Tonto launches FREE Sony Reader ebook!

Can a new-fangled ebook really compare with a lovely paperback? That's what we're hoping to find out by offering Being Normal, Stephen Shieber's acclaimed collection of short stories, in the brand new Sony Reader format, absolutely FREE. Full details are here.


We're no technological slouches here at Tonto Books - we launched our first ebook (some say electronic book) in 2006 - a short story anthology that was downloaded by more than 2,000 readers.

Now anyone who buys the paperback edition of Being Normal via our online shop will receive the ebook edition free. So you can decide for yourself whether ebooks are as good as the real thing.

Being Normal is one of the first UK trade books to be made available for the Sony Reader - newly-launched in the UK. It's basically a PDF that has been optimised to fit the Sony Reader's screen, but it can also be read on any computer using the free Adobe Reader.

You can order the paperback of Being Normal for the special price of just £5.99 (usual price £7.99) by visiting our shop. You will then receive your free e-book via email (and your paperback via real mail!). Get more details about the ebook here.

Paul

Tonto gets Loaded

Tonto author Ashley Hames is featured in the October edition of Loaded magazine! Not only is he on the Contributors page alongside a chimp called Cheetea, he's on p42 with his full page Great Moment in Life as well as the Loaded 'World Bacon Butty Eating Championships'.



Ashley was at Borders Charing Cross on Friday 29 Aug for another one of his author events for Sin Cities. With several events, signing sessions, interviews and features under his belt, Ash now has a few weeks off before doing some higher profile events in October.

And speaking of events and signings... Roz Wyllie will be signing copies of Everything You Ever Wanted this Saturday, 6 September, at Borders Silverlink from 12pm, while Stephen Shieber will be signing copies of Being Normal at Borders in Manchester from 12pm and Stockport at 3pm on the same day.

As if that's not enough, the Paralympics starts on Saturday too, with Stephen Miller's first event on 11 Sep. You can leave a message of support here.

Stu

Sin Cities, Being Normal and Everything You Ever Wanted events

A busy weekend for Tonto events coming up:

Today, Friday 22 August: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Clapham Books, Clapham 7.30pm.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 12noon.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, from 1pm.

These are Stephen and Rosalind's first ever in-store signings, so do pop along to support them, they probably won't bite.

P.S. Another quick mention for our Backing Stephen Miller for Gold! "minisite". Stephen jets of for the Paralympics on Sunday. Leave your message of support here.

Paul

Backing Stephen Miller for gold!

Obviously, here at Tonto Books we're backing Stephen Miller for gold at the Beijing Paralympics. The Paralympian author jets off on Sunday to begin his quest for a fourth consecutive Paralympic gold medal.


We've set up a special website to follow Stephen's progress and to allow visitors to post messages of support. Stephen will be following the website from Beijing. You can read a message from Stephen, get the latest news, and post your messages of support here: http://www.tontobooks.com/miller

Paul

EYEW and Being Normal launch pics

What is is with Tonto book launches and torrential rain? Two years ago another August downpour threatened to wash out the Wor Al launch, but last night's storm, with lightning flashing across the black sky and striking the construction cranes that tower over Newcastle City Centre, was something else. Thankfully the weather didn't stop well over 100 hardy souls from turning up at Northern Stage to celebrate the launch of Stephen Shieber's Being Normal and Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted.

Stephen, Roz and Beccy
The event was presented by New Writing North and compered by NWN's Claire Malcolm. The evening began with music from Newcastle's own Beccy Owen. Then actors Laura Norton and Vicky Elliot read excerpts from Everything You Ever Wanted, and Laura read from Being Normal. Roz and Stephen gave quick thank you speeches, there was a raffle(!) and then Beccy returned to the stage with more music.

Stephen and Roz sign copies of their books
Both authors then signed copies of their books for a queue of people that at one point stretched right across the room. Among those in attendance were Roz's mentor Caroline Smailes, plus forthcoming Tonto authors Nik Jones and Sarah Shaw. At this point I should say that the venue's moody stage lighting meant our photos are a bit rubbish. That's my excuse anyway.

Beccy, Laura and Vicky on stage
Thanks to both Stephen and Ros, Claire and New Writing North, Beccy (visit her MySpace), Laura and Vicky. Thanks also to Jill and Caroline for helping with book sales (again!). And thanks to everyone who turned up, despite the summer weather.

That signing queue in full...
Both Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal are available now from all good book shops, and if you're quick you can get both for £10 from our online shop. If you'd like to get signed copies, this Saturday (23 August) Stephen will be at Borders Silverlink from 12 noon, and Rosalind will be at Borders Gateshead from 1pm.

Paul

Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal launch TODAY

The double-header launch event for Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted and Stephen Shieber's Being Normal is today, Tuesday 19 August, at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 5pm to 7pm. The event, organised by New Writing North, will feature readings from the books, a chance to get signed copies, and music from Beccy Owen. There will also be some special only-available-on-the-day book offers, so roll up, roll up. Photos will follow tomorrow.


Paul

Paralympian Miller is Borders bestseller

Another good weekend for Stephen Miller and his autobiography Paralympian. A signing session saw the book hit the number one spot in the instore chart at Borders in Gateshead, and meanwhile, across at Borders Silverlink - one of the biggest stores in the country - Paralympian sold more copies on Saturday than any other title.

