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<title>Manteya Email Persuasion Blog</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/RSS/blog_feed.xml</link>
<description>All of the latest stories regarding email persuasion, email copy writing and email marketing</description>
<dc:language>en-us</dc:language>
<dc:rights> Copyright Winning Team Holdings New Zealand Limited 2013</dc:rights>
<dc:date>2013-03-12T20:33:36+01:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Winning Team Holdings New Zealand Limited</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>The Manteya Blog Feed</dc:subject>
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<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/_109.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-on-an-Australian-beach!_108.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust-:-Forbidden-being-read-in-Pretoria-South-Africa_107.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/_106.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-being-read-in-a-tree-in-Australia_105.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Publishing-demise-by-10%-per-year_104.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Google-users'-interest-in-books-drops-40%-since-2005!_103.html"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Booktrust-campaign-to-get-dads-reading_102.html"/>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Rednock-School-Visit_110.html">
<title>Rednock School Visit</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Rednock-School-Visit_110.html</link>
<description>Had+the+most+excellent+time+with+the+Reading+Group+at+Rednock+School+today.+An+awesome+group+of+readers+and+aspiring+writers.+Thanks+guys%2C+you+were+great%21</description>
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<title></title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/_109.html</link>
<description></description>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-on-an-Australian-beach!_108.html">
<title>Blue Dust: Forbidden on an Australian beach!</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-on-an-Australian-beach!_108.html</link>
<description>Brisbane%2C+Australia.</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-on-an-Australian-beach!_108.html</feedburner:origLink>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust-:-Forbidden-being-read-in-Pretoria-South-Africa_107.html">
<title>Blue Dust : Forbidden being read in Pretoria South Africa</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust-:-Forbidden-being-read-in-Pretoria-South-Africa_107.html</link>
<description>Down+south%2C+on+the+tip+of+Africa%2C+Gabi+reads+her+copy.</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust-:-Forbidden-being-read-in-Pretoria-South-Africa_107.html</feedburner:origLink>
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<title></title>
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<description></description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/_106.html</feedburner:origLink>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-being-read-in-a-tree-in-Australia_105.html">
<title>Blue Dust: Forbidden being read in a tree in Australia</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-being-read-in-a-tree-in-Australia_105.html</link>
<description>Great+to+see+Blue+Dust%3A+Forbidden+has+made+it+all+the+way+to+Australia%21+Thanks+for+sending+this+to+me%2C+Chris.</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Blue-Dust:-Forbidden-being-read-in-a-tree-in-Australia_105.html</feedburner:origLink>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Publishing-demise-by-10%-per-year_104.html">
<title>Publishing demise by 10% per year</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Publishing-demise-by-10%-per-year_104.html</link>
