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Almost an Author
When a chance meeting with a local publisher outside a small bookshop results in all three of her manuscripts being signed, Ruby Wright thinks she has it made. Already she sees images of herself wearing dark glasses, being mobbed by fans clamouring for her latest blockbuster…
Little does Ruby know, but her ditsy publisher is a charlatan who has no more idea about publishing than Ruby does. Pretty soon Ruby is broke. She has no IT experience so depends heavily on her nerdy flatmate, Hunter, whenever her computer fails her. He has enough of his own issues to deal with—he is studying for his final law exams. She bribes him with a dog she found on the side of the road, then Panforte, which chips his tooth, and a couple of Axolotls until he finally gives in and helps her. But Ruby’s life is filled with disaster…
What follows is excitement, disappointment, heartache, love and loss as we follow Ruby’s hilarious struggles to maintain her trust and focus in the ever-shifting publishing industry and in people in general.
Little does Ruby know, but her ditsy publisher is a charlatan who has no more idea about publishing than Ruby does. Pretty soon Ruby is broke. She has no IT experience so depends heavily on her nerdy flatmate, Hunter, whenever her computer fails her. He has enough of his own issues to deal with—he is studying for his final law exams. She bribes him with a dog she found on the side of the road, then Panforte, which chips his tooth, and a couple of Axolotls until he finally gives in and helps her. But Ruby’s life is filled with disaster…
What follows is excitement, disappointment, heartache, love and loss as we follow Ruby’s hilarious struggles to maintain her trust and focus in the ever-shifting publishing industry and in people in general.
- GenresHumor
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2018
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Susan Tarr
9 books151 followersWhat a life I have had so far!
I arrived on the shores of Kenya, East Africa, in a 28ft yacht, and traveled Europe from there. While in Kenya, I contracted cerebral meningitis from swimming in foul water, off the side of the yacht. That stopped me in my tracks for many years. And I had 2 emergency Caesarians, one without anaesthetic. Whilst in Kenya, I was arrested for treason...but that's another story. I came home to NZ because my youngest daughter was paralyzed. But I couldn't get my Anna out of Kenya because she was not on a passport. So with the NZ embassy, we contrived a passport for her, flew it to Switzerland via AirNZ, where a pilot carried it into Kenya. Little Anna was waiting at Nairobi airport with a glue stick and a passport pic. Once we'd settled back in New Zealand, we traveled to USA since we then owned an international yacht charter and motor home company with bases and boats in Fiji, Tonga, Australia and NZ. So much stuff I could put in a book but so little time...
Writing in several different genres comes naturally to me. I tend to have several books on the go at any one time, so I can flip-flop between them when the mood takes me.
I arrived on the shores of Kenya, East Africa, in a 28ft yacht, and traveled Europe from there. While in Kenya, I contracted cerebral meningitis from swimming in foul water, off the side of the yacht. That stopped me in my tracks for many years. And I had 2 emergency Caesarians, one without anaesthetic. Whilst in Kenya, I was arrested for treason...but that's another story. I came home to NZ because my youngest daughter was paralyzed. But I couldn't get my Anna out of Kenya because she was not on a passport. So with the NZ embassy, we contrived a passport for her, flew it to Switzerland via AirNZ, where a pilot carried it into Kenya. Little Anna was waiting at Nairobi airport with a glue stick and a passport pic. Once we'd settled back in New Zealand, we traveled to USA since we then owned an international yacht charter and motor home company with bases and boats in Fiji, Tonga, Australia and NZ. So much stuff I could put in a book but so little time...
Writing in several different genres comes naturally to me. I tend to have several books on the go at any one time, so I can flip-flop between them when the mood takes me.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 22, 2018
Ruby writes ..and she writes ... and she writes. She happens to meet a local publisher who decides to sign all of her manuscripts. In her mind, Ruby sees all her dreams coming true.
But the publisher isn't exactly what she says she is. She's an imposter out to make a quick buck or two. Ruby doesn't quite understand the publishing business and finds that her publisher is charging her all kinds of money ... for all kinds of things.
When she gets to the point that she can't pay the rent, she takes in a roommate, Hunter, who is a computer nerd. He's studying for his law degree, and Ruby wants his expertise in computers to help her out.
What follows is Ruby's out-of-control life. She's going to experience highs and lows, love and anger and frustration, and loss.
Ruby takes it all in with humor most of the time. Some of the conversations with Hunter are hilarious. She gifts him with a mangy dog that followed her home one day. He does not like this dog, but can't turn him out, either. She cajoles, bribes, promises just about anything to make it as an author.
It's a sometimes sad and sometimes funny look at the publishing business through Ruby's eyes. I laughed out loud at most of her shenanigans and wanted to cry at others. Ruby is never going to quit no matter what. Hunter turned into a really decent character. He started out as a humbug ... and just wanted to be left alone. But he does feel some empathy for Ruby, even if he doesn't quite appreciate the gift of a dog.