Stephen Miller with Gateshead manager Ron Wilcox
All this despite some rare glorious weather, and the fact that Silverlink store's popular Starbucks was closed for refurbishment, meaning 'footfall' was much lower than usual. (And of course Stephen's weekend was topped off on Sunday with a 'moral victory' for Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United team against Manchester United!)

Stephen, Ron, and Stephen's mam Ros
Following great coverage in The Sun, on the BBC, and in scores of other places, Stephen is now preparing to jet off to Beijing next Monday, via the Team GB training camp in Macau. We'll be setting up a dedicated website that will allow you to follow Stephen's progress and send your messages of support as he chases that fourth consecutive gold medal.

Paul

Stephen Miller Paralympian signings at Borders

A quick reminder that tomorrow, Saturday 16 August, Stephen Miller will be signing copies of Paralympian: My Autobiography at Borders Team Valley, Gateshead from 12 noon, and Borders Silverlink, Newcastle from 3pm. These will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing.

Stephen at The Back Page book shop last Saturday
Chances are, by the time he gets back home with his fourth (and possibly fifth) gold medal he'll be far too famous to mix with the likes of you and me! You'll be able to follow his progress on the BBC, and, of course, right here on our website.

Paul

£5 off at Borders voucher

Borders are offering £5 off when you spend £25 or more in-store - print out your voucher here. The voucher is valid between 12 and 18 August 2008


Into a seamless plug - why not take your voucher with you when you go to meet Stephen Miller, who, coincidentally, will be at Borders stores in Team Valley, Gateshead (from 12 noon) and Silverlink, Newcastle (from 3pm) this Saturday 16 August, signing copies of his book Paralympian: My Autobiography.

This will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing in the following week.

Paul

Ashley Hames Juice 107.2 interview

Courtesy of Andrea at Brighton's Juice 107.2, here's a chance to hear her interview Ashley Hames prior to his Sin Cities book event at Brighton Borders last Friday. You can listen to it here (mp3 file, right click to save as).


According to Andrea's blog, 'The small edited excerpt he read made my face go redder than one of Ainsley Harriott's 'red tomatoes'.'

Paul

9987 Book Cover

Following on from yesterday, here is the first outing for the cover of 9987 by Nik Jones. Nik's novel will be released alongside Sarah's in the new year.



Stu

Make It Back book cover

Here's a first look at the cover of our forthcoming novel Make It Back by Sarah Shaw, which will be released on 19 January 2009. Click to view a bigger version.


Paul

Tonto Author Events and Signings

It's been a very busy time promotion-wise at Tonto Towers. All the PR is going out, the calls being made... interviews, features, signings and events being lined up all the time and a lot of media interest in the four authors we are currently working with.

Today Ashley Hames will be on Juice 107.2 in Brighton. This is a live interview where (hopefully) Ash will get a chance to shamelessly plug his Borders gig later that evening. Tune in by clicking 'listen live' at 5pm.

Today's itinerary also sees Ashley holding another author event at Borders Brighton. The gig kicks off at 6.30pm and is not a ticketer, so you can get there early to secure your first row seat. Due to the nature of the book, it is billed as an over 18s event. And very likely to end up in a bar or twenty.

Tomorrow (Sat 09) is another busy day. This time for Stephen Miller. Stephen will be holding a signing session at The Back Page, St Andrews Street, Newcastle. The Back Page is the biggest sports book store in the world, so we are pleased that they asked him along ahead of the Newcastle match. He will be signing books from 11.30am-12.30pm.

Look out for signed stock in Waterstone's Emerson Chambers in Newcastle tomorrow.

After watching his beloved Newcastle United in the afternoon, Stephen will be signing books at his local social club in Cramlington, The 'Bene' at 7.30pm.



Team Tonto: Wheatman, Miller, Brown and Hames out in Newcastle.

One for next week: Roz Wyllie and Stephen Shieber will be on BBC Radio Newcastle at 10.30am discussing their new books... officially released on that day! You can buy them here on a special offer.

That's all for now, folks!

Stu

Stephen Miller in your super soaraway Sun

Some fantastic coverage of Stephen Miller and his book Paralympian in today's edition of The Sun. The full-length piece, "Miller is the undisputed king of clubs", runs through his achievements, mentions the book and its great launch event at St James' Park, and has a quote from Kevin Keegan. Stephen is the only Paralympic athlete featured in the paper's 20-page guide to Beijing 2008. You can read it online here.

This is yet more fantastic national coverage for our key titles - in no less than the UK's bestselling newspaper. (Hint, hint retail buyers...)

Meanwhile, our friends at NUFC.com are currently running a competition to win signed copies of Paralympian, ahead of Stephen's signing on Saturday at the Back Page Shop in Newcastle. They're also displaying a very old pic of Stephen from way back in 1991...

Paul

Event planner...

We've got literally 14 upcoming events on our calendar at the moment (with more to be confirmed) including new events in Manchester and London, the Morley Literature Festival, plus Ashley Hames at the Cambridge Union (an event that he is no doubt referring to as a mass debate...).