<description>Since+writing+my+article+on+Google+Trends%27+shocking+statistic+that+apparent+interest+in+books+has+dropped+by+a+whopping+40%25+in+eight+years%2C+we+have+done+a+little+more+research+into+this+and+found+that+there%27s+a+slightly+more+worrying+trend+going+on+too.+Interest+in+publishing+seems+to+have+died+almost+entirely.+It%27s+dropped+a+whopping+80%25+since+2005%21%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile+this+is+shocking+news%2C+there%27s+more...%0D%0A%0D%0AOf+the+many+terms+that+still+rank+in+the+top+ten+for+related+terms%2C+%22publishing+jobs%22+ranks+at+number+six+-+in+joint+poisition+with+%22publishing+companies%22+indicating+that+there%27s+a+lot+of+people+%28possibly+too+many+people%29+seeking+jobs+in+an+industry+that+is+shrinking+far+quicker+than+the+job+market.+Certainly+we+get+at+least+four+job+applications+per+week%2C+and+we%27re+not+the+biggest+or+most+prolific+publisher+on+the+planet.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Web+Publishing%22+and+%22publishing+software%22+come+in+a+close+seventh+joint-position+in+the+rankings+which+indicate+that+of+those+that+ARE+still+interested+in+the+publishing+industry%2C+they+are+interested+in+doing+it+themselves+and+not+particualarly+bothered+about+using+a+traditional+publisher.Indeed%2C+way+up+there+at+number+five+is+%22desktop+publishing.+Many+of+our+authors+often+say+that+it%27s+a+common+thing+to+find+people+who+have+%22written+a+book%22+and+%22published+it%22+on+Amazon+%28see+my+last+post+about+Amazon+and+the+demise+of+Book+interest%29.+The+issue+here+is+that+anyone+with+a+text+input+device+can+become+a+writer...+but+not+necessarily+a+good+one.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s+fine%2C+and+I+can+deal+with+that.+Everyone+is+more+than+welcome+to+explore+the+agonising+loneliness+and+grueling+pain+of+self-publishing+before+they+see+the+light+%28I+jest...+slightly%29%2C+but+what+does+this+mean+for+publishers%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AWith+the+invention+of+the+World+Wide+Web%2C+there%27s+been+a+sea+change+in+not+only+technology+and+a+global+homogenisation+in+the+world+of+writing+and+publishing%2C+but+we+also+see+a+change+in+attitudes.+Let+me+explain.%0D%0A%0D%0AGoogle+appears+to+be+the+source+of+all+knowledge.+If+you+don%27t+know+something+-+anything+%28almost%29%2C+you+can+find+out+in+a+matter+of+seconds+on+Google+if+you+know+where+to+look%2C+the+questions+to+ask+and+the+places+to+rely+on+%2F+visit.+This+knowledge+of+where+to+go+was+what+Einstein+described+as+%22more+important+than+knowing+everything+is+knowing+where+to+find+it%22.+It+has+freed+the+younger+generations+-+the+so-called+%22digital+natives%22+-+to+believe+in+their+independence.+They+don%27t+need+traditional+educational+systems+to+find+out+about+anything+any+more.+Teach+them+how+to+use+Google+and+they+can+do+the+rest+themselves.+This+is+SO+important+a+change+but+was+so+rapid+that+it+almost+went+unnoticed+and+it+is+this+that+poses+a+potential+issue+for+traditional+publishers.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyone+with+a+smartphone+can+now+download+an+app+which+allows+them+to+write%2C+format%2C+edit+and+upload+chapters+of+a+book+to+a+blog.+They+can+then+format+it+further+on+a+PC+and+publish+a+book.+They+could+write+it+over+the+course+of+a+year+or+more%2C+while+stealing+trips+to+the+toilet+to+get+away+from+the+family+noise+and+write+in+peace+for+fifteen+minutes+before+a+knock+on+the+door+awakens+them+from+their+writing.+How+do+I+know+this+is+possible%3F+Because+that%27s+how+I+started+writing+and+what+eventually+let+to+me+starting+Ghostly+Publishing.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo+am+I+scared+at+this+news%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ADo+tradtional+publishers+need+to+worry%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ll+answer+both+questions+in+one+go...