The perils of podcasting | & meet author Forest Issac Jones
An unexpected TV award nomination PLUS latest news, event and opportunities
My dear wordsmiths,
How are you? I hope you and yours are well. It’s been, well, another week hasn’t it? I hope yours was filled with excellent words and many tiny wins (like remembering an umbrella - I didn’t). It’s been a strange one with another devastating blow for the journalism industry with more job losses announced and the loss of a former colleague who I worked with closely for a long time. It makes you appreciate the small things - including all of you who have subscribed. It means a lot to see those numbers creeping up and to hear from you.
But I have had a small bonus win of my own this week. It wasn’t a hoped-for new enthusiasm to attend the gym, or a full MSS (manuscript) request, but from the Sky TV series we filmed last year. Some colleagues and I at the Blackpool Gazette, where I was editor until earlier this year, feature in episode one. Hold the front page, if you are uninitiated, is a comedy ‘fly on the wall’ type affair starring comedians Nish Kumar and Josh Widdecombe who attempt to be reporters at local newspaper titles across the country in a bid to gain a front page story.
It was not intended to be taken too seriously (the comedians were the clue) and obviously chaos unfolded. The Blackpool Gazette episode featured them trying to interview Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Unfortunately I ended up sending the erstwhile work experience duo home early as running after the PM’s car on foot was not in the brief and they didn’t file a word. Honestly, they were lucky not to be arrested. I still have Josh’s mud-ridden notebook full of illegible scribbles (don’t ask).
Anyway this rather long explanation is to put into context news that series 1 of Hold The Front Page (CPL Productions/Sky Max) has been nominated for a Rose d’Or award for 2023 in the Comedy Entertainment section. Which sounds very fancy and I look forward to hearing if we win it third-hand via social media. But for those interested the following (National World) titles took part in this order - Blackpool Gazette, West Sussex Gazette, The Yorkshire Post, Farming Life, Northamptonshire Telegraph and The Scotsman. It’s still on Sky Max - which I realise I realise is not in everybody’s budget (You can watch key scenes on You Tube.. ssshh!)
In other news, this week we started recorded the long-planned BookY podcast via my day job at National World. If you like this newsletter you will LOVE BookY where we chat to authors and interesting people about erm, books. It’s Books with a WHY - get it? (I’m a genius, said no-one)
It’s not gone entirely smoothly as I am recording largely from home in the Lancashire countryside with my shocking WIFI, constant interruptions from Amazon delivery drivers (never the right house) and my inability to turn off push notifications, which keep ‘bonging’ in my ear. Plus, I have a sniffle, and I’m keeping next door’s three legged long-haired Ukrainian cat alive while they are away - and I’m allergic to him - so I’m trying not to sneeze constantly. But the good news is that award-winning podcast producer Kelly Crichton (sorry Kelly, I can only write your name like that now) knows what she’s doing, which is helpful as she will make it sound great anyway. The concept is an escapist, snob-free, genre-neutral, non confrontational pod for everyone - so it will be one for relaxing with a cup of tea and a packet of crisps (crisps are optional, cake also acceptable) I’ll share details about how you can listen when we are up and running. Trailer coming very soon!
On this week’s Write Reject Repeat week we chat to a writer who has not (yet) sold millions of books as he is agented - but as yet unpublished. It proves the acquisition of an agent is not the only stage of a writer’s career where you can face an uphill climb before success. We have travelled across the pond to meet Forest, who is a truly international author, with a passion for history on all continents.
Meet.. Forest Issac Jones
Forest Issac Jones is based in Virginia, USA, where he juggles work as a writer alongside his career in education. He is represented by Terrie Wolf (AKA Literary Agency) with two historical thriller novels currently on submission.
‘Network, connect, network, connect. Continue to do that’
Forest Issac Jones
Who?
I’m Forest - my full time gig is in education and I’m in my 29th year in the profession. I still love working with kids. I’m a former teacher, principal, and now I am a district administrator responsible for facilities, school nutrition, and transportation. I feel lucky to have worked with so many amazing students and staff over my three decades in education, there is no greater responsibility than teaching and guiding our young people because they are our future. I am an author and lucky to have won several awards in my career—once I retire that will be my full time gig!
What?
I was never a big reader as a boy in my teenage years and then when I was around the age of 16, my mother (who ironically was a reading teacher) introduced me to Sidney Sheldon and I was hooked! I loved how he could tell a story in these exotic locations and there were surprises throughout his books, my favorite was definitely Rage of Angels! My love for reading started and the rest was history, my goals in life were to become a teacher and to write. For years I would start writing a book but I would never finish it and I also wasn’t sure which type of book I wanted to write.
Where?
I entered a pitch contest in 2018—the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect Contest. I was picked as one of the eight finalists to present my pitch in front of a room full of people that summer. I did not win, but it opened up a lot of doors for me in terms of exposure and meeting people. Fortunately, I signed with Terrie Wolf (AKA Literary Agency) in the fall of 2020. I went on submission in Winter 2021 and we are patiently waiting for a publisher. Signing with her was huge because I finally felt like someone was fighting for me and all I had to do was focus on my writing. In the meantime, I won honorable mentions from Writer’s Digest in 2022 and 2023 for two historical essays that I wrote.
Why?
I remember my dad reading to me as a little boy, pretending how he was the big bad wolf and was going to blow everything down. To this day, I still think of how I loved storytelling and the power of the written word. I also love history and blending history with my desire to write mysteries and thrillers was a natural match. And, of course, being able to finally hold a physical copy for the first time in a bookstore is a dream of mine.
When?
I hope as soon as possible! We are still waiting on a publisher. I have two books on submission and Terrie is doing a great job getting it out there to see who is interested. I am currently working on another manuscript. It is another historical thriller set in 1988 during the Cold War. I have about 70,000 words right now and should finish it by the end of 2023. In spring 2024 I will get it edited and send it off to Terrie in the summer of 2024.
How?
Network, connect, network, connect. Continue to do that. I have been very lucky to attend two writer’s conferences—Bloody Scotland in 2018 and Bouchercon (the mystery conference here in the US in 2022). I met so many authors there at both events that I’m still friendly with. I also enjoy social media and I met a lot of authors on Twitter/X. People that I feel comfortable reaching out to if I need advice or if I have a question. In terms of writing, get that first draft complete, that is the first step. No matter how bad it is, it will be bad! Also, get an agent! It is difficult and it took me years but it is so worth it. To have that someone in your corner on a daily and weekly basis is invaluable.
Thanks so much to Forest for the insights! You can access Forest’s blog and sign up to his newsletter here.
News, opportunities and events
Section 40 repeal promise: This week’s King’s Speech to the State Opening of Parliament outlined plan to “protect public interest journalism” by repealing Section 40 of the 2013 Crime and Courts Act, which would make news organisations liable for libel costs even if they won, unless they were signed up to an ‘approved’ press regulator. The clause, introduced in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, has never been used. Most media organisations are already signed to regulator IPSO, which is independent of the Government.
Manchester Winter Books Fair: This entirely free event takes place on November 25 at Manchester Central Library performance space. The event features nine of the biggest northern Indy publishers including Northodox Press and UcLan Publishing. It is an opportunity for book lovers and industry professionals to come together and browse a large selection of books in a festive atmosphere. You can book your ticket via Eventbrite, linked above.
The Society of Editors media freedom awards: Held at the iconic Banking Hall in London on Wednesday November 8, the high-profile