The full list is:
8 August: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Borders, Brighton, 6.30pm;
9 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, The Back Page, St Andrews St, Newcastle, 11.30am-12.30pm;
9 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, The 'Bene' Social Club, Cramlington, from 7.30pm;
16 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, 12noon-2pm;
16 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 3pm;
19 August: Being Normal & Everything You Ever Wanted launch event, Northern Stage, Newcastle, 5pm, free, featuring music from Beccy Owen;
23 August: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 12noon;
23 August: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, from 1pm;
5 September: Jonny Kennedy Roger Stutter author event, Gosforth Library, Newcastle, 2pm, free;
6 September: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Manchester Fort, from 12noon;
4 October: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Brent Cross, London, from 1pm;
18 October: Being Normal & Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie & Stephen Shieber author event, Morley Literature Festival, West Yorkshire, 1.30pm, free;
21 November: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, London Colney, London, from 12.30pm;
24 November: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Cambridge University Union Society, Cambridge, time TBA.

New events will be added to the blog and the main website as they are confirmed.

Paul

Miller wins again...

Stephen Miller's book Paralympian: My Autobiography is today the #1 athletics book on Amazon, outselling the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Colin Jackson and Kelly Holmes.


Stephen will be signing copies of the book this Saturday 9th August between 11.30am and 12.30pm at The Back Page book shop, St Andrews Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, ahead of Newcastle United's game with Valencia. For fans who are not able to get along on Saturday, The Back Page will reserve signed copies, and they also have a mail order service. For further information please call the shop on 0191 261 5005.

PS. Thanks to Ashleigh for her sterling work here at Tonto over the last couple of weeks - including commandeering the blog!

Paul

Behind the Scenes at Tonto Books

Ok I was a bit presumptuous yesterday, and today is actually my final blog, we will call it my encore!


So today I'm going to show you behind the scenes at Tonto, with a few photos. Firstly, this is me hard at work writing the blog, previous to my blog writing today, I have been using my skills of persuasion in book selling and setting up book signings for Rosalind's Everything You Ever Wanted and Ashley Hames' Sin Cities in the London area, lets hope I pulled it off. I have also been looking through the final draft of Nik Jones' book 9987 which makes for a very dark and interesting read.


Secondly we have a photo of the Tonto boys Stu and Paul, hard at work setting up book signings for their authors, working so hard they only had a few seconds to pose for this photo before burying their heads back in the books!

We have also been following up Stephen Miller's radio interview on REM radio which also went really well. They are backing him as their number one for the Beijing Paralympics and so should everyone else! I know I'll be tuning in come September.

So this definitely is my last blog for Tonto, as I have said before I have had an amazing experience here and have learnt many things that I will take away with me, and I'm very grateful to Paul and Stu for letting me come and work with them.

Maybe I will see some of you at the forthcoming book launches!

Ashleigh

Ashleigh's Last Blog!

Here comes the second and last blog of my two week stint here at Tonto Books. This week has seen me focus on getting publicity for Rosalind Wyllie’s Everything You Ever Wanted and Stephen Shieber’s Being Normal. This has involved creating Press Releases and mainly getting the local press involved in their books. It has proved quite successful and we have many things in the pipe line for both, so they will have a busy few weeks ahead of them, keep an eye out for it in your local papers and radio stations.


The pair also came in to Tonto a few days ago to have the promo photos taken which you can see; they took it in their stride and look like pros in the making. I got the chance to speak to Ros and Stephen and build on what I already knew, in order to sell them in the best possible way. Their books are doing really well and receiving positive reviews and they haven’t even been officially released yet.

This will be my last blog for Tonto Books, as tomorrow is my last day. I have had a brilliant time working with them and have been kept very busy. I have gained a lot of insight into publishing books, and it has not put me off one bit.

Ashleigh

Keegan backs Stephen Miller book

Paralympian Stephen Miller met up with his pal Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United's training ground yesterday, and sent us some photos. Stephen has known Kevin since he was a toddler, and Kevin was kind enough to write the foreword for the book.

Stephen and King Kev

With Stephen's Mam Ros

A previous meeting...

...and another
Paul

Stephen Miller Paralympian media coverage

Here's just some of the media coverage for Stephen Miller's Paralympian book and launch. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle ran three days of double-page spreads, including a great interview that you can read here.

The Sunday Sun followed up on the launch here.

And BBC Sport ran a good feature about the book here.

Paul

More Paralympian launch photos

A few more photos from Stephen Miller's Paralympian launch:

Ian Payne interviews Stephen

Watching Miller the Movie

Team Tonto with Stephen (and Wor Al)

Stu, Stephen and Jill

A queue forms for signed books

Signing for the fans
Paul

Stephen Miller breaks another record

Not satisfied with breaking world records ahead of Beijing, Stephen Miller broke a Tonto Books record last night. Right, one down, now let's see how many other athletic clichés I can shoehorn into this post...

We were amazed by the level of support Stephen received. You never know how many to expect at a book launch, but as we’d been at Tonto Towers all day, we’d been unaware of the TV coverage for the signing on BBC Look North earlier in the day. So setting up shop, we had a mild panic as we realised we’d have a busy night ahead of us. By the time everyone was in for the event, our Tonto Audience Reader was going off the scale at 300 plus – a new personal best for Tonto.

There were some great moments – a DVD was played to introduce the night showing Stephen winning medals where we cheered along, applauded and were silenced by some of the more poignant moments. Tyne Tees TV presenter Ian Payne was the perfect host in a This is Your Life-style Q&A session, covering some of the book’s stories in more detail. As it drew to a close, Stephen received a standing ovation and went straight back into signing mode (we hope he didn’t strain his throwing arm too much). At one point, I was amazed to see a longer queue for Stephen’s autograph than there was at the bar. How often does that happen?



