Yes, for several reasons. First, as a teacher of English Lit and Lang (now ex) I regarded required reading vital so I was able to talk with students authoratively. Second, reading started early in my life, with a wide variety of Readers Digest novels delivered to my parents door! This turned reading into an ingrained, highly enjoyable habit. Third, now a writer I just like to keep up the habit-going back to my 7th/8th or 9th reading of Tolkein. Four, I find reading stimulates my writing and generates ideas.
Would I buy my book? Absolutely. I don't write stories I wouldn't want to read. There's more room now than ever for supernatural horror books tied to Asian myth, themes, and ideas that combat and interrogate mainstream Eurocentric ideas. Not to mention--crime thriller/horror mashups are the bomb, and we need more of them.
You make the publishing world seem more appealing than the writer's.
Would I buy my book? After so many rereads/edits, to get it as close as I can to where it should be, I should be beyond bored. But the more I read it, the more I'm in awe of its strange beauty.
Hi Ivan, which by a happy co-incidence is precisely the demographic intended for The Squirrel Hunter. I see a novel as an entertainment, to invest six hours of your life outside of yourself but immersed in a world you can understand and feel and care about. And maybe, just maybe, learn a little about yourself as well.
Thank you...would you happen to be interested in reading the full manuscript? It is currently with Jenny Howard via Tilly's feedback piece recently. Her so far critique 'I love your writing! It is easy to read, witty, and your story intriguing. Some of your prose I would underline if reading on my kindle, as examples of excellence." Just another 4997 to go and I've got your magic 5000. You would be my fourth. Over to you. Colin.
Hi Ivan, thanks for the report. I can agree with you that after thirty years in business it's all about product and it's all about selling. It's great you enjoyed yourself.
Would I buy my own book?
For sure...I write what l like to read.
Better still I would love to read it out loud to a room full of people lined up to buy it.
Very interesting to hear how intense these book fairs are & how the different jigsaw pieces of getting a book from MS to book marketing fit together.
I absolutely would buy my book which is speculative fiction combined with romance in a very English setting, and I’d hope I saw others reading it on holiday and on the train.
Fascinating as always. I love to see this part of the industry explained so well and understand it a bit better.
As for buying my book. I would when I have the final elements polished over the next few months. Upmarket, dual timeline, two narrators, secrets, lies, disability and coercive control
Yes, I'd pick up my book if I saw it on the shelf. It's the genre I adore reading, the writing is accessible without watering down the tropes, it's romance-free (sorry to the genre fans, but I just don't want romance in my fantasy), and there's not much of the old-school style high fantasy in the mainstream these days. Lastly, I love reading it every time I pick it up.
Yes, I’d buy my book, and pay to see the film of the book, and go to the stage show - a musical - then the film of the musical… (that’s how wild and out of control my imagination is).
Whenever I’m nearing the end of a project, I find myself writing both good and negative Amazon reviews in my head, which is odd, because I very rarely write reviews anywhere else.
Thanks for the insights. I guess I would be doing a disservice to myself if I didn’t want to read my current literary novel. Spending hours writing makes me want to challenge myself, to excite myself and to cast out of my mind any tasty obscure ideas that might be floating around in isolation. Reading makes me wants to find the same. My tale is how a drug shipment into the West of Ireland causes repercussions for the local townsfolk. So, I am enjoying reading what I am writing and the two should always merge, I believe.
It's another industry full of businesses serving their own survival and growth. The best of us are also here because we love books and wish to play a part in seeing great work find a readership.
Yes, I'd buy my spooky Victorian murder mystery. It combines strong likeable if not admirable characters, immersive settings without infodumping, twists and turns early readers loved and did not see coming, it neither exults in the reactionary olden days nor magics up 21st liberals in 1880s Britain. It has a detective trio for the ages. And none of this is my opinion - it's what seasoned industry professionals say.
Am really enjoying these nuggets of wisdom, I’ll buy you a Guinness if I ever have the good fortune to meet you. What I find invaluable in your dialogues is your shining a light on the the working relationship between author, agent and product. Learning a lot and adore your frank approach. Keep doing what you’re doing x
so easy love almost doesn't come into it😂🧐??? I'll buy the second round because you specified this triangle: "working relationship between author, agent and product". I like that. And "keep doing what you're doing" . Good to hear, thank you x
Thanks for the insights, Ivan. Until I got published and had to get out there and sell my own books, I always shied away from sales. Despite how hard it is, I get the excitement you describe now. My dad was a great salesman. We went out to Chicago from Tralee in the 80s because of his skills. It's a big part of A Line Of Code, especially the immigrant's ambivalence with success.
Would I buy my own book? I typically have a hook from a niche area I'm very passionate about: Irish music, Autism, Programming. My goal is to show a wider audience why that area is of interest to the wider world. Done right, the buyer might pick up the cover and go, "Hmm, that sounds worth finding out more about..." 🤞
My appreciation and respect for selling came straight from my dear late father. Grew up poor, self-made, warm with it, and trustworthy. Yet Always Being Closing. He taught me so much- the blend of integrity with pressingness in particular.
Being an introvert, it took me a long time to understand that about my old man, too. Also, Dad had humble beginnings and never forgot it. The easy and genuine empathy you describe was a big part of his character too.
Yes, for several reasons. First, as a teacher of English Lit and Lang (now ex) I regarded required reading vital so I was able to talk with students authoratively. Second, reading started early in my life, with a wide variety of Readers Digest novels delivered to my parents door! This turned reading into an ingrained, highly enjoyable habit. Third, now a writer I just like to keep up the habit-going back to my 7th/8th or 9th reading of Tolkein. Four, I find reading stimulates my writing and generates ideas.
