis has lured and kidnapped Matt. For the first time she encounters the woman who is trying to steal her appearance and her life that she feels are rightfully hers to take.

Using the metaphor of a cow fart hitting the engine of a Boeing 747 nothing plays out according to plan when a voice from the past announces their fate over the tannoy system. Hunter becomes victim and the victim realises that far from a conclusion this is just a beginning. In a dramatic role reversal Ellie must defend her foe though their mutual hatred remains.

Finding themselves battling against the world they are forced to meet head on and overcome the hostilities between them.

Constantly on the run the games master is always only one step behind them. Somehow he always knows the next throw of the dice before they’ve even rolled. No rules are explained in this game and the board has no boundaries.

Sun, 2003-01-12 00:03

eddie

I don't want to disillusion you, Sooz, but my book 'Stations of the Heart' has had a banner ad on ABC for something like a year. When I last enquired my publisher told me that a grand total of 2 (yes, two) books have been sold via ABC. One was bought by Tony Cook. Better you know now than build up your hopes. Then again, it might just be me - and yours might get lots of advance orders. I hope so. And to prove it, I'll place the first advance order.

Sun, 2003-01-12 00:47

-7legspider

Must have been me that bought the other one then Eddie.. Can I have a refund.. hee hee. Actually, I recommend it. I'll be taking yours too Sooz... better be Good.

Sun, 2003-01-12 01:10

Sooz

Thanks both. I'm not happy about doing it this way, but it saves a lot of money if it works. Oh and it is. If you're disappointed, I'll personally give you a refund.

Sun, 2003-01-12 01:11

Sooz

Oh God if everyone bought one and then demanded a refund from my little sorry purse I'd be spending a lot of years in prison.

Sun, 2003-01-12 08:37

Hulsey

Sooz, add me to the list. I was going to buy it anyway. Didn't I tell you that Graham was okay?

Sun, 2003-01-12 12:48

Sooz

Ta, Tony .. and thank-you for all your help in getting him interested in me. Our next session is on me and I'm going to drink you under the table baby. And next time it's your turn to sing.

Sun, 2003-01-12 12:50

Sooz

And thank-you to everyone else. I now have twenty-five orders. A hundred seemed impossible, only seventy-five rungs to go.

Sun, 2003-01-12 13:02

Hen

Eddie - I used to click on that banner and find it took me nowhere. Recently I spotted it again and got to the Amazon site - I was happily reading through the comments on your book when my Internet disconnected! You must be cursed.

Sun, 2003-01-12 15:03

#10

eddie

Perhaps the ABC techies could sort out the banner. It's a shame that more books have not been sold through ABC because 30% of the cost price (i.e. my royalties) will go to their fund for the homeless. Meanwhile, anyone wishing to purchase a copy can do so at skoobe.co.uk poetry section. Perhaps ABC can link to that site via the banner ad. Thanks, Spider. I know several other contributors have bought the book by other means and I'm grateful to them for that. My next publication will start as an e-book and hopefully quickly progress to a paper version. This will be available at skoobe.co.uk sometime soon. Sorry to hijack the thread, Sooz - it just seems that we're sort of in the same boat. I hope you've brought the paddle...

Sun, 2003-01-12 16:10

#11

Karl Wiggins

Sooz, Count me in, mate. As a great fan of your writing I'll willingly pay for a copy up front, Karl

Sun, 2003-01-12 21:06

#12

Gabrielle

Sooz: Doesn't sound like the type of stuff I would normally read...but am e mailing an order anyway. The heroine of my novel is called Ellie also. Not Ellie Also. or even Ellie Aswell. but she's called Ellie. How are you publishing this novel? Tips please.

Sun, 2003-01-12 21:48

#13

Sooz

Thanks everybody, you've been brilliant. Eddie, I've added your book to my list of books to buy along with John bird's and Hulsey's. Karl could you please send me an address. thanks again all. I'm up to thirty-one now. I really do apreciate all your help.

Sun, 2003-01-12 22:31

#14

Liana

Yes Sooz, count me in for one too. Why dont you offer to sign the copies, that way even more may fancy one :o)

Sun, 2003-01-12 23:00

#15

Sooz

Note from the publisher. (I told him I'd got 30 orders) now 33. Hi Sooz, For three days that's brilliant and your book has had a rave review from our first reader. You'll be there in no time. Will forward you an ISBN and details this week. Regards Graham

Mon, 2003-01-13 08:36

#16

martin_t

i'll e-mail the order in a sec.... btw eddie, i was the other one who ordered your book from the book place....

Mon, 2003-01-13 08:50

#17

Liana

I got Eddies book through the book place too.... is somebody telling you porkies Eddie?

Mon, 2003-01-13 11:27

#18

freda

The signing idea is a good one Sooz, hope you'll sign mine. That way I am less likely to lend it anyone and lose it.

Mon, 2003-01-13 11:37

#19

Sooz

Been thinking about the signing thing. Apart from it being bloody embarrassing (have any of you seen my wriitng?) and a damned pompus thing to do. The publisher will send the books out directly to the customer. So it would mean you sending it to me, me signing it and sending it back. I was planning to write to everybody whose adress I've got (over twenty thank-you all) to say thank-you. How about if I write a little thank-you inscription on some nice labels and then you can stick them in the book or not as you wish? Is that the same thing? It will be a lot less hassle all round. Several people have asked for signed copies with their orders. Can't think why. I've been worrying about the best way to go about it. I think this will be so much nicer anyway. Just writing 'To Blogs, Sue Simpson' and then sending a batch out is so impersonal anyway. It will be far nicer to write as much as I can fit on a label and make it personal to each person.

Mon, 2003-01-13 11:38

#20

Sooz

38 now, almost half way. It still fells impossible, but only half as impossible as it did on Friday.

Mon, 2003-01-13 18:37

#21

eddie

Liana & Martin, When the banner ad was put up it was linked to the publisher's website at deliberatelythirsty.com. That way all purchases via ABC Tales could be monitored. Whilst the link held, two purchasers from ABC Tales were recorded. I think the other buyer was Barry Wood. It appears that the link may have been broken for some time. My publishers have no connection with The Book Place, so they could not count any books bought from there.

Mon, 2003-01-13 18:44

#22

Liana

ah..... well anyway, a wonderful book... everyone should have it.

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