kicking and screaming, I might add. Over the last month or so I’ve been talking a lot to the excellent Philip Jones of Achaleon, who designed this website. A major facelift is in the offing – many of you may have had an email from me asking you about having a forum or not. Wanting to increase my profile with the release of Hannibal, I dipped my toe in by signing up to Facebook. Then I decided to try Twitter. If you want to hear my witterings, follow me at @benkaneauthor…
Friday 6th May: Twitter – A Luddite enters the 21st C.
This entry was posted in Default. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.
23 Comments
So is the forum on? where are you gonna find time to write with this site, Facebook, twitter and HWA????
@Fabitaromunass: No, the forum’s not on. To be honest, there’s no real need now, what with the comments here, and the HWA forum, which is getting busier by the week. Time to write – FB is really just a link to here. That’s my intention, anyway. HWA is forum time, which equals break from writing time; Twitter – not sure yet. Will see how it goes. As for writing – I think I’ll cope. On course to finish two books this year, when I normally do one. May well get derailed further down the track, but doing OK so far!
twitter is the one i avoid…never can manage to keep up with it, not with everything else on the net…but good luck in cyberland Ben.
It must be crazy writing two at the same time. once they’re done what’s next? spartacus 2 or carthage 2?
or both together?!?
@Fabitaromunass: I’m not writing two at the same time. (I could not do that!) I’ve been writing Spartacus 1 since January and aim to finish it by the end of June. Then I’ll write Spartacus 2 by the end of the year. Then move on to Rome/Carthage 2…
Spartacus 2!! Do I need to put on my thinking cap again? LOL
@Les: arrr, I’d forgotten to mention that. Hit 95k words, and thought (well, I ‘d been thinking it for a while): “I can’t do this in one book.” I’ve only reached the second slave victory over Varinius! Talked to my editor, who was very happy for me to continue the story, so there you go…
…Cash cow….LOL…only joking…thats great news, i always love more books….does that mean 2 books in one year by any chance?
@Parmenion: cash cow? You try making a living as a writer! I get paid about 3 times a year, mate. Who knows if it means two books in one year – that’s up to the publisher. But it’s what I’m hoping.
How does wages work as an author? Do publishers give you a salary and then bonuses depending on sales?
@Fabitaromunass: a salary? I wish! If an author is lucky enough to get an advance, they live on that. More money is given when a hardback comes out; ditto a paperback. If the advance is earned out (i.e. the publisher receives back as much as they gave the author), then royalties are paid. But only when that stage is reached, and royalties come 9 months + after they’ve been earned. Or years later in the case of foreign sales (although foreign sales rarely make much money). The average author in the UK makes just £4,000 per year. No, I’m not exaggerating. 🙁 I’m fortunate enough to be well out of that category, but I’m still not the owner of cash cows by any means.
Ben – I think that’s great news that Spartacus will go to two books, brilliant. He terrorised Italy for a long time so there have to be lot’s of historical details to work on which alone would make it a large single book.
The mini series with Goran Visnjic and Rhona Mitra would probably go to three books, I take it you saw that Ben? Really good especially the ‘Rhona’ bits 😉
@John: eh? Goran Visnjic? Rhona Mitra? Never heard of it. Is Rhona as delectable as Lucy Lawless is in the first few episodes of Blood and Sand? Is it any good?
Ben – Haha, yes it is good and Rhona Mitra is a very attractive young lady (I would say more but the moderator would get me). It’s still on sale on Amazon and an absolute bargain at £3.31! I’d pay three times that amount!
I haven’t seen any of Blood and Sand yet but next week it should be popping through the letterbox! 😉
@John: My gods, she is stunning!
I only watched the first two episodes of Blood and Sand, before I stopped. Didn’t want to have any ideas that weren’t my own floating around in my head. I can’t wait until I have Spartacus written, so I can then watch it!
Ben – I thought you might like her. Looks even nicer in the mini-series! I’m sure you don’t mind being disturbed by someone that looks that good! It’s worth getting just to watch her!
I don’t know if your interested but Bettany Hughes is doing ‘Atlantis: The Evidence a Timewatch Special’ tonight on BBC2 7pm about Atlantis. Maybe interesting.
@John: I bet she does.
Bettany Hughes. Now there’s someone else worth watching. I think she acts up to the camera a bit too much, however. Nigella Lawson style, if you know what I mean. 😉
wow…cash cow jokes went down like a fart in a lift! i know how tough it is mate, i know enough of you luvvies, i have heard the war stories….back catalogue thats when you have made it…lol.
If you can lean on the publisher for 2 a year i’d buy em!…and id put money on many others doing the same
Ben – I know exactly what you mean about Bettany Hughes, I suppose it’s a strange way of trying to lure some in and make it more ‘interesting’. In her later programmes she’s lost a lot of weight and almost looks ill. The programme was good last night and some of the finds really fascinating especially some of the paintings of ships that have never been seen before.
@John: yes, I’m sure that’s what she’s been advised, to draw in the viewers. Shame she’s gone overboard if she’s looking thin. Happens to so many women, and it’s a damn shame. Glad the programme was good. Didn’t see it – editing Spartacus – 99.6k words, and Tweeting 🙂
Congrats ref Spartacus, 110k today then! 😉
@John: Ha! I wish. No, it’s reached 100.5k words now. Starting a scene now with Crassus, which will be spliced into the gladiators’ story later…