Many thanks to the author / Books n All Promotions / Jill Burkinshaw / Junction Publishing for the digital copy of this romantic comedy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3.5 stars
September 29, 2018
Ruby is an author trying to make her way in the minefield that is publishing. She meets up with Barbara by chance outside a bookshop. I haven't decided if Barbara is a wannabe agent or a con woman out to rip off struggling authors. Either way what follows is a rocky road of twists and turns, laughter and tears.
Ruby is a likeable character although very scatty and her life is a car crash as she pings from one thing to another to try to make ends meet while still finding time to write. She rents a room to Hunter to help with the bills. Hunter is very nerdy and unreliable and tends to go AWOL with no notice. During one of Hunter's absenses Ruby moves next door to James. Enter another weirdo to make up the threesome (oops I forgot the strange dog that fell off the back of a lorry).
This is an amusing book that keeps the reader turning the pages. It is marketed as romantic comedy but if you are looking for steamy sex scenes and lovey dovey you will be disappointed. This is more loving friendship and learning to live with each others quirky behaviour.
A really good read to cuddle up in bed with.
Ruby is a likeable character although very scatty and her life is a car crash as she pings from one thing to another to try to make ends meet while still finding time to write. She rents a room to Hunter to help with the bills. Hunter is very nerdy and unreliable and tends to go AWOL with no notice. During one of Hunter's absenses Ruby moves next door to James. Enter another weirdo to make up the threesome (oops I forgot the strange dog that fell off the back of a lorry).
This is an amusing book that keeps the reader turning the pages. It is marketed as romantic comedy but if you are looking for steamy sex scenes and lovey dovey you will be disappointed. This is more loving friendship and learning to live with each others quirky behaviour.
A really good read to cuddle up in bed with.
September 23, 2018
Ruby Wright wants to live up to her name and become a writer. She produces three manuscripts and begins the hunt for a publisher. She meets an alleged publisher outside a bookshop and is overwhelmed when she takes all three manuscripts, promising fame and fortune. But Banning Books aren't the publishers which they pretend to be and Ruby ends up paying to have her books published. She ends up short of money and takes in a computer nerd, Hunter, as a flatmate to help with the finances as well as her woefully unimpressive computer skills. He keeps disappearing but always turns up again to help Ruby in her hour of need.
Ruby is very scatty, incapable of running a house but very persistent and incredibly focused as far as her dreams are concerned. She learns how to promote her books and slowly begins to turn her situation around. As a character, Ruby is very believable although I would find it impossible to live with her - I can sit back and laugh at her antics when they are between the pages of a book, but I would be contemplating getting rid of her if she lived with me!
Any aspiring author will fully understand Ruby's dreams and her fear of failure. I read Ruby's tale with my fingers crossed that she would, eventually, find a publisher who would fulfil her dreams. A very enjoyable tale.
Ruby is very scatty, incapable of running a house but very persistent and incredibly focused as far as her dreams are concerned. She learns how to promote her books and slowly begins to turn her situation around. As a character, Ruby is very believable although I would find it impossible to live with her - I can sit back and laugh at her antics when they are between the pages of a book, but I would be contemplating getting rid of her if she lived with me!
Any aspiring author will fully understand Ruby's dreams and her fear of failure. I read Ruby's tale with my fingers crossed that she would, eventually, find a publisher who would fulfil her dreams. A very enjoyable tale.
October 1, 2018
I have a confession to make- yes yet another one. Prior to being invited on the blog tour for ‘Almost An Author’ , I haven’t come across Susan Tarr before. Big mistake. Well I have certainly heard of her now. ‘Almost An Author’ is certain a great introduction to her work. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
I alternated between wanting to hug Ruby Wright and wanting to slap her with a wet fish. She is one ambitious woman, who has a dream of becoming a best selling author and I applaud her for having the courage to follow her dreams. She has visions of being the next big thing. Her desire to become an author clouds her judgement somewhat because she accepts a woman on face value, who is claiming to be a literary agent. Their meetings are never anywhere you would expect a serious meeting to be, the agent does a disappearing act and when Ruby does get to talk to her, she is very vague on details. She fobs Ruby off with one excuse after another but Ruby believes what she is told. I really felt for Ruby but at the same time I couldn’t believe how gullible she was being. Ruby gets a lodger to share the rent for the flat and she borderline stalks him. I wasn’t sure if she wanted to get with him or scare him off completely. He’s a geek and knows all sorts of useful stuff that Ruby finds fascinating.
I knew that this book was going to be funny by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. I did find that I chuckled away to myself at certain things that Ruby ended up doing. She means well but things have a habit of going wrong and she does get herself into some scrapes. I soon became hooked on reading ‘Almost An Author’ and I didn’t want to put it down. It was an easy book to read, which was the distraction I needed from the pain I was in. Before I knew it, I was over halfway through the book but because I was so focused on the book and so wrapped up in the story I didn’t realise the speed with which the page numbers were turning. It didn’t take me too long to finish the book and I was so disappointed when I finished the book. I was enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue for a lot longer.
