How to Publish Your Book

Everyone has a book in them, or so the saying goes.  I have always been interested in writing, and around ten years ago even took a course in creative writing, but then did nothing with it.  A few years ago, I realised that the only way to become a writer, was to actually get on and WRITE SOMETHING!  I know that sounds daft, but until then I’d somehow magically thought that writing would come to me – it didn’t, so I knuckled down and took a look at my strengths and interests.

As I work part-time as a gardener, the subject was an obvious choice, and the first article I wrote was about onions.  I mean, who can’t grow onions, they’re so simple.  This article has gone on to be one of my best sellers, with feedback and comments a-plenty.  Since then, I’ve written on all sorts of subjects which interest me, not just gardening.  Some of these articles have done well, and some have yet to flourish, but just because they havn’t really taken off yet doesn’t mean they won’t do so.  A little tweak here and there, with a bit of rewriting and the article has a different slant and is off to another publisher.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is NEVER GIVE UP, there is a book inside everyone, or a magazine article, or a blog, but, you have to have a thickish skin.  Don’t be downhearted when your creative masterpiece is rejected, just think about how you can recreate the article and send it off on another journey.  In the few years that I’ve been sending my stuff out to publishers, I’ve had two children’s books published, several short magazine pieces and tons of online articles.  I’ve also added copywriting to my skills, and I actually tell people that I’m a writer now, whereas before I was too embarrassed to do so.  Since I’ve ‘come out’ so to speak, as a writer, it’s amazing how many people I meet say ‘Oh, I wish I could do that’ – guess what, they could, all they have to do is write!

How To Open a Small Business

In 2004, two friends, my partner and myself decided there had to be more to life than just working for the boss, and we decided to start our own business. Actually, it wasn’t quite as simple as that. We had many, many meetings together over many bottles of wine to decide what we could do. Eventually after several ideas we came up with the idea of opening our own continental cafe and chocolate shop, pictured to the right here? We had alot of skills between us, but were small business virgins so to speak and had to do a bit more thinking. We called our business The Chocolate Bar.

We set our business up from scratch, pooling our knowledge and resources and began expanding the business straight away. The Chocolate Bar paid my partner a salary and myself a small part-time salary. Our two friends remained in their other employment, but worked in the business part-time. They chose to take their money after selling up, which we did at the end of two years (with a decent profit for each of us), when the business was looking very solid and we were turning over in excess of £100,000pa. That’s alot of little chocolates and this is the story of how we did it.

If we can do it you can too, just think what your town needs, there will be as niche in the market somewhere.  The full article details how to go about starting your own small business from scratch, and gives useful information about how to promote you business online.  In particular the article gives tips on how to generate awesome, SAFE, backlinks to your site.

Stone Circle Site on Dartmoor

Autarky Dog Food – A Comparison of Hypoallergenic Dog Food

 Jack Russells, in common with many terriers, tend to have sensitive stomachs, as we quickly found out a few months after having Zebedee.  Every few days she would have green diarrhoea with mucus and blood, and so began a long process of trial and elimination of various dog foods.

We did alot of research in local pet shops and online, and eventually discovered what worked for Zeb, but it was a costly process in the meantime.  

We tried as many free samples as we could lay our hands on; typically, Zebedee would eat the food for a short while, but then, having bought a big bag of the stuff, she would turn up her nose.    We tried James Wellbeloved dog food and Oscars dog food also, which are both great hypoallergenic dog foods, but in the end, the VAT FREE, Autarky won.

Jack Russell Terriers

The Jack russel Terrier (JRT) is a principally white dog, with various markings. The breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK, only the Parson Russell is, so JRTs in the Uk are generally considered ‘mutts’.

Nevertheless these sparky little dogs do make great pets, and are fast becoming popular. However, they were bred for hunting, so there are several considerations to make before you embark on being owned by a JRT. The origins of the breed date back to John ‘Jack’ Russell, a Parson from Devon, born in 1795, who wanted a dog for hunting, and bought a little white bitch, called Trump, from his milkman. From Trump, he bred dogs for courage and stamina. It is highly unlikely that any JRTs today have any of the original ‘Trump’ lineage, as Parson Russell had to sell his dogs many times over during his life, as he hit on hard times. He died in 1883.

