Two book blurbs, both alike in dignity?

I have just read an article on how to write book blurbs.   I had one in place for The Malice of Fairies, this one:

Deirdre is a rationalist and a sceptic, but a visit to West Cork and a romantic encounter with the mysteriously irresistible Connor begin to challenge her long-held belief system. The whole structure of her life begins to totter when her young daughter Elsie disappears, abducted by the sióga, a powerful clan hidebound by thousands of years of tradition. There’s nothing fey about these fairies and Elsie’s abduction catalyses the clan’s disenchantment with Aurelia, their ageing chieftain. Aurelia’s sons, Connor and the ambitious, sexually-conflicted Gawen, are rivals to succeed her, threatening further dissension within the sióga. Elsie is in danger of becoming collateral damage, while Deirdre risks losing not just her precious daughter, but everything that really matters to her. 

After reading the article, I wrote a new one: 

Deirdre’s lost in the woods when she meets the irresistible Connor. A sceptical academic, Deirdre falls for this uncannily charming man, and is drawn back to Ireland to visit him, taking her nine year old daughter Elsie.  With Elsie’s sudden disappearance, Deirdre receives a series of devastating blows which steadily force her to see the world differently, until finally, Connor’s mother, the manipulative Aurelia, offers her a terrifying bargain.

Aurelia’s people, the sióga, are bound by centuries of tradition which Connor and his sexually-ambiguous brother Gawen, are both longing to change.  Rivals to succeed Aurelia, their struggle for dominance seems remote from Deirdre’s familiar, professional world, but everything she loves depends on its outcome.

Which do you think works best?   Comments below please - or on the FB page The Malice of Fairies,

Tara Moore "Fade to Dead"

This is my friend Tara's latest novel, published by Urbane Publications, and available from all good online stores and crime festivals.   Just as Trotskyites in the 1970s were urged to "make the turn to industry" (i.e. go and become agitators in the workplace, rather than intellectualise in universities), writers are being incessantly urged to write crime. Tara has had a long career writing commercial women's novels, with a hint of the dark in the last ones, until her agent urged her to turn to crime.  As I don't read much crime (or much of anything  at the moment) it would be a long slog to become a crime writer, and the results would not be as satisfying as this is. I particularly liked the main character, DI Jess Wildacre, although apparently some reviewers do not.  I found it funny in places, and very grim in others.  You feel all the frustrations that the police team feel with this serial killer and it seems impossible to see how they can find any evidence.  It's a relief when they do.  I didn't see the twist coming either.  What more can I say?  Read it yourselves.

The Point of Blogging

I started this blog about 5? years ago, because I was told by other writers that we all had to have a blog, a calling card, something to impress the industry with our "platform".  I don't know if anyone else gets a chance to see the stats on this blog, but if this was my only "platform" it would be a pretty wobbly and isolated one.

The intention of this blog was to provide an insight into the process of working, for anyone who might be interested.   Occasionally I put up a sample of the work.  These samples always have far more readership than anything else on here, quite reasonably, since they are properly written chapters, and not just me whinging on about how hard things are.

The blog falls between any number of stools - I could do something with it, like become a mega reviewer, or I could indulge in a bit of literary gossip, to attract more customers.  But this is not about the numbers, it's more of an aide memoire for me, how I felt, how I responded, what I did.  It's not personal, anyone can read it really.  I don't think I've been rude to anyone; a bit cheeky about agents maybe, but when you've had the rejection letters I've had, you can't help that.  

I continue to do it not to gratify the loyal readership (sorry) but because I am interested in the process and progress of the works, the ideas I've had, the ideas I've discarded, and so on.   However, I will try and write more about other writers I know and what they are doing.  This is called backscratching (and ruder things), but is essential to "get on".

Avanti!

I was rather shocked today to realise that it was about 6 months since I'd done any serious writing.   Of course I have been involved in the editing and re-writing of The Malice of Fairies and I have written considerable chunks of The Devil's Chapel, The Dog-Walkers Book Club etc. but despite applying my bottom firmly to my chair and typing so much that I seem to have RSI or something in my elbow, no new work is forthcoming.  What I mean by serious writing is what I do when I'm writing a book, 2-3,000 words a day, and a smart answer for anyone who is foolish enough to interrupt me (cups of tea and coffee delivered silently are acceptable).  Everything in the last few months seems to be a bit scattergun.

This is due partly to the slow progress of TMoF - although if agents were getting back and asking for changes and so on, I wouldn't have much time for other writing.  It is also due to an underlying "is there any point?" feeling.  Yes, I would enjoy writing them, but I am not so sybaritic that I can simply lounge in the pleasure of writing for its own sake.  It needs to earn me some money.

At present, I have gone beyond sorrow, into a place of incredulity.  However, yesterday I discoverd a US website called Query Tracker, which lists about 1400 agents, so clearly I have barely scratched the surface.  The trouble is dealing with each individually crafted submission, as well as my paltry attempts at a social media presence.    I feel happy because I'm getting on top of it, but at the same time, the unplanted summer plants, the ironing, the state of the spare room, dealing with our listings on the AirBnB website, the redecoration of Ned's room etc. all are neglected as I sit here, close cousin to Mrs Filth-Packet, in my dressing gown, awaiting the CALL!


The other projects I have begun, or am continuing, include: screenplay treatment of TMoF, because everyone says it would be a great filum entirely, a sarcastic but helpful book about approaching agents, working title "Other Agents May Feel Differently", the Beastly Betty idea, a thorough overhaul of The Romantic Feminist since apparently there is still interest in the 70's.  But I am not working consistently on one thing.  I cannot tell if this is good.  I like to focus on one thing, but maybe it's more "creative" to diversify one's interests.  Maybe I should just go with the flow and do a bit here, and a bit there.   I am reading more, and doing odd bits of research for The Devil's Chapel.  In fact I've just had an idea for another element of it...I haven't "lost it".   This is just a different phase.  Maybe it's a better one, multi-tasking could be more stimulating.  Now, what am I giving the guests for dinner tomorrow night....?