In short, I really, really enjoyed reading ‘Almost An Author’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. It’s a light hearted read with lots of comedy bits and a wide variety of characters. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I alternated between wanting to hug Ruby Wright and wanting to slap her with a wet fish. She is one ambitious woman, who has a dream of becoming a best selling author and I applaud her for having the courage to follow her dreams. She has visions of being the next big thing. Her desire to become an author clouds her judgement somewhat because she accepts a woman on face value, who is claiming to be a literary agent. Their meetings are never anywhere you would expect a serious meeting to be, the agent does a disappearing act and when Ruby does get to talk to her, she is very vague on details. She fobs Ruby off with one excuse after another but Ruby believes what she is told. I really felt for Ruby but at the same time I couldn’t believe how gullible she was being. Ruby gets a lodger to share the rent for the flat and she borderline stalks him. I wasn’t sure if she wanted to get with him or scare him off completely. He’s a geek and knows all sorts of useful stuff that Ruby finds fascinating.
I knew that this book was going to be funny by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. I did find that I chuckled away to myself at certain things that Ruby ended up doing. She means well but things have a habit of going wrong and she does get herself into some scrapes. I soon became hooked on reading ‘Almost An Author’ and I didn’t want to put it down. It was an easy book to read, which was the distraction I needed from the pain I was in. Before I knew it, I was over halfway through the book but because I was so focused on the book and so wrapped up in the story I didn’t realise the speed with which the page numbers were turning. It didn’t take me too long to finish the book and I was so disappointed when I finished the book. I was enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue for a lot longer.
In short, I really, really enjoyed reading ‘Almost An Author’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. It’s a light hearted read with lots of comedy bits and a wide variety of characters. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
November 12, 2018
I enjoyed this funny light hearted novel, based around Ruby Wright, who wants to become a published author. A lovely but naive character, Ruby is taken in by a charlatan publisher and along with nerdy but charming flatmate Hunter we enter Ruby’s chaotic but humorous life. Although the book deals with “disappointment, heartache, and loss”, it also takes you on an emotional journey of love and excitement too.
The novel is well written and the characters are well defined and very likable. I recommend this book and look forward to reading Susan Tarr’s other novels.
The novel is well written and the characters are well defined and very likable. I recommend this book and look forward to reading Susan Tarr’s other novels.
November 15, 2018
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! WTH? At first I thought this young woman was a real twit but the more I read, the more I realized how much of Ruby I can see in myself. Granted at Ruby's age I was married and had a child, but I didn't start writing until I was 50 years old. This book made me look back at how I handled things at her age. That's a long way to look back mind you.
Having no knowledge of how the publishing world works, many of us struggling authors have also jumped at the first person that said they wanted to publish our books. I think all of us have been down Ruby's bath.
You don't have to be almost an author to enjoy this read. I laughed at her, wanted to cry for her, and wanted to yell at her 'What are you doing?? Stop it!' Anyone over 30 can relate and younger readers can learn from it.
Great Job Susan. What's next?
Having no knowledge of how the publishing world works, many of us struggling authors have also jumped at the first person that said they wanted to publish our books. I think all of us have been down Ruby's bath.
You don't have to be almost an author to enjoy this read. I laughed at her, wanted to cry for her, and wanted to yell at her 'What are you doing?? Stop it!' Anyone over 30 can relate and younger readers can learn from it.
Great Job Susan. What's next?
November 2, 2018
Ruby was such a delightful character she really saw the best in everyone including her helpful publisher!
There were parts of the book that I actually laughed out loud at with Ruby’s actions - gifting a mangey dog absolute classic!
There were parts where I really wanted to physically shake Ruby for being so naive
If anyone has at any point in their life considered writing a book then Ruby Wright is the character for you
I loved it!
There were parts of the book that I actually laughed out loud at with Ruby’s actions - gifting a mangey dog absolute classic!
There were parts where I really wanted to physically shake Ruby for being so naive
If anyone has at any point in their life considered writing a book then Ruby Wright is the character for you
I loved it!
November 5, 2018
Ruby Wright is a budding author who meets up with Barbara who says she is an agent,publisher. What follows is an amusing story of Ruby, her flatmates and an assortment of friends in her bid to become and author. Look forward to reading more of this author.
July 19, 2019
I wanted to enjoy this story I really did, but alas I gave up half way. The blurb sounds great, quirky and fun, the story of a struggling want to be author and her weird publisher (who may or may not be a scam). Unfortunately it's just a difficult read, the story is vague and jumps around way too much. it's really hard to keep up with what's happening and where in the time line you're reading.
by half way through thebook I still wasn't sure if the publisher was just some random unemployed wack job she'd accidentally met on the street (and i feel like the main character isn't sure either), and the main character seems to be a flighty clueless woman who's making no effort to actually be an author or even a productive member of society - just didn't lie it and couldn't force myself to finish.
by half way through thebook I still wasn't sure if the publisher was just some random unemployed wack job she'd accidentally met on the street (and i feel like the main character isn't sure either), and the main character seems to be a flighty clueless woman who's making no effort to actually be an author or even a productive member of society - just didn't lie it and couldn't force myself to finish.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews