The magic of a forum community

I know, I know - two posts in one week, after such a long absence! But I felt compelled to post this having just dropped in to the Stonewylde Forum. I can't BELIEVE how wonderful it is! Mr B set it up last year in response to my wailings of despair. I was receiving so many beautiful e mails from fans and readers of the Stonewylde Series. I always tried to respond quickly, and in depth rather than a brief "thank you for your kind words" type message. If someone had read my books and loved them and felt moved to write to me, it would be so rude not to reply properly. But the problem was, once readers had become "stonewylded" - the term we coined to describe the curious phenomenon that seems to happen to many who've read the books - they wanted to converse regularly, discuss things about the books, share their own experiences. This was lovely to receive, really warmed my heart - but it got to the point where I just couldn't keep up with it all. So Mr B suggested setting up a forum where readers could "meet" each other, talk about Stonewylde, share experiences etc - and I could dip in every so often and contribute too.

Well - he spent a great deal of time setting it all up, dear man. That's one of the many things I love about him - his willingness to devote so much time and effort to Stonewylde, always in the evenings after a long day's work, and also the way he just launches into new things with an open mind and the determination to learn new skills. We chose the whole feel of the forum carefully, wanting it to be very Stonewyldy, quite organic and green, not particularly slick or business like. The image used (the one at the head of this post) was an adapted photo I'd taken years ago at Ashley Chase in Dorset. A very sacred place indeed. We felt the arch was like an invitation to enter the world of Stonewylde. We chose the icons to show new posts, etc, and at last the forum was born.

It was a bit like throwing a party, sitting waiting in the empty room with everything ready and hoping that people would turn up! It was quite slow at first. The whole point of a forum is that it has lots of members who regularly chat. We started a few topics to get people going and hoped the whole thing would take off. And it has!! The Stonewylde Forum is the most wonderful community with ever-growing membership. Luckily a bunch of unrelated people joined who are obviously experienced forumers, and who are passionate about Stonewylde. They kind of gee-ed everyone along, keeping the threads going and welcoming new members instantly. There are now some fascinating posts and threads, and people have started putting photos up of sacred places, stone circles etc. It's really interesting. The posts often are nothing at all to do with Stonewylde, which is great, as the books are just the meeting point for people who share that one thing in common. Now they're talking about gardening, recommended books, moots, places to visit and so much more. It really is fantastic visiting the forum and "meeting" everyone. I've probably only met half a dozen or so of the members in real life, yet I feel I have a whole community of friends now.

The other brilliant thing is their enthusiasm in promoting the books. They all understand what I'm up against here, and how hard it is to make any headway in the closed and cut-throat world of publishing. But they're all sending out cards, visiting their bookshops, telling friends, blogging and posting on other forums, begging me for T shirts and suchlike! Apart from the practical help, which is invaluable, it also boosts my determination too and helps me keep going. Mind you, they do have an ulterior motive - I've explained that until the first three books really take off, I won't be able to afford to publish the fourth one!

If you're reading this and you're a member of the Stonewylde Forum - THANK YOU!!!!! And if you haven't visited it yet, please do so. It's brilliant! Find it at www.stonewyldeforum.com

Independent bookshops - fighting 'the big boys'

I spent a brilliant day last Sunday in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, at a little independent bookshop called Mostly Books. This involved some sacrifice as Sunday is the only day usually that Mr B and I get to spend alone together, and we'd planned to go away for a romantic Valentine's weekend too. But needs must - I'd found that this bookshop were running a course called Shelf Secrets - designed for authors and publishers, and aiming to teach them how to market themselves and their books to the independent bookshop. It seemed just too good to miss. And I'm so pleased I went.

Is the independent bookshop a dying breed? How can they possibly compete with all the chain bookstores, not to mention supermarkets and online shops? I remember when the lovely bookshop in Weymouth closed its doors several years ago, squeezed out by a great big Menzies, which since morphed into a great big WH Smiths. No more interesting shelves stuffed with odd books, and a wonderful children's section with low shelves and little chairs. Instead - wall to wall revision guides (how I HATE those things - poor kids get enough cramming in school without misguided parents shoving it down their throats at home - and I'm speaking as a school teacher here), celebrity rubbish, cookery books from TV shows and a generally sterile selection. Sorry - getting on my soap box here.

Now I'm as guilty as the next in trying to get my books sold in chain bookstores. When Borders and Waterstones agreed to stock the Stonewylde Series in many of their branches, I was over the moon. Because many towns only have these shops - no independents at all. And to be fair, I've always found the staff in all the Waterstones I've visited to be very helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging. But nothing beats the inside knowledge and passion of the independent bookseller. Those who aren't knowledgeable and passionate have, or will, go out of business, because it's this I believe that keeps the small independent bookshop afloat. And this is why customers who love books will always patronise their local bookshop rather than buy online or cheaply from the supermarket shelf. I've vowed, when Stonewylde eventually becomes a best-selling series, never to sell out and do a deal with Tesco or Sainsbury's. I just hope when the time comes that I can maintain this integrity!

Mark and Nicki made a brave decision in opening Mostly Books eighteen months ago. But they know their market. They provide a fantastic selection of interesting reads, avoid celebrity stuff, cater beautifully for children, and even serve coffee in their courtyard. They give a personal service in a way that no chain bookstore, however helpful their staff may be, could possibly compete with. They also organise all sorts of author events - yes, they've invited me to do one later this year, so I'll keep you posted! And special children's days (eg pirates and ballerinas) and courses such as the one I attended. Mostly Books is thriving, and so it should. Check out their website on http://www.mostly-books.co.uk/

This week I believe a new independent bookshop is opening in Wood Green, London, and is another very brave step into the cut-throat world of the big boys. It's to be called The Big Green Bookshop, and it's the baby of two ex-Waterstones staff who've used their redundancy money, after the Waterstones branch shut down, and other financial backing to open their very own bookshop. I wish them all the best of luck - it's scary taking on the large companies at their own game, and takes a great leap in faith. Setting up Moongazy Publishing made me realise just what a gamble it all is. You're up against big money, years of expertise and know-how, and a scratch-back network that doesn't welcome new, small people. But if you're passionate enough and hard-working enough, you'll get there. I hope!!

So my message is - support your local bookshop, if you're lucky enough to still have one. Don't just go for the money-saving option. If we did this, we'd never buy from farmers' markets or little hardware shops - so apply the same principles to your book buying. And if you have an independent bookshop near you - tell them they should be stocking the Stonewylde Series!!

No! Too soon!

Oh dear. In the Imbolc newsletter I asked people to check my blog as I was going to make a concerted effort from now on to update it regularly. We had a really late night last night and the newsletter was finally sent out at about 2.30am. I woke up this morning to see how many people had opened their newsletter, and found 44 had already - and several of them had checked this blog! How disappointing for them as I hadn't actually written anything yet.

This weekend I will - a proper post. So if you're one of the keen people reading this, come back again on Sunday night please! I'm too tired right now and my brain isn't working yet. Being an owl rather than a lark. I just don't get how some people wake up early all bright and chirpy and get things done. Since I gave up teaching it's only got worse. And of course this is the time of year when sensible creatures go into hibernation anyway. I'm trying but I keep getting woken up!

But it's Imbolc today - and it's bright and sunny but cold. Bright blessings to everyone, and come back soon. xxx