The Crime Fiction - Making it Real weekend workshop 23rd to 25th March 2012

Calling all crime fiction writers, this is your chance to -

• bring your stories to life.
• know how a real police investigation works.
• learn about policing in the past, present and future.
• discuss your current story with an experienced specialist police advisor.
• pick up hundreds of ideas for your next story.
• experience all of this at one of the country’s most famous police training centres, the home of police recruit and detective training.

Come along to the West Yorkshire Police Training and Development Centre in Wakefield. This inspirational, interactive workshop will give writers at all levels of experience an opportunity to spend a weekend of discovery, enlightenment and guidance in the company of ex-Police Inspector Kevin Robinson (a 30 year veteran of British and International policing).



Places are limited to ensure each delegate has plenty of individual support. Two-night’s accommodation, breakfasts and lunches are included in the price of £225 per delegate. Reservations made before 1st February 2012 qualify for a 10% discount and thereafter, the full fee applies.

The Crime Writing Solutions Website also provides valuable research information for writers of crime, detective fiction and police procedurals.

It is run by Kevin Robinson  who has over 30 years experience in policing both in and out of uniform. He's worked rural, urban and city beats in England and he's taught cops how to be better cops. 

He's provided specialist technical support and advice to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Eurocustoms as part of their anti-drugs and organised crime programmes and projects.

He holds a Masters in Forensic and Legal Psychology through  and has provided specialist support in complex, serious and serial crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and terrorist related activities.

Pauline Rowson explains how she chooses the names of her characters in her crime and thriiler novels

Getting the right name for characters in a crime novel, or any novel come to that, can be a tricky business. Sometimes they come to me completely out of the blue as I am creating a character, other times I will struggle to find the name that best suits the character.

I have always had this thing that people should look like their names. When someone is introduced to me I will think yes, you are a Jacqueline or a Malcolm. Other times I will think, oh no, you're definitely a Karen or a Wayne. And so it is with the characters I am creating. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have exceptions.

So where do I get names from? When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up a web site of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down.

When working on Footsteps on the Shore (no. 6 in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery series) I was stuck for one particular character. He had several incarnations before trawling through the A-Z of names I hit on it. Ashley. Yes, he is definitely an Ashley.

As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. And the more novels I write the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I am building a database in order to double check this.


And where did Andy Horton come from? I've no idea. He just sprang to mind both the name and the character, and long may he thrive.

crime novels, marine mystery murder series, British crime writer, crime fiction

New head at Hodder Children's Books

Jon Appleton has been appointed to the newly-created post of editorial director for fiction at Hodder Children’s Books and will be joining the company on lst February.

Appleton joins from Hachette Australia, where he was children’s publisher during 2011. Previously to that he worked as editorial director at Orion under Fiona Kennedy.

He joins other fiction editors – Beverley Birch, Rachel Wade and Naomi Pottesman and Ellen Holgate.


Hachette’s appointments follow the departure last autumn of Emily Thomas and Sara O'Connor, previously Hodder YA fiction publisher and senior editorial manager respectively, for Hot Key Books.

Crime author Pauline Rowson will be helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February, Portsmouth Central Library 10.30am - 12.30pm.

I'm delighted to be involved in helping to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February when I will be at Portsmouth Central Library between 10.30am to 12.30pm.

I'll be talking about my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers which are set in the Solent area, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, and there will be the opportunity to win signed copies of my books with a murder mystery quiz hunt for clues around the library, and the chance to be named as a character in one of my forthcoming DI Horton crime novels.

National Libraries Day is a celebration of libraries across the UK. Events and activities will take place in a variety of libraries including in schools, colleges, universities and public libraries in the UK in the week leading up to and on National Libraries Day on Saturday 4 February.

I'm a great supporter of libraries. I owe them a debt of gratitude because if it hadn't been for my local library in Portsmouth as a child I doubt I would ever have discovered a life long passion for reading and for writing. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of people and helping the library service to celebrate on 4 February..

Tickets can be purchased at any library in Portsmouth or by contacting libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Tickets cost £3.00.

Hope to see some of you there.

Pauline Rowson is the author of the popular marine mystery police procedural crime series featuring DI Andy Horton, set on the South Coast of England in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Solent area.

A Killing Coast, the seventh in the DI Horton series is published in hardcover in the UK on 26 January 2012 and in the USA on 1 May 2012.


She is also the author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight, which came third in an on line poll of the UK's most favourite books for World Book Day and In For The Kill.


“Deserves mention in the same breath as the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.” Booklist Starred Review of Footsteps on the Shore

One in every 40 adults in the UK received an e-reader as a Christmas present.

