Season's Greetings!

It's now just a few days over one year since Rachel's Shoe was published and copies have gone out over the months to the far corners of the World (not that the World has corners!).

It's been highly rewarding to receive the positive feedback I have been given and this has encouraged me to work on the sequel as well as investigate a screen version of the novel. I hope to bring you news on both of those initiatives in the New Year.

So to everyone who has read my debut novel, a huge thank you and may I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Pete

Surprise in Somerset!

Yesterday was an interesting one for me.

Firstly, I was approached by the organisers of Guernsey's Liberation Day celebrations for next year, the 65th anniversary, and asked if I would be a guest speaker at one of the events as well as do a reading from Rachel's Shoe in the marquee on the Albert Pier in St Peter Port.

I was, of course, delighted to accept the invitation and honoured to be asked.

Later in the day, I received an email from an old friend (and formally a boss of mine!) who suggested I make a surprise telephone call to his wife last night. Intrigued?

The reason was that her book club, based in the beautiful English County of Somerset, were all gathered at his home to discuss Rachel's Shoe having read it over the previous weeks. They hadn't anticipated a call from the author during their discussions and I'm both pleased and relieved to say it was a pleasant surprise!

But it is I who should be grateful as it was lovely to catch up with old friends and especially rewarding to know how much the club enjoyed my book.

Needless to say, the question of a sequel came up and I was happy to confirm that plans are in place!

Pete

Rachel's Shoe - USA!

It's now almost ten months since the release date of Rachel's Shoe. Amazing how the days go by!

The interest in Rachel's Shoe has been immense especially in the US and (of course) the local Channel Islands. Enquiries come in every day from all around the world and I've had the pleasure of posting hundreds of copies to many far away places - which is very satisfying.

Why so much interest ?

I guess an unknown author like me living on a small island in the English Channel would struggle to get noticed even if he possessed the literary skills of William Shakespeare! But fortunately the big guns of publishing were already telling the world about 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' and that has sparked international interest in the period and location of my 'little old' local story.

Appetite duly whetted and perhaps seeking a non-epistolary drama in the same period, Rachel's Shoe seems to have provided the perfect 'next read' for those many people who enjoyed the setting described by so eloquently by Mary Ann. But alas, despite the interest, it hasn't been easy to obtain a copy on Amazon since the release date.

Not until now, however! This weekend, my publishers are putting in place the arrangement to print and supply direct from Amazon.com. With 'in stock' availability the delivery lead time will be slashed along with postal charges for US customers.

Last week, the supply side through Amazon.co.uk was addressed so that UK, Channel Islands and worldwide customers could also buy for immediate delivery.

This blog is now also being posted directly onto my author's page on Amazon.com, but for those who have seen the earlier posts, the movie discussions about Rachel's Shoe have not yet been concluded but I will let you know if or as soon as there is news.

eBook, Audio book, Worldwide sales & more!

It's been a little while since my last post but plenty has been happening.

First of all, you may have noticed that an eBook version of Rachel's Shoe is now available for downloading. It's in PDF format which means although it can be read on almost anything, the file size is quite large at roughly 7 Megabytes.

In production at the moment is an Audio Book which will also be downloadable! Watch this space for news on when it will be available and details of the professional team behind it.

At long last, it has become possible to purchase Rachel's Shoe on Amazon for delivery anywhere in the world. This is currently through Amazon.co.uk but Amazon.com should follow soon which will mean more choice for customers and with lower postage costs, a little more profit for me!

On the subject of Amazon, would you like to help me promote Rachel's Shoe? Positive reviews on Amazon make a lot of difference to a book's success and are greatly appreciated but if you are tight for time, it also helps to just tick the 'Tags' on Amazon which tell other customers what Rachel's Shoe is about. The most relevant tags are 'Guernsey', 'Fiction' and 'Novel' but you can vote for any or all just by clicking on what is already there or add your own. Many thanks if you are able to help.

Last but not least, 'Passage to Redemption' to now nearing completion with just one more chapter to write. This is the collaborative novel I have been writing with twelve others who have never met each other and come from all around the world. Very soon we will be searching for a publisher and with that project completed, I can return to the long awaited sequel to Rachel's Shoe!

I wish you all well!
Pete

Rachel's Shoe interview on Channel TV

The TV interview was screened tonight and a link is enclosed below so you can see it.

