The Hobcast Book Show

Episode 62: Tackling multiple genres - with Dave McCluskey

It's a debate that has raged among authors for decades. Write in one genre or literary area, or try as many as possible? Our guest on The Hobcast Book Show, Liverpudlian author Dave McCluskey has tackled quite a number over the past 11 years. Horror may be his mainstay, but he's also written romance, graphic novels, historical crime fiction and children's books too. As he tells Rebecca and Adrian, if he has a story idea, regardless of the genre, he HAS to write it come what may. 
Also this week, we discuss Phillip Pullman's resignation from the Presidency of the Society of Authors, and could TikTok really be the answer to selling more audio books?

Episode 61: The awards only indies can win - with Pauline Barclay

It's one of the aspects that frustrates us most at Hobeck Books. When it comes to awards, most of the odds are stacked in the favour of the big publishing houses and traditionally published authors. There are exceptions of course, but it was this situation that motivated our guest this week Pauline Barclay to launch the Chill Awards five and a half years ago. Only open to independent authors or small independent presses, the awards celebrate the wealth of great books produced by the indie community. Pauline has readers across the world who select the books on offer, and if several of them agree independently, the book wins an award. It's an inspiring interview.
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss even more signs that print books are about to rise in price, and there's news of another author signing for Hobeck Books.

Episode 60: The long winding road from Lahore to the bookshelves - with Awais Khan

Every writer dreams of being a published author. It's tough enough when you're based in a country like the UK with hundreds of agents and dozens of publishers to target, but when your own country has almost no fiction publishing scene - it's far harder. That was the challenge Awais Khan faced. At 25, with two degrees to his name, he followed his heart and signed up for the renowned Faber Writing Academy, studying online from his home in Pakistan. But finding a way to publication wasn't easy. Dozens of rejections followed before a London literary agent expressed an interest. Now working on his third novel, Awais has been widely praised for his second No Honour, a gripping depiction of the issue of honour killings in his native Pakistan. 
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca reflect on the future of Blackwells, and the latest industry trend in signing up stars from TikTok.

Episode 59: The Queen of Crime - an Agatha Christie Special

Two billion books sold and 102 years after the publication of her first novel, we bring you this Agatha Christie special edition of The Hobcast Book Show. Adrian and Rebecca return to the place they first met, Exeter University to meet Annie Price, who curates the Agatha Christie archive within the university's special collections department. 
As we discover, the collection charts the relationship between Agatha and her literary agent Edmund Cork, and reveals fascinating details about how she worked, how she thought, and how determined she was to ensure her characters were reflected accurately on stage and screen. With contributions from some of our own Hobeck authors about the influence Christie has had on their work, we are proud to present this unique insight into the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.
 

Episode 58: Know your genre if you want to sell books - with Rachel McLean

If you ever search for a crime novel on the UK Amazon store, the chances are you'll soon see an ad for Rachel McLean's books. In the space of three years, the Birmingham based author's two crime series have established an army of fans, and her titles regularly hit the number one spot. Rachel was also awarded the coveted Kindle Storyteller Award for 2021. So what does she put her success down to? Writing with your reader in mind. As Rachel tells us, if you truly meet reader expectations, they will reward you in return. 
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca have taken The Hobcast on the road again, this time to Anglesey in North Wales where they discuss just how costly Apple's changes to data sharing have been to Facebook, and the wider digital marketing landscape.
 

Episode 57: Creating true evil - with Lewis Hastings

Lewis Hastings was our second signing for Hobeck Books back in 2020, and together we're about to publish his fifth Jack Cade thriller - The Chemist. The novel features the return of an old foe for Cade and those he cares for most, as they face their greatest danger yet. So how does Lewis create such wonderfully twisted and memorable villains? And how much of his career in law-enforcement play a part in his writing? 
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the ethics of author services offering a quicker route to agents and publishers, and how a couple of days away in the Cotswolds have given them renewed energy for running the business.
 

Episode 56: Making connections with listeners - with Dian Perry

We've mentioned it many times on the show, but audiobooks are becoming an ever more important arm of publishing. Double-digit growth year-on-year, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. But how does a narrator connect with their audience most effectively? This week's guest on The Hobcast Book Show is Dian Perry. An American in London, Dian dreamed of becoming a character voice artist. Now with over twenty years of experience and success, she's the author of Voiceover Narration: Creating Performances from the Inside Out. As Dian explains in this fascinating interview, creating a real connection with listeners requires a different approach. It's not just about reading the words in the right order, or having a pleasant voice - it takes so much more than that. 
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca reflect on yet more evidence that the lack of raw materials is changing the publishing industry, and Adrian shares his excitement about an upcoming auction of personal items owned by a certain British actor.
 
Visit Dian's website: https://www.dianperry.com
Follow the Hobcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hobcast2
 

Episode 55: That publication day feeling - with A J Hill

Over the past 12 months of The Hobcast Book Show, we've spoken to a number of debut authors, but we've never spoken to them on publication day itself, until now. Andy Hill, writing as A J Hill, celebrated the release of Dead Drift by speaking to us. We first met Andy at the Harrogate Crime Festival last summer, and he'd just been signed by Spellbound Books for an initial three book deal for his novels featuring Jack Lunn, a former Detective Inspector. As Andy tells us, there's more than a bit of himself in his lead character.
Also this week, we chew over the news that UK Ebook sales have dropped for most of the big publishers, and that one of favourite bookshops, Blackwells, is up for sale. And there's also a little music this week, partially provided by a very famous member of Rebecca's family...

Episode 54: Indie Publishing facing tough times - with Dan Morgan (Part 2)

We had a shock this week at Hobeck Books. The rumours of rising production costs are very true as we were quoted a 20% higher price for the same print run we last ordered less than three months ago. So can you make indie publishing work? Yes, but as Dan Morgan, (writing as Morgan Greene), says in the second part of his revealing interview with us, it's tough and takes a lot of nerve.
Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca reveal their plans for the business in the months to come, and talk frankly about how health issues can affect day-to-day work.

Episode 53: Publishing Noir - the reality of indie publishing with Dan Morgan

We're proud to be indie publishers at www.hobeck.net It's an exciting movement to be part of, but as we explore every week here on The Hobcast Book Show the reality of running a start-up publishing house is far tougher than some would have you believe. That's also been the experience of our guest, Dan Morgan, a Welsh author of Scandi-noir novels under the pen name Morgan Greene. Dan has built a strong following for his novels featuring DI Jamie Johannson, but as he tells Adrian and Rebecca, the path to success has been challenging. In the first of a two-part interview, Dan explains the path to becoming a bestselling author requires courage, talent, and perseverance.
Also this week, we discuss the shocking revelation of how the big publishers can buy their positions in the retail charts, and the welcome news that proposed changes to UK copyright laws have been postponed.