+I%27m+not+scared+because+I+see+the+problem%2C+and+by+the+same+token%2C+traditional+publishers+might+need+to+worry.+The+reason+I%27m+not+scared+is+because+I+see+an+opportunity+to+do+better+than+self-published+authors.+We+can+emphasise+the+benefits+of+being+a+%22traditional%22+publishing+house%2C+while+admitting+to+anyone+who+cares+that+we%27re+very+untraditional.+Ghostly+Publishing+offer+so+many+things+that+the+book+industry+as+a+whole+charge+for.+while+you+can+find+people+like+Lulu%2C+Create+Space+or+Author+House+to+give+you+ISBNs+for+free+and+publish+your+work+yourself%2C+you%27ll+struggle+to+get+these+self-published+things+into+large+stores.+%0D%0A%0D%0APeople+underestimate+the+power+of+collaboration+and+branding.+Everyone+in+book-world+knows+Lulu+or+Amazon+and+getting+them+to+respect+the+fact+that+you+published+the+horrible+looking+flat%2C+weirdly+formatted+book+yourself+is+immensely+difficult.%0D%0A%0D%0ABy+having+a+publisher+to+help+you+through+all+the+questions+that+you+WILL+have+and+to+smooth+that+learning+curve+out+a+little+for+you%2C+while+offering+you+all+that+goes+with+a+publisher+will+increase+your+liklihood+of+success.+If+you+still+want+to+self-publish+after+you%27ve+considered+all+that%2C+good+luck%2C+but+think+about+people+like+JK+Rowling+who+doesn%27t+have+to+sign+another+contract+with+a+publisher+again+and+ask+why+she+%28or+any+other+famous+%2F+wealthy+author%29+does.</descr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<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Publishing-demise-by-10%-per-year_104.html</feedburner:origLink>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Google-users'-interest-in-books-drops-40%-since-2005!_103.html">
<title>Google users' interest in books drops 40% since 2005!</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Google-users'-interest-in-books-drops-40%-since-2005!_103.html</link>
<description>According+to+Google+Trends+%28%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Ftrends%2Fexplore%23q%3Dbooks%22%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Ftrends%2Fexplore%23q%3Dbooks%3C%2Fa%3E%29%2C+search+traffic+for+the+word+%22books%22+has+decreased+by+over+40%25+since+this+time+eight+years+ago.%0D%0A%0D%0ALet+me+take+you+back+to+eight+years+ago...%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+year+is+2005.+I+was+still+at+University+%28yes%2C+I+was+a+%22mature+student%22%29%2C+and+the+iPhone+wasn%27t+due+out+for+a+while.+The+kindle+was+released+in+2007%2C+around+the+same+time+as+iPhone+1%2C+so+that+gives+you+an+idea.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf+we+use+only+Google+as+the+metric+for+interest+in+books+-+and+this+in+itself+is+a+wobbly+yardstick+with+no+scientific+validity%2C+I+know+-+then+we+can+see+on+the+chart+that+the+demise+in+interest+in+books+actually+started+in+2005%2C+if+not+before.+Interestingly%2C+the+release+of+Kindle+and+iPhone+actually+correspond+with+spikes+in+interest+about+our+beloved+tomes.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+I+find+seriously+exciting+here+is+that+not+only+did+interest+re-surge%2C+but+it+actually+reversed+the+trend%2C+sending+books+into+a+momentary+growth+period+around+2009+when+the+%22new%22+Kindle+Keyboard+was+announced+and+again+in+2011+when+the+newer+format+Kindles+were+announced.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s+not+all+roses+though.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile+we+bibliophiles+are+now+in+the+middle+of+what+can+only+be+described+as+an+interest-plateau+%28according+to+Google+anyway%29%2C+we+can+delve+a+little+deeper+into+what+exactly+this+interest+consists+of.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+top+keyword+combinations+that+Google+cite+on+their+trends+site+include%3A%0D%0AThe+Books%0D%0ABook%0D%0AFree+Books%0D%0AAmazon+Books%0D%0AAmazon%0D%0ABooks+Google%0D%0ABooks+Online%0D%0ABest+Books%0D%0ADownload+Books%0D%0AKindle+Books%0D%0A%0D%0AA+quick+look+over+this+list+shows+a+massive+bias+towards+Amazon+and+%28dare+I+say+it%29+FREE+books%21%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27d+love+to+say+that+Amazon+are+helping+books+-+and+perhaps+that%27s+one+way+of+looking+at+it.+There+certainly+appears+to+be+a+large+increase+%28or+at+least+a+slowing+of+the+demise%29+of+interest+in+%22books%22%2C+but+this+seems+to+be+a+conditional+improvement.+The+condition+is+that+it+needs+to+be+free.%0D%0A%0D%0AA+source+within+British+bookseller%2C+Waterstones%2C+told+me+that+Christmas+2012+was+their+best+for+a+very+long+time.+Although+most+-+if+not+all+-+stores+sported+a+shiny+new+%22Kindle+section%22%2C+the+majority+of+the+increase+in+sales+came+from+paperback+books.+This+is+interesting+because+the+media+continue+to+bemoan+the+eBook+for+the+demise+of+books+in+general.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo+what+do+you+think%3F%0D%0AI%27d+be+really+interested+in+your+opinion+on+this.+Share+this+article+on+social+media+and+include+us+in+your+tweets+%28%40GhostlyPublish%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AI+have+a+feeling+that+the+increased+profile+of+Amazon+does+serve+to+encourage+people+to+seek+out+free+stuff.+If+it%27s+out+there%2C+people+will+want+it+for+free.+Why+pay+for+it+if+it%27s+free%3F+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+hottest+areas+on+the+Google+map+for+interest+in+books+seems+to+be+where+one+might+expect...+with+one+key+difference.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile+North+America+is+the+%22hottest%22+area%2C+with+Australia+a+close+second%2C+the+UK+drops+in++slightly+behind+South+Africa.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo+how+do+you+feel+about+traditional+publishing%3F+Is+it+being+killed+by+eBooks%2C+or+do+people+just+want+more+free+content+that+is+being+supplied+in+quicker+ways+by+the+media+and+the+Internet%3F+Do+people+have+the+patience+to+read+long-form+text%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C+and+thanks+for+getting+to+the+bottom+of+this+post%2C+I+appreciate+it.</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Google-users'-interest-in-books-drops-40%-since-2005!_103.html</feedburner:origLink>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Booktrust-campaign-to-get-dads-reading_102.html">
<title>Booktrust campaign to get dads reading</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Booktrust-campaign-to-get-dads-reading_102.html</link>
<description>Only+one+in+eight+fathers+take+the+lead+in+reading+to+their+children%2C+according+to+a+new+report+commissioned+by+reading+charity+Booktrust.%0D%0ABestselling+author+James+Patterson+is+backing+the+charity%27s+campaign+to+get+more+men+involved+with+reading+to+their+children%2C+and+visited+a+dads%27+reading+group+in+Greenwich+yesterday+afternoon+%2821st+February%29+alongside+HRH+The+Duchess+of+Cornwall.%0D%0AThe+poll%2C+carried+out+by+Opinium%2C+revealed+that+only+13%25+of+fathers+are+the+main+reader%2C+with+a+quarter+of+dads+blaming+working+late+for+not+having+the+time+to+read+to+their+children.+Further+research%2C+carried+out+with+the+Institute+of+Education%2C+shows+many+fathers+feel+reading+is+a+%22female+domain%22%2C+and+that+when+they+do+read%2C+they+prefer+to+read+to+their+daughters.%0D%0AJames+Patterson%2C+who%2C+as+well+as+being+the+bestselling+thrillerwriter+in+the+world+and+the+most+borrowed+author+from+UK+libraries%2C+founded+the+website+ReadKiddoRead%2C+said%3A+%22If+we+can+get+children+reading+and+enjoying+books%2C+we+open+up+a+whole+world+of+possibility+to+them.+I+believe+that+dads+have+a+huge+role+to+play+in+encouraging+their+children+to+read.++We+need+to+give+fathers+the+support+they+need+in+reading+to+their+children.