long time appology

Hi every one, sorry I have not posted for a while, lots of pressure at work, I am now not redundant, hurrah. I am still awaiting the proof copy of the paperback of The Gate, will let you know when it is available. book two is coming on, it has been slow going as I was worrying about my job and every thing that goes with it. now i am safe i can start getting back into it with my full concentration.
had a bad month for September, according to the publishers i sold NO books for September but it can take months to get figures in fro all traders. Amazon say they have sold out three months running.
I am depressed at book stores, they will not stock shelves with a book unless they are a well known author, How are writers supposed to get known if the stores will only stock shelves with the likes of Terry Pratchett and other well known people. I know they need to make prophets but they are holding back good writers with this attitude. Come on people, give us all a chance. we make little enough on sales as it is without prejudice from the stores.

If you would like to read the artichle by Radio lancashire please click the pollowing link.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8185000/8185013.stm

Talk soon

Steve

todays news

Hi All,

I have had some updates, Amazon sold out two months running, thank you. The Gate should be available in soft cover by the end of September so keep looking out.
On the job front I have had a letter now confirming I will be redundant after September so I am applying for jobs as are the rest of the office. bad news all round but that's life I suppose.

I met another author yesterday, Adam Dalton. He writes fantasy as I do. What a nice bloke he was, I learned many things. He has written a number of books but I have started reading the Flesh and Bones Trilogy. the Necromancer's Gambit. very good story and definitely worth buying. have a look on http://www.metaphysicalfantasy.wordpress.com/

I am well on with Book two of The World Keepers, The Touch of the Dead. hope to have it ready for you all soon. this time it will be available in hard and soft cover at the same time, another lesson I have learned.

well that's it for now, hope to hear from you all, best of luck with your books Adam.


Steve

interview for The Gate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8185000/8185013.stm

Above is the link to Radio lancashire interview. any one interested is welcome to go look.

The Gate will be available in paperback within the next month and a half. this should make it available for the stores to have it on shelves. it seems that stores don't like stocking hard back so much, especially when it is a new author. most stores only like well known authors on shelves to guarantee sales, the problem with this is that new authors like myself become stuck in the vicious circle. very few are willing to give us the break we are seeking. Can't blame them I suppose, they are in it to make money.

I would like to thank Radio Lancashire, John Barnes and Lynette for their support and hard work. it is people like this that give us the break we need. it is funny how the ones who don't have to do it are the ones willing to put the effort in. Thank you all.

Work is not looking good at the moment. looks like their are more redundancies on the way, myself included, that's business I suppose. at this time companies are not willing or are unable to take risks and can't afford to take a loss for a while.

Sales of The Gate are doing very well, Thank you for buying the book. Amazon sold out by the end of July but have ordered more. I don't yet have full sales numbers yet but it seems that it is doing better than I thought it would by this time.
Book two, The touch of the dead is going very well and I am hoping to have it ready to go to the publishers by the end of September.

AEG group publishing have been fantastic with me. they are honest and keep me informed on all stages as we go. I would eagerly recommend them to any one looking for a publisher. even when they have released a book they continue their support with marketing idea's and publicity experts.

That's all for now.


Steve

looking good on the book front

Morning all,
Well it is looking good, I seem to be selling a few. I have had no bad feedback yet so fingers crossed. it should be available in paper back in a couple of months so then I should actually be able to get it on shelves in store rather than just web sites. I need to move things along I think, there are discussions going on at work again, it is possible, just possible at the moment that they may be closing the office I work in. will this credit crunch never end? business is business i suppose.
I hope you are all doing OK,

SIMON! when you going to answer your phone mate.

Book 2 is moving on now. I was right, it is going to be a bigger book and faster moving. Can't wait to get it published and available for you all to read.

That's it for now, I'm going to cut the lawn.


Steve

Hi All,

well if you missed the radio interview it is now too late to click listen again.

Things are going well with book two, the Touch of the Dead. as I said it will be a bigger book and the story also moves faster. now that book one has established the mane characters I could get straight into the action, I am on chapter 4 and so far it is a roller coaster of action and turns. I am introducing some new characters into the story in Book 2, some good and some evil. I think you will like them.

I am hoping to have Book 1 The Gate, available on shelves in paper back in the not too distant future, It is strange how different countries like to read different formats, but if it is what people want who am I to question it.


I think that is about everything for now. thanks for watching.


Steve

last night

Hi every one.
last night I was in Blackburn at Radio Lancashire, I did an interview about my book and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. I made the mistake of not putting it on here before I went and I apologies for that.
I would like to say Thank you to John Barnes and his team at Radio Lancashire, you were all very kind and supportive. I particularly like the way John managed to Sheppard me through the interview without me realising it at the time. he has a way of talking to you that put you at ease immediately and I had no nerves until I came out.

If you would like to listen to it you can go to radio lancashire's web site and click listen again on John's page.

thank you to all that listened and especially those of you who sent me texts after.

Steve

update

Hi All,
well it is happening quite quickly now. you can now get my book from many places, Amazon, Play.com, Waterstones, WH Smiths, Barnes and Noble, Books a million, and many more.
the easiest way to order is to go to my web site and click buy now, this will take you to the authors web site and allow you to pay for the book direct.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for their support and also my publishers for their professional manner and support along with all the departments hard work.

Book 2, The Touch of the Dead is well under way and hopefully should be available this year. that sounds a long time away but it is almost the end of June so within the next six months doesn't sound as long.

Don't forget to keep following and let me have your thoughts on the book.

Steve

fanfare please

Hi All,

Well it's time. my book is now available to buy. you can click on the link to my website and buy from there, or you can go to the publishers web site. the book will be listed on other web sites but this may still take a couple of weeks from now until they are listed.

