Jane Buckley's Blog: Is Self-Publishing a failure?

Recently, I had the pleasure of picking the brains of Colin Bateman, one of Northern Ireland’s most successful and popular authors. Born and raised in Bangor, a seaside town in County Down, he worked as a journalist for several years before turning to fiction writing.

Bateman has written a diverse range of works, including crime fiction, black comedies, and young adult fiction. He is best known for his crime fiction series featuring the character of Dan Starkey; a journalist turned amateur detective. Bateman's novels are characterised by their sharp wit, dark humour, and intricate plotting. He has been awarded numerous literary awards, and his works have been adapted for television and radio – so you can imagine my excitement when he was willing to answer a few questions for me about publishing!

This will be particularly useful to those of you who, like me, believe in the story that you have to share and are navigating the fickle world of publishing…

What is your experience in dealing with agents and publishers?

“Most publishers only take books from agents. Agents are very hard to get. They get sent a lot of stuff and all you can do is keep plugging away! Hopefully, without sounding too glib, the secret to getting published is...there is no secret.  It's just a mixture of luck and talent and perseverance.  My first novel took three years to find a publisher.  My most recent two remain unpublished. You would think with so many novels - more than ever - being published it might be easier, but it just doesn't seem to be.”

How do you feel about self-publishing?

“I’ve done it.  Self-publishing in print is expensive. Self-publishing on Kindle etc. is free.  But you must put a lot of time into marketing yourself to make it worthwhile. That's not my strong point. Most publishers won't consider a book that's been out on Kindle.  But then again, most publishers will either pay you no advance, or a very small one because the days of big advances are gone. They also keep more than 90 per cent of what your book sells for - whereas with Kindle you keep nearly everything.”

Do you have any tips on time management?

“Well, it's my job, so I do it all day.  But the important thing for me is/was writing something every day because I'm basically lazy and need to get into a rhythm.   Even if it's only for twenty minutes.  Turn the TV off and write something.  It then builds up and gets its own momentum. Eventually, you get a book.”

I believe the story I'm telling might find more favour as a TV series, how realistic is this?

“I don't think you’d have much luck setting up a TV series from an unpublished novel - though I am currently trying exactly this.  It depends on what you love doing. If it's novels, stick to novels. If you want to have a crack at writing it as a screenplay, why not?  There are lots of screenplay formatting packages you can download, though the industry standard one is called Final Draft, which I use.”

I simply decided one day to write a book! How important is it to have had training or professional experience in writing to become successful? 

“It has nothing to do with training or experience. It's entirely to do with the quality of the book. That doesn't mean it has to be 'literature'.  Publishing is a business like any other - if they think there's money in it, they will go for it. It's all about sales.”

Jane Buckley

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Thursday, 27 Nov 2025

Set in Derry in 1972, the first installment of Jane Buckley’s Stones Corner series takes readers back to a city under siege — soldiers on the streets, families divided, and a community trying to hold on to ordinary life amidst extraordinary times. Through the eyes of factory girls, soldiers, and mothers, Buckley tells the story of those who endured the chaos, with courage, wit and an unbreakable spirit.

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I’m really looking forward to attending Ireland’s Publishing Show 2026, and not just for the talks and workshops, though they’re always brilliant.

Events like this matter because they bring people together. Writers, publishers, editors, designers, marketers, all in one place, sharing experiences and learning from one another.

For Oakleaf Press, networking is not about business cards and quick chats. It’s about conversations. Listening to writers talk about their ideas, their struggles, their half written novels and their very real hopes of seeing a book out in the world. Many writers are working quietly, often alone, unsure where to turn next. That’s where these gatherings become so important.

Ireland’s Publishing Show creates space for those conversations to happen naturally. Over coffee, between sessions, at the back of a room, or during a slightly lively St Patrick’s Day chat. It’s often in those moments that writers realise they are not on their own, and that support does exist.

Oakleaf Press was built to support authors through the publishing process, from first draft to finished book and beyond. Meeting writers face to face helps us understand what they really need, whether that is guidance, reassurance, practical help, or simply someone to say, yes, this is possible.

I’m looking forward to meeting new writers, catching up with familiar faces, and coming home inspired, with new ideas and new connections. That sense of shared purpose is what keeps this industry alive.

If you’re attending, do say hello. I’d love to chat.

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The Project Children Story is a deeply human account of one of the most extraordinary and compassionate responses to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

From the mid 1970s, thousands of children from across the North were quietly lifted out of violence, fear, and daily tension, and brought to the United States for weeks of peace, fresh air, and ordinary childhood. They were welcomed into homes by strangers who became family, often for life. For many, it was the first time they had ever slept without listening for sirens, helicopters, or rioting in the streets.

This book tells that story through the voices of the children themselves, now adults, alongside host families, coordinators, and volunteers who gave their summers, their homes, and their hearts. It traces childhood in the shadow of conflict, the shock and wonder of America, and the long echoes those experiences left behind, shaping lives, careers, relationships, and identities in ways that are still felt decades later.