Massive thanks to everyone who attended. We now have a new Tonto Books Barmy Army on hand at our events and it was nice to see the return of one particular Tonto irregular who was once in the running for ‘Ligger of the Year’. Also there last night: Boxing champ Glen McCrory, ex-Newcastle United goalie Kevin Carr, Mike McCloud and Players Inc editor, Steve Wraith. Thanks also to Jill and Caroline for helping out on the bookstall.

Stu

Stephen Miller Paralympian book launch TODAY

Stephen Miller will be launching his autobiography Paralympian today, Thursday 24 July, 7.30pm at the Club 206 Suite, Level 3, St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. There will be a talk-in, a quiz, a book signing, and several of Stephen's sporting celebrity guests. Entry is free.


In other news, you can hear Sin Cities author Ashley Hames live on the radio tonight - on TalkSport with Ian Collins from 10pm, and, if you're an ex-pat in Spain, on REM.fm with Maurice Boland at 7.40pm UK time.

Paul

Ashleigh's First Tonto Blog!

Hi my name's Ashleigh, no not Ashley Hames, for a start I'm a girl. Paul and Stu have kindly let me come into the world of Tonto Books for two weeks to get a taste of what it's like working in publishing. And what a packed couple of days it has been so far! It was a good week to join the team as we are launching Stephen Miller's Autobiography on Thursday, hope you can all make it! With that in mind I have been writing the press release for it, and inviting all the North East's premier journalists along, as well as meeting Stephen himself, which was a pleasure.


Today has also been productive, as I work on the PR for Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted,this has seen me delving into the world of Women's magazines, as if I needed any persuasion, in order to find out which type Rosalind's book would appeal to more. I personally think it's a great book and a perfect summer read. However, as a good few magazines now adorn my temporary desk, maybe it wasn't a good idea to let me loose with the glossies!

Well it's time to get back to work, I'm sure I'll be back to let you all know how I'm getting on!

Ashleigh

Free books from BookRabbit

BookRabbit is a new website that is part social networking site, part bookshop. You upload photos of your bookshelves, 'tag' your books, and you're then matched with other readers, meaning you get personalised recommendations, reviews and whatnot. And if you upload a pic of your bookshelf right away they'll send you a handpicked book free! (I've done it - my bookshelf is here). Sign up and get details at www.bookrabbit.com.


Paul

Ashley Hames Newcastle event photos

Wednesday evening saw the start of Ashley Hames' Sin Cities book tour in Newcastle upon Tyne. Ashley's shameless attempt to curry favour with the good people of Newcastle by wearing a Newcastle United shirt with 'Sin Cities' emblazoned on the back worked a treat, and the fantastic event at Waterstone's was followed by a trawl through the city's watering holes until the early hours.

Ashley in Stu in matching jackets related tomfoolery

Ashley enjoys Stephen Miller's Paralympian

Ashley regales the crowd in Waterstone's

Ashley gets wrist ache

Stephen, Paul and Ashley move on to a local watering hole

Stephen and Ashley with Jonny Kennedy author Roger Stutter

If you missed out, Waterstone's have some extra signed copies of the book, while stocks last. Photos from York and Leeds will follow in the next couple of days. Further events and signings are planned across the country - watch this space. Next up will be Stephen Miller's Paralympian launch on Thursday.

Paul

Ashley Hames York & Leeds book events TODAY

Ashley Hames' Sin Cities book tour continues today (Thursday 17 July) as he appears at Waterstone's in York for a book signing at 2pm, and then in Leeds for a talk and signing at 7pm. Click here to view Waterstone's Ashley Hames events page.


The mini tour kicked off in fine style last night in Newcastle - thanks to everyone who came along, especially the bloke who curiously thought he was coming to see "Adam, as in Adam and Eve". By all accounts it was one of the best events the store has ever had. Photos will hopefully appear here later today.

Paul

Ashley Hames Newcastle book signing TODAY

Sin Cities author and TV presenter Ashley Hames will be in Newcastle upon Tyne today (Wednesday 16 July) to kick off his book signing tour. Ashley will be appearing at the Waterstone's Emerson Chambers store at Grey's Monument from 6.30pm to talk about his adventures around the world and to sign copies of the book.


'One of the few concrete truths of modern life is that Newcastle is the UK's number one Sin City,' says Ashley. 'It's ace. With that in mind, I guess it's the perfect place to start our book signing tour...'

You can hear Ashley on Radio Newcastle today at 1.30pm.

The book tour continues tomorrow (Thursday 17 July) at Waterstones in York (2pm) and Leeds (7pm). Click here to view Waterstone's Ashley Hames events page.

Paul

Amazon price match deal

Faceless behemoth it might be, but I really like Amazon. As a reader, you can get any book in print, and some that aren't, at pretty good prices. As a publisher, your books are made easily available and get a fair crack of the whip. Amazon's huge buying power means that they can heavily discount books that they know will sell in reasonable quantities.

From today we're going to try to match Amazon.co.uk's prices in our own online store. So you can get Ashley Hames' Sin Cities for just £5.99, Stephen Miller's Paralympian for £6.99, Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted for £5.99, and Stephen Miller's Being Normal for £6.39. That's up to 35% off the cover prices. (For a limited time you can also buy Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal together for just £10.)

You can visit our online store here.

If, however, you prefer to shop with Amazon, you can view our catalogue of books in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France or Japan.