I am very proud of this and thank all who have encouraged me and supported me throughout.
I would also like to thank my publishers for their hard work and for putting up with a complete amateur.

I will keep you all up to date as i go from now on, and let you know where and when i achieve book signings etc.

keep following

Steve

slow but sure

Hi everyone,

we are now on 4th June. I have now approved the press release for the launch of my book and am now again awaiting the release date. this has been a long tedious process but we are getting there.

still dealing with things at work, not knowing what is going on with all the redundancies or salaries. it is a horrible thing to go through, wondering who is going , who is staying, what will we be paid etc. no one tells you anything.

if any one out there is going through this at work you have my sympathy.

oh yea

Hi again all,
well it is now 22nd May, I have received the proof copy of my book, HURRA.
I have approved it so I am expecting it to be for sale now within the next five weeks.

I have had a bad week or so at work. there has been lots of meetings with the new management, many people up for redundancy and this week some have been given finishing dates and some have gone already. I know it is a bad time for every body at the moment.
My job is safe but it is a very strange feeling, happy and sad at the same time and my thoughts are with everyone.

let me know how all of you are doing, (even those anonymous followers)

when the book is released I will be starting to arrange book signing dates so will keep you informed as we go.
Simon, I hope you are around, we keep saying we are going to meet up but never get around to it. get in touch again, it is over due now.

I look forward to hearing from you all,
speak soon

Steve

Hi All, it's been a couple of weeks now. thanks for post Tony, yes it is taking some time.
I am informed that my book should be for sale in approx 6 weeks. hurra.

I am now just waiting for the book itself to be posted to me for final approval then it will be on the market. I will let you all know when.

I haven't been on for a while due to the company I work for being taken over. I have been told I am now running things in my department so I have much to do. it has been a very nervous time for me and Debs, wondering if I was going to have a job.

I have a web site starting up soon. www.stephenmproctor.com this is where you will be able to read about me and the books I am writing, including the second book in the series. The Touch Of the Dead. book 2 of the world keepers. I am on chapter 4 but this will be moving along and hopefully published within the next six months.

you will be able to click the link to order and buy the book or click another link to go to the publishers website and buy from there as well as look at all the books available from them.

watch this space for when the site will be available.

that's all for now, I will talk to you all again.

Happy Easter everyone, apparently the book is almost there now. but still awaiting the press release. I never realised what a slow process it was.

I have had a busy week as The company I work for has been "acquired" as they say. we have been bought out by another company. It is now just a case of wait and see who is going to keep their jobs and who wont. My Department is quite safe and going to get busier so I am told.
The current climate is not good for anyone but up to now all my family still have jobs and are not too affected. Don't know about all my friends, hope you are all doing OK, what about you Simon, How is work going with you?

I have a Web site now, it is not up and running but I am working on the pages now and they are almost ready to publish so keep your eyes open for that. you will be able to read about me and my family. you will be able to read about the story, what it is about and get to know some of the mane character, you will also have a link to get here and to the publishers web site.

if you like what you see on the web site you can also order and pay for the book on line. you can leave me a message and talk to me I will write back to all, unless the unbelievable happens and I get millions of you writing. he he..


well that's all for today, will chat again.

Steve

latest news

hurrah, I got my office space back. just going to start chapter 4 of book two. it really is a faster story than book one but that's pretty normal for a series. I have heard from the publisher my book is now almost ready. the only thing left to do before the press release is go to print after the back cover and spine are approved.
That reminds me, I need to look at my e mail today and see if they have sent it to me but I am not expecting it until mid week.
I have my own web site now but I need to get it set up before I tell you were it is.
I am an uncle again now. Jake William James was born on 9th March into the O'kane Clan. and I wish him well. he has a good Mum and Dad so he has a good start.
that's about it for now, I will add more if I think of anything.

getting closer

well it is now 21st March, I am starting to get jumpy about the release date. I have been given the price of the book and am now awaiting news of the press release. Thanks for following Simon, it is good to hear from you again. sorry no part for you in the movie he he,

A little history of the book here. it took me a long time to write the first book, it was more of a bet than anything, but as I got more into it, the more I enjoyed it. I suppose Simon was as much to blame for it as anyone so thanks for that Simon. I suppose the hard part was planning the story line. I had to invent a world, then who would live were and what they did to live. what they would use for money or trade etc. most of my planning has yet to come into the story as it has only just begun.

The biggest problem I have is spelling and grammar, the check is coming in useful on that score but I am getting better all the time. I know exactly where the story is going to go and how it is going to end, but that remains a very close secret between me and , erm , me.
I would like to thank Debs at this point for supporting me and having the patience to read what I write and advise me on changes. also Wendy helped me as did my Auntie Joyce at the start. Free book for you auntie.

well that's about it for now, I will put more next time. any questions just ask. Please join and follow, all are welcome.

Steve

book launch

I have a book launching soon. It is called The Gate and is a story of Good vs Evil.The keys to the Holy place of the Dead are stolen by the army of an evil god.
The gods send the Gate Keeper to the world to retrieve them. Battles and magic ,death and destruction, love and friendship follow during their travels. This is the first book in a series and I am well in to book 2, The Touch of the Dead.

I did learn a lot during the first book and book two moves faster and will be much larger. But the best people to advise me on the writing are the people who are reading it. When released, if you do read it, please let me know what you think. All comments are welcome but please keep any comments reasonably polite and free from bad language, remember children will also be reading this Blog. Feel free to send me a private comment if you wish to panthersp@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for visiting me and I will let you know the date of my book release with all details of when and where to find it.