The CBB :: View topic - Chalet School Christmas Story Book

through

[^/[^Print]\]

The CBB -> Anything Else

#1: Chalet School Christmas Story Book Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:48 pm
—
Amazon have sent me an e-mail asking if I'd like to pre-order this book - details here. Does anyone know anything about it - is it likely to be good?

Ta muchly Very Happy

.

ETA - ah, just looked on the GGBP site which is what I should've done to start with! It's here Very Happy

.

Last edited by Alison H on Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:50 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:50 pm
—
Well, I ordered it! I'm going to be here for Christmas, so I thought I'd buy it to read over Christmas when it's hot and sunny here, so that I can get into the Christmas spirit!

#3: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:46 pm
—
I ordered it too. It says that it will be published in early October so I'm impatiently waiting for it!

#4: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:03 pm
—
CarolynP has a story in it.

#5: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:41 pm
—
I'm looking forward to this too! I would prefer them to republish a rare title than to spend time/money in this kind of venture, but I'm still going to be looking forward to it and reading it Very Happy

#6: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:07 pm
—
I wonder if there's been a lot of people missing the annual, and this is one way around it.

#7: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:04 am
—
I think it's seen as a new idea, as there isn't an annual this year. I suspect it's going to be a one off - although maybe they will come up with a new idea for next year.

I have a story in it, as does KB - it's a mix of new stories, stories previously written for FOCS but not seen by many newer readers, and some bits of EBD writing - and we had an email from Ruth to say the copies have begun arriving from the publishers, so shipping should start soon - depending on the postal strikes.

I can't wait to see my copy!

Very Happy

#8: Author: JackieP, Location: Kingston upon Hull

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:35 am
—
I got the Amazon E-mail today (as an Amazon user who has bought or rated books by Pat Willimott Smile

)

Am tempted - need to decide what I want for Christmas this year...

JackieP

#9: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:15 pm
—
Mine's in the post from Topsy-Turvy, and I totally can't WAIT. Bother the postal strike!

#10: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:36 pm
—
Not fair Evil or Very Mad

I have to wait till Christmas Day

#11: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:49 pm
—
I have my copy already. And I must say it looks rather shiny and exciting.
(and a good showing of CBBers too! 4 contributions in there by my calculations. Very Happy

)

#12: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:27 am
—
Has everybody who pre-ordered this book got their copy yet? Mine hasn't arrive, though my copy of Goblin Island arrived last week and I know they ere being posted out at about the same time.

I don't want to pester GGBP unless I have to as I know post is taking longer thanks to the backlog from the strikes.

#13: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:54 am
—
I've got my author's copy - it arrived last week - but I haven't got the copy-I-ordered-and-paid-for-when-I-didn't-know-I'd-be-getting-a-free-one... Very Happy

I'm guessing at the moment that's the post being slow rather than any GGBP error. Apparently, the strike-related backlog is huge...

It's very shiny, by the way, although the red titles on a green background on the cover makes my eyes go funny.

#14: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:15 pm
—
At least it's not just me! I knew the backlog was huge, as I have friends whose husbands are postmen, hence not wanting to pester GGBP. If they have been posted and are lurking in a warehouse somewhere, A&C would probably start worrying needlessly. I got something yesterday which had been posted at the beginning of October Shocked

which shows how slow everything is. Funny though, the bills make it through no problem Laughing

#15: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:12 pm
—
I'm pretty sure most copies were mailed out between the two sets of strikes and I got mine (overseas) at the end of last week. Given what I've heard about the Royal Mail pile-ups, I'd think they are lurking in sorting houses and will arrive eventually.

Also just FYI, Girls Gone By are on holiday from October 19 - 29, so won't be dealing with any e-mails they may receive until the 29th. Just in case anyone has e-mailed them and not received a response, that's the reason.

Hope this helps.

#16: Author: Sugar, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:37 pm
—
Mine arrived yesterday - via Caroline O'S Laughing

#17: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:10 pm
—
Mine, ordered from Topsy-Turvy, arrived today.

#18: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:00 am
—
I've got my copy and stupidly told SLOC to hide it until Christmas. He took it to work! How mean is that - what if I change my mind and want to read it earlier?

#19: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:49 pm
—
Mine hasn't come yet, but I'm not holding my breath - not only is there the English postal system to think about, but during Ramadan here a big backlog of post piles up. As long as it's here by Christmas, I don't mind!

#20: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:34 pm
—
Mine came today - somebody at the Royal Mail must read the CBB Laughing

I opened it, had a quick flick through to look at the pictures and then decided at the last minute to give it to my dad to put away for Christmas. It's amazing how clever my cats are when it comes to Christmas shopping Laughing

#21: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:35 pm
—
I got my author's copy early last week and have read it through cover-to-cover twice... Embarassed

#22: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:08 pm
—
I've read mine through once, and wish to congratulate all the authors! Excellent quality - mostly far, far above what we read on this board, although one or two authors maintain the same high standards on this board as they do when writing for publication!

Looking forward to reading it again at Christmas.

#23: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:07 pm
—

Mrs Redboots wrote:

I've read mine through once, and wish to congratulate all the authors! Excellent quality - mostly far, far above what we read on this board, although one or two authors maintain the same high standards on this board as they do when writing for publication!

I think there is a lot of good quality fic on the CBB actually.

#24: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:23 pm
—
I think there's a lot of good quality fic on here as well.

