Dangerous Appointment
 

If the mods will allow ... a few months ago I asked if any guys-gals on PP would like a draft copy of my novel. Heavily helicopter orientated. Getting published is a 'hen's teeth' job, so I need publicity ... lots of it. Just e-mail or post with your details and a copy will wing its way to you via e-mail. All comments ... good or bas genuinely welcomed. IF the story gets published eventually, all sale proceeds will go toward the next DRK scholarship. OR Kindle owners can up load from Amazon for around three quid. FOC from me direct. Thanks to all. Dennis Kenyon.

PM Sent, DK - you've probably had hundreds already. This could be the next Chickenhawk!

Hi DK, pm sent. Thanks

Hello Dennis,

Sincere good wishes with the book.

PM sent.

Donal

Dennis - you can publish it yourself through lulu.com - PM me if you need any help with it

Phil

for those that would prefer to put a couple of dollars towards Dennis's scholarship fund.

Hi Dennis,

A friend of mine got her first book published using Britain's Next Bestseller (https://britainsnextbestseller.co.uk). This is a crowd sourcing model. You submit your book and if you can get 250 people to pre-order your book gets published.

My friend got her book published (Confessions of a mother inferior) and it has a pukka ISBN No etc. You can order it in your local bookshop - and a good read it is too (though it is aimed at Mum's).

Well done Uncle Dennis.



Would love to help and provide some introductions if I possibly can. PM me your manuscript.
(I still have a picture of us lounging together on BLACK HAWK DOWN)
Cheers
JerryG

Typescript
 

Hallo Pprunes guys ... so many thanks for the many posts and PMs. As at 22.14 hours 6th March, I've sent out 24 typescripts so happy I am.

And a huge thanks to the Mods for allowing me the space. IF I can get the book published apart from the Amazon 'Kindle' system, ALL receipts will go to the next scholarship. For Jerry Grayson and Phil C, I'll make contact shortly for your info. And thanks to all here. Any more for any more? ? Regards. Dennis Kenyon.

Firebird
 

Oh and just to add ... thanks to Firebird. I'm on to it. DRK

Dangerous Appointment
 

And a second Oh ... don't think I'm in the same league as Chicken Hawk, but my effort is a good read. If it ain't I've wasted a ton of hours. Cheers Chaps & Chapesses. Dennis K.

For Jerry Grayson
 

Hallo my boozy old mate. How things down under? Would like to have copy of our BHD pic please. I have the one of you and me (I) crouched in the desert sand ... 'Ant Racing' or were we discussing film tactics?

Jerry, can you PM me an e-mail address for the typescript and any areas you can help with the book ... assuming you think the work is good enough.

I'm still displaying and had a whizz time last September at the AAD air show at AFB Waterkloof. (MD530F) What an incredible ship that is! Best wishes to all PPs. Dennis K.

Hi Dennis,

I'm ready for a little piece of history PM on its way!

TJ

Dangerous Appointment
 

Loads & loads of 'thanks' for the guys & gals who've expressed interest. I think I've kept up with all the requests. Please PM me if I've missed any.

Also the typescript FOC offer is open to all and any Pprune readers. I especially need honest feedback to help me decide to go for proper publication. And as ever ... another thanks to the 'Mods' for their consideration. DRK

Dennis, if you use a traditional publisher you'll get 10% of royalties or less - and unless it becomes a bestseller that usually amounts to hardly anything. Why do you think most writers have other jobs? OTOH, if you self-publish using Amazon CreateSpace it costs you nothing except the price of a proof being sent from the US (and you can proof online if you want to save that), and you get most of the money from sales. So more for the scholarship. It's why a lot of writers are bypassing traditional publishers and doing their own.

Novel
 

Thanks WB ... especially for the helpful advice. I'm sure you know that even at 10% return, getting either an agent OR a publisher is nigh on impossible.

I'd like to think my years' effort at least produced a smidgeon of return for the next scholarship so we just live in hope. THINKS. Flying is so much more rewarding. CAPT has kindly referred me to an online publisher, but there the problem is getting exposure since one's novel is simply buried amongst a couple of thousand other titles.

The odd thing is, I've had a really good response from PP and FB readers and am waiting with baited to see the feedbacks.

Take care and best wishes from Dennis K.

Uphill Struggle
 

Dennis, my sympathies, I've published the 'Jack Mawgan Trilogy' through Lulu and attempt to promote it via my website 'www.geoffnewman.co.uk'. Each book has a helicopter link but perhaps with the exception of the final book 'THE MARK' is not heavily oriented towards the rotary world. As 'crime-thrillers' I focused on the crime and corruption that we see and experience in our daily lives and particularly in the aviation world.

Good luck with your book

G. :ok:

Bppks & Publishing
 

Hallo Geoff ... Glad to know I've joined the 'uphill struggle' brigade. I take the view that I've a better chance of joining the next space shuttle than getting a publisher. CAPT did refer me to Lulu and I will give it a go. I'm also told that BNBS is also worth a shot. (Britain's Next Best Seller) we hopefuls simply have to explore every possible avenue.

Take care down there with the Cornishmen ... a good sword and a trusty hand ... I seem to recall. Warm regards. Dennis K.

Dennis

Best of luck with it, I know what a struggle it can be. I tried BNBS for my latest novel and didn't make the 250 mark, so published it myself on Amazon as an e-book

That was definitely ant racing in the only quiet ten minutes we got (because Bobby Zee had gone to find a new tail rotor!). I'm in the UK at the moment but will scan my photos when I get back to Oz in April. I'll see if I can find some incriminating ones of Geoffers whilst I'm at it, shouldn't be too hard!

I have PM'd my email address.

Somehow my earlier post lost a chunk of general advice that might be helpful to all aspiring aviator/authors. I thought I'd been censored by the mods but since everybody else is linking to their books I'll give it another go ...

My book comes out this Thursday in the UK. We vacillated between self publishing and going the harder route of trying to find a mainstream publisher. In the end we chose the latter and it was definitely worth it. The issue is the balance between how much you receive (I get under 1GBP per book on a 16.99 RRP ... my Oz laptop can't type pounds) versus the clout they put behind it. I'm a very small fish in a very big Bloomsbury pond and the particular arm I'm dealing with (nautical) publish more than 150 books a year. Never the less they have achieved three BBC national radio appearances for me this week plus reviews in Pilot Magazine and a launch event at the National Maritime Museum etc, all of which would have been very tough to achieve on my own.

Another route worth considering was followed by my favourite book of this year "The Martian" by Andy Weir. He self published online (most paper self-publisher routes seem to be scams) but just one chapter at a time. He built such a momentum that he was then picked up by a major publisher who paid a good sum for the rights, and Ridley Scott has just finished shooting the movie. I guess he can probably give up his day job now!

BTW - love to see any ppruners who can make it on Thursday to Greenwich Author Event at National Maritime Museum - Things to Do - visitlondon.com