Paul

Sin Cities London Launch

Friday 11 July was the launch party for Sin Cities: Adventures of a Sex Reporter at The Westbridge pub, Battersea. Judging by the photographs, bar staff are still tidying up ahead of opening up this morning.


I assume this photo was taken quite a way into the party.

I spoke to Ashley the following day and he told me waht a brilliant time he'd had. Big thanks to everyone who turned up - all the photos can be viewed as people post them here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18563684013
The publicity for the book is growing all the time. Ashley went for an interview at Loaded magazine on Thursday and ended up taking part in a bizarre bacon sarnie eating competition - no idea why, but we'll post up details of the magazine feature in September.



Ashley rolls in to Newcastle tomorrow, so in case we're offline for a bit, here's the publicity for this week:
Tuesday 15: Smooth Radio: Ashley picks his '6 at 6' and talks to Paul Wappat.
Wednesday 16: Ashley and Stu on BBC Radio Newcastle.
Wednesday 16: Ashley's author event at Waterstone's Newcastle, 6.30pm.
Thursday 17: Ashley's signing session at Waterstone's York
Thursday 18: Ashley's author event at Waterstone's Leeds, 7pm.

We'll post details of any updates.

Catch up with all the events and goings on at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12931077445

Stu

Sin Cities is London Lite Big Read

Ashley Hames' Sin Cities was the Big Read in yesterday's London Lite (readership: just the 824,000, apparently), receiving a very nice almost-full-page review. Orders are flooding in, and Amazon is currently showing the book as #2 in its TV Tie-in Humour chart, outselling the massive QI, and only pipped by the not-really-very humorous Life On Mars. [UPDATE: Now it's #1. Take that, Gene Hunt!] There's loads more great publicity coming up, so watch this space. As a reminder, Ashley's book launch is this Friday 11 July. It's at the Westbridge Pub in Battersea, London from 8pm, so, if you're in the area, why not pop along?

Paul

Sin Cities Release Date

Today is the official launch date of Sin Cities: Adventures of a Sex Reporter by Ashley Hames. And as luck would have it, today we were sent an advert for the book that some unknown cyber geek has edited and put a brilliant 'carpet salesman' voiceover to. A big thank you to that anonymous technical wizard!

Anyone in the London area, watch out for a review feature of the book in tomorrow's London Lite paper. As publicity continues for this title, we'll keep posting updates.

You can also join the Facebook group here



Unrelated news: We took delivery of Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal on Friday. All those placing orders via our website will receive their copies long before amazon or other stores have theirs.

Stu

Stephen Miller Paralympian book launch

The launch event for Stephen Miller's Paralympian, My Autobiography will take place in the Club 206 suite at Newcastle United's St James' Park on Thursday 24 July at 7.30pm. There will be a 'talk-in', with Stephen answering questions about his career and the forthcoming Beijing games, a chance to get a signed copy of the book, plus other fun and games and special guests. The new Club 206 suite is named after Alan Shearer's goalscoring record, and can be found on the third level of SJP.


Paralympian launch event, Club 206, Level 3, St James' Park, Newcastle, Thursday 24 July, 7.30pm, free.

Paul

One-two, one-two, this is just a test

'How smart are you?' asks the BBC website. 'Hardly a week passes without headlines about academic standards. Are exams getting easier? Are people getting smarter?' Find out with this quick English test. There's a maths test next week, but I'll be skiving off that one.

Paul

Places mentioned in this book...

Google's ongoing efforts to digitise every piece of information ever imagined continue apace. I've noticed an interesting feature on Google Book Search that displays on a Google Map "places mentioned in this book". So far, the only Tonto book that seems to have been mapped out in this way is The Rocketbelt Caper. Hopefully our other titles will follow soon - it would be nice to see Johnny Lonely's road trip mapped out. For now, if you want to see where the Rocketbelt 2000 was flown, or hidden, or where all the other shenanigans happened, click here. Who knows, if you zoom in really, really close you might spot the rocketbelt itself...

Paul

New Novelists News

Both Nik Jones and Sarah Shaw are now into the mentoring process for their new novels. Updates from Caroline Smailes and Wendy Robertson tell us that both novels are coming along nicely, and they are enjoying working with our new writers.

Caroline and Wendy are not just mentoring them as writers, but also helping out with tips on the promotional side of being a writer. I'm a believer in self-promotion and I think with t'internet bringing us such things as blogging, Myspace and Facebook (even I'm on them!), it also brought us innovative and cost-effective ways of flogging our wares. Social networking is a great way of reaching people and both of our other mentored writers are at it too! Roz and Stephen are building up a good fan base with their respective online presence, and now so is Nik Jones.

You can keep up with the progress of 9987 by watching here.

Stu

State of independents

There's an interesting post on the Guardian's blog, Why writers can't go it alone by David Barnett, which sums up some of the gripes we have regarding the book industry.

'Flying the flag of independence is a mark of respect in most areas of popular culture ... apart, it seems, from literature,' Barnett writes. Why are independent cinema and independent record labels celebrated, while independent book publishers are shunned? As Barnett says, 'Can you imagine any serious film reviewer refusing to watch anything other than the major Hollywood blockbusters?'

The fact is that book reviewers at national newspapers and book buyers at national book chains tend to equate 'independent' with 'crap'. At least one major UK bookseller is in the process of severing ties with independent publishers. That's a kick in the nuts for the publishers, their authors, and - ultimately - readers, who are seeing bookshops turn into literary versions of multiplex cinemas, with a small range of lowest common denominator-pleasing tosh piled high and wide.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - let's board this whole industry up like an old abandoned mine and start a-bloody-gain.

