A Very Literary Pop-Up!

Daisy White

Today I have the privilege of welcoming Daisy White to my blog...

Daisy White is a literary entrepreneur/ writer. she lives on the South Coast, near Brighton, and she loves 1920's hats!

She is the owner of Daisy White's Booktique. Read on to find out more...

Daisy White’s Booktique started life as a market stall with just six brave authors showcasing their books to the public (in the rain!) and has now grown to over 100 authors and publishers. 

Original authors included Vanessa Wester, Charlie Plunkett and Mick Oakey, who were quick to spot a marketing opportunity and have supported the venture all the way. Hogs Back Books, the Guildford based publisher has supplied childrens books of the highest quality since day one, and are one of our bestsellers.

Keith Mapp in Horsham

The idea was to provide an affordable High Street showcase for independent authors and publishers, who otherwise struggle with the high rental rates, the sheer flood of books currently on the market, and high commission payments. Hence the £1 a book commission – something even self-publishers can afford. 

This has led to some truly amazing books finding their way to the shelves. We also now have several traditionally published authors, who, as rights revert back to them, are self-publishing alongside the traditional route. Most notably we were joined in November by Sunday Times Bestseller, Andrew Crofts, who has seen over eighty of his books published and now has his ‘indie’ book ‘Secrets of the Italian Gardener’ firmly established on the Amazon bestseller list.

Art & Books, Cranleigh

Daisy White’s Booktique has attracted some excellent press coverage, from local papers, to National magazines, to a slot on the BBC Regional News! This has been down to sheer hard slog, and fitting things in around children and a full time job, not to mention the constant stream of brilliant ideas we all share.

I continue to be amazed at the stamina and effort that ‘indies’ put into not only their writing, but also their promotion, and am thrilled to be welcoming our latest writer Sarah Ann Horne whilst congratulating Vanessa Wester on her recent Amazon bestseller slot! (I got to no. 60 on the overall Amazon FREE list for eBooks with HYBRID - Thrilling! It is still FREE to download...)

Additions to the Booktique have included a Gallery, and some luxury items from local producers, and these are proving very popular.

We are currently at Cranleigh Arts Centre for Feb 2014, after a tour of the South-east including West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey and for the Summer the bookings diary is filling up!

Creative Writing, Camberley

www.daisywhitesbooktique.co.uk

I attended one of the first events held by the Pop-Up Bookshop in Ardingly - read about it HERE - after being invited by Daisy via The Word Cloud to sell my books at her "shop" when she first got the idea.

Hope you have a great week,

Vanessa :) xx

The reason for my being so busy...

I find it hard to believe what I have managed to do over the past month... Unfortunately (before some of you ask), I have not finished my Trilogy. BUT, I have managed to get ready TWO short story compilations...

All details are on my latest blog for children - www.kids4books.blogspot.com

The first, READING IS MAGIC, was published last week... and is in aid of the NSPCC. I have got to know some more lovely, new authors. For some of them, it is the first time they have had work published and I really hope they are pleased to have been a part of this.

I am particularly pleased with this cover (especially since my son is sitting in it!). It was probably the hottest day of the year so far, and the sea water was lukewarm - I couldn't believe it! I took the photo on my phone, and used it to create the cover (not bad, huh...)

I have to add that my son is honoured to be on the cover too... fame & fortune await! HA!

The second, GURNARD'S BOOK OF DELIGHTS, is published as an eBook (paperback to be finalised in the next few days). This collection is in aid of my children's Primary School.

It came about after I ran a literary competition at the school. The funny thing was it all started from my buying a book off an author I knew online. I was so impressed I bought some for my school, and then decided to present them to the school, then thought Oooo... I could run a competition... and then... yep, the collection! Some day I'll learn to just focus on one thing!

Truth, I am exhausted... but proud of what I have done! And I hope both raise some lovely cash for both causes.

I hope that now I can get my head back into my Trilogy!

BUT, I do have some exciting news...

I am going to be at the Ardingly Festival on the 24th June... courtesy of Daisy White and her POP UP INDIE BOOKSHOP details here - http://www.ardingly.com/Ardingly-Arts-Festival/

Even Dame Judy Dench is going to be there... Eek!

My slot is at 4:30 PM!

To get involved as an author on future POP UPS... contact Daisy White:

www.daisywhiteauthor.co.uk 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/DaisyWhiteAuthor

https://twitter.com/DaisyWhite1922

http://pinterest.com/daisywhite1922/

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/daisywhite1922

I have no idea how it'll go... but I had to give it a go! whatever happens it'll be a fun day out!

I am also going to be interviewed by Lydia Aswolf on Saturday 22nd June on her BlogRadio station... this is in the US!!!

Again, fingers crossed it'll go okay - either way I'll have a good chat!

Lydia recently read my book and blew me away with an excellent Goodreads review:

"You know that habit...the one where you think you know where things are going in the book you're reading? Check such expectations at the door. Vanessa Wester isn't going concede to any expectations on behalf of her readers with her debut novel, HYBRID. No, she blows them to smithereens with real skill and panache. Solid, sympathetic characters, a breathtakingly fresh premise, and a pace that resulted in me finishing the book and immediately grabbing COMPLICATIONS, the next book in this series. I look forward to more from this talented author...and I've put my money where my mouth is to that effect."

Anyway, after all of this I hope to finish my Trilogy before school breaks up for the summer (fingers crossed).

Thank you again to all of you who constantly encourage me!

Vanessa :) xx