Farmer Drama

Smashwords

 I've just spent a day and a half converting my book into a suitable format for the Smashwords website. This enables my book to be published in various ebook formats including .mobi format for the Kindle, Epub for ipod/iphone, PDF and others. It will be interesting to see how it takes off and whether it affects the sales of my paperback. I have a good feeling about it.  You can download a sample in any format here.

More copies available at Waterstones

Having checked again recently, I have discovered my book must be stocked by more branches of Waterstones than I imagined.  Currently it is available at Bracknell, Chelmsford, Edinburgh (which is encouraging as I took a copy in there and asked them to stock it), Glasgow, Leeds, Lincoln, Luton, Manchester, University of East Anglia, Slough, Wells, Worthing and York.  If the branches that stocked it last month are waiting for new copies, that makes 21 stores in the UK.  Think I'll keep an eye on this :)

Vanity Press

It was very exciting to receive my first bundle of paperbacks through the door.  Self-publishing is probably the final word in vanity, but in this case I was bolstered by the continuing demand and responses to my e-book.  Self-publishing means you don't have to deal with an agent or a publisher, but it does mean doing all your own proof-reading (with a little help from my friends).  I also designed my own cover.  All I need to do now is sell it.  Copies are sold through the Lulu site but I am also selling copies by post from home.  So I've been teaching myself a few tricks in Photoshop and have managed this graphic, which appears on my sales page.  If anyone has got any suggestions as to how I could improve my sales copy or anything else, do let me know.

Why is that so funny?

If you've ever wondered why you laugh in everyday situations, this entertaining book will tell you - and show you how to create comedic improvisation in rehearsal. John Wright was the co-creator of Trestle Theatre and Told by an Idiot. He has worked with leading companies including Complicite, the RSC, the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House.

The depth of his experience is immediately apparent in these pages as he shares practical exercises, stories and observations of his life and work. Over a hundred exercises are clearly explained, taking the reader through techniques developed by LeCoq, Gaulier and the author, with relevant examples from contemporary theatre and literature. The book is jam-packed with highly readable accounts of shows, rehearsals and life experiences which have helped shape Wright's approach.

You can dip into it easily to pick up ideas for creating one of the simplest yet often elusive moments in theatre - the laugh. Highly recommended for anyone working in physical theatre or comedy, it will leave you itching to get back into the rehearsal room.

You can read more about John Wright and his current show The Evocation of Papa Mas in this interview, where you can also win a copy of his book!