All this week we’ll be posting stuff relating to the Johnny Lonely launch. Today there are some photos from the big night. If you didn’t get a chance to get to the launch, a reminder that signed copies of Johnny Lonely are available from Borders at Newcastle Silverlink and Gateshead Team Valley. Pete will also be signing in person at both stores in the coming weeks, more details to follow. Tomorrow we’ll post Pete’s interview with Radio Newcastle.

*LOST JACKET* A black zip-up jacket was left at the launch on Thursday. If it is yours please come along and pick it up from Brick Works!

Wrist ache
Standing room only
A natural performer
Paul

Here is a short film featuring Pete Tanton, introducing his new novel and reading a bit from it.

Stu

Thursday 26 July saw the first book launch at Brick Works in Newcastle. The event was Pete Tanton’s launch of ‘Johnny Lonely’, where we enjoyed hosting a packed party. Many of the arts event liggers turned up an hour early to meet Pete (who was fashionably just on time) and hit the refreshments early.
Our very own ‘mariachi’ provided the music and by 8pm, the building was at bursting point, forcing some outside into the street. Pete took to the stage at 8.15pm for his reading. Choosing a section when the band arrive to play the Artoberfest gig, Pete had us all laughing along as the scene evolved. He stopped reading at the right moment… we all wanted to hear more and I’m sure everyone would have hung around all night to listen.

The launch ended at around 10pm but the party carried on into the Ouseburn. Not for some though… Paul and I had to clean up for our writing course the following morning. Rock n Roll, eh?

It was great to see so many people celebrating the release of a book and the event was a success. With only a few copies of the book left at the end of the night, Pete urged everyone to purchase the book at Borders Silverlink and Team Valley in the North East. Borders are a big supporter of Tonto Press and are stocking the book as well as supporting Pete with signing sessions. Pete’s first one will be in August – we’ll post more info nearer the time.

Stu

It’s the last day of our creative writing course, and as part of our module on ‘How To Get Published’ we’re recommending three essential titles containing contact details for agents and publishers, plus useful articles on how and what to submit. (We also recommend that writers check publishers’ websites before submitting to obtain the latest up to date submission requirements). First up are the ‘big red’ and ‘big yellow’ books, the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2008 and Writer’s Handbook 2008. Any aspiring writer needs at least one of these books, both of which offer excellent advice on getting started in the industry.

Additionally, for writers looking to break into the huge US market, there is the US publication Writer’s Market, which also contains agent and publisher listings and useful articles.

Paul

PS – The Johnny Lonely launch was a great success – look out for pictures here on Monday!

Just a quick reminder. To those who have been following the publicity of our New Novelist winner Pete Tanton, the launch of his book is tonight (Thursday 26 July) at Tonto Press HQ in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The event starts at 7.30pm and there will be live music and readings by Pete, as well as refreshments. Johnny Lonely can be purchased at the launch.

Photos will be posted of the event.

Pete will also be appearing on The Julia Hankin show on BBC Radio Newcastle tomorrow at around 3.15pm.

Stu

More recommended books from our creative writing course: Raymond Carver’s brilliantly simple short stories have long been considered inspirational by new writers, and the 438-page Carver anthology Where I’m Calling From collects many of his best stories and also contains a short version of his incredibly useful essay ‘On Writing’. (The full essay can be found in Call If You Need Me.) Here’s a quote from ‘On Writing’: ‘If we’re lucky, writer and reader alike, we’ll finish the last line or two of a short story and then just sit for a minute, quietly. Ideally we’ll ponder what we’ve just written or read; maybe our hearts or intellects will have been moved off the peg just a little from where they were before. Then, breathing evenly and steadily once more, we’ll collect ourselves, writers and readers alike, get up, and go on to the next thing: life, always life.’

Another writer we recommend, particularly with reference to our module on ‘dynamic description’, is Mark Richard. I’ve already mentioned his short story collection Ice At The Bottom Of The World on this blog – it’s currently out of print but well worth tracking down – amazon currently have used copies available from just £2.

Paul

We’re running a creative writing course this week – the last in this format for the foreseeable future as we concentrate on the publishing side of the business. One of the books we always recommend on the course is On Writing by Stephen King. Even if you have never read any of King’s fiction, we think you’ll find this to be just about the most sensible, accessible, and inspiring guide to creative writing available, and well worth £6.99 of your hard earned. You can get it here.

Just about the only thing we don’t cover on the course is grammar and style, but we do reccommend Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, which is an indispensible little guide that every writer should have on their bookshelf. It’s just £4.99 from amazon.

Stephen King also recommends Strunk and White. If, like me, you’ve never managed to get through a King novel you might enjoy some of his shorter fiction. US Esquire magazine is currently printing King’s 21,000-word novella The Gingerbread Girl. US Esquire remains one of the best places to find good short fiction. Try this: The Night Johnny Ace Died by James Lee Burke.

Paul

In the news today:
A string of publishers failed to spot blatant plagiarism of one of English literature’s most famous authors, in a cheeky test to see if she would have secured a book deal.

The manuscript apparently got several rejection letters and only one publisher spotted the scam.

Read all about it.

Stu

The Rocketbelt Caper by Tonto’s very own Paul Brown is just about to be sent to print for release in September. The book is an incredible story with all the ingredients of a crime movie.

And speaking of which… there IS a movie going into production!

Follow this link to see how you can audition for a role in Pretty Bird.

Myentertainmentworld, a film and TV casting website, say this on the website:

Paul Giamatti and Emily Mortimer have signed on to star in the indie comedy Pretty Bird for actor turned writer/director Paul Schneider. The film will star Giamatti as Curt, a lovable loser who believes he can invent a rocket belt that will bring him fame and fortune. He enlists the help of friends and trouble arises when they actually succeed and they begin turning against each other. Mortimer will play Mandy, the “Director of Marketing” for their operation. Giamatti will also produce the film along with his wife Liz. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Giamatti doing some comedy, which we all know he’s really good at. This should be a nice change of pace and he also has Fred Claus due this winter. Giamatti is currently filming the John Adams miniseries for HBO and will begin work on Pretty Bird this August in New Jersey.

Stu

How the fictional eponymous hero of Pete Tanton’s Johnny Lonely created a profile on popular “social networking” website MySpace remains a mystery (Pete swears he had nothing to do with it!) but here it is. But Johnny seems to be making friends – or “virtual friends” – and quite a motley selection of them, some with rude names and in various states of undress! If, unlike me, you have any idea what any of this means, you’ll want to add yourself to Johnny’s friends list at www.myspace.com/johnny_lonely. Explanations of how this whole Myspace / Facebook thing works are welcome to be posted here as comments!

Meanwhile, UK readers are beginning to post their reviews of Johnny Lonely on amazon.co.uk. Alison Hicklenton says it’s, ‘A great read and a great starter for all sorts of discussion.
In years to come students will be talking about this book as being as seminal as Louis Sachar’s “Holes”.’ Dr Halcyon S Leonard (‘REAL NAME’ according to amazon) calls it, ‘A wonderfully observant and penetrating picture of suburban America.’ And Rhoanne May says, ‘The writing is honest, original, clever and witty. I do hope this will be the first of many books from Pete Tanton!’ The current rating is given as 4.5 stars out of 5, although my rudimentary mathematics knowledge says it should actually be 4.83 out of 5, which is quite a recommendation.

Johnny Lonely is officially released on 30 July, but both amazon and Tonto are shipping it already, so snap up your copy now!

Paul