I'm sure the Christmas book is brilliant but sadly my copy hasn't arrived yet Crying or Very sad

. I've just been reading in the paper that there've been earlier than usual snowfalls in the Austrian Alps and it made me think of all the lovely winter scenes in the Tyrol books, and I really want my Christmas book now Laughing

#25: Author: Sugar, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:44 pm
—

Mia wrote:

Mrs Redboots wrote:

I think there is a lot of good quality fic on the CBB actually.

Yes I totally agree with Mia, and the thing is, at least FOUR of the authors are members of this board, who write drabbles/fan fiction/whatever you want to call it.

The thing with the publication is it was edited rigorously and altered by GGBP as all their books are.

There are at least 8 published (or soon to be published) writers on the board, who in the majority of cases would never have started writing a book without the encouragent of the board, and some of the talent seen in the Fiction Houses deserves to be published.

#26: Author: Travellers Joy, Location: Middle of Nowhere

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:21 am
—

Sugar wrote:

I'm curious: do you think the stories shouldn't have been edited? It sounds as though you think editing is a bad thing. I've had both fiction and non-fiction published by various magazines and publishers, both here and overseas, and I've never yet not been edited - to varying degrees. (I can't say that I've always been happy with the edits and sometimes I've fought hard and had to give in - and later had to admit that actually, the editor was right! Embarassed

But it's all part of the process of being published.)

As for altered: I had previously read a number of the stories in the FOCS annuals and I can't see that any of them were altered radically for the book. Edited, yes; tightened and polished, certainly; but they are better stories for it. And isn't that what writers want? The best stories they can produce?

#27: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:29 am
—
I think what Sugar means is that of course a story which has gone through an editing process is going to be better than something which the author has written quickly in a little square box during one's lunch break for fun. It is well-known that GGBP and Bettany Press ask authors for consistency of style. I am speaking for myself naturally when I talk about posting quickly. Other people take more time with their fic, use a beta reader and their fic is the better for it.

When I write something that will be published through my work (tax communications, alas) it is edited properly and I have a completely different approach. I, like 99.9% of people on here, write fanfic for FUN not profit.

As a mod, I would like to ask people to remember that if people were not prepared to give their time to write fanfic, we would have a much smaller and less lively forum, and could people please remember the rules about posting in a polite and well-mannered way.

#28: Author: Travellers Joy, Location: Middle of Nowhere

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:10 am
—
That all makes sense, Mia, and I entirely agree with you. Thanks for clarifying and I apologise if I misunderstood Sugar's comments.

#29: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:43 am
—

Alison H wrote:

I I've just been reading in the paper that there've been earlier than usual snowfalls in the Austrian Alps and it made me think of all the lovely winter scenes in the Tyrol books

Don't forget this site:

http://www.achensee.info/home/panorama_de.html?_subarea=361881&_season=at1

So you can watch when it snows!

#30: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:02 am
—
No probs, Travellers Joy Very Happy

#31: Author: Travellers Joy, Location: Middle of Nowhere

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:05 am
—

Mia wrote:

No probs, Travellers Joy Very Happy

Feel free to call me TJ. Laughing

#32: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:37 am
—

Mia wrote:

Mrs Redboots wrote:

I think there is a lot of good quality fic on the CBB actually.

There is indeed, and I didn't mean to imply there wasn't. But, as others have quite rightly pointed out, stories for publication are rewritten and polished and edited until they are the absolute best a writer can do - whereas we often (I certainly do, and I'm sure I'm not the only one) post on here rather faster than is possibly wise... there are a couple of places in some of my fics that just beg to be rewritten.

#33: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:17 pm
—

Mia wrote:

I think what Sugar means is that of course a story which has gone through an editing process is going to be better than something which the author has written quickly in a little square box during one's lunch break for fun.

I'm afraid some of us spend a great deal more time than that before we dare post anything on the board, Mia! Laughing

A heck of a lot more time, sadly - pruning and re-writing. I agree with you, though, about there being lots of good stuff on the board.

And as to editing, I've just had two stories edited for FOCS magazines, (plus one that was printed in Xmas mag last year Embarassed

) and it is indeed, in most cases, just tightening things up, for a short story. Or at least that has been my experience, limited as it is.

#34: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:23 pm
—
Mary, if you see my post I said I was referring only to myself. Wink

Quote:

I am speaking for myself naturally when I talk about posting quickly. Other people take more time with their fic, use a beta reader and their fic is the better for it.

Last edited by Mia on Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

#35: Author: Rosalin, Location: Swansea

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:24 pm
—
You're certainly not the only one though Embarassed

#36: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:29 pm
—

Mia wrote:

Mary, if you see my post I said I was referring only to myself. Wink

No sweat, Mia. Laughing

I was just having a good laugh at the ease with which some people seem to be able to write. I must be getting old! Twisted Evil

#37: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:37 pm
—
I'm almost finished the book and am enjoying it very much. Can someone please tell me which of the stories are the ones that were especially commissioned for it?

#38: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:26 am
—
Macyrose, if you have a look towards the back of the book there is a page with the list of books titles and copyright years. Anything with more than one date has previously appeared in an FOCS annual or other magazine. Those with only a 2007 were commissioned for the book.

#39: Author: macyrose, Location: Great White North (Canada)

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:59 pm
—
Thanks, KB, I've just done so.

The CBB -> Anything Else

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1