Happy Bookversary To Me!

Part 3 of Unpicking Partnership Publishing

As Halloween approaches, so does the first anniversary of my first published book, The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn. This book asks us to consider reframing the narrative of the witch through the real events of the Newcastle Witch Trials intertwined with the story of one girl’s journey to find her authentic self.

I’ve written two posts already looking at my journey with partnership publishing, and last night I was sat by the fire, chatting to someone who was thinking of going down this route and wanted my take on things after reading one of these posts. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned, and how this journey has been for me.

In my first post, ‘Unpicking Partnership Publishing’ I wrote about how thrilled I was to get the deal from The Book Guild after a time of rejection and ghosting from the publishing industry. I’d put my manuscript away in a drawer, having lost all confidence in my work, but when my daughter, a bookseller for Waterstones said, ‘Mum, it’s a really good book’, and after another beta reader who worked in our local bookshop, Cogito Books, said ‘it was amazing, I loved it!’ I started to look at other publishing options.

As I explain in my article, I worked my butt off with marketing, thinking about my readers, who they might be and what they were interested in. I photographed local places that were the inspiration for the scene setting in the book, making videos and reels, and even dipped my toe into the TikTok and #booktok world. However, I drew the line at dancing. No one wants to see a 62-year-old woman wobbling her bits and trying to look cool. Or maybe they do? Maybe I missed a trick there?

I invited myself on podcasts and went into schools to give author talks. As an ex-teacher it was fantastic to go back into the classroom and come out of one school grinning from ear to ear, having successfully led 60 students in a game of townsfolk vs witches. I hosted my own book events and then peaked as I was signed up for the Alnwick Story Fest hosted by

Suzy Walker

. My goals for writing a book were to see it in my local bookshop window and to speak at a local book festival, so both boxes were ticked there.

 I signed up for Christmas fairs and at Hexham sold a record number of 85 books in one day. I’ve had two pallet lorry deliveries now totalling 700 books and still sell signed copies via my own website, Sue Reed Writes.  The figures that came in on the bi-annual sales sheet were amazing and between my own website and bookshop and online sales, well, I’ll leave you to read what they were:

I’m thrilled to see my book stocked in bookstores throughout the land and thank all those who have gone to their local shops to order copies. I adopted what I call the JR Hartley method (some might remember the ad for Yellow Pages with a guy who wrote a book on Fly Fishing) when cold calling bookshops – it goes something like this:

               ‘Hi, do you stock a book, The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn by Sue Reed?’

               ‘Just a minute, I’ll look it up …..’

(sounds of keys being tapped as the bookshop brings up the page on Garners)

‘Ooh, nice cover. No, I’m sorry we don’t have it in stock, but I can order one for you if you like?’

‘Ah, thank you. I need to come clean. I am Sue Reed; the author of the Rewilding of Molly McFlynn and I wonder if you’d be happy for me to send you a proof copy or if you’d like to order a copy to see how it sells?’

There was only one bookshop out of dozens I called who declined, but only as they had a teeny tiny shop and didn’t have space. These calls have led to book signings in-store, and on Halloween itself, I am invited back to Wedale Books in Stow to be the guest speaker at their Galloween events. However, I’d always recommend building a relationship with a bookshop both in person and/or on social media and sending proofs where possible.

Gordy and I at Wedale Bookshop

Going forward, things are a little hazier. I had planned a sequel, but following months of my mum’s ill health and her subsequent death this summer, my heart was not in the writing of this and I have parked it for now. What I have been doing is writing vignettes about my mum, getting creative with my paints, reading and writing some poetry, and now as I join

Beth Kempton

on her Book Dream Incubator, an idea for a non-fiction book that takes readers for a wander down clarty lonnen, looking at nature and country living as the seasons come and go, then invites them through the garden gate and into the kitchen to chat about seasonal, sustainable living, cooking and gardening. I’d love to know what you think of this idea. It could be a collaborative approach, a gathering, as in Nan’s book, The Gathering in The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn with others contributing to it. Early days, but the ideas have been forming for a a good few years, and this feels like the time to write it.

The deal with the Book Guild going forward into year two isn’t the best, and it looks as if The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn will be delisted by them in a year’s time. I hadn’t spotted this outcome in the contract, but it is what it is. I should be able to get all the production files, both text and cover, and can either self-publish or, if I return to the sequel, see if I can get both books traditionally published, buoyed up by the wonderful sales figures and all your fabulous reviews. Keep them coming!

I’ve got lots of events planned in celebration and I’d love for you to join me either in person or online.

On Saturday 26^th October, I’ll be heading over the hills to Stanhope in Weardale to speak at the Weardale Wordfest.

On Monday 28^th October – Bookversary day, I have two online gigs –

at 11am I’ll be on a livestream webcast for the Pumping Marvellous Charity’s Marvellous Mondays Book Club, a peer patient charity that supports people with heart failure.

I’ll also be Live on Instagram at 7.30pm in conversation with Claire Gardner in The Author’s Lounge

On Wednesday I’ll be the guest speaker on

Suzy Walker

’s Heartleap Masterclass talking about the highs and lows of partnership publishing

Thursday is Halloween itself and I’ll be driving up to Wedale and sleeping the night on the moors in our campervan (what could possibly go wrong?) after speaking at The Station House in Stow, an invitation from Gordy at Wedale Books.

Do say hi if you can come to any of these, and if you can meet me online, that’d be fab!

I have a few dates lined up for the run-up to Christmas too:

Sunday 26^th November – Blanchland Christmas Artisan Market (find me in the Long Room),

Thursday 5^th December 7pm – book reading and discussion at LORE in Hexham

Saturday 14^th December – Pop Up Bookshop at The Garden Coffee House, Hexham with Catherine Livesey, author of the Sisters of Shadow Trilogy.

If you have someone who would enjoy an ecofeminist tale of true friendship, reinvention and breaking free of expectations and haven’t yet got your mitts on a copy of The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn, I’d love you to do so.

If you’re UK-based, I can send a signed copy, either Christmas gift-wrapped or not to any address in the UK – just pop a note on the order if you’d like a dedication, gift wrap and tag. Order Here

Thanks for reading!