More than one million e-readers and more than half a million tablet devices were received as gifts over Christmas, according to research released today, with Amazon and Apple the leading suppliers of e-readers and tablets respectively.

According to the analysis one in every 40 adults in the UK received an e-reader as a Christmas present. The data, based on a YouGov survey of 2012 adults in the week after Christmas, indicated that 1.33 million e-readers were gifted over the festive period, 92% of which were Kindles, making Amazon’s e-reader the most popular choice this Christmas.  The research suggests that just over 100,000 rival e-readers were sold.

The research showed the devices were more popular with women than men, with 61% of people receiving them being women. The results also showed an age-bias, with Amazon’s Kindle being twice as popular with the over-55 age group than the 18-24 age group.

Tablet sales were also buoyant at Christmas. YouGov's modelling suggests that more than 640,000 tablets were gifted to adults, 72% of them Apple iPads with 60% of the Apple products being gifted to women. Non-Apple-branded tablets were relatively more popular with men.


 The survey was taken between 28th December 2011 and 3rd January 2012.


More than one million e-readers sold over Christmas:

What is the difference between a crime novel and thriller? Crime author Pauline Rowson discusses

I'm often asked what is the difference between a crime novel and a thriller, and I have to admit I have difficulty in answering this question even though I have written seven crime novels and two thrillers.

So for enlightenment I turned to the International Thriller Writers organisation who characterise a thriller as:

“the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace."

I think this is true of the crime novel. OK, so it depends on what type of crime novel. Some admittedly unfold at a more leisurely pace depending on the personality of the main character, his or her background, the story and the setting. If it is a cozy mystery then, yes, it is less likely to move along at breakneck speed although there will be suspense, peaks and lulls.

So let's hear more from the International Thriller Writers.

"Thriller is a genre in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country, or the stability of the free world."

In a crime novel the hero might be a police officer, or a private eye, who can still be tough and resourceful. DI Andy Horton certainly is in my crime novels. And he is pitted against villains determined to destroy him, although not necessarily the country or the stability of the free world. But hang on he might be called upon to do so if there is a terrorist element in the plot, and it could be said that criminals involved in drugs, trafficking and other heinous crimes also threaten the stability of the country and the free world.

Being a police officer though, Horton has a team behind him and superiors above him, but he is a maverick and usually strikes out alone to solve the crime and bring the villain to justice. Horton is not an 'ordinary cop' but a man on a mission to fight injustice and at the same time is being forced to find out the truth behind his mother's disappearance, which puts his life in danger and pits him against that villain who is intent on destroying him and the fabric of society.

So, again I think there can be a certain overlap between the crime novel and thriller.

The heroes in both my thrillers are ordinary guys who find themselves in extra ordinary situations Both Adam Greene in In Cold Daylight and Alex Albury in In For The Kill find themselves pitted against villains determined to destroy them. Often in a thriller the hero is faced with what seem to be insurmountable problems in his mission, carried out against a ticking clock, the stakes are high and although resourceful he faces personal dilemmas along the way forcing him to make sacrifices for others.

This is true for both Adam Greene and Alex Albury. Adam, in a quest to discover the truth behind his closest friend's death, fire fighter Jack Bartholomew, finds himself up against a huge conspiracy at the top. His whole way of life begins to crumble before him and he faces many personal dilemmas and danger on his journey.

In In For the Kill, Alex Albury's life has been shattered when sentenced for fraud and embezzlement. On his release from prison he is determined to discover who framed him knowing that he is up against a dangerous and very clever adversary who will stop at nothing to prevent him from finding this out. Soon, Alex is faced with the ultimate choice to kill or be killed.


In a thriller there is tension and conflict along the way and an unexpected, satisfying conclusion and I believe that also applies to crime novels, well I like to think it does to mine! Whether crime novel or thriller the main characters/s will have internal conflict, moral dilemmas, and tough decisions and choices to make, as these help develop and define them. Their actions drive the story forward.

So am I any clearer on the difference between a crime novel and a thriller? To a certain extent yes. But concerning my own crime and thriller novels I'm not so sure. It seems that my crime novels are also thrillers or should that be my thrillers are also crime novels? Does it matter? No. Whether crime novel or thriller all that really counts is that it is a satisfying and enjoyable read.

People in Publishing - changes to editorial teams at Random House Childrens' Books & Andersen Press

Random House Children's Books and Andersen Press are making some changes to their editorial teams, with RHCB commissioning editor Ruth Knowles joining Andersen Press on a year's secondment. Knowles will step into an acting editorial director for fiction role from Monday, 9th January, covering for Charlie Sheppard's maternity leave.

