Hope you and yours are staying well. I was planning a trip to Chicago in September and at the last minute cancelled as travel abroad is still a bloody palava, and still risky. Instead I’ve been glued to my laptop as we get ready for the release of our next memoir Blade in the Shadow.
My new assistant, Elliot Lind, wrote this about Blade:
“The memoir reveals both the dark absurdity of life and the brightness of recovery. It is an honest narrative which ends in a place of bright darkness with illness as part of a new normal. Blade in the Shadow is about accepting and living with the messiness of life.”
I love the part about ‘living with the messiness of life’. Many thanks for that Elliot.
Also, please welcome back Corinne Jean-Jacques to Guts Publishing, my other assistant who did an internship with us in 2020. I’m over the moon to have these two brilliant people working with me.
Other news – we’ve had a number of Blade blurb reviews come in!
Harriet Mercer, author of Gargoyles
“Halket balances shocking descriptions of her unwelcome and violent thoughts with sublime storytelling and poetic prose to give the reader authentic insight into how ‘Harm-themed’ OCD impacts her life. Often uncomfortable in the reading, Blade in the Shadow is revelatory and necessary. And above all, it blazes with hope.”
Emma Grae, author of Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy (and Sending Nudes contributor)
“Told through masterful prose, Blade in the Shadow doesn’t shy away from demons, but manages to depict the light that defeats them in a poetic and poignant way.”
Elsa Maishman, The Scotsman
“We need more voices like Jillian Halket's in conversations around mental health in Scotland."
Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater (Portico Prize 2020)
“A dark, rich account of how it feels to live with OCD, glimmering with light and hope.”
Sarah McLean, Scot Lit Blog
“This is exactly the kind of book I've come to expect from Guts Publishing — raw and unflinchingly honest yet determinedly hopeful.”
Catherine Simpson - author of TrueStory and When I Had a Little Sister
“The writing is fresh, frank and fearless and I highly recommend it.”
We are also excited to let you know Jillian’s interview with The Scotsman was published on 12 September! And, as if that wasn’t enough good news, shortly after that Blade in Shadow was recommended on the BBC Radio Scotland programme, The Afternoon Show with Janice Forsyth.
Feeling somewhat bowled over by all of these reviews from these amazing writers and journalists!
So, if you're wondering about the subject line, Magick number 300, here's the story. First the Celtic spelling is a nod to Jillian Halket and Scotland. Second, release day for Blade is 14 October and we’re aiming for 300 pre-orders. I think we can do it. With all of this positive media coverage, it’s possible. But we need you. Now more than ever. Please consider pre-ordering your copy today from Guts. The paperback is £9.95 and you get a free ebook. Here’s the link: gutspublishing.com/product-page/blade-in-the-shadow
If you live outside of the UK, I understand shipping costs may be a consideration. If that’s the case, consider pre-ordering from The Book Depository with free shipping worldwide: bookdepository.com/Blade-Shadow-Jillian-Halket/9781838471927
If Blade in the Shadow isn’t up your street, perhaps you have a friend who would absolutely love the book. Or consider buying a different book from Guts. The stellar debut memoir Fish Town by John Gerard Fagan or the powerful debut memoir Euphoric Recall by Aidan Martin. Or one of our anthologies. Here’s our Books page: gutspublishing.com/books
We want to keep Guts Publishing going strong so we can keep finding new talent and publishing ballsy books about life. To do that, we need you.
I have some Fish Town news. This week the author John Gerard Fagan will be recording an episode of The Big Scottish Book Club with Damian Barr, a popular TV show in Scotland. We’ve been trying for over a year to get their attention, so this feels something like a – Yesss! moment.
Over the top amazing news, but it doesn’t stop there. John was also recently a guest on the Book Off podcast with BBC Radio 2’s Joe Haddow, which we’re equally thrilled about, and will keep you posted – it will be out at some point this season.
For the Euphoric Recall fans, we are proud to announce that the author Aidan Martin was recently interviewed on David Wilson’s Crime Files (BBC Scotland). Wilson was one of Martin’s heroes when he was growing up and Aidan once told me that he used to watch Crime Files when he was coming down from a drug binge and he’d fantasize about being on the show. So it means a lot. It’s not just an appearance and a ‘book plug’. It’s an inspiring interview where Aidan talks about growing up working-class and his addictions, starting at age 12, to hardcore pornography, alcohol, ecstasy, weed, speed and cocaine.
You can watch the show on BBC iPlayer. The episode is called ‘Fraudsters’. Aidan’s interview is in the last 15 minutes of the show. Click here to watch it.
I feel very much like a proud parent whenever I talk about the accomplishments of our authors. Two years ago, in May 2019 when I first started Guts Publishing, if you had told me all of this was going to become reality I honestly don’t know how I would have reacted. Perhaps in total disbelief. It seems surreal to be doing what I’m doing. After all, this is my first venture into book publishing. I spent most of my life as a painter, and a good chunk of it as a writer, but never imagined I’d love being a book publisher as much as I do.
