I'm delighted to welcome Pete Sortwell to the blog today. Having appeared in a number of anthologies with his darkly funny short crime fiction, Pete's just published his first book, a comedy novella.
Tell me about your book.
The Village Idiot Reviews is something of a new concept (if I do say so myself). It’s certainly something I haven’t seen before. It essentially a comedy novella, however it is written entirely in the format of a person leaving a review. If you didn’t guess, it’s written by a load of idiots who live in a village.
A few of the reviews will start to appear on Amazon. Although I’ve written them in such a way that should anyone suspect them not to be just a laugh then they may well find themselves in the title of the next idiot review book.
What was your motivation for writing it?
Simply put, I wanted to make people laugh and take another step toward being a ‘writer’. I also saw a lot being written this summer about the review process and what better way for a writer to use the subject other than to take inspiration from it and write, and if I could do it well, even better. Basically I put all the effort I could have put into moaning about the behaviour of others into writing this and as a result, I’ve come up with possibly the best thing I’ve written so far.
How long did it take you to complete?
Two weeks. Putting in between three to six hours a day most days. Then another two days to do the second draft, which I put in about twelve hours on both days.
How much difference does an editor make?
It makes a huge difference, certainly to my work. All my work goes through an editor these days. It’s a relationship that I need to trust someone and that’s something I’ve found in my editor. I couldn’t ask for a better professional. Once I’ve been through my own work a couple of times it’s always positive for someone else to and who better than someone who does that for a living? I certainly believe my work is something worth investing in.
How important is a good title?
I think they’re pretty important, it’s the thing that will get spoken about the most, other than your name (and I’ve got a pretty good name too) so if it’s catchy then people will be more likely to remember it. I’ve not really thought myself good at choosing titles before now, I normally steal one of my musician friend’s song titles. So Low, So High and Die Happy, Die Smiling being two of those. I do think I’ve managed to get something decent with this one, something that gives me scope to take the series onto other things.
How important is a good cover?
Again, I think it is very important and is something else I’ve invested in for this book. I think what me and the designer came up with is really good. I’ve seen some covers on Amazon from self-pub’d writers and they’ve been embarrassingly shit. Funnily enough most of the covers in the charts on Kindle, particularly all seem to have decent covers.
What makes you keep reading a book?
If someone makes me laugh, that would. I like new and interesting stories and topics. The ultimate page tuner for me is one with good dialogue, lots of it.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just started the second Idiot Reviews book, The Idiot Politicians Reviews. Hopefully out at the end of October, if not before.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
You can ‘like’ the Pete Sortwell — Author page on Facebook. That’s where I’ll be doing most of the talking until I stop spending all my money on book covers and editing and pay for a website. Or, of course, if I make some money from this writing lark.
What would your epitaph read?
‘I wouldn’t look behind you, that bloke is touching himself.’
Cheers, Pete — best of luck with the book and with the rest of the series. The Village Idiot Reviews is available from Amazon in the UK and in the US.
Tell me about your book.
The Village Idiot Reviews is something of a new concept (if I do say so myself). It’s certainly something I haven’t seen before. It essentially a comedy novella, however it is written entirely in the format of a person leaving a review. If you didn’t guess, it’s written by a load of idiots who live in a village.
A few of the reviews will start to appear on Amazon. Although I’ve written them in such a way that should anyone suspect them not to be just a laugh then they may well find themselves in the title of the next idiot review book.
What was your motivation for writing it?
Simply put, I wanted to make people laugh and take another step toward being a ‘writer’. I also saw a lot being written this summer about the review process and what better way for a writer to use the subject other than to take inspiration from it and write, and if I could do it well, even better. Basically I put all the effort I could have put into moaning about the behaviour of others into writing this and as a result, I’ve come up with possibly the best thing I’ve written so far.
How long did it take you to complete?
Two weeks. Putting in between three to six hours a day most days. Then another two days to do the second draft, which I put in about twelve hours on both days.
How much difference does an editor make?
It makes a huge difference, certainly to my work. All my work goes through an editor these days. It’s a relationship that I need to trust someone and that’s something I’ve found in my editor. I couldn’t ask for a better professional. Once I’ve been through my own work a couple of times it’s always positive for someone else to and who better than someone who does that for a living? I certainly believe my work is something worth investing in.
How important is a good title?
I think they’re pretty important, it’s the thing that will get spoken about the most, other than your name (and I’ve got a pretty good name too) so if it’s catchy then people will be more likely to remember it. I’ve not really thought myself good at choosing titles before now, I normally steal one of my musician friend’s song titles. So Low, So High and Die Happy, Die Smiling being two of those. I do think I’ve managed to get something decent with this one, something that gives me scope to take the series onto other things.
How important is a good cover?
Again, I think it is very important and is something else I’ve invested in for this book. I think what me and the designer came up with is really good. I’ve seen some covers on Amazon from self-pub’d writers and they’ve been embarrassingly shit. Funnily enough most of the covers in the charts on Kindle, particularly all seem to have decent covers.
What makes you keep reading a book?
If someone makes me laugh, that would. I like new and interesting stories and topics. The ultimate page tuner for me is one with good dialogue, lots of it.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just started the second Idiot Reviews book, The Idiot Politicians Reviews. Hopefully out at the end of October, if not before.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
You can ‘like’ the Pete Sortwell — Author page on Facebook. That’s where I’ll be doing most of the talking until I stop spending all my money on book covers and editing and pay for a website. Or, of course, if I make some money from this writing lark.
What would your epitaph read?
‘I wouldn’t look behind you, that bloke is touching himself.’
Cheers, Pete — best of luck with the book and with the rest of the series. The Village Idiot Reviews is available from Amazon in the UK and in the US.
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