Subscriber spotlight
Share your writing success stories. If you subscribe to Writing Magazine and would like to feature here, email Tina Jackson, tjackson@warnersgroup.co.uk
SHARE YOUR STORY
A soupy success with less
‘If you’re American (I’m not) you’re bound to have heard of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series – the company has produced over 200 titles in the last twenty years,’ writes subscriber Denise Barnes.
‘The original Chicken Soup for the Soul book sold close to 10 million copies! They aim to publish a handful of new books every year.
‘In Writing Magazine several months ago I spotted they were asking for submissions for their latest book, to be called:
The Joy of Less. They wanted true stories of people cutting down in their lifestyle. Could be downsizing your house, not eating out in restaurants, giving stuff to charities – that sort of thing. I rarely respond to anything like this but I’d taken up my sister’s challenge in 2014 not to buy any new clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery and makeup for a whole year. To her astonishment I managed it, so I thought this would make a perfect subject for the Chicken Soup requirement. I called my story The Challenge and duly sent it off.
‘After months (I’d completely forgotten about it) I was congratulated that I was in the final round, but there was still no guarantee I would make it into the book, so I suppressed any excitement and didn’t tell anyone. They wished me luck and several more weeks rolled by. To my amazement I had an email from them in February saying I’m definitely going to be included in the book, they didn’t need to change a word, I’ll be paid $200, and they will send me ten free copies! They congratulated me again, saying they’d received thousands of submissions! If that didn’t give me a boost… The Joy of Less will be published in May.
‘I see via their website that Chicken Soup are planning to venture into TV and film. If they need any stars, well, I’d be delighted to oblige!
‘If you fancy taking a look at my other works – I write novels as well as nonfiction – please visit my website:denisebarneswriter.com
Strange developments
‘Having published six historical novels (the Bron series of five set in the late Roman era and one Elizabethan, Flash Black), I have now written a contemporary story with an unexpected twist half-way through the narrative,’ writes subscriber Iris Lloyd.
‘Hunterswick Green has been developed by handsome and predatory Michael King. It is a complex built in fifty acres of rolling countryside offering, if you believe the brochures, “a great new way of living” to the discerning purchasers of its luxury homes. Peter and Alison buy into the dream but Alison has the feeling she is being watched – and who is showing lights in the wood at night? The young couple discover to their cost that perfection comes at a price and Hunterswick Green is not at all what it seems…’
Natural powers
‘My new novel, Pica, was published by Accent Press on 25 February as a paperback and Kindle ebook,’ writes subscriber Jeff Gardiner.
‘It is a young adult fantasy and the first book in my Gaia trilogy.