Wrate's Editing Services

23/09/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100043939999014/posts/1081930779948245/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Credit: Gabriela DS

01/08/2024

Here is author Anita Morrish with the Italian translation of her novel Shadow Song, which is set in Italy during World War 11. Anita received great feedback on her novel in English so she decided to reach more readers by investing in a translator. Having edited the first version, I was delighted to help Anita with the second by typesetting it and providing a new cover. It was interesting to see how different the quotation marks were on the Italian translation. The double arrows are called guillemets and are used in Italian, Russian, French, German and numerous other languages. 🇮🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪. It was a pleasure to work with Anita again and see how beautiful her words look on the page.

28/06/2024

It's fantastic to see Wrate's Publishing author Lesley Anne Brown featured on the BBC. Since publishing her novel Finding Carla last year, Lesley Anne has launched a full-on marketing and sales campaign - she's been selling her books and handmade, beaded pagesavers at shows, giving readings and approaching the media. Her hard work has paid off and a review is due out in a national women's magazine this summer. In the meantime, an audio feature of Lesley reading from Finding Carla has been broadcast on local BBC radio stations. The scheme is open to everyone with a talent they want to showcase. Here's the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07xtgyr
Many authors struggle with self-promotion, so I'm in awe of Lesley's continued efforts to find new readers. The pay-off is more sales and glowing reviews from happy customers. Congratulations, Lesley! You can find out more about Lesley's novel from her website authorlesleyannebrown.co.uk

06/06/2024

😂😂😂

24/05/2024

Authors are lovely people, but for dramatic purposes, they sometimes want to make you cry. As you'll see from this glowing review of Finding Carla by Wrate's Publishing author Lesley Anne Brown, she brought a few tears to the reviewer's eyes. Congratulations, Lesley!

21/05/2024

Book marketing is often about playing the waiting game. Following the publication of A Week in the Pennines in 2022, Wrate’s Publishing author B.T. Fisher (Brenda) enlisted my help with her marketing campaign. As she is a long-time member of the Women’s Institute (Wadsworth branch, West Yorkshire), I contacted the Books Editor at WI Life Magazine, who said she was planning a feature on members who have become authors. Two years on, Brenda was thrilled with this lovely write up in the April edition, which also led to an upsurge in sales. Congratulations, Brenda! It was an honour to receive a mention in the article too!

10/05/2024

Here’s Wrate’s Publishing author Omar Bekhoukh with a copy of his debut novel, The Devious Plot. At 14, Omar is the youngest writer I have worked with and I was astounded by both his use of vocabulary and his vivid imagination. I hope he keeps up the writing as he has real talent. The Devious Plot follows the adventures of an ordinary boy called Hakim, who sets off on a perilous journey to other realms following the kidnapping of his parents by the notorious villain, The Ice King. It’s available from Amazon as a Kindle and paperback. Wishing Omar every success. 📖📕

14/03/2024

Here is Wrate's Publishing author David Griffiths with a copy of his newly published Young Adult novel How to Hear Ghosts. As an English teacher, David knows a thing or two about what makes a good story, and I have loved working with him on this one, which follows the main character Ollie after he moves in with his stage psychic uncle following the tragic death of his mum. David has managed to combine a gripping story with strong characterisation and a teenage protagonist who has both a sharp wit and a relatable vulnerability. Wishing David every success with his wonderful novel, which is available on Amazon as an eBook and paperback. And thank you Posters Bespoke for another cracking cover design.

26/01/2024

It was great to see this article in the members' magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry this week. Wrate's Publishing author Douglas Veal is a current member and used to work for the revered organisation, so they were quick to arrange an interview with him after receiving my press release about his debut novel The Grain of Circumstance. When marketing your book, think about what organisations you belong to and don't be afraid to approach them with the story behind your book. Alternatively, hire someone who will do this on your behalf.

16/01/2024

Here’s writer Judy Yorke with copies of her debut travel book Crowded Platforms and Window Seats: One Family’s Interrail Adventure. Judy is a fellow journalist, writing trainer and editor but this is her first foray into book writing. It was a pleasure to help her publish her manuscript and guide her through the process. Judy’s book is available on Amazon as an eBook and paperback. Congratulations, Judy!

21/12/2023

Contretemps
In the spirit of the festive season, when it’s so easy to lose track of what day it is, Word Wednesday comes to you on Thursday for a one-off special. This also gives me the opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and New Year, free of contretemps. I will be back on the first Wednesday of 2024. 🎉

15/12/2023

There can be a fine line between fiction and reality, as new Wrate's Publishing author Lesley Anne Brown shows here. Lesley was inspired by her own travels to write her novel, Finding Carla, which follows a woman in her 50s driving America's legendary Route 66 solo. As her character drives a very specific car, a 1960 red Corvette, we enlisted the talents of Posters Bespoke to illustrate the stunning cover. Following the publication of her book in November, Lesley jetted off to the US, where she found the very same car from her novel on display in a museum. I really enjoyed working on Lesley's story, which delves deep into the emotional shifts of the character while also providing a dose of fun escapism and a slice of American history - not an easy feat. Wishing Lesley every success during the rest of her author journey. Finding Carla is available on Amazon as an eBook or paperback.