Meanwhile, during this period, Natalie Doherty will take on an acting editor role at RHCB and Kirsten Armstrong, who previously worked at David Fickling Books, will join as assistant editor.

Jessica Clarke has also been promoted to editor at RHCB, having joined the fiction team in June 2010.

Moves at RHCB and Andersen:

Angry Robot Books to launch a crime fiction imprint in 2013 - looking for new commissioning editor

Sci-fi and fantasy specialist Angry Robot Books is to launch a crime fiction imprint in 2013.

The publisher, part of the Osprey Group, said it is in the "advanced stages" of preparing the imprint, which will be a standalone line with its own name and presence. However, additional details are being held under wraps, with Angry Robot saying only that "it will employ the same young and lively approach as AR does, using social media, street teams and all".

The company is currently recruiting a commissioning editor for the new project whom it said is to play a key role in developing the character of the imprint and must have "the ability to walk the walk as the mouthpiece of the coolest new crime imprint on the block".

Angry Robot has also announced the launch of a YA imprint in September of this year.

Independent Publisher Constable & Robinson see sales and turnover rise

Constable & Robinson has grown turnover by 16% to £7.46m for the nine months to 31st October 2011, with total sales rising by 11% for the year to date.

Chairman Nick Robinson predicted that e-book sales should reach 12% of company turnover by the end of the current year.

The indie publisher also reported, in its full results for 2010, that turnover for the year ending 31st January 2011 was 8% up on 2009, to £8.1m, with profits 107% up, to £593,574.

Managing director Pete Duncan said: "We are particularly pleased with this year's third-quarter results on top of what was a strong year for sales and profit growth last year. As always, our authors and staff have been fundamental to this success."

Chairman Nick Robinson said: "We believe that our long-term investment in online publishing and our strong e-book sales—which should reach 12% of sales for the full current year—show the company is well positioned for 2012 and beyond."

2012 will see the publisher grow its client publishers' sales and distribution side, as well as launch its new commercial fiction imprint, Canvas.

Submission Guidelines
Constable & Robinson are happy to see submissions from new authors.  Please follow the submission guidelines on their website.

Palgrave Pivot accepting submission proposals for new imprint to be launched in 2012

Palgrave Macmillan is to launch a global imprint in 2012 which it claims will "liberate" scholarship from the "straitjacket" of traditional formats and business models.

Palgrave Pivot will publish across the humanities and social sciences, offering authors the flexibility of publishing mid-length texts which are too long to be journal articles and too short to stand as conventional monographs.

Publications from the new imprint will be available as digital collections for libraries, as individual e-books for personal use, or as digitally produced print editions. Palgrave Pivot will also prioritise speed of delivery, undertaking to publish within three months of accepting a piece after peer review.

Palgrave Macmillan executive director Samantha Burridge called the venture a "market-changing initiative" which presented the humanities and social sciences with an alternative publishing model. "We feel strongly that the restraints of the print format are no longer necessary," she said, adding that academics across the disciplines had been "very keen" to hear of the project.

Call for Proposals
Palgrave Pivot is now accepting proposals.

Authors in the USA and Canada: View the contact details of our editors.
Authors in the rest of the world: View the contact details of our editors.

Palgrave Pivot will launch in autumn 2012.

Random House Editor at Large to become Literary Agent at Janklow and Nesbit

Random House editor-at-large Rebecca Carter is to join Janklow & Nesbit as an agent.

After 15 years at Random House, Carter will take up her new role at Janklow & Nesbit's London office in March 2012.

Carter said: “I have been extremely fortunate to work with so many wonderfully supportive and creative people at Random House over the last 15 years. The chance to join an agency like Janklow & Nesbit was too good to pass up, especially at a time when changes in the industry are creating challenges as to how best to steer an author’s career.”

Morton Janklow, a partner at Janklow & Nesbit, added: “We are thrilled to have Rebecca join our strong UK team. She brings her vast experience as an editor of taste and imagination and is the perfect addition to our group in London.”

For submissions to the agency please follow the submission guidelines.
 

Randon House Chief says that roles in publishing are being re-written

Random House Group UK managing director, Gail Rebuck has said the rules of "agent, publisher and retailer are being rewritten", and revealed that e-books now account for around 11% of RHG's total net sales.

In a year-end letter to staff, Rebuck said that the group should finish 2011 ahead of internal targets despite a year characterised by a "turbulent economy", and with the "struggling High Street, particularly in Australia with the collapse of The Red Group".

She also said 2011 would be looked back on as "a time of significant digital-led change" with the publishing industry in transition. She added: "Traditional business models are in flux and new, exciting ways of doing things are coming into focus while the roles of agent, publisher and retailer are being rewritten," creating "opportunities for those who are ready to embrace and lead change".

