APRIL 2006
"Everyone on the Lit Fest team was so friendly and welcoming. I had a wonderful time. The students were a receptive and enthusiastic audience, a real credit to their university. I'm sure they have bright futures ahead of them.
The quest for a publisher is invariably daunting and dispiriting for the debut novelist. There are so many deserving writers and simply not enough deals to go round. I believe passionately in my book's right to be read and see our relationship as a partnership. I decided a different strategy was vital if my novel were to stand a chance of reaching the widest possible readership. Solid hard work combined with a lateral approach to self-promotion and marketing, has given 'Beyond the Hedge' an excellent start.
Success is not necessarily dependent on having the might of a major publishing house behind you. The route of 'the slow burn' is not for the faint-hearted, but goals achieved along the way are all the sweeter.
I've learned a phenomenal amount since my book launch in November 2005, and if my experiences and unorthodox approach can help others break the stereotypical mould and achieve their dreams, then that's even better."
Mairi Craw is available for talks and seminars at universities, colleges, schools, literary festivals and writers' groups. Contact Mairi@mairicraw.com.