When I started my writing career, the one thing I didn’t expect was support and kindness from my fellow authors. In the beginning, I even thought every other writer was my competitor. But how wrong I was! Over the years, mainly through the Alliance of Independent Authors, but also through just talking to other writers, I’ve come to see how our mutual support just strengthens our writing careers.
At every turn, I’ve just been overwhelmed by this support, but today my cup is positively overflowing!
A few weeks ago during a London Indie Authors MeetUp I happened to mention to a fellow author that I’d read somewhere that the Japanese and the Finnish people share some cultural similarities: the Finns have the sauna, the Japanese enjoy soaking in a very hot tub, we both like silence, and we both love eating raw fish. The Japanese love Finnish design and are crazy about the Moomins. Or so I have been told by my Finnish friends (who may be a bit biased). Anyway, I said I’d love to introduce my books to the Japanese market, and this friend immediately said, ‘I’m going to Tokyo soon, I’ll take some of your stuff with me!’ Just like that. And today I saw that she’d taken my book to a shop in downtown Tokyo!
Thank you, Clare Lydon, for introducing The Finnish Girl to Japanese readers!
The last few years have taught me that helping each other in this huge and very competitive book market is the only way forward. However, co-operating with other authors has also brought me immense joy, and I can truthfully say most of my friends are now fellow authors.
Talking about co-operating with other authors today is also quite timely for me because in a couple of weeks’ time I am taking part in a giveaway called FREE BOOKS FOR SMART WOMEN. The giveaway starts on Friday 24th February and runs until the 30th. Some great books are included in this giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled for more information coming soon!
If you’d like to have a free copy of The Finnish Girl, a ‘wonderfully intimate and honest’ story of a young Kaisa struggling to come to terms with her parents’ divorce and being a new girl in town, all you have to do is tell me where to send it! Tap the button below for more information.
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