What emerges is not nostalgia, nor sentimentality, but something far more powerful. Stories that are sometimes heart wrenchingly funny, sometimes quietly devastating, and often life changing. Stories about kindness, courage, confusion, culture shock, and connection. Stories about what happens when ordinary people decide to do something extraordinary.

Written with care, honesty, and respect, The Project Children Story is as much about humanity as it is about history. It is a record of what was endured, what was given, and what it meant, then and now.

Coming autumn 2026 from Oakleaf Press.

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Letterkenny Literature Festival
Friday 17 October 2025
19:00 20:00

Discussing why I write, how and my next book the Project Children Story due for publication 2026!

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Feile Belfast
Thursday 7 August 2025
19:00 20:00
St Galls GAC
14 Milltown Row Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 6EP

I can’t wait for this! If you’re curious about our past, hungry for the truth, or just love a hard-hitting tale with a powerful love story at its heart, then this is for you. Join me for a wonderful night of laughs, craic and memories.

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John Hewitt Society
Thursday 31 July 2025
19:00 20:00

Panel Discussion: Beyond Traditional Routes, Independent Publishing: Sue Divin, Jane Buckley,

James Simpson and Angeline King

Source: VisitArmagh.com

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Latest Press Release

Bridging Divides: How an Inspiring Idea Became Project Children
From Rockchapel to Reconciliation: The Journey of ‘Project Children’

By Yvonne Reddin/Jane Buckley

Over 50 years ago in New York, a conversation between Patrick Mulcahy and his wife Kathleen sparked an idea to help children from Northern Ireland by bringing them to host families in America. Patrick then pitched the idea to his family, and the planning began.

Together with his siblings Denis, John, and Tom, Patrick decided to do something constructive after seeing footage of the Troubles on television. Initially, there was some resistance in the community due to the inclusion of Protestant children, but they pressed on. The initiative evolved into the volunteer-run ‘Project Children.’

In the summer of 1975, after Patrick and his wife returned to Ireland, Denis and his wife Miriam took over the project. Under their leadership, it continued to grow. They brought the first six children to Greenwood Lake in New York.
Project Children became a charity dedicated to fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland by bringing children from divided communities to live together and experience life in America. Over the years, more than 23,000 children were brought to America for six-week holidays, some as young as eight. The Mulcahy family hails from Rockchapel, County Cork, where their roots are deeply embedded in the local culture. With its rich history and a strong sense of community, Cork played a significant role in shaping the Mulcahys’ early experiences and values. Denis emigrated to the United States in 1962 and joined the New York City Police Department in 1969.
Motivated by the struggles in Northern Ireland, Denis used his background to help advance the initiative, giving young people the opportunity for personal growth and cross-community friendships. His work has been recognised worldwide, highlighting his dedication to peace-building and intercultural understanding.

Denis received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life. In 1993, Ireland’s President Mary Robinson presented him with the ‘Irish Voice’s Community Person of the Year Award. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 and 1993 and was a runner-up to Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. Denis was named one of the top 100 Irish Americans of the Year in 1994 and was a guest of President Clinton at the St Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House. He also received the ‘Top Cop Award’ from Vice President Al Gore and met President Clinton in the Oval Office in 1995.
In 2016, How to Defuse a Bomb: The Project Children Story, a documentary narrated by Liam Neeson and featuring contributions from Bill Clinton, was produced. The film aired on RTE and BBC, showcased Mulcahy’s work promoting peace and reconciliation and highlighted Project Children’s impact on Northern Ireland.

To commemorate Project Children’s 50th anniversary, the organisation has formed a cultural partnership with Monaghan County Council and the Peace Campus in Monaghan town. This collaboration focuses on promoting cross-community peace initiatives throughout Ireland.

Denis Mulcahy, Chairman and Co-Founder of Project Children, said, ‘I am very pleased with our partnership with Monaghan County Council, and it’s an honour to continue our 50-year legacy at the Monaghan Peace Campus.’
Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, shared, ‘The Cultural Partnership between Monaghan County Council and Project Children will create a lasting legacy for the people of Monaghan and the surrounding region.’
Liam Bradley, Curator of Monaghan County Museum, added, ‘The museum is proud to be the new home of the Project Children story. I look forward to working with Project Children as we continue to explore and celebrate this programme’s remarkable legacy.’

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, Derry-born author Jane Buckley has been commissioned to write the history of Project Children, including its origins, the Project Children Intern Programme, and the ongoing Mulcahy Scholarship. The book, set for release in 2026, will highlight the program’s significant impact on the lives of many children.

From an out-of-the-blue conversation between man and wife to establishing a peace campus, the Project Children journey exemplifies how one’s roots can ignite a lifelong commitment to fostering positive change. With the Monaghan Peace Campus archives and the upcoming book, Project Children’s milestones will be preserved and accessible for future generations.

A special screening of the Project Children: ‘How to Defuse a Bomb’ produced by Alleycat Productions was held on Thursday, 10th April, from 5.30 pm at the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry.

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Contact Jane Buckley for comments or quotes by emailing hello@oakleafpress.co.uk

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