I confess to a degree of disappointment. I had hoped that by dint of natural charm, long experience, literary genius and, it has to be admitted, a degree of cunning, I would have Jim Webster’s short work ‘A Bad Penny’ soaring through the best seller charts by now. I confess as wondering why Jim took … More A Bad Penny
I must confess that my exploration of the world of book promotion had left me somewhat confused and I realised that many of my ideas seemed to be at variance with what appeared to be the current convention. So in my perplexity I decided to seek advice. What I wanted was a writer who was … More The uncompromising principles of the successful writer.
How does one promote a book? This question continued to nag at me as I went about my business in Port Naain. How on earth was I going to live up to my promise to ensure ‘A Bad Penny’ gained more sales than it rightfully deserved? Now I was in the Silk Merchant’s Repose. This … More Nobody does it like that any more
Initially I approached this task of pimping Jim Webster’s story ‘A Bad Penny’ with considerable enthusiasm. After all how difficult could it be? But I soon realised that even though I was resolute and unwavering I needed inspiration. Who should I look to?Now it transpires that some years ago Halan Gran, the greatest literary mind … More Learning from others
Forgive me if I seem to be a little less than my usual ebullient self but I feel a little put-upon at the moment. It appears that my efforts to promote this work of literary brilliance have fallen on distinctly stony ground. Why somebody even complained that I had not even mentioned the name of … More There in Black and White.
After a long and varied career, during which I have done many things, achieved much, and have been generally recognised to be one of the ornaments of our fair city, little now gives me pause. I must confess that, without false modesty, I am able to turn my hand to most things and indeed excel … More A distinct shortage of assets.
I know, I know. I shouldn’t allow people to take advantage of my better nature, but what on earth can a chap do?Now I have genuine sympathy for novelists. Sad creatures that they are, sitting in their garrets, churning out page after page covered in an infinite multitude of words. It must be the … More The frantic scribblings of a novelist.
As you well know I’ve always been sympathetic to the lesser arts. Over the years I’ve helped provide employment for musicians, sculptors and even novelists! Indeed if I can find one, I’ve even been known to introduce Mime Artists into the soirees that I run. Given the audiences I work with, my favourite piece … More For the sake of art (The origin of the scary clown)
Old ‘Ordan’ was dead. It had to happen sooner or later, and in his case, he’d have said, the later the better. But now it had happened. I’d known him for a few years, an old man who limped a bit. He’d been a seaman until he had a fall from a yard. He lived … More When the hammer falls.
First you must remember it had been a very hot day. After all it was the height of summer and about the only thing moving in Port Naain was the tide coming up the estuary and even that seemed strangely listless. But still, that is a plea for mitigation rather than an explanation. It … More The importance of getting home under your own steam
Tallis Steelyard 