The Pre-Order Post
To enable you buy Blood Lines in advance
My book, Blood Lines, has gone to print. It’s always a scarily exciting moment. Seeing a new book in paper format for the first time feels sacred. It’s a breath-holding moment as I sniff the cover, check out the smoothness of the paper and cover design, and hold the weight and dimensions of the book in my hands. Content may be king but the first reveal is the initial attraction.
The book is split into several sections from life before diagnosis to ultimately dealing with the terminal prognosis. Having outlived this, I am now keen for enough weeks to allow me the pleasure of receiving and reading a paper copy. As with Dirty Teaching and Messy Maths, this book is best in paper format. It’s a more satisfying, 3D read. An e-version doesn’t do justice to the sensorial aspects of reading a book. The strength of Blood Lines lies not in the individual poems but the collection as a whole supported by the photos and notes interwoven throughout.
Many friends and family have been asking about how to pre-order Blood Lines. These days the choices have never been broader and considered whether we are ethical or what-the-heck consumers. Here is my attempt to briefly explain these choices.
Get a paper copy if you can. You can’t smell an e-version! See reasons above!
Speed. If you want your hands on a copy asap, then order directly from Crown House Publishing. They send out copies on speed dial. They are a small independent publisher and use UK printers. The publishing team do slick work, and I’m chuffed to be one of their authors.
Support local independent bookshops. Many of these are doing awesome work providing book clubs, events, having a cafe on site and so on. You should be able to place an order in-store or online. An example here is the Portobello Bookshop nr Edinburgh.
If there isn’t a local independent book shop near you, then order through Hive or Bookshop. These websites work slightly differently. Hive enables you to pre-order Blood Lines and then you nominate an independent bookseller to receive a percentage of the cost. You can choose which one via their search facility. Bookshop enables independent booksellers to have their own online store. When you order through one of their listed booksellers, a percentage of the cost is donated to them. A good example here is Poetry Pharmacy on Bookshop. The first year you sign up, the bookseller receives an extra percentage from all the books you buy.
UK-wide big booksellers. Most of the big bookstores allow you to pre-order online or in-store. The ones I know about include: Blackwells, Brown’s Books, WH Smiths, Waterstones,
Amazon. Whilst many people are boycotting Amazon, the advantage of pre-ordering here is that Blood Lines gains wider interest and goes up the pre-order listings. Also you can leave a positive review once you have read the book if you wish, which is helpful to prospective readers and creates a feel-good factor. There looks like a few days wait compared to ordering directly from Crown House.
If you are ordering from outside the UK, there is probably a delay of several months. There may be tariffs and charges for US Citizens, but all this is hard to gauge with changes in negotiations and world politics. Check your local independent bookshops and find out how it works for them. Or visit the big bookshops such as Barnes & Noble (US).
Support your local library service
If you want to support your local library service, become a member and ask if you can borrow a copy. If you haven’t done this in recent years, then you may be pleasantly surprised. Many libraries have become community hubs offering services such as photocopying or printing (there maybe a charge but its lowcost), a warm place to be on a cold day, and even a cafe. There are usually events, various groups and activities beyond World Book Day.
I investigated donating copies of Blood Lines to libraries but every service has their own approach. Some say “thanks” and take the book. Others need a donation to cover the cost of a book jacket and the processing needed to add the book to their system. Thus, I haven’t been able to do this without it becoming complicated and time-consuming.
Give away a copy of Blood Lines
If you find yourself with more than one copy then consider giving the other book to a friend or even a charity shop. The success of a book depends a lot upon the razzamatazz of people talking about the book online, with friends, at a book club, a literary festival and so on. Thus any support or help doing this is greatly appreciated not least for the charities that will benefit from the royalties and hopefully the readers who will gain insights from reading the book.
Blood Lines book events
I am more than happy to do short online sessions for independent bookshops and others that run book events whilst I’m sufficiently healthy to help raise interest and awareness. Be aware that my energy is limited so 45 minutes to one hour is my maximum. Perhaps you are part of a book club that would welcome a gig. You would need to do the digital work to set it up.
Likewise outdoor gigs or events may also be possible. Owing to my health a lot of my life is planned from week to week rather than further in advance. But there’s nothing like an impromptu party! I am limited here by my ability to travel and rely on my husband to assist. With an indoor event everyone would need to be masked up, and the room well ventilated.
Please get in touch with Crown House Publishing to arrange this. The events will be free but the aim is also to encourage people to buy a book.
BREAKING NEWS! You can see a preview of Blood Lines. It’s the “read sample” underneath the photo. The reviews have blown me away.
Regardless - thanks for your interest and support. Much love - Juliet x