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The holiday season is fast approaching and that means it's time to start thinking about presents! So, what do you get for that Minette fan in your life? Or, better yet, what do you put on your wish list? We think we might just have the answer to your problem! See below for details...
Be the next Jonathan Hughes...or Olive Martin!
 As you may know, Minette is currently hard at work on her next book. But, she's never too busy for a good cause, and that's why she's taking part in the Free Tibet Campaign's character auction. Minette is one of 20 of Britain's best-selling authors and playwrights who have offered the chance to auction a character name in one of their forthcoming works.
If you place the highest bid, Minette will create a character with your name. Who knows? You could be the next Jonathan Hughes or Nancy Smith...or perhaps you'll be cast as the next Olive Martin! Buy a bid for your name or as a gift for a friend or family member.
But, you have to be quick! The auction takes place on Thursday 18th November in the Simpson Room (6th floor), Waterstone's Bookstore, 203/206 Piccadilly, London W1V 9LE from 6.30pm (attendance is free but booking is essential). You can also bid on the phone or via email. Good luck!
For full details, please visit the Free Tibet Campaign's web site > >
Minette signs your book...by post!
 If you're looking for a slightly more affordable present, we might have just the solution! You can send us a copy of your favourite Minette book (hardcover or paperback), and Minette will sign it for you. We will only charge the cost of return postage.
If you live in the UK, including a postage-paid, self-addressed return envelope would be greatly appreciated! Otherwise, we have set up a PayPal account and will notify you of payment details via email.
Please be sure to include a note with any *short* dedication requests, as well as your return address and email address.
If you live outside the UK and would like Minette to sign a copy of Disordered Minds (hardcover or paperback) or The Tinder Box (hardcover only), you could order the book via Amazon.co.uk and have it mailed to us at the address below (again, remember to include your return address and email address).
SEND YOUR BOOK TO:
Minettewalters.co.uk. Ltd
PO Box 5985
Dorchester
DT1 9AE
UK
Please allow one week for delivery to us and 10-14 days for return delivery. We will make every effort to return books before Christmas, but if you mail your book after 1 December 2004, we cannot guarantee we will have mailed it back to you in time. If you are not concerned about the Christmas deadline, please include a note to that effect!
If you have any questions, please send an email to:
editor (at) minettewalters.co.uk
(NOTE: If you plan to pay for return postage via PayPal and don't include your email address, we're sorry but your book will be returned unsigned! Also, we can only accept one book per person, please!)
Minette
answers your questions
Q:
My reason for writing is to ask you what your advice would be to a first-time novelist, both in terms of creating the novel and in getting it published. I know you don't write police procedurals or serial killer novels, but is research - and an understanding of the psychology of a 'killer' - a large part of your prep work, or do you just dive in? Also, how did you go about finding an agent - it seems as hard to get them to review your work and take you on as it does publishers! -- Lesley,
in the UK
A:
I’m afraid "how to create a novel" would require a novel-length answer, so the best short advice I can give is to find the courage to start, the toughness to abandon any idea that isn't working, and the commitment and stamina to keep going once the story starts to gel. In terms of understanding the mind of a killer, it certainly helps to read true crime books and trial reports in the newspapers. However, you also need to let your imagination loose. Thankfully, murder is the last taboo – 99% of us have never come close to killing another human being – so ask yourself what drives the 1% who do. Anger? Jealousy? Alienation? Personality disorder? Seeing the death of another as a solution to a problem?
Publication is never easy but the better your writing and the more original your thinking, the more likely you are to succeed!
-- Minette
Read more Advice for Writers from Minette > >
From the archives: The missing masterpiece
 In 1996, Minette appeared on BBC2 in a programme entitled "The Works: Minette and the Missing Masterpiece". She set out to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of The Righteous Judges, a panel stolen from Van Eyck's masterpiece, The Adoration of the Lamb. "The Works" not only tells a fascinating story but also provides a unique insight into how Minette constructs her books...but does she find the painting? Well, we've found a full transcript of the programme, and we thought you might find it interesting reading!
Read transcript of "Minette and the Missing Masterpiece" > >
(NOTE: This link will open a browser window containing a page from the BBC's web site. We are not responsible for the content of third-party web sites.)
We
hope you've enjoyed this issue of the newsletter and look forward to
your comments and suggestions!
--The Editor
MinetteWalters.co.uk
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