Looking to 2012, she said: "Increasingly, direct consumer engagement will play a pivotal role in our campaigns as online discoverability and recommendation become ever more crucial to the future success of our books."

Rebuck said e-book sales values were up more than 500% on 2010.

Audio Book Sales Continue To Grow

Below is the Audio Publishers Association just-released annual Survey Highlights for Audio Books.

• Unit sales were up nearly 10% in the past year, showing continued consumer interest in audiobooks.
• Based on the companies who reported (representing 61% of industry), total net sales (after returns) are up by 2 million units and $2 million.
• The total number of audiobooks being published doubled in the past three years, from 3,073 in 2007 to 6,200 in 2010.
• Audiobook downloads continued on a growth trend representing 36% of dollar volume (up from 29% in 2009) and 52% of unit sales (up from 48% in 2009)
• In the past 5 years, downloading has grown 300% by dollar volume (from 9% in 2005) and 150% in terms of units (from 21% in 2005).
• The CD format still represents the largest single source of dollars but showed slight declines overall in 2010 – 58% of revenue (down from 65%) and 43% of unit sales (down from 46%).
• Unabridged editions (89% of the market by dollars; 85% of the market by units) continue to lead in sales.

I'm delighted to add that four of my DI Andy Horton marine mystery police procedural crime novels are published as unabridged audio books by Isis Publishing and my sales, marketing and communication books  are also available as audio books.

For more information visit my website 

People in Publishing

Macmillan President, Brian Napack, has left the company, where he had also served as Chairman and CEO of Scientific American. He will announce plans early in 2012.

Also at Macmillan, Kingfisher has hired Brian Buerkle as Associate Publisher, Director of Marketing, replacing Angus Killick who has been named VP, Associate Publisher, Macmillan Children’s. Buerkle was Senior Marketing Manager at Marshall Cavendish.

At HarperCollins: Carrie Thornton will join the company in January 2012 as Executive Editor for It Books. Hilary Redmon has joined Ecco as Executive Editor, focusing on non-fiction titles. She was Senior Editor at Free Press. Casey McIntyre will be joining HarperCollins Children’s Books as Publicity Manager on January 9th. She was at the Penguin Young Readers Group.

Shannon Welch will join Scribner as a Senior Editor on January 9. She was previously an Executive Editor at Rodale.

Roger Labrie has left his position as Senior Editor at S&S and will be providing freelance editorial services to agents and authors. He is based in Summit, NJ, and may be reached atrlabrie311@comcast.net

Josalyn Moran, who left her job as children’s publishing director at Chronicle Books to become VP of publishing at Albert Whitman in 2010, will step down from that role at the end of the year. Whitman head John Quattrocchi said in a memo that “having achieved all preset goals,” Moran will transition to an advisory role from St. Louis.

Peter Miller has been hired as Director of Publicity at Liveright Publishing, the new division of W.W. Norton. He was formerly with Bloomsbury and Walker.

William Kiester is leaving his position as Publisher at Fair Winds Press after five years. In 2012 he will be pursuing a new publishing venture. He can be reached at williamkiester@gmail.com.

Dystel & Goderich Literary Management has hired Morris Shamah as the agency’s new Royalties Director and Junior Agent. Shamah previously worked at Writers House and the Carol Mann Agency as an intern.



Marcy Goot is leaving Kaplan, where she was Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, and moving to California to be Marketing Director, Literacy Program, at non-profit Benetech. She may be reached at marcyg@benetech.org



At Grand Central, Ben Greenberg has been promoted to Executive Editor; Alex Logan moves up to Editor; and Latoya Smith is promoted to Associate Editor.

Vanessa Mobley is being promoted to Executive Editor at Crown, reporting to Molly Stern.


Paul Whitlatch has been promoted to Editor at Scribner. He was previously an Associate Editor.

Deborah Aaronson has been promoted to Associate Publisher, Abrams adult trade, with responsibility for editorial resources and the adult art and design department. Both Aaronson and Publishing Director for lifestyle Leslie Stoker will report to Tager. Jennifer Levesque moves up to Editorial Director, reporting to Aaronson, where she will oversee Abrams Image.

Lauren Shakely, who stepped down last month as Senior VP, Publisher, Clarkson Potter, is reachable at lshakely@earthlink.net





Anna Quindlen has been named honorary national chairperson for World Book Night US. World Book Night is a campaign to give away a million free books across America all on one day — April 23, 2012 — by enlisting 50,000 volunteer book lovers to help promote reading by going into their communities and distributing free copies of a book they especially enjoy. World Book Night US has opened the registration process for those wishing to become volunteer book givers. They can go to www.us.worldbooknight.org and register through February 1, 2012.