The 21st century phenomenon of ebooks is familiar to readers and writers worldwide. Kindles and the like are selling by the container ship load, and I believe the new and affordable technology has revived a keen sense of reading in many people. I've published my first novel 'Girl Meets Boys' on Kindle, and it's selling well. I'm very proud of my first tentative step into e-publishing.  The new way to read has ensured that everyone who wants to write can easily publish in some form or another, at no cost to the writer.

I want to argue that this should not be the case. I am not judging to any specifics, and this is not a personal sling at anyone in particular, but I believe that the quality of ebooks would increase if Amazon requested a small amount for the privilege an author has of publishing their books electronically.

Of course, I don’t want to exclude anyone who cannot afford to publish via ebooks due to lack of personal means, but most people who have an internet connection on their laptop have a spare couple of quid to pay for the publishing of their ‘baby’. If they’re serious about getting their book ‘out there’, the author will hopefully have worked incredibly hard on the story, the editing, and the cover, and have priced it accordingly. My argument is that Amazon charging a minimal fee would root out those who are not serious or passionate about writing and publishing their own work. It may well result in better books from more serious writers.

We've all heard the line "everyone has a book in them". Heaven forbid they all let it out. For instance, Suzie Allegra says 81% of Americans say they have a book in them.

We also know not everyone can (or should) write. Perhaps 'in them' is where the book should stay. Bad writing tends to breed like rabbits. It's exponential in the spread of bad grammar, structure and plot, poor imagination and under developed stories and characters.

Now, I know you're looking at this post, thinking 'typo!' or scrutinising my sentence structure, but I am under no illusions. I am not a literary genius, I am no expert in penning a good yarn. I write for the pure pleasure, therapy and creativity of it. I do my best, I use copy editors to tweak my publications, and I am learning more every day. Ebooks are a fantastic outlet, especially for the longer (heavy) and shorter (less popular with publishers) novels and many millions of excellent short stories which are available. I just think a small contribution from the author would make the medium of ebooks a more seriously considered product.

As always, let me know what you think.

Lou x

See, I've got her attention already, at least.

So someone's picked up your book from the bookshelves of Waterstones or your local library. How can you convince them to borrow or buy? How can you encourage your reader to become engrossed in your novel, seeing it through to see the words 'The End'? 

This is, by all means, not a comprehensive guide as to how to keep your reader's attention and get them to see the book the whole distance, but hopefully it will suggest some new tips for you to consider. I'm probably losing you already... 

To start with, you need to engineer a fantastic title. Which of these well-known titles grab your attention most and make you want to know more?

1. Before I Go To Sleep
2. The Hunger Games
3. Shadows of the Workhouse: The drama of life in post-war London
4. Mum's List
5. In The Midst of Life

If appropriate, pair your text with a great image. Use something relevant, empathetic, and something with you can link an emotion to. It breaks up the content and brings colour to your feature. This counts for novels too. For example, have you read The Book Thief? The cartoons in that beast of a paperback really add to the story. And plus, visual eye candy always helps. See above. I have her attention and yours, no doubt!
 
Build suspense. This is what makes your readers want to turn the page and keep reading. We all know books which have made us feel like that. Cliff hangers. They don't need to be life and death situations where the lead character is literally dandling from a rocky outcrop. Could Eugene, our protagonist, have found a private diary of a deceased relative - maybe the relative might not have been so quiet and angelic after all? Maybe Janice has walked in on her unsuspecting husband with her best friend - what will her and their reactions be? Tim's just rolled his Jag into a ditch on an icy evening - is he still breathing? End that chapter and begin another suspense building scene. The story, and therefore the reader, will come back to Tim, Janice and Eugene in good time and find out what happens. 

Having a good plot helps with building suspense. Make sure your suspense builds to the end of a chapter and the following page starts a new, cooler, fresh scene, leaving the reader wondering and waiting to return to the action. Look at how addictive soap operas are. They always end on a 'cliff hanger', albeit not always a gripping one if it's midweek. Friday night's episode - that's another thing altogether!

It won't work in every scene for every reader, but getting a situation to unfold which the reader might be able to relate to can really help engage the audience as well. Even the most fantastical, intergalactic or futuristic stories have a love story, a family conflict, a quest - scenarios most readers are familiar with in their own lives. 

Create questions. This starts from sentence one. The first sentence is the door into your material, and the introduction is the window. It suggests to the reader what they might find in the forthcoming pages. Make them want it!

It all started that stormy afternoon when Robin took his younger sister into the woods to get rid of her for good. Why was Robin so intent on getting rid of his poor sister? Did she deserve it? How old are they, and should they be out alone in the woods? How's he going to get rid of her?

So you've managed to read the whole post. Thanks for your attention - now get writing.

Lou x

P.S. Eugene's nan was a heart breaker with several love children, Janice took the opportunity of leaving her husband to travel the world, and Tim was paralysed from the hip down. Now you know!

As it's International Women's Day, who are the female writers who inspire you the most?

If you could see my bookshelves at home, they are dominated by Comptemporary Fiction written by women. I think it used to be called Women's Lit, but whatever, I love it!

My current favourite female writers are:

Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Travellers Wife is in my top 5 books of all time. I love the idea, the story, the connections, the empathy, the characters (Eric Bana was so right to play Henry in the film adaptation!), and it really made me blub. Always a good sign! *Why is Audrey not on Twitter?*

Kathryn Stockett - The Help.  A powerful story of race relations and the determination of a young writer to write something new for 1960's home help reliant America. And one fantastic film adaptation to enjoy on a rainy day in Brussels!

Emma Donoghue - Room. Moving and uplifting. I read this book in one sitting it was that good. Very deserving of the many awards Emma's won for the incredible paperback from the viewpoint of a small boy. She's amazingly decorated and shortlisted in the literary world now!

I would love to write even half as good as these authors - keep writing, ladies.

During lunch today, I finished "Before I go to Sleep" by S J Watson (a very ambiguous pen name, but he is a man!) and I'm now looking forward to tuck into another fiction book. Any recommendations by female writing icons? I feel I should begin reading another book by a female writer, today of all days!

 Lou x

Phew. Made it through that post without mentioning girl power.