+If+I+can%0D%0Ahelp+dads+to+understand+their+role+in+making+books+and+reading+more+important+in+children%27s+lives%2C+I%27ll+be+a+happy+man.%22%0D%0ABooktrust+chief+executive+Viv+Bird%2C+who+was+interviewed+on+this+morning%27s+BBC+Radio+4+%22Today%22+programme+about+the+campaign%2C+said%3A+%22The+most+crucial+thing+for+dads+to+understand+is+that+if+kids+see+their+dads+reading+they%27re+more+likely+to+enjoy+it+themselves.+There+is+evidence+that+boys+are+slipping+further+behind+girls+in+reading+%C2%AD+and+this+emphasises+how+important+it+is+that+dads+are+positive+role+models+to+their+sons+as+well+as+their+daughters+when+it+comes+to+reading.%22%0D%0AThe+research%2C+which+was+undertaken+with+more+than+a+thousand+parents+of+children+up+to+the+age+of+11%2C+also+found+that+43%25+of+mothers+read+to+their+children+every+day.%0D%0A%0D%0AOriginal+source%3A+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebookseller.com%2Fnews%2Fbooktrust-campaign-get-dads-reading.html%22%3EThe+Bookseller%3C%2Fa%3E</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Booktrust-campaign-to-get-dads-reading_102.html</feedburner:origLink>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.manteya.com/blog/Rich-Pitman-Interview_101.html">
<title>Rich Pitman Interview</title>
<link>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Rich-Pitman-Interview_101.html</link>
<description>Author+Interview+Questions%0D%0A%0D%0AAbout+You%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+is+your+inspiration%3F+%0D%0A%0D%0AI+read+so+many+books+where+they+are+about+the+hero+and+they+get+into+a+struggle+but+always+seem+to+win.+But+what+about+the+villain%3F+Who+are+they%3F+What+happened+to+them%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ASo+I+decided+to+write+Jimmy+Threepwood+from+the+viewpoint+of+the+villain.++It+needed+to+be+dark+and+full+of+twists+but+also+a+rich%2C+deep+storyline.+The+main+ethos+of+the+story+is+that+Jimmy+is+thrust+into+the+world+of+darkness%2C+destined+to+destroy+the+world%2C+but+he+is+good.+He+loves+his+mother+and+his+father+so+the+creatures+of+darkness+have+to+find+a+sinister+way+to+change+his+mind%E2%80%A6%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+helps+you+get+through+writer%27s+block%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThankfully+I%E2%80%99ve+not+had+writers+block+yet.+I+love+writing+the+action+and+fighting+scenes+and+they+flow+from+my+fingers+but+I+find+it+hard+to+write+certain+bits+and+I+leave+it+a+few+days%2C+think+about%2C+and+then+come+back.%0D%0A%0D%0AJimmy+Threepwood+is+a+five+book+series+and+I+have+all+the+books+planned+out+on+a+storyboard.+The+drawings+are+terrible%2C+stick+men+with+lightning+swords+but+I+know+each+section+of+the+book.+Then%E2%80%A6I++go+for+a+run+and+bring+the+characters+and+the+action+to+life+as+a+movie+in+my+mind.+I+put+myself+in+the+action+and+see+how+I+would+react%2C+what+I+would+see+and+smell+and+use+that+to+make+the+characters+real.%0D%0A%0D%0AThen+I+sit+down+and+write+the+movie+in+my+head+on+paper.+%0D%0A%0D%0ADo+you+listen+to+music+when+you+write%3F+Have+a+completely+silent+space%3F+%0D%0A%0D%0AI+don%E2%80%99t+have+a+specific+place.+Jimmy+Threepwood+and+the+Veil+of+Darkness+and+Jimmy+Threepwood+and+the+Elixir+of+Light+were+written+in+my+living+room.+I+have+the+TV+on+silent+so+there%E2%80%99s+something+visual+in+the+background+to+catch+my+eye+but+I+can%E2%80%99t+have+any+sound.+It+drowns+out+my+thoughts.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhen+did+you+first+start+writing%3F+What+genre+do+you+prefer%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+haven%E2%80%99t+been+writing+that+long%2C+a+few+years+maybe.+I+have+two+other+stories+in+the+pipeline+after+the+Jimmy+Threepwood+series+is+written.%0D%0A%0D%0AI+love+writing+fantasy+and+adventure%2C+there+is+lots+of+fight+scenes%2C+twists%2C+magic%2C+imagination%2C+dragons%2C+and+snakes.