The Times

16 January 2014 by Russell Blake Published in: Uncategorized 16 comments

Just a quick note as I head out the door to a meeting (code for happy hour).

A friend of mine just sent me a feature in The Times (UK) wherein that venerable paper discusses whose shirts I wear and what I think of the price of tea.

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NEWS: An in-depth interview with yours truly on my process, how much tequila I can drink, and other pressing questions.

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It’s actually an interesting take. I didn’t realize Barbara Cartland churned out books nearly as fast as I have. Learn something new every day.

For the record, I also never said that traditional publishers were elitist swine (certainly they’re no worse than me, which isn’t saying a lot). What I said was that I decided to go the indie route because I didn’t have the patience to wait years to see my books in print, and that it was part of the reality of traditional publishing.

A good piece. You can see it here:

http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/FrauleinWein/media/IMG_20140116_103629464.jpg.html

Comments

Ken

Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 2:51 pm
Read The Times article. Did someone interview you for this? It reads like a retread piece from the WSJ article. Interesting that the writer, Rhys Blakely, states that you never had a publisher. What I think Rhys meant was that you haven’t as yet had a traditional publisher. You are, in essence, running your own publishing company. Hopefully, besides putting more emphasis on your detail to plot and character development, future pieces will focus on the many hats you wear including all the business acumen you possess.
Reply
- Russell Blake – Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 5:51 pm
  Thanks, Ken.
  
  I spoke at some length with Rhys, who was charming and gracious. I know newspapers are always very tight on word count, so perhaps the editor left the word “traditional” publisher on the cutting room floor.
  
  I have a few interviews coming up that speak more to craft and less on the sensationalistic aspects of my publishing schedule. Still, I’m grateful for all the articles. My philosophy’s “as long as they spell your pseudonym right…”
  Reply
Carrie Parks

Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 6:14 pm
An older man stopped me on my read/walk today when his cocker spaniel came to check me out. We talked books and he mentioned liking adventure and Cussler, so you may be having one more customer pre-ordering your new co-authored book. Kinda inconsequential but I figured I’d mention it anyway. I plan on trying to get my local library to order them as well. No way I could get all your books at once!
Reply
- Russell Blake – Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 6:29 pm
  Thanks Carrie. Every little bit counts! Although it’s not impossible that the older man was a letch who’d trained his dog to accost young women. Cockers are pretty smart. Still, if I get a book sale out of it…
  Reply
yoon

Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 9:42 pm
I’m still reeling about you lying to me about how you hated your name Russell when you were young. From now on, I’m going to just call you Books since I don’t want to call you Russell and Craig probably isn’t your real name either.
Reply
- Russell Blake – Thu 16th Jan 2014 at 11:54 pm
  Still bitter about the Wall St Journal fame, I see. Don’t be bitter. Life’s too short. And remember, I do get paid to lie. Can’t blame a scorpion for being a scorpion…
  Reply
  - yoon – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 12:20 am
    I already did. And I do. And will continue to blame the scorpion. And yes I’m bitter, Books. Which made me eat a lot. I’m getting fatter. For which I blame the scorpion.
    Reply
    - Russell Blake – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 1:30 am
      Perhaps a nice, slightly used eating disorder can trim the pounds? Or maybe a tapeworm?
      
      Just trying to help. Although you may certainly blame me for your newfound celebrity.
      Reply
      - yoon – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 2:15 pm
        Eww Eww Eww Eww Eww
        My Foster had tapeworms when I first got him. One of the most disgusting things I’ve seen. I couldn’t get an appointment with the vet the day I found out and she wouldn’t see him immediately because “it’s just worms” even though they only needed to give one friggin pill, so I took him to an emergency clinic.
      - Russell Blake – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 2:52 pm
        Yikes. Then again, the weight just drops off. Nothing in life’s free…
  - carrie – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 12:53 am
    “The dog was named Indiana.”
    
    Some names you choose, some choose you, its how creative you are in how you choose to deal with it. I make Scary Carrie work.
    Reply
- T I WADE – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 4:39 pm
  Come to think of it, I wonder who I had drinks with in half the bars in Baja last year?
  It wasn’t Jet, wrong sex and I’m sure she is pretty! The guy I had beers with wasn’t. It wasn’t a property developer, or was it? I wasn’t buying property, so it was a Realtor. Or is my creative writing mind wandering again? I wonder if I was actually in Mexico at all?
  Reply
  - T I WADE – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 8:12 pm
    Thanks God, for the edit!
    Reply
Kim Cano

Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 11:10 am
Awesome feature! I’ll bet this will be great for UK book sales. Soon you’ll be invited to tea with the royal family.
Reply
- Russell Blake – Fri 17th Jan 2014 at 12:00 pm
  Can’t complain, although newspaper articles don’t necessarily correlate to sales, unfortunately. Apparently those browsing for ebooks don’t necessarily browse the highbrow papers for their recommendations… More’s the pity.
  Reply
  - Kim Cano – Sat 18th Jan 2014 at 12:27 am
    I just had a funny thought. After all this publicity I’ll bet a bunch of people are buying How To Sell a Gazillon eBooks. They probably won’t get your sense of humor. Just thinking of their puzzled expressions has me laughing like a maniac all over again.
    Reply