The rumblings before the storm - once your book is released... what happens next?

As an author, I obviously enjoy writing. Granted it is extremely lonely.  No-one else is on the journey with you except for your characters, or as in the book I am about to release, the ghosts of those I am writing about. But once that is all finished, once you have signed the final release, then the journey takes on a very different mood.

Earlier this week, I received the email from my publicist, Lucia. I have worked with her on the past three books I released. She is incredible and I enjoy working with her. Yet the email from her signals the next part of the writing journey - the publicity tour. Gone is the pyjamas-clad slob of an author who sits in her darkened room with copious amounts of coffee and wine (depending on the time of the day), madly bashing away at the keyboard. In her place is someone primed and polished, all smiles for the camera ready to be charming and witty on the publicity trail.

Even after 17 books, I forget that this part comes with the book's release. As I said at the beginning, I love to write, I write because it is part of my essence, but the publicity trail always makes me tremble with dread. I worry about the curve ball questions, the interviewer who has no interest in my book and so fumbles over questions, or worse those who love true crime just a little too much.

Over the years I have learnt to manage the publicity tour a little better. I have done many live to air radio and television interviews as well as pre-recorded segments and newspaper articles. I used to be so sick with terror and nerves, I liked the comfort of my writing room, not the bright lights of the television studio but I have learned that they come hand in hand if your work is good enough.  I know it's an absolute honour to be involved in such segments. Very few authors get to experience what I've been lucky to have experienced and so I now know to enjoy myself and have as much fun as I can - when talking about executions, murder and serial killers.

So, I wait with bated breath to see what Lucia has in store when Rope: A History of the Hanged is released in June, 2016. So far I have a few speaking engagements as well as a newspaper article to come but I know that over the next few months there will be radio and newspaper interviews and if I am very lucky a few more television spots.

Wish me luck!

Amanda

One Upmanship in the World of Predators

The world reeled in shock and revulsion when the news of Elizabeth Fritzl and her monstrous father hit the media several months ago. Shock were we to learn of the woman's life in the basement jail she shared with three of the children she spawned.

Yet as the ink dries on the court order that Josef Fritzl spend the rest of his too short life behind bars, it appears that the media is trying to find the next, worst, longer incarcerated victim of incest and depravity.

Today, is no different. In Colombia a man has been accused of raping his adopted daughter, and father her eleven children (Elizabeth Fritzl only gave birth to seven). The man is pleading not guilty to the charges of incest on the basis that the girl, now 35, is not biologically his daughter. A small recompense for the brutality he made the girl suffer for the past twenty-odd years.

This story comes on the coattails of yesterday's news of another man in Italy this time, who imprisoned and raped his daughter, fathering several children. This heinous creature also encouraged his son to do the same to his sister, as well as his own daughters.

The first question that comes to mind, is what is the world coming to when the media is trying to find the next Fritzl case? And two in two days, is far more concerning than one would ever like to imagine.

How many more Elizabeth Fritzls are out there now, hoping and preying that they too will one day see the light of day? The thought is frightening, but unfortunately, no doubt, there are more, some may never be found.

My prayers go out to those victims who have been rescued, their life of hell is finally over, and now comes the time for healing those deep scars. For those who may still be hidden away (sometimes in plain sight), I will continue to hope that they too will one day be free.

Anyone who requires help, please call your local police. Do something, say something.