It’s simple really, I have a book and no one to read it. If you’re not familiar with publishing you probably won’t know that persuading an agent or publisher to read past the name on the top of the cover letter for your manuscript is a near impossibility, believe me, I tried it. So, I’ve decided to look at things afresh and bring the idea to life in another, more interesting way. I have decided to approach you, the reader, direct. Perhaps I’m deluded and the novel is a load of rubbish, but at least this way, I’ll know I’ve tried and my work is not getting mouldy on a shelf.
So what am I doing?
My plan is to drop a 1000 copies of this book around London, San Francisco and other locations in all sorts of interesting places and ways, then get you to read it and tell me what you think here, on this website. After that, I want you to pass it on to increase the potential readership.
It’s all a bit of an experiment, I really don’t know where this will go but I think it should tell me a bit about whether I’m any good at writing at least and who knows, perhaps a publisher somewhere will read it and give it a second chance.
At this point I think it’s worth being clear; this is not a stunt by a publisher or agent, it’s just me, on my own, seeing how far an idea can go.
What I’d like you to do
Comment, here, start a discussion about anything to do with the book, plot, characters, motivation, anything. If you don’t fancy that just email me at schist@potential-energy.us and tell me what you think privately (you can download the pdf of the book here too if you need another copy).
Also, if you see this book somewhere really interesting then please take a picture and post it on the site and don’t forget to mark you’re location, I think it will be fascinating to see if all the copies end up in landfill or actually manage to have a life.
So, let’s make this city more interesting for a short while and join the ‘Potential Energy’ book drop.
Thanks
Schist
9 responses so far ↓
1 ricky // Jul 17, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Where can I get a copy (ie where’s the drop)
I’m in central london in the day (SW1)
and Forest Hill at night (SE23)
It’ll good to get a copy and pass it on to the rest of my team (Design & Editorial)
2 Benjamin // Jul 17, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Found you on cool hunting, wondering if you are going to drop in seattle washington? could you send us copies? would be great to get a hard copy! thanks
3 admin // Jul 17, 2008 at 6:13 pm
SF happening soon …
keep watching
4 Schist // Jul 17, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Seattle on it’s way…
5 Noel // Jul 18, 2008 at 5:34 am
Also found you through cool hunting, I’m in New Zealand and it would be cool to see the book turn up here
6 Spadea // Jul 18, 2008 at 11:37 am
Believe it or not, here’s a buddy in Singapore who’s interested to see the book running around here =) I can drop it somewhere at the local gallery/bistro if you wish.
7 n1n0 // Jul 18, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hi there. I picked my copy in Brick Lane and just started reading it, but never the less, the idea of approaching the readers directly, as an individual (not the jehovah witness or something), seems fantastic. F..k censorship! Will leave the comment when done. Best regards from Croatia.
8 Schist // Jul 18, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Hi n1no, great that you got a copy, hope you like it. Seems there might be a few people on the ‘pass on your copy’ page would like to hear from you once you’ve read it. Looking forward to your comments.
9 Hilary Cullen // May 25, 2009 at 10:53 am
Hi, we found a copy yesterday(24.5.09) outside the cricket pavilion in Marlow. Will comment further when we have read the book.
Hils and Bradley
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