Adrienne Nairn asked Richard Abbott-Brailey:

Nice to meet you Richard and thanks for your valuable advice. We new authors need all the help we can get?

Richard Abbott-Brailey Hi Adrienne,
I agree - new authors need more encouragement and support. I also believe that authors should support fellow authors. Unfortunately I don't have much experience of witnessing established authors supporting, encouraging, and endorsing the work of new authors, unless vast sums of money are involved. I have sent copies of my debut novel to one very established author, who openly advocates reading the work of other writers, and one other who is, perhaps, more of a 'celebrity' author. I have heard nothing from either. I appreciate that they may be very busy people but so am I, yet I find time to offer advice to budding authors and anyone enquiring about my experiences with Austin Macauley. Bookshops could do more to support new authors, and encourage new writing, but their interest is in profit; particularly this time of year, leading up to the Christmas market - a time for promoting 'celebrity' authors and autobiographies. I do believe, however, that there is room in every bookshop for a new author section, and room in newspapers and magazines for reviews on the work of new authors. "Find room in your heart, and space on your bookshelf, for new authors".

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