It’s important not to let your Jack Russell Terrier become too bored, as they are intelligent, inquisitive dogs and need alot of stimulation, but that is easily achieved with plenty of appropriate play and exercise.  If you’d like to learn more about suitable Jack Russell training toys, click here.

My Profile

For a long time I have had the dream of earning my living as a writer, and in 2009 discovered that the way to do this was to WRITE. 

So far I have published two children’s books, Archie-Parchie-Piddley-Poo, and the Tales of Zebedy-Do-Dah, as well as magazine articles, and short stories.  I am also slowly writing a Novel and have now added writing online to my skills.

The most important thing for a writer, I think, is to be curious about everything and everyone you come across.  I am interested, and will write articles on just about anything except maybe plate spinning and hang gliding (couldn’t do the research – too high up).  My main passions are: fine wine and dining, and all the accoutrements that go with it, early Catholic music, gardening, especially giving advice on how to grow stuff, and helping people to set up their own business, so they can start earning money for themselves.  I also like to write about my local community.

Moretonhampstead, Places to Visit

Moretonhampstead probably has the longest name in England – people who create forms, take note, we need more space in the boxes to write! There has been a settlement here since around 680 Ad, and the town was mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086, so already you can see that this is a place with alot of history.

In 1207 King John granted Moreton (as the place is usually called, the full name being too much of a mouthful) a charter, so that the town could have a market, the rent for which was one Sparrowhawk a year, history which is celebrated in the many sculptures about the town. Twelve years later, the nearby town of Chagford also set up a market in competition, and rivalry exists between the towns to this day, further encouraged in the Civil War, as Chagford supported the Cavaliers, whilst Moreton supported the Roundheads.

Best Garden Gifts – Top Five

Why stop at five? Good question, but actually having a limit on the number of things I could write about forced me to really look at the most important ones. I tend to be a bit like a kid in a sweet shop when it comes to gardening, so much so that I’m not allowed to the garden centre alone, and certainly not with my hot little hand on a debit card! The last time I went (earlier in the Autumn) I was accompanied by my partner (who supervised the money) and Son, who pushed the trolley; even then, I was only allowed to look at sale items. secretly I think they accompanied me mob- handed in case I needed restraining.

I’m writing this in November, so firstly, there’s not alot of gardening to be done, the weather is at its Dartmoor best, a mixture of low cloud, fog, rain and just above freezing, Secondly there’s the C-Word to consider – Christmas. It’s looming on the horizon, and as one of my passions is gardening I couldn’t resist sharing some of the things I have enjoyed receiving as a gift. I have sneaked in the tiniest thing I would like to receive and will be encouraging my family to READ THIS HUB!

Grow Organic carrots without Carrot Root Fly

So if you want to learn some really good tips, CLICK HERE to see the whole article.

Fine Dining

Fine Dining
Anyone who knows me, or has read my profile will know that I love fine food. My partner and I love eating out, so I thought I’d do a little review every time we do, so that readers can see what the places are like – warts and all.

Now I must admit to liking quite ‘cheffy’ food, which alot of my friends might call ‘poncey’, but to me that’s what fine dining is all about. we’re pretty good cooks at home, so when I go out I like to have food that I just wouldn’t produce in the kitchen, and a really good bottle of wine to go with it.

We do occasionally go out to a pub-grub kinda place, and I’ll review those too.

The Ring Of Bells North Bovey

The Ring of Bells Pub is situated in the picturesque village of North Bovey, close to Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor. The pub changed hands in 2008 and was refurbished. It is an old thatched building, dates remain vague, but some say the pub goes back to the 1200s; certainly a sign outside claims that its a 13th century pub.

The decor inside is what you’d expect to see from an old English pub, narrow corridoors, small rooms, lots of oak, very low ceilings and whitewashed walls. As with many coutry pubs, this one is dog friendly, so expect a few labradors, terriers and gundogs lolling about.

Because the rooms are ancient, they are quite small, so tables are close together and you have to work hard not to overhear your neighbour’s conversation. However, Dartmoor folk are a friendly lot, so you’ll likely as not have made friends with everyone in the room before you leave. Just be careful you don’t step in the dog’s bowl.

The Menu

All in all, we had a great meal here; good food, good wine, and as it turns out good company.  The price was reasonable too, so if youd like to FIND OUT MORE, just click on the highlighted words.  I’d certainly recommend trying this place.