My Recent Comments

Thanks everyone for reassuring me that this 'big bad editor' hadn't scared everyone off!

Betty, I hope you took everyone's advice and submitted that partial. And that is one huge book collection you have - you must be a super fan!

 Jax - you have had good advice already, so don't be worried about that partial length, just polish it up and send it in.

 

Warm wishes

I just thought I'd pop by and say 'hi'  and 'I'm still around'! It is just that the lovely authors seem to do fab job of answering any questions that come up before I see them. Thanks guys!

I also want to say that I can't help but notice that since I posted on sub care, it's gone very quiet. I think I scared everyone off - SORRY!!!

 

Hi all! I am pleased to see such enthusiasm for the contest! Don't forget to pop by the I Heart Presents for blogs and comments from MH and Presents authors and editors - there will be lots of great tips.

Also, do spread the word about the competition to your friends, writing groups, on your blogs...everyehere! I know there is so much new talent out there, the editorial team just want to get their hands on it!  

Thanks!

Joanne

Hi all! Sorry to step-in on your thread, but there has been some confusion regarding email submissions via the M&B website, so I thought I'd clear it up!

This function has only just been set up on the website and was made live just after Jenny Hutton left for NZ, so I probably need to drop her an email to fill her in too! We weren't expecting it to be up and running for a while yet, so this explains why Jenny said 6 months.

We had some teething problems, but it now seems to be working fine now - I sent a test email myself just today ;)

Best wishes

Joanne Carr 

Hi KatherineT!

It is a marketing thing definitely - it is a way to sell the book to the reader. In our experience, readers want to know the hooks of the book in an instant and our titling does that.  

We are always, of course,  looking for ways to innovate and move our titles on, but whilst still keeping a close eye on results. In our experience anything that is too different or doesn’t speak to core Presents themes, doesn’t necessarily perform as well as we’d like.

 

Of course, the title is only part of the package along with the cover art and blurb, so we take everything into consideration.

 

We know that the way we title books, especially in Presents, causes a lot of discussion and titles may seem similar or ‘generic’, but the books are still flying off the shelves we must be doing something right!

 

Warm wishes

 

Joanne

 

Yes - soldiers are the strips of bread/toast you dip into soft boiled eggs. I used to have bread soldiers as a child, that was just how our family did things, but my other half was brought up with toast soldiers so now we tend to always toast the bread. YUM!

Hi there!

Dee mentioned a few pharses from films, so I thought I'd pop in and share some rhyming slang! My Dad has always used rhyming slang, if only to amuse us, so here are a couple that I grew up with:

Apples & Pears = stairs

Mork & Mindy = windy

Hank Marvin = starving

Ruby Murray = curry

But like all language, it develops and changes. For example 'Britneys' becomes 'beers' e.g. Britney Spears = beers. Endless fun! But I can also see how it may be hard to follow...

But now you know, if you are ever in the UK visiting and someone offers you a 'Ruby Murray' because you are 'Hank Marvin' washed down with a couple of 'Britneys', you'll know exactly what they mean!  

Anyway, I couldn't resist sharing a little, so I'll get back to editing now

Warm wishes

Joanne

 

Hi Allison! 

Yes it should be the same email, but it makes me wonder whether there is problem with the link from the M&B website... You should recieve an instant email response thanking you for your enquiry, so if you haven't recieved any kind of bounce back email, it sounds as if your emails never got here!

I'll get someone on to it and in the meantime do use eEditors@hmb.co.uk. I just sent an email to it and got the bounce back email, so it is working!

Joanne

Hi Lis,

6-7 months waiting on a partial is not good! Although I know we are behind we still aim to reply within around 14 weeks, rather than many months. Please email eEditors@hmb.co.uk quoting your reference number. This can often speed things up as the editor will be chased and usually means your partial will be prioritised. Apologies for the long wait and double apologies if I have your submission!

Warm wishes

Joanne

Carol, for a change it wasn't Richmond, but an Italian restaurant round the back of Oxford Street somewhere!