13/12/2023

MacGuffin
Not to be confused with a McMuffin, one of the most famous examples of a MacGuffin in fiction is the statuette of a falcon in the 1929 detective novel The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

06/12/2023

Rizz
Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary has just named this their word of the year. It derives from charisma and went viral after the actor Tom Holland admitted to lacking it. Call me old fashioned, but I find charisma a far more charismatic word to have in my lexicon.

05/12/2023

Perfection!

Today’s poem is called ‘Book Group’.

01/12/2023

Here's new Wrate's Publishing author Dee Delaney with her incredible Truth is Within Trilogy, which is on sale now on Amazon as an eBook and paperback. Dee and I have been working together for several years after she approached me to edit the first book in her trilogy, My Journey to the Other Side. Her memoir was inspired by the spiritual journey she embarked on after the sudden deaths of her husband, father and three close friends forced her to reevaluate her life and confront her grief. She left England for a new life in India and then Bali and initially published her three books (all of which I edited) with a US company. Now back in the UK, Dee has re-released her trilogy with stunning new covers and content. It's always a pleasure to work with Dee and I'd recommend her books for anyone navigating the landscape of loss or exploring their spiritual side. To go with the launch, Dee also has a new website https://deedelaney.co.uk/ and is offering her services as a coach. Congratulations, Dee. I'm really looking forward to celebrating with you next week. x

29/11/2023

This word is generally used to describe a local wind that blows in places such as the Sahara, Jordan and Iraq. It moves in a circular form and temperatures can exceed 54 Celsius. Ouch!

22/11/2023

This lovely word appears in a new Wrate’s Publishing title that’s being officially launched next month, with many other great words also featuring. 😁

21/11/2023

Here’s new author Simon Cruickshank with a copy of his newly published memoir Happy Days and Wicked Ways. Simon covered a lot of ground in his book, including his early schooldays, music, poetry, becoming a father and, more recently, a significant health battle. He put hours into finessing his manuscript so I am absolutely delighted that he is so pleased with the final product, which he’s already receiving positive feedback on after going live on Amazon. Congratulations, Simon!

15/11/2023

Gynophobia
Now, this would make leaving the house difficult.

08/11/2023

Atemporal
Now here’s a word with a timeless quality.

02/11/2023

I recently had the pleasure of editing and publishing SoWhatIf by S E David. Writing under his real name, S E David is a prize-winning author of over a dozen children's novels. SoWhatIf is his first venture into adult fiction and follows the story of 20-something Reece, who finds a new life in the fictional US town of Doverville while on the run from his past. It's the kind of novel that has you thinking about the characters long after the story has concluded. The excellent cover was designed by Posters Bespoke, who, at the author's request, also worked on a bespoke title page, which, along with the cover, gives away one of the characters' main loves! SoWhatIf is currently available on Amazon as an eBook and paperback. Congratulations, S E David.

01/11/2023

Unctuous
Those who like my Word Wednesday posts are exceptionally intelligent (and I am not just being unctuous 😉).

25/10/2023

Drabble
A drabble is also a short work of fiction of precisely 100 words in length. 📝

18/10/2023

Vatic
This adjective derives from the Latin word ‘vates’, meaning ‘seer’ or ‘prophet’.

13/10/2023

This month marks ten years since I founded Wrate's Editing Services after buying a self-published book that was unreadable due to poor grammar, spelling and design (I still have it, still haven't read it!). Since then, I've added to the author services I provide and have revamped my website to reflect these changes. As well as new standalone services, including bespoke book illustration, an author discovery call and printing, I wanted to showcase the books I've had the pleasure of editing and publishing over the years and the stories of some of the authors I've worked with. So, please take a look at the new site and let me know what you think. And a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to helping me put it together. The Our Books page features every book I have published under my imprint Wrate's Publishing.

Publish your manuscript with the help of an experienced Self-Publishing editor in London.

11/10/2023

Opsimath
Love this ❤️

29/09/2023

I am over the moon with this fantastic review of Wrate's Publishing title The Grain of Circumstance in this week's South London Press. The author, Douglas Veal, who lives in Bromley, put hours of research and time into his debut novel, which is apparent in the incredible feedback he's receiving. Congratulations, Douglas.

27/09/2023

Caterwaul
I like this word purely because it’s not hard to remember which animal it’s referring to! 😻

15/09/2023

*it really should be "artist", not just writer!
QOTD: "Only a writer can make you fall madly in love with someone who doesn't exist." --Victoria Danes