+This+is+definitely+my+favourite+genre.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AIf+you+had+to+choose+another+genre+to+write%2C+what+would+it+be%3F+Why%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+love+writing+children%E2%80%99s+and+young+adult+fantasy%2Fadventure+because+it%E2%80%99s+limitless.+The+characters+can+do+anything%2C+go+anywhere.+But%2C+if+I+had+to+write+in+another+genre+it+would+have+to+be+horror.+Writing+about+a+scary+old+house%2C+that+would+be+great.%0D%0A%0D%0ADo+you+have+another+job+and+if+so+what+is+it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+work+as+a+Police+Officer+within+the+Gloucestershire+Constabulary.+I+have+worked+there+for+just+over+ten+years.+That+is+my+full+time+job%2C+but+it+gives+me+time+to+write+on+my+rest+days.%0D%0A%0D%0ATell+about+your+first+book+and+how+long+it+took+you+to+write+the+first+draft%3F+%0D%0A%0D%0AI+wanted+to+write+something+a+little+different%2C+something+dark+filled+with+creepy+characters.+I+didn%E2%80%99t+want+it+to+be+the+hero+struggling%2C+but+ultimately+winning%2C+I+wanted+to+explore+and+make+the+villain+the+lead+character.+I+wanted+to+investigate+why+a+villain+such+as+Darth+Vader%2C+Lord+Voldamort+or+the+Child+Catcher+were+evil%3F+What+happened+to+them%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AJimmy+Threepwood+is+a+dark+fantasy+adventure+series+of+five+books+starting+with+Jimmy+Threepwood+and+the+Veil+of+Darkness.+The+story+is+about+a+young+boy+destined+to+one+day+destroy+the+world.+Due+to+events+revealed+later+in+the+book%2C+Jimmy+is+unloved+by+his+parents+and+not+allowed+friends+or+close+connections.+%0D%0A%0D%0AJimmy+is+collected+from+his+home+and+handed+to+a+sinister+creation%2C+the+Gatekeeper%2C+Lord+of+life+and+death.+He+is+taken+to+a+forest+where+he+meets+three+other+children%2C+each+pulsating+evil+and+he+is+given+his+first+powers%2C+thus+starting+his+journey+to+end+the+world%E2%80%A6+But+Jimmy+is+different.+There+is+one+clear+difference+between+Jimmy+and+his+companions.+Love.+Love+for+his+father%E2%80%A6But+a+plan+is+set+in+place+to+sever+the+affection+casting+Jimmy+on+a+path+of+vengeance+and+anger.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+story+is+filled+with+mythical+creatures%2C+magic+and+puzzles+as+the+four+children+search+for+powers+to+unlock+the+secrets+of+the+world.+The+essence+of+the+book+is+%E2%80%98%E2%80%A6even+heroes+do+bad+things%E2%80%A6%E2%80%99%0D%0AAmazingly+the+first+book+only+took+three+months+to+write%2C+then+the+journey+began%E2%80%A6it+took+about+a+year+to+edit+the+manuscript+before+it+was+ready+to+be+sent+off+and+considered+seriously+by+publishers.+%0D%0AList+all+of+your+titles+with+a+one+sentence+synopsis+of+each.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo+far+there+is+only+one+released%2C+although+the+second+book+Jimmy+Threepwood+and+the+Elixir+of+Light+is+out+this+year%2C+possibly+May.%0D%0A%0D%0AJimmy+Threepwood+and+the+Veil+of+Darkness+%E2%80%93+Dark+fantasy+story+mixed+with+magic%2C+dragons%2C+villains%2C+twists+and+riding+on+a+wave+of+limitless+imagination%0D%0A%0D%0AWho+is+your+favourite+character%3F+Why%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMy+favourite+character+is+Frank+the+Frog.+This+is+a+yellow+mini+with+a+red+door+which+is+rusted+beyond+repair+and+hops+along+the+road.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThis+was+my+wife%E2%80%99s+first+car+and+I+thought+it+would+be+great+to+use+in+the+storyline.+It%E2%80%99s+something+fun+and+a+little+different+in+a+dark+fantasy+story.+%0D%0A%0D%0AWhich+character+was+most+difficult+to+write%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+would+have+to+be+the+Gatekeeper.+He+is+the+keeper+between+the+realms.+He+was+hard+to+write+as+things+keep+dying+around+him+such+as+plants%2C+people%2C+but+come+back+to+life+as+he+walks+away.