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Literary Consultancy and Coaching for Writers from Jacqui Lofthouse

Archives for August 2018

Routes to Publication – our Google Academy event

by Filed Under: Authors, Books, Community, Motivation, Networking, The writing coach, Writers Leave a Comment

We were recently lucky enough to host our Routes to Publication event at Google Academy in central London. On the evening, our Founder Jacqui Lofthouse chaired a discussion with special guests Louise Doughty, John Mitchinson, Clare Morgan and Stephanie Zia. It was a fascinating opportunity to meet many of our clients and community at the Writing Coach and what a wonderful discussion it was, offering a fresh and positive perspective on the publishing industry.

Our chair, Jacqui Lofthouse (centre) with guests (from left to right) Louise Doughty, John Mitchinson, Stephanie Zia and Clare Morgan

Our aim was to enable our audience to discover more about routes to publication – from the traditional route to working with smaller innovative publishers to self-publishing. We wanted to explore how one might maintain one’s integrity and individuality as a writer, whilst also having one eye on the marketplace. In addition, guests also had an opportunity to network over drinks and nibbles, courtesy of Google Academy.

A wonderful opportunity for our Writing Coach community to come together

We were delighted to have such a distinguished panel of guests: Louise Doughty the bestselling author of eight novels,  including the number one bestseller Apple Tree Yard; John Mitchinson, the co-founder of Unbound, the award-winning crowdfunding platform for books; Clare Morgan, novelist and founder and director of Oxford University’s Creative Writing programme and Stephanie Zia, novelist and Founder of Blackbird Digital Books. The evening was chaired by the Founder of The Writing Coach, novelist, and coach Jacqui Lofthouse.

Our panel at the Google Academy event

 

Jacqui Lofthouse introduces the evening

 

The panel, together with special guests novelist Roopa Farooki and Alice Jolly

It was a privilege to be able to host such a special event for our clients and subscribers. If you’d like to keep up to date with our events, do sign up to our newsletter. All of our clients at The Writing Coach get direct access to Jacqui for general advice and we also host quarterly London based meet-ups which are open to all of our clients and past clients. Do take a look at this post about our community outings to find out more. We look forward to meeting you!

Carolyn Kirby’s compelling debut: The Conviction of Cora Burns

by Filed Under: Authors, Books, Inspiration, Publishing, The writing coach, Writers Leave a Comment

We are excited to share the news that one of Jacqui’s former clients at The Writing Coach, Carolyn Kirby now has a two book deal with No Exit Press.

Carolyn Kirby

Carolyn worked with Jacqui on her first novel and we’re delighted that a revised version of that novel will also be published by No Exit. Jacqui introduced Carolyn to her agent, so is particularly thrilled to learn of this fantastic outcome.

UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to The Conviction of Cora Burns and a second novel by Carolyn were acquired from David Haviland at Andrew Lownie Associates.

Carolyn at The Bridport Prize ceremony

The Conviction of Cora Burns (originally entitled Half of You) is set in Birmingham in the 1880s and explores the theme of nature versus nurture through the story of Cora Burns, a young woman who finds herself faced with the difficult challenge of overcoming her unalterable biology and troubled upbringing if she has any hope of creating a better future for herself. This compelling historical thriller won the Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award, was a runner up for the Daniel Goldsmith First Novel Award and shortlisted for the Mslexia Novel Prize.

Ion Mills, managing director of No Exit Press, said:

We are thrilled to be publishing such an exciting new voice in this genre. Kirby’s gripping historical thriller explores so many contemporary issues such as madness, motherhood, criminality and medical research that we are certain it will be a huge success next summer.

Carolyn said:

I am delighted that the lovely team at No Exit Press has taken on The Conviction of Cora Burns, a novel that asks difficult questions about childrens’ morality and the influence on our sympathies of ideas about nature versus nurture. It’s fantastic to know that they will be bringing my next historical thriller to life as well.

Originally from Sunderland, Carolyn studied history at St Hilda’s College, Oxford before working in social housing and as a teacher.

Inspired by Carolyn’s story?

If you’d like to follow in Carolyn’s footsteps and consider how your book will reach publication, do join us at The Writing Coach and become part of our community.

Come along to our ‘Routes to Publication’ event at Google Academy on 16th August – a panel discussion with special guests Louise Doughty, John Mitchinson, Clare Morgan and Stephanie Zia. We’ll be sure to make you very welcome and introduce you to other writers in our community. And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about your own route to publication.

All of us at The Writing Coach wish Carolyn huge success with The Conviction of Cora Burns – we can’t wait to see it in the bookshops!

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