Today is the day that Breathing in Colour hits the bookshops. Quite nerve-wracking, really, although thankfully I’m not in the UK at the moment so won’t be tempted to hover anxiously at store doorways trying to see whether people seem interested in it or not! My author copies arrived the other week and the book cover looks stunning – all credit to the hardworking designers at Piatkus.
It’s been kind of hectic in the build-up to publication because of the publicity things I’ve been doing – I even caved in and agreed to write a short story set in India for My Weekly, so I’m doing that this week. At first I wasn’t sure what I’d write about but my usual technique of dozing in the garden and watching the hypnagogic imagery develop behind my eyelids brought me a strong image of a blue-eyed woman floating along the Ganges at dawn in a wooden boat, and as soon as I saw her I knew her name and why she was there, so the story should hopefully just flow from there now. I’ve also done a ‘First Draft’ interview with Mslexia which was good fun, comparing an early draft of one of the synaesthesia sections of the book with the final, published version, and apart from that I’ve been organising press releases to send to various publications, not to mention putting the finishing touches to this website before it went live.
Unsurprisingly, all this has ejected me from the writing of Dreamrunner, but only temporarily, I hope; by the end of this week I’ll be free to immerse myself in nightmares and dolphins and all that sort of stuff! Looking forward to it – and to getting updates from my agent and editor as to how Breathing in Colour is doing out there in the big wide world.
It’s fascinating to read about your creative process. Hypnogic images fascinate me. I love to watch them morph as I drift asleep. Thinking of you dozing in a warm garden and then writing about the scenes is a story in and of itself.
Best wishes to you with the book sales. They say a word of mouth campaign can work wonders.
Hi Clare, I’m a friend of Christine Swint’s and have just read about the publication of Breathing in Colour on her blog. Congratulations! It’s a beautiful title. And welcome to blogland.
Your image of a blue-eyed woman floating along the Ganges at dawn in a wooden boat is intriguing.
I’ve just seen the book cover. It’s ravishing. I’ll be ordering a copy.
Congratulations! I look forward to reading your book. I came over via Christine Swint’s site. I’m a big fan of Christine’s work, so when she gives a recommendation, I definitely check it out. I’m so glad I did. This is beautiful.
I also love your “Writer’s Trance” category and information about dreams and writing. I have very vivid dreams every night, and I usually realize I’m dreaming. It’s awesome. My husband thinks that only creative types can do this, but I think everyone has the capability.
Anyway, I’ll keep reading what you have to see what I can learn. This site is beautiful. It’s very nice to meet you.
Hi,
so lovely to hear from you all – and Christine, thank you for starting an effective word of mouth campaign on your site! (For others reading this – Christine is the editor of Ouroboros, the online poetry and art journal.)
I wish you all sweet dreams (lucid and non-lucid) and an endless stream of vivid imagery to enhance your writing.
Thank you Clare for letting us know about your book and congratulations! I attended your workshop at the Lincoln DNUK conference, finding it quite a remarkable experience and still inspirational for me. Best Wishes 🙂
I just ordered the book. I’m so excited! I’m also going to ask my public library and local bookstore to order it too.
Alas, I ordered the book online and have not received an email to say it has been posted yet. I shall just have to be patient or / and go and buy another copy the old fashioned way – in a shop!