+He+also+had+hundreds+of+vile+creatures+crawling+all+over+him+and+falling+from+his+cloak+such+as+cockroaches+and+worms.+%0D%0A%0D%0AHe+was+difficult+as+in+the+first+and+second+book+he+is+just+bones+covered+in+a+shredded+cloak.+However%2C+the+third+book%2C+Jimmy+Threepwoood+and+the+Echoes+of+the+Past+%28currently+being+written%29+it+explores+his+past%2C+his+history+and+how+he+ended+up+going+from+a+human+to+this+creature.%0D%0A%0D%0ADo+you+see+yourself+in+any+of+your+characters%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+often+use+real+people%E2%80%99s+characteristics+for+my+characters.+How+do+they+say+certain+words%2C+what+would+they+do+in+a+situation.+I+find+that+keeps+it+real%2C+brings+them+to+life.+%0D%0A%0D%0ASurprisingly+a+lot+of+people+ask+me+to+write+them+in+as+characters.%0D%0A%0D%0AIndie+pub+or+trad+pub%3F+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+book+is+published+by+Ghostly+Publishing+in+the+UK+as+a+paperback+and+ebook.+The+book+is+available+in+all+major+bookstores%2C+Amazon%2C+Waterstones+and+WHSmiths.%0D%0A%0D%0AA+link+to+the+reviews+can+be+found+here%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FJimmy-Threepwood-Veil-Darkness-Pitman%2Fdp%2F095724343X%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1360175479%26sr%3D8-2%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+is+your+favourite+scene%3F+Why%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+has+to+be+meeting+the+two+stone+Gargoyles%2C+Monti+and+Cornelius.+They+guard+the+cave+entrance+with+a+puzzle+and+if+the+children+get+it+wrong+they+will+be+destroyed+by+a+powerful+stone+bull+cemented+in+place.+But+do+the+children+get+the+puzzle+wrong%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%E2%80%99s+my+favourite+because+it+has+a+puzzle%2C+two+very+unusual+characters+and+a+massive+fight+scene+which+I+really+enjoyed+writing.+I+had+to+think+long+and+hard+of+how+the+children+would+win+against+a+giant+indestructible+stone+bull+which+walked+through+their+mystical+attacks.+In+the+end+the+answer+hit+me+and+it%E2%80%99s+now+written+into+the+chapter.%0D%0A%0D%0AJust+for+fun%0D%0A%0D%0AIf+you+could+take+the+place+of+one+of+your+characters%2C+which+one+would+you+choose+and+why%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+would+say+Harrry.+You+don%E2%80%99t+learn+about+his+back+story+until+book+3+but+he+is+aggressive+and+just+dives+straight+into+dangerous+situations+without+a+second+thought.+This+causes+a+few+problems+within+the+group+and+becomes+a+big+issue+towards+the+end.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf+you+could+vacation+anywhere+in+the+world%2C+where+would+you+go+and+what+would+you+do%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMy+favourite+place+is+Florida.+I+love+Disney+and+visiting+all+the+theme+parks+and+shops+on+the+strip.+I%E2%80%99ve+been+there+a+few+times%2C+but+I%E2%80%99ll+be+back+very+soon.+%0D%0A%0D%0AUniversal+is+the+best+theme+park+I%E2%80%99ve+been+to+so+far.+I+love+the+Hulk+ride.+%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+is+your+favourite+TV+show%2Fmovie+from+your+childhood%3F++What+is+it+now%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+used+to+love+all+the+action+programs+from+the+1980%E2%80%99s%2C+Knight+Rider%2C+Airwolf%2C+Star+Wars.+At+the+moment+I+have+just+finished+watching+Fringe.+That+was+a+brilliant+show+with+great+characters+and+lots+of+plots+and+alternative+worlds.+That%E2%80%99s+my+favourite+at+the+moment%2C+although+I%E2%80%99m+also+enjoying+DC%E2%80%99s+Arrow.+%0D%0A%0D%0AFollow+Rich+Pitman+%40threepwoodbooks+and+please+like+his+Facebook+page.%0D%0A</description>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.manteya.com/blog/Rich-Pitman-Interview_101.html</feedburner:origLink>
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