The transparency is much appreciated.
Would I buy my book? Absolutely. I don't write stories I wouldn't want to read. There's more room now than ever for supernatural horror books tied to Asian myth, themes, and ideas that combat and interrogate mainstream Eurocentric ideas. Not to mention--crime thriller/horror mashups are the bomb, and we need more of them.
Good Luck.
You make the publishing world seem more appealing than the writer's.
Would I buy my book? After so many rereads/edits, to get it as close as I can to where it should be, I should be beyond bored. But the more I read it, the more I'm in awe of its strange beauty.
Thanks for the insights into LBF. Very convincing picture of the marketplace.
Would I buy my own book? Yes. I'd enjoy its slightly exaggerated realism and social satire.
To add to that...did any publisher have an insight into what 40 to 70 year old females will be reading in 2026?
That demographic buy most books - by far.
Hi Ivan, which by a happy co-incidence is precisely the demographic intended for The Squirrel Hunter. I see a novel as an entertainment, to invest six hours of your life outside of yourself but immersed in a world you can understand and feel and care about. And maybe, just maybe, learn a little about yourself as well.
Good Luck, Colin.
Thank you...would you happen to be interested in reading the full manuscript? It is currently with Jenny Howard via Tilly's feedback piece recently. Her so far critique 'I love your writing! It is easy to read, witty, and your story intriguing. Some of your prose I would underline if reading on my kindle, as examples of excellence." Just another 4997 to go and I've got your magic 5000. You would be my fourth. Over to you. Colin.
Hi Ivan, thanks for the report. I can agree with you that after thirty years in business it's all about product and it's all about selling. It's great you enjoyed yourself.
Would I buy my own book?
For sure...I write what l like to read.
Better still I would love to read it out loud to a room full of people lined up to buy it.
Very interesting to hear how intense these book fairs are & how the different jigsaw pieces of getting a book from MS to book marketing fit together.
I absolutely would buy my book which is speculative fiction combined with romance in a very English setting, and I’d hope I saw others reading it on holiday and on the train.
Thanks Ivan & Tilly
Fascinating as always. I love to see this part of the industry explained so well and understand it a bit better.
As for buying my book. I would when I have the final elements polished over the next few months. Upmarket, dual timeline, two narrators, secrets, lies, disability and coercive control
Yes, I'd pick up my book if I saw it on the shelf. It's the genre I adore reading, the writing is accessible without watering down the tropes, it's romance-free (sorry to the genre fans, but I just don't want romance in my fantasy), and there's not much of the old-school style high fantasy in the mainstream these days. Lastly, I love reading it every time I pick it up.
"BUT if you play a canny game, sometimes you can take the power in that situation." - Excellent! That’s exactly what great salesmanship is about.
Thanks. Grinning here.
Yes, I’d buy my book, and pay to see the film of the book, and go to the stage show - a musical - then the film of the musical… (that’s how wild and out of control my imagination is).
Whenever I’m nearing the end of a project, I find myself writing both good and negative Amazon reviews in my head, which is odd, because I very rarely write reviews anywhere else.
Thanks for the insights. I guess I would be doing a disservice to myself if I didn’t want to read my current literary novel. Spending hours writing makes me want to challenge myself, to excite myself and to cast out of my mind any tasty obscure ideas that might be floating around in isolation. Reading makes me wants to find the same. My tale is how a drug shipment into the West of Ireland causes repercussions for the local townsfolk. So, I am enjoying reading what I am writing and the two should always merge, I believe.
Very interesting account and encouraging. I’ve read a lot of negative talk about what to expect in the publishing industry; this is really positive.
It's another industry full of businesses serving their own survival and growth. The best of us are also here because we love books and wish to play a part in seeing great work find a readership.
Yes, I'd buy my spooky Victorian murder mystery. It combines strong likeable if not admirable characters, immersive settings without infodumping, twists and turns early readers loved and did not see coming, it neither exults in the reactionary olden days nor magics up 21st liberals in 1880s Britain. It has a detective trio for the ages. And none of this is my opinion - it's what seasoned industry professionals say.
Am really enjoying these nuggets of wisdom, I’ll buy you a Guinness if I ever have the good fortune to meet you. What I find invaluable in your dialogues is your shining a light on the the working relationship between author, agent and product. Learning a lot and adore your frank approach. Keep doing what you’re doing x
Thanks Lucy. It matters to me to hear this.
the mention of guinness 😍
A pint or two! Who doesn’t love sucking it down☺️
so easy love almost doesn't come into it😂🧐??? I'll buy the second round because you specified this triangle: "working relationship between author, agent and product". I like that. And "keep doing what you're doing" . Good to hear, thank you x
Sláinte
Thanks for the insights, Ivan. Until I got published and had to get out there and sell my own books, I always shied away from sales. Despite how hard it is, I get the excitement you describe now. My dad was a great salesman. We went out to Chicago from Tralee in the 80s because of his skills. It's a big part of A Line Of Code, especially the immigrant's ambivalence with success.
Would I buy my own book? I typically have a hook from a niche area I'm very passionate about: Irish music, Autism, Programming. My goal is to show a wider audience why that area is of interest to the wider world. Done right, the buyer might pick up the cover and go, "Hmm, that sounds worth finding out more about..." 🤞
My appreciation and respect for selling came straight from my dear late father. Grew up poor, self-made, warm with it, and trustworthy. Yet Always Being Closing. He taught me so much- the blend of integrity with pressingness in particular.
Being an introvert, it took me a long time to understand that about my old man, too. Also, Dad had humble beginnings and never forgot it. The easy and genuine empathy you describe was a big part of his character too.