tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post5702224175153982369..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Some Things That Make Me Want To Become A Hermit - by Simon CheshireKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-84025468762259793862012-07-30T07:48:56.101+01:002012-07-30T07:48:56.101+01:00Oh those Prose Fairies! But how to lure them in? W...Oh those Prose Fairies! But how to lure them in? Why put out an overnight plateful of choccies of course.<br />Thanks Simon for a very funny and true piece.julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-23712474994105736872012-07-24T16:41:02.365+01:002012-07-24T16:41:02.365+01:00I do love a good rant, so this post went down well...I do love a good rant, so this post went down well. Feeling better now you've got that off your chest Simon? maybe I'll wind myself up for a rant as well, it's good for the system.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-9958290196782366692012-07-23T18:21:28.529+01:002012-07-23T18:21:28.529+01:00The advice I was given when I started out and wan...The advice I was given when I started out and wanted to know what would get published was to 'write good books - they will always find a publisher and a market'. Ha ha. Those were innocent, halcyon days. I've learnt it's not like that [or, at least, no longer like that] but if I'm going to live with myself I've still got to do it. Trying to write good books is what I have to do if I want to live with myself. Of course 'good' can mean all sorts of things, but I guess it comes down to corny things like giving your whole heart and doing the best you can. It may not always end up with books on tables in Waterstones, but at least it means living with yourself [while you're quietlyl starving!].Pauline Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11826696982301252524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-19351290550812681702012-07-23T15:49:18.052+01:002012-07-23T15:49:18.052+01:00Mmmmm yes, the upside of this job is sitting at ho...Mmmmm yes, the upside of this job is sitting at home all day popping choccies... not alwats Thorntons though, I have to admit.<br /><br />It is difficult to get out of bed sometimes when you see the "success" (as in commercial success) of books like Fifty Shades... but I still think the answer is to write a book that everyone wants to read.<br /><br />The way I see it, if my books are not piled at the front of every Waterstones and Smiths and selling millions of copies every day, then I've nobody to blame but myself. I give my muse a big thump on the head and try to write a better one next time. (He's looking a bit bruised after ten years of this...)Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-88390616036904371632012-07-23T14:50:56.410+01:002012-07-23T14:50:56.410+01:00I think the answer is mass hysteria myself, or the...I think the answer is mass hysteria myself, or the Lemming Syndrome.<br /><br />Too hot for chocs here (Italy 35 degrees if you must know), but fortunately too far to go to do the mother-in-law's shopping!<br /><br />Brilliant post Simon.Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-80346317178181870232012-07-23T13:51:03.618+01:002012-07-23T13:51:03.618+01:00I so identify with that 'writers sit at home a...I so identify with that 'writers sit at home all day doing nothing' thing. I had fondly imagined that when I got a little older, and my son (and my friends' kids) were all grown up, things would improve, but now I seem to have a lot of friends who have taken early retirement - or just plain retirement - and they all seem to think I've done the same. Er... no. There are times when I sympathise enormously with Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Now where did I leave that axe?Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-35549230595333147952012-07-23T10:45:03.945+01:002012-07-23T10:45:03.945+01:00Cally, what's there to drive me crazy? I could...Cally, what's there to drive me crazy? I couldn't agree more: good books deserve good reviews. Our only difference of opinion is that I believe bad books deserve good reviews too.<br /><br />Lots more people seem to agree with you than me, but hey, that's why we try to protect minorities in a democracy.<br /><br />;-)Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-2526319577156180932012-07-23T10:38:00.010+01:002012-07-23T10:38:00.010+01:00Yeah, zeitgeisty really only accounts for part of ...Yeah, zeitgeisty really only accounts for part of the success - similarly, Kean's tradition. As you point out, it's easy to find lots of books with these elemnts that never take off. And it seems that there are good number of books which publishers promote heavily, yet never move into the megaclass - not even the bestseller class. Usually I just shrug my shoulders and mutter 'luck', but that that doesn't explain much either. I've never completely bought into the tipping point explanation as a sufficient explanation. Maybe there is none.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-65500909647298434952012-07-23T09:57:30.766+01:002012-07-23T09:57:30.766+01:00i'll have to start with an apology. simon, for...i'll have to start with an apology. simon, forgive me, but i'm just packing the thorntons before setting off to drift around a sun bleached langstone harbour in a 23-footer. worst case scenario? the choccies melt before i can eat em.<br />keep yer chin up, lad....Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-69800501531389511282012-07-23T08:02:09.524+01:002012-07-23T08:02:09.524+01:00Simon. If I tell you I AM a hermit you'll know...Simon. If I tell you I AM a hermit you'll know my response to your post!!!! <br />AND btw, You've Got To Read This Book is being reviewed in August on IEBR by Dennis and I think you'll find it passes muster. I agree with you - good books deaerve good reviews (and I don't mean 'I loved it' reviews, I mean reviews which actually ARE reviews of the work. I feel a 'what is a good review' blog coming on. <br /><br />(Sorry Lee, I know that will drive you crazy - don't feel the need to put me back in my place - just skip my comments!)CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.com