Maria Allen published by Tindal Street Press

Maria Allen's first novel is published by the estimable Midlands publisher Tindal Street Press this month. Before the Earthquake is a historical literary mystery from Loughborough-based Maria who is half English and half Italian.

You can order it straight from http://www.tindalstreet.co.uk/books/before-the-earthquake

Try our Freelancers Quiz

Ever wonderered what it takes to be a creative freelancer? Well now we know, as the national occupational standards have been released. There 62 different areas of knowledge/skill in all. Just to celebrate we have created a quiz which we have been trying out on unsuspecting graduates and mentees, so you can see what you can/can't do.
http://www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk/index/information.htm

Jo Cope in BBC New Brands series

Jo Cope, designer maker and Creative Leics bursary winner, is getting lots of coverage for her original approach linking fashion and product design. She will be featured on the first of the BBC 1 New Brands series for new product designers. Her work is also in the San Serif design book 'Articulado'. For more on her work see www.jocope.com

Do you run art classes or workshops?

Our Artslink website has now been completely rebuilt by the ever-enthusiastic Reach Marketing. It's an online directory for people to find participatory arts classes or workshop leaders in Leicestershire, Rutland or Northamptonshire. (Working in Northants is a new departure for us!)

We are working on building up the numbers of companies/artists registered on the site until March when we'll be publicising the site more widely. As ever it's free to register.

The Literary Agent

Elizabeth Cochrane talked to a packed house around 60 people, hosted by ourselves and Leicester Writers Club earlier this month. She works for Greene & Heaton literary agents and was giving tips on how to submit fiction writing to an agent (or publisher). Here are a few:

1. Buy the Writers & artists yearbook for a full list of agents and contacts
2. Target agents who deal with writers with a similar genre/style to your own (see acknowledgements pages of relevant books).
3. A submission for a novel will include: letter, synopsis & sample:
   □ The Letter: give some background info on yourself; genre of the book (eg psychological thriller); why it should be published; why you have chosen this agency. Be business-like. Don’t mention the ‘slush pile’ or copyright issues. Do mention other writers who might be in a similar market.
   □ Synopsis: Maximum 2 pages. Make the font and spacing easy to read. Do give the whole plot.
   □ Sample: Send the first 50 pages (setting up the plot). Realistically maximum 3 pages will be read - about the same amount as a customer in a book shop.
4. When writing you need to be clear about the market for your book. It is best to fall into a defined genre (eg romance). Most books lose money and don’t ‘earn out’ their advance (ie make any further royalties than that given as an advance).
5. It may take months to get a response. Receiving a standard rejection letter doesn’t mean to say that the work hasn’t been read or discussed.

Loughborough Creatives Night Out

Our first ever meeting in the Orange Tree pub in Loughborough with a few creatives went well last night. About 13 of us were there in all including Chloe (www.barndoortheatre.co.uk), Ian (www.ianmitchellart.co.uk) and David (www.escapetunnel.co.uk) . Hoping to repeat the event in the new year.

Performing Arts Leicester news

Great news that the Performing Arts Leicester group of venues, promoters and dance/music/theatre companies has got £40,000 from the Cultural Leadership programme. This will go on a programme of leadership training, group discussions, Go & See visits and an annual programming meeting. Most importantly the PAL Christmas drinks are on Tuesday 15 Dec from 5.30pm at the Quarter restaurant near Curve/LCB Depot in Leicester.