Paul

Irresistible new fiction offer

Here's an offer that should be difficult to resist: pre-order both Being Normal by Stephen Shieber and Everything You Ever Wanted by Rosalind Wyllie for just £10 with free UK p&p. Both books are published on 11 August, but we'll deliver the pair of them to your door as soon as we receive them from the printer, usually several weeks in advance of the release date. You'll save £5.98 on the cover prices, plus about £3.50 in postage. It's a limited offer, so act quickly before stocks disappear like some kind of rare gas. Place your order here.


Paul

Paralympian in stock

Paralympian, My Autobiography by Stephen Miller is now in stock and available to purchase from www.tontobooks.com with free UK p&p. The book is not officially released until 28 July. It features a foreword by Stephen's friend Kevin Keegan.



Stephen Miller is one of Britain's most successful athletes. Record-breaking Stephen, who has Cerebral Palsy, has won three Paralympic gold medals, plus dozens of other international accolades in the club and discus events. Still only 28 years old, he will endeavour to win more honours at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A writer and poet, Stephen's inspirational autobiography tells of his struggles and triumphs, and is told with refreshing honesty and infectious humour.

'I know how hard it is to compete at the highest level. It takes dedication, courage and self-belief, and Stephen has those qualities in abundance. His story is truly unique and inspiring.' - Kevin Keegan.

New Novelists Results

Way back in January, we launched Tonto Books' North East New Novelists 2008 contest. There were 121 eligible entries, which is remarkable considering entry was restricted to writers in the North East of England with completed manuscripts. We knew there were lots of writers out there with ideas for books, first chapters and unfinished drafts stuffed away in drawers... but we were amazed by the number of entries as well as the high standard. The task of selecting the winners was performed by judges Wendy Robertson and Caroline Smailes.

And the winning manuscripts and authors are (drumroll please)...

'Make It Back' by Sarah Shaw.
In Make It Back, Muriel leaves her family to nurse sick and injured children in the Spanish Civil War. Forty years later, Muriel's decision leads her granddaughter, Dee,
into love, into danger and, finally, into the passion and dust of south-eastern Spain.
Sarah is from Blackhall Mill and is currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Newcastle University. She will be mentored by Wendy Robertson over the next couple of months as she puts the finishing touches to her novel, which will be published by Tonto in January 2009.

'9987' by Nik Jones.
Tragic and dark, 9987 is a story about a jagged and at times disturbing world where only three things are constant: fantasy, loneliness and love. It's a tale about a crime that only one person seems to care about.
Nik is a teacher and 'occasional barman' from Consett. He will be mentored by Caroline Smailes, and 9987 will also be published by Tonto in January.

Congratulations to Sarah and Nik, and thanks to the judges Wendy and Caroline, and everyone who took the time to enter the contest. The high quality and variety of submissions showed that the North East really is a hotbed of writing talent and thoroughly justified our desire to run this project.

Keep checking future blogs for updates on progress.

Stu

... and on a positive note

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a Jam/Weller fan. A lot of my time this week has been taken up, as mentioned earlier, chasing orders, promises, features, reviews and sales, etc. Oh, the cruel irony as 'Running on the Spot' by The Jam started up on my Media Player after another frustrating phone call.

I was hoping we'd make real progress
But it seems we have lost the power
Any tiny step of advancement
Is like a raindrop falling into the ocean

... well said, Mr Weller.

I'm thick skinned now, I can take the knocks.
And it made me realise that even as a publisher, you still go through the same emotions as writers. So there is no difference in the great publisher vs writer hierarchy, really. We all get knock backs and face a constant battle - it really is how this industry works. You HAVE to stay positive.

Even John Blake has had his problems. I admire John for the impact he's had on the publishing world and this is a very interesting feature on him.

Competition rejections only mean that someone didn't get your work. If you believe in yourself and the work, it'll find a home.
Publisher/agent rejections? Same thing.
Keep passing it round, get feedback - there are loads of websites now where you can get feedback from other writers. Develop, improve, don't give up.

We'll be announcing the winners of our New Novelists 2008 competition very soon, and I dare say there will be a lot of disappointed writers in the region. Judgements are made on so much criteria... is it marketable? Will the story communicate to a large audience? Does it require too much work?
These are elements to bear in mind wherever you submit. But just because you don't get through, doesn't mean all is lost. Some may even make suggestions and ask you to resubmit, some may send you a more personal rejection (which means they did read it).

Unfortunately, we can't comment on any submission that didn't get through. This is because we didn't judge, but also because it isn't part of the project to offer that. And without touting for business, our editor runs a manuscript critique service at competitive rates, for those interested in feedback.

Keep the faith!

Stu

Going Solo

Well, with Marianne gone and Paul already on his hols, I'm on my Jack Jones at Tonto Towers. There's loads to keep me busy though: Sin Cities is doing well and it is only now that the hard work starts. Just like being in The Apprentice, this is where sales matter, and this is where you have to become a salesperson. But when its your own company, you can't just run around aimlessly shouting 'That's what I'm talking about!' and 'I'm one hundred per cent passionate about sales.'... none of that counts. Pre-orders and orders, following up leads, calling/charming buyers, bookstores, making sure orders go ahead - those are the most difficult and crucial calls. Then there's all the publicity to go with it, and in turn, they generate more sales. So it's all the PR elements, arranging signings, booking travel etc, contacting press, arranging interviews, following up all those initial calls, hassling, chasing up reviews and features.

