When I made the decision to be an Indie author, one of the hardest parts was knowing I would lose out on the editorial and professional support you get from a traditional publisher. I knew if I was to improve I needed help. I also knew that professional support was expensive. So where to go? How could I know what I needed? Where should I start?

Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I went to The Literary Consultancy (TLC). That is how I met Joe Sedgwick. It was with his help I met the editors that have immeasurably improved my two novels and my writing in general. In this article I interview Joe, who explains what TLC do and how they can help authors with their work. I will say, by way of introduction, that getting Joe’s help was one of the best decision I ever made for my writing career.

I wasn’t paid for this article, nor to I have any arrangement with TLC beyond being a paying customer. I wanted to do this interview because TLC have helped me enormously and they may be able to help you too.

Over to Joe.

I’m thrilled to announce that Dead Moon is now published, live and available to buy on amazon.

Back from clicking on the link and buying a copy? Excellent choice.

The next event is a video interview about Dead Moon on September 10th from 1930 to 2030 British time with Jacky Collins of Honey and Stag Literary Events. I’ll be online to answer questions as the interview goes live.

On Sunday 2nd December at the Pomme D’Eve in Paris it was our very great pleasure to present the five finalists of our Little Wonder Radio Plays’ “Breaking Boundaries” short audio-drama competition:

• The Fall by Zoe Grainge
• Buddha Hat by Clare Shaw
• Flamingo by Thoko Masikini
• Pride of Rotterdam by Tom Harvey
• Like Taking Candy from a Baby by Michael Lin

The event was performed by Stephanie Campion, Hannah Coyle, Taylor Scott, Alexandra Tomko. Johnny Palmer, and John Romano, and organised by the incomparable Moving Parts – Paris’ only bilingual playreading workshop.

I am delighted to announce the longlist for the Little Wonder 2019 Breaking Boundaries Short Radio Play Competition:

• Buddha Hat by Clare Shaw         
• Flamingo by Thoko Masikini           
• Funeral by Miranda Barrett            
• How I Almost Climbed Everest by Clare Knights            
• Like Candy from a Baby by Michael Lin       
• Relationship counselling with the croits by Tamsin Pearson             
• That Day We Sat Together and Sang by Yuqun Fan             
• The Fall by Zoe Grainge 
• The Pride of Rotterdam by Tom Harvey

Warmest congratulations to everyone who made the longlist and commiserations to all who did not.

Longlistees will receive a email in the next day or so (all emails will be sent at the same time) with a detailed judges critique of their play. They will then have until Paris Midnight Sunday August 11th the revise and resubmit their play for consideration on the Shortlist.

The Shortlist will be announced on September 1st. Shortlisted plays will be performed and judge before a live audience in Paris sometime before Christmas.

As for those of you who did not make the longlist, I have written feedback for more than fifty of the entrants. I will be sending it out as soon as possible.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part, and keep writing!