National Press

[Teresa Edgerton]

It doesn't seem to like my computer, because it comes out all garbled (sob).

[Paradox 99]

I just read it from The Master's link. Great story Mark (Paradox tips his hat).
It's fantastic to see that all your hard work is starting to pay off. You're a fine example of how enthusiasm, determination and patience can win the day. It's a real inspiration for those of us who dream of similar things.

P.S. I bought "The Forging of the Sword" a couple of weeks back and have just started reading it. Very enjoyable so far - you grabbed my interest right from the map page (I love stories with maps. )

Well done!

[Teresa Edgerton]

I tried it twice from The Master™'s link, and two or three times from another link that came to me via email. No luck. The columns are only partial columns and are squished together so that they make no sense.

Is this a browser problem?

edit: Whatever it was, I tried it on a different family computer and it came out ungarbled this time.

[The Master™]

Here is the text version for anyone else with problems:

RAF pilot becomes high-flying author with a charming future

By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent

Published: 24 October 2005

An RAF pilot with an unconventional approach to publishing is being tipped as a fantasy fiction bestseller after his personal charm on the bookshop floor finally won him a high-profile publishing deal.

Mark Robson, 39, who began writing when bad weather grounded his DC10 in the Falkland Islands, has been snapped up by the publishers Simon and Schuster who are to publish his novel, Imperial Spy, in the spring.

But unlike most newly signed writers, Mr Robson has already published more than 30,000 of his books himself - after his first attempt at writing was rejected by every literary agent and publisher he sent it to seven years ago.

Encouraged by friends and family who loved the story, The Forging of the Sword, Mr Robson found a printer, commissioned an illustrator and proof-read and typeset the book himself.

"I had some money in the bank, I thought I'd do it as a hobby, not something that would make money. I was aware that self-publishing fiction is suicide," he said.

But he turned the venture into a triumph by adopting a marketing strategy thought to be unique. Offering himself as a free floor-walker to bookshops near his RAF base at Brize Norton, Wiltshire, he would engage shoppers in conversation about their tastes.

If they wanted a dictionary, he would take them to the reference section. If they liked Lord of the Rings, he would tell them of his own fantasy offering, written for teenagers, with crossover appeal to adult readers.

He routinely sold between 50 and 100 books a day, a figure that would not shame established writers doing traditional signings.

His total sales now exceed more than 31,000 copies of what became a four-part series, The Darkweaver Legacy, a figure to rival the output of a small independent publishing house.

Yet it was only when he unknowingly approached the head buyer for Waterstone's who happened to be in a bookstore in Windsor that British publishers were persuaded to take notice.

Scott Pack advised Mr Robson to update the covers of his titles, which he has with illustrations by top fantasy artist Geoff Taylor.

But Mr Pack also sent copies of the book to publishers and agents and finally won a publishing deal for his next book, an offshoot of the current series.

Mr Pack said he was won over by Mr Robson's enthusiasm. "But he has actually written a very good series of books. It's mature and intelligent and he's got strong female characters as well as strong male ones.

"But I think his story is on a par with [the writer] GP Taylor, whose Shadowmancer was originally self-published."

[The Master™]

Just thought... When are you going to sell the movie rights to your books???

And we'd all like to be there for the filming and the premiere!!!

[I, Brian]

Thanks for the link - both the Spar and garage were sold out!

This intrigued me:

But he turned the venture into a triumph by adopting a marketing strategy thought to be unique. Offering himself as a free floor-walker to bookshops near his RAF base at Brize Norton, Wiltshire, he would engage shoppers in conversation about their tastes.

Will have to ask about this later.

[The Master™]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Thanks for the link - both the Spar and garage were sold out!

Shame on you, I'd've thought you'd've checked online before wasting the energy walking in the god-awful Scottish weather!!! Always happy to help the less fortunate!!!

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Aw, bollox! Now you tell us!! Okay, will go into the village for a paper, if they have one.

Sorry for the late call. I was signing today in Abingdon and didn't get home until late.

Thanks for putting the link up Master... and for the text version too. I have been swamped in emails and paperwork all evening, so I'd just popped in to do just that when I find you've all been hard at it doing my promotion for me. The great thing about the online version is that it doesn't have the photograph!

Just got an invite for two days to Brent Cross - the busiest, biggest turnover WH Smith store in the UK. Will be going on 4th and 5th of November. Guess I'm going to be 'charming' my way into customers' wallets again!

[The Master™]

If I'm helping your promotion, I WANT PAYING YOU SKINFLINT!!!

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by The Master™

If I'm helping your promotion, I WANT PAYING YOU SKINFLINT!!!

Sure ... consider the wages I'm currently paying you doubled!

[The Master™]

*coughbloodyskinflintcough*

Let me see, double of nothing is... hmmmm, the maths is very complicated...

If you are ever in Leeds, let me know - I'll take a set of books as payment...

[Mark Robson]

LOL! Let's see what sort of a tour program Simon & Schuster come up with for me in Feb 06, shall we? Maybe I'll get to meet you yet. I'm gradually meeting up with more and more folk from this site.

[Rane Longfox]

Nice to finally see the artical Mark. I'd almost given up hope

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

Nice to finally see the artical Mark. I'd almost given up hope

You and me both! However, as expected, we now have interest from some of the other nationals. The Telegraph have expressed an interest to do an article around the time of the launch - which would be fantastic. After this experience, though, I'm not going to hold my breath over it.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

Sorry for the late call. I was signing today in Abingdon and didn't get home until late.

Thanks for putting the link up Master... and for the text version too. I have been swamped in emails and paperwork all evening, so I'd just popped in to do just that when I find you've all been hard at it doing my promotion for me. The great thing about the online version is that it doesn't have the photograph!

Just got an invite for two days to Brent Cross - the busiest, biggest turnover WH Smith store in the UK. Will be going on 4th and 5th of November. Guess I'm going to be 'charming' my way into customers' wallets again!

Now you're going to have to cough up that photo!