We've got a few signing sessions arranged for Ashley to attend so far. I'll post them up nearer the time, as well as the other publicity we've secured. In the meantime, if you are a FaceBooker, why not join the Sin Cities Book Group where there are regular updates.

I fell a book submissions rant coming on... I'll hold back for a bit though.

Stu

Marianne's Final Blog!

Hi everyone,

Well today has been my last day working with Tonto Books and like always I've been kept busy. I've spent most of the day transferring all of my notes on the novel Everything You Ever Wanted onto an electronic draft for Stu and Paul to use at a later date.

The past couple of weeks seem to have gone really fast, like during my first work experience I've been given really interesting tasks and the opportunity to work with some very exciting projects and gain more insight into the process of publishing books. As always it's been lovely working with Stu and Paul and I want to thank them both for having me back and making me feel so welcome. Hopefully I'll be back at some point in the future, so keep an eye out for me on their blog!!

Marianne.

Marianne's Second Blog

Hi Everyone,

Well today has been another productive day in the office, I finished proof reading Everything you ever Wanted by Rosalind Wyllie and I have to say I immensely enjoyed it. I think it's going to do really well when it's released later on in the summer, as it's very witty, and has lots of twists and turns that really keeps you guessing until the end. Also I think there is nothing worse than reading a book which has a rubbish ending but you'll be pleased to here this book isn't one of them, without wanting to give too much away, I thought the ending was very satisfying as you really feel like you're leaving the main character in an optimistic and hopeful, yet realistic place in her life, after everything she's been through previously in the book.

The bookmarks for both Everything you ever Wanted and Being Normal also arrived in the office today, so you'll have to do your best to get your hands on one!

Marianne.

Sin Cities in stock at Amazon

A full month before it's officially released, Amazon.co.uk have Sin Cities by Ashley Hames in stock. At the time of writing it's just £6.39, that's 20% off the RRP. (Buy three and get free p&p!) You can order it here. Or, if you prefer, you can buy a copy direct from us (with free UK p&p) here.

Paul

Marianne's Blog - I'm Back!

Hello everyone,

It's Marianne here - remember me? For those of you with good memories you'll know I did a couple of weeks work experience with Tonto Books last summer, for those of you who don't remember, not to worry, cos now I'm back!! Not quite 'back for good' as those Take That lads crooned in recent years, but for the next couple of weeks I'm working with both Paul and Stu as a Freelance Editor. I like to think that title sounds rather posh, but really I'm doing similar work to last time.

The last few days I've been very busy proofreading two of the boys' most recent projects, an excellent collection of short stories by Stephen Shieber called Being Normal and a brilliantly written novel with a very unusual subject, called Everything You Ever Wanted by Rosalind Wyllie. They both hit the shops on the 11th August so make sure you stick that date in your diaries! All of Stephen's stories in his collection are interesting and different, but my favourite has to be one called Business Trip. This is a deeply moving, realistic and powerful story - but I'm not saying any more than that, I'm afraid you'll have to buy the collection when it comes out to find out what happens and if you agree with me!

I reckon Rosalind's novel would be a perfect book for all you ladies out there to take on your summer hols with you, as I can't think of anything better than lounging by a pool with a cocktail in one hand and this fast-paced, funny and slick book in the other, which by the way, is much better than your average chick-lit book. Besides it seems only right and natural to read a book entitled Everything You Ever Wanted when you're on your hols, as it feels like you've got exactly that when you're surrounded by the sun, sea and sand a summer holiday promises.

Follow the links below to find out more about these upcoming books:

Being Normal
Everything You Ever Wanted

Anyway, I better stop writing and get back to the proofreading, although I must admit, I really just want to find out what happens in the next chapter!!

Marianne

It's a sin

Sin Cities has arrived! It's not released until 7 July, but if you can't wait you can get it direct from us now, or pre-order from amazon.

Paul

I am a writer, writer of fictions

This bank holiday weekend, inbetween some gardening and gigging and various cold drinks, I finally got around to checking out authonomy.com, HarperCollins' new community site for authors. The idea is that writers post their work on the site, readers comment, and the most popular manuscripts are read by HC. It's kind of like an electronic slushpile with added bells and whistles. Does it work? Only one way to find out, so I've uploaded the first few chapters of my novel, Sunday League, 'a funny and gritty football fairytale set in the WAGs-to-riches world of modern football' it says here. P.S. Gold star to anyone who can advise which song this post's title is a lyric from.

Paul

On Her Majesty's Time-Consuming Service

This week I've spent much of my time telephoning and filling in forms for Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. All necessary of course, particularly as our accountant is currently indisposed, but what a bloody chore. I worked for part of the HMRC back in the day when it was called the DSS, so I'm very familiar with the bureaucracy that weighs so heavily upon the organisation. I reckon I've filled out maybe 10 or 12 forms this week, all with a lot of duplicated information. A VAT number transfer alone required 3 forms. And none of them could be filled out online.

Here is my solution: Only have one form. For everything. It would be an online form with tick-boxes, asking, 'What do you want to do?' Every time you tick an option, the form re-jigs itself, until you are left with the form you require. So for example, I would tick 'VAT', 'VAT number transfer' - and the relevant (single) form asking for all of the required information would appear (literally) in two ticks. And I would only have to enter the information once.