Channel Report at 6:00pm


I hope to get permission to include the clip here so it will be easier but in the meantime this link should stay live for a few weeks I believe.

Can you spot my 'deliberate' mistake!

Pete

All done and dusted!

I've just returned from recording the TV interview at the 'Cup and Saucer' (Fort Grey) near the cottage where Rachel, Tom, David and Rebecca escaped early one morning in Flying Fish 2!

Included in the interview was a short reading which I took from the very beginning of Chapter One, not wishing to give too much away. Then I suspect I did just that in the interview!

I'm not sure when it will be broadcast, it could be tomorrow but also may be next week. Channel Television have said it's likely I will be able to add it to my site but I'm waiting for formal confirmation, if I can, I will try to add it this weekend or next.

Pete

Rain stopped play!

Well the rainy weather yesterday, and probably for the rest of this week, has meant a reschedule for the Channel Tele interview. We are currently hoping for next week if it fails to improve later this week.

I'll keep you posted!

Pete

Channel Television Interview

Tomorrow morning (12th May), Channel Television are filming both an interview and location shots from Rachel's Shoe. I will also be reading a passage from Rachel's Shoe, so deciding which one to read is a little tricky!

I don't know for sure what the edited version will contain or when it will go out, it might be tomorrow, it might be later but I believe I may be able to get a copy to post here. I'll certainly try!

This weekend we celebrated Liberation Day in Guernsey some 64 years after the Nazi's were finally evicted from our islands. It's a big deal here with flags and bunting everywhere and a carnival atmosphere on the piers in 'town'.

For me the most evocative experience of the day each year is the 9:00am air raid siren that can be heard across the island. The final 'all clear' never fails to bring a lump to my throat.


Pete

BBC Radio Guernsey

There has been quite a lot going on recently with Newspaper and Magazine articles. Coming in a few weeks will be an 'in flight' magazine article for Blue Islands Airline - Blue Skies. Also a short feature on local TV.

If you would like to hear an interview I did today on Radio Guernsey today, below is the link. Apparantly BBC Radio 4 also gave a mention, but I missed that!

Radio Guernsey


The program is over an hour long so to get to my bit (and you may need BBC iPlayer or RealPlayer), start about 75% of the way through. It will be on for 5 days.


Pete

Rachel's Shoe - The Movie?

This weekend an experienced play write from Canada has confirmed his interest in writing a Screen Play for a movie of Rachel's Shoe!

There is a lot of detail to be agreed and the publishers will need to be happy but it was facsinating to hear a professional view on how the film might come together. Some of my reviewers have also mentioned the potential for a film and I think the islands do lend themselves to becoming a splendid setting.

It isn't definate and may take a while but keep your eyes open at "a cinema near you" !

Actually, I might just mention it here :)

Pete

News of other projects

Last night the final chapter plan was completed for the sequel to Rachel's Shoe! The follow-up novel promises more from the unique location of the Islands and I hope you will feel the sand between your toes and a glow in your heart as you read it. I don't wish to give too much away but will post occasionally on the progress here. It may be quite a while in coming though so I hope you will be patient with me!

In the meantime news of another project I've been involved in since last year. Whilst taking my main summer holidays, I decided to issue an invitation to writers around the world to take part in a collaborative novel project. Dozens of applications came in from people with a range of experience from novice to well published authors and literary professionals. A group of complete strangers of all ages with life experience from across our planet as far afield as Alaska to Australia, from Europe to the Far East and across the USA came forward to join in.

From over 50 applicants, a team of 20 was selected and the serious writing began in January this year after a few months of planning and preparation in 2008. We have just one year to complete our Novel!

The project is unique and the progress to date has been remarkable. There is little doubt the project process itself would make a fascinating read!

If you would like to keep track of this, please visit the writers' blog at the address below and register as a 'follower' - you can also subscribe to get notified when new posts are added.

http://thebooknews.blogspot.com/

Coming soon....

The press releases for Rachel's Shoe are due out in the coming weeks, I'll be adding them to the website when they are published.

That's all for now
Pete

Thank you!

The stock situation now seems to be resolved so thank you for being so patient all of you who ordered from Amazon or AmazonClicks sites. Your books should finally be on the way to you. Not knowing the total number of orders, I'm hoping the initial stock will be sufficient to meet the demand. If not, replenishment should now take place within 5 days.

The quickest way to order is still through my www.RachelsShoe.com website.

Can I also please say a huge Thank You to those of you who have written the wonderful reviews on Amazon! These are really helpful in attracting new customers and giving them a good idea what kind of book Rachel's Shoe is. I even have one on the US Amazon although the book isn't showing as available on it yet!

So, many thanks - whether just a few warm words or a mini synopsis (!) all such comments are really welcome. They also give me a great feeling when I read them!

In a couple of weeks the media activity is due to commence with Newspaper, Magazine and local TV interviews. No doubt some radio as well. The reviews are great and I have interest in a possible film! I'll keep you posted on that!

Next time I will give an update on the sequel and the other big writing project I am involved in, the Worldwide Collaborative Novel.

That's all for now
Pete

HMS Victory found near the Casquetes!

The forerunner of Nelson's Flagship sank off Alderney on 4th October 1744 with a loss of 1,100 lives.

After many years of searching the sea bed, most recently using advanced technologies, the wreck of Victory has now been found by a Florida based exploration company.

This important 175 ft naval warship is lying close to the Casquetes rock where our hero Tom fled from the Germans and the famous raid took place led by 'Apple'!

No sign yet of the 100,000 gold coins said to be on board when Victory was seperated from escorting vessels during a storm. Could this be what Tom was really doing there!

Amazon Message

One of my ever patient customers told me today that Amazon had sent a notice saying they couldn't get hold of Rachel's Shoe so they canceled his order. This no doubt went out to many or all my other customers and I guess there may be similar issues with retailers who buy through big distributors like Gardners.

Of course, I am extremely disappointed especially as I understood they were supposed to receive stock any day now.

My initial stock has almost been depleted and I am ordering more so if any of you wish to purchase directly from my site you can do. Just go to the 'Contact' page on my Rachel's Shoe website for details - I will update this later today to make it easier to see.

This crazy situation happens at a time when several stores have now taken stocks, newspaper, magazine, TV & radio interviews are going out, and my customers have been wonderful with the feedback they have given me about Rachel's Shoe.

There is also supposed to be a UK National Newspaper 2 page article on the publishers this weekend in the Sunday People. However, there are no stocks in the online book stores for many of the titles including Rachel's Shoe.

I just hope I haven't lost too many customers for ever who have given up waiting.

So if you would like to buy direct, please go to my website www.RachelsShoe.com .

To close this on a more positive note, I'll leave you with a couple of quotes from satisfied customers!

"Just to update you. I love the book and look forward to anything you may write in the future. I am recommending your book to my friends.
A movie would be wonderful." Sylvia

"Well Peter, the book arrived Yesterday afternoon--January 12Th 2009.I got up early this morning to finish it. I had read half last evening but couldn't even eat breakfast until i finished it. I know I'm not really a book critic, but I loved it. It was filled with mystery, intrigue, a love affair and a war all set in a place I've never been I loved it. It was a wonderful story. Thank you Kate"

Keep the faith!
Pete

Amazon stock update

The initial stock order for Amazon has finally been placed this week and should be with Amazon in a few days - hopefully the 26th but if not, soon thereafter.

February should be a busy month with a Newspaper, Magazine and Television interview already scheduled. Two hotels are stocking Rachel's Shoe, the Braye Beach Hotel in Alderney and the Fermain Valley Hotel in Guernsey. At least one more hotel is likely to take stock this summer.

Three local bookshops are taking stock and I am hoping to see copies on sale in Herm.

Interest in writing a screenplay has come from two independent sources and over the coming months we will be exploring this. As you can imagine, I would love to see a movie of the story!

Feedback from the customers who ordered last year directly from my website has come back and thankfully it has been very positive. As this is my first novel, it's especially reassuring to get this.

A sequel is already underway and I will keep you posted about the progress.

Also under way is a major collaborative writing project. This involves 18 people from around the world who have never met each other but are writing a novel together! For more go to www.AmazonClicks.com/portal and follow the link to the Blog.

Thanks to all of you who have purchased Rachel's Shoe directly from me or from the online shops.

Pete

Amazon orders

Amazon have informed me they are due to receive their initial stock on 26th January so any online orders should be fulfilled shortly after that. Thanks for being so patient any of you who ordered via Amazon.

Pete