I was sorting through my reviews of my books recently and came across one from my Authonomy days. Oh yes my friends I was there, trying for that elusive editors desk along with millions of others. Did I ever get there? Well that's a story for another day.
However, I digress! (Just call me Ronnie Corbett in that oversized chair he used to use) Whilst sorting through I came across one from 'gillyflower' It was one that I will always treasure. Our paths seem at times to fall into parallel lines. Then we had the same publisher, until finally we went our separate ways, still maintaining our friendship as authors do through various writing sites. gillyflower aka Gerry McCullough has gone from strength to strength (as have I) Several of her books have been reviewed by me and to date I have never found one that I didn't enjoy.
I decided to feature her and the Precious Oil Publishing house on my blog just because I can. It's my blog and I make my own rules. Gerry has written several books and her latest one is ....
in Gerry's own words........
This is my latest release, and it's a book which has taken me a
long time to write. I've put a lot of myself into it, and I think it's
my most important book so far – the one I'll be remembered for, if I'm
remembered at all!
It started off as a short story called Dark Night, then someone
suggested that I should make it a lot longer. When I'd done that, I
realised that I could go on and turn it into a full length book, and so I
did. Halfway through I really began to struggle. It's the first (and I
hope last!) time that I've suffered from writer's block.
When it was finished I realised that the original title was no
longer suitable, since it referred to what had now become an episode
towards the end of the book. I juggled around with various titles before
coming up with this one. I like it because 'War' conveys the two
subjects of the book, the protagonist's inner conflict as well as the
external fighting. And by using the more familiar name Johnny McClintock
instead of John Henry McClintock I think I've made it more immediate
and interesting.
It was released just over a week ago and it went straight into the Number 1 spot on Amazon.com's
Hot New Releases in Irish Historical Fiction. I'm hoping it will
continue to do well. It has 6 five star reviews so far, so people seem
to like it!
Book Title: Johnny McClintock's War: One Man's Struggle Against the Hammer Blows of Life
Buy it here
If you want to read a taster to get the flavour then hop over to the 'TASTER' section of my blog and view what I consider to be a very powerful chapter.
So how did Precious Oil Publication come into being? Well here's Gerry again and it's a very interesting tale. Being part Irish I also tell interesting tales. See you didn't know that did you. Anyway here she is...
How Precious Oil got started.
At
first Precious Oil had no intention of taking on any other writers.
However, this has now changed, and we've welcomed on board the wonderful
bestselling Sheila Mary Taylor, author of Pinpoint and many other
marvellous books. So far, we don't plan to take on anyone else in the
near future until we see how this works out. But, who knows? Maybe in a
few more years we'll be one of those publishing giants you hear about –
or maybe not!
(This is a smart link which will take you to you local Amazon store anywhere.)
So how did Precious Oil Publication come into being? Well here's Gerry again and it's a very interesting tale. Being part Irish I also tell interesting tales. See you didn't know that did you. Anyway here she is...
When
my first book, Belfast Girls, was accepted by Night Publishing in 2010,
I was dancing on the ceiling. By 2012, it had been in the overall top
100 on Amazon.co.uk
for several months and for even longer was #1 in Literary Fiction. Then
two things happened. My publisher moved to America, and was harder to
keep in touch with. And my husband, Raymond, who had set up his own
publishing company, Precious Oil Publications, by then, was very eager
to publish my books as well as his own.
Now that I
had proved myself by being accepted by a publisher to whom I was a
complete stranger, I was ready to consider this. After all, Virginia
Wolfe was published by her husband, and no one thinks any the less of
her. So Precious Oil published Danger Danger, then republished Belfast
Girls, and went on to publish a string of other books written by me.
In the meantime her are some links to Gerry's other books and they are all smash hits. Would I lie to you? 'course not I'm part Irish.
Laters my little chickadees
15 comments:
Tee, how sweet of you to feature me and my books and my publisher on your marvellous blog! Thanks a million!
Lovely post on a lovely lady! Two lovely ladies, in fact!
Terrific interview, Gerry and Tee!It's always nice to hear new things about my dear friend Gerry, and to hear a bit more humor from my other dear friend Tee. Luv you guys.
Great & very interesting article, Tee & Gerry. I loved Johnny McClintock's War and really wish Gerry all the best with it.
Hannah, what a nice comment! Tee is certainly lovely in every possible way!
Love you, too, Tom! Tee is always so amusing, isn't she?
Mel, thanks a lot! You left me such a wonderful review on Johnny McClintock that I'm still gasping!
Great to read more about Gerry! Lovely post xx
Thanks, Elaina! Old friends are best – lovely to hear from you!
Two of my friends from the days of Night together. I do miss those days. A great interview, and I wish both of you every success for the future
They were good days, for quite a while, weren't they John? Such a shame things have to change – but we can keep our friends, anyway!
Terrific Interview Gerry!
Your new release looks wonderful, will be getting and putting in my read right away stack!
Roberta, thanks so much for your kind comments and for buying the book. Really hope you enjoy it!
A lovely interview, Gerry, in a very welcome return of Tee's terrific blog. Well done, Tee.
I am so proud and so happy to be part of this enterprising publishing house - Precious Oil. I hope I can do justice to this honour and that my books will live up to the very high standard already set by our wonderful Gerry. xx
Thanks, Sheila! You are so right about Tee and her blog! And you needn't worry about living up to my standard – your books are all brilliant, as anyone who has read any of them will whole heartedly agree!
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