None of which has much to do with books or publishing, but then not much of my time spent this week has had much to do with books or publishing. Hooray for the Bank Holiday!

Paul

I'm Will Self and I've got a thesaurus

Came across the following quote from Will Self today. Now I actually quite like Will Self - if not as a writer, then for his involvement with some of the best moments from Vic and Bob's Shooting Stars (notably the brilliant Hernia Hotline sketch). But this quote, promoting a DVD of art films by Ian Breakwell (no, me neither), is twaddle of the very highest order:

'Breakwell's was an art of retrieval, absorption and contrariety. His video pieces are subtle enactments of an individual praxis that compel our attention, again and again, to the uneasy comity of lived life.'

I don't know about you, but among those 30-odd words are at least three that I would have to reach for a dictionary to check. This, of course, is the literary equivalent to driving a garish sports car. 'Look at me! I'm Will Self and I've got a thesaurus!' Apparently, Self has written a full 'accompanying booklet' of this stuff. The BFI project was supported by the Arts Council, and I can't help wondering how much cash Self must have trousered in return for his efforts. Watch this instead:



Paul

We do not publish poetry

We do not publish poetry. Never have, never will. This is not because we have anything against poetry or poets. It's because we have limited experience and expertise of poetry, and there are plenty of other publishers - nationally and in the north east of England - that are much better equipped to publish it. So please do not send us poetry submissions via email or post. They will not be read, acknowledged or replied to. This is because do not publish poetry. Please do not come knocking on our office door with reams of poems under your arm and a sad story about how very difficult it was to find us. You will have wasted a journey, and it gets embarrassing for all concerned. Because we do not publish poetry. Please do not send us handwritten poems scrawled on the back of letters you have received from a local estate agent. It's unprofessional, and a little bit odd. And we do not publish poetry. Please do not call us up and ask us to come to your home to see your poetry because you are housebound, and then get really angry and quite abusive when we politely and quite patiently (even if I do say so myself) suggest some other avenues you might try. Because we do not publish poetry. And please, please, please do not send us audio CDs of yourself reading your poems in a strange monotone voice. Curiosity will make us listen to a few seconds of it, and then we'll have to spend a good 20 minutes or so laughing like drains, and we're really far too busy to do that. And anyway, we do not publish poetry.

Paul

A bad poet, but didn't know it.

As some of you my remember, we've had the odd poetry submission here at Tonto Towers. One of which got a bit 'difficult' when we said we didn't publish poetry. But, all is not lost, as 'the worst poet in the world' can even make a fortune from their work.
OK, so William McGonagall died penniless in 1902, but it seems he now has a bit of a following. His work going under the hammer is apparently in the same league as first editions of Harry Potter. Not that I've read any.

Finally recognised for his work when he was panned by the critics and had food thrown at him at public readings... a happy ending, then.
Read all about it here.

Stu

David Peace's dirty little secret

There was an interesting interview with author David Peace in Saturday's Guardian Review section, notable because, unlike the vast majority of interviews with authors in the Guardian Review section, it wasn't a load of pretentious twaddle. I picked out Peace's The Damned Utd as my favourite novel of the year in a Christmas 2007 post and it's now getting a second wind of coverage thanks to a South Bank Show and a forthcoming movie adaptation.

Talking about his craft, Peace advocates a useful practice that we talk about on our occasional writing courses: 'When I come across a sentence or paragraph that impresses me, I write it out. I'm not sure if other writers do it, but I suspect they do and it's a dirty little secret. It is like practising five-finger exercises. I thought Cormac McCarthy's The Road was a fantastic piece of work. But the only way I could really understand how it was done was to write some of it out.' Peace also names as an inspiration Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, which, if I'm being completely honest, is perhaps my favourite book ever.

P.S. While I remember, this Sunday, The Observer is doing an miscellany-type 'Observer Book of Books', which, if their previous books of music, film etc are anything to go by, will probably be worth getting hold of.

Paul

This week, we will be mostly reading...

Yep, as reported yesterday, our fiction project is going full steam ahead. At the moment, we are working on the final manuscripts from Roz and Stephen and it is great for us to see that they have enjoyed such a useful development process with their respective mentors.
Both writers showcased their work at the Hexham Book Festival recently, where they went down a storm to a very appreciative audience. I’m sure they were as moved as I was to receive such feedback and have an audience laugh, smile, nod and cringe along in all the right places. It made me more confident in the project and it felt good to see Roz and Stephen beginning to establish themselves as credible writers in the region.
So, at Tonto Towers this week and into the next few, we are re-acquainting ourselves with the finished manuscripts and putting them through final processes before sending them off to print. Personally, I think the project has been a tremendous success so far as we’ve seen two works produced to a very high standard by using the best mentors possible. Credit to all those involved – it has been great to be a part of it. Of course the hard work starts now as well... promotion, publicity, selling...
Both are available for pre-order on amazon.co.uk.

Stu

New Novelists news

The judging process continues for our New Novelists contest - the winners will be announced in June. There is one piece of news, however, as there has been a change to the judging line-up. Newcastle-born author Caroline Smailes now joins Wendy Robertson to select and mentor the winners. Caroline, author of In Search of Adam, has already been involved with the Tonto Fiction 2008 project, having done a great job of mentoring Rosalind Wyllie, whose novel Everything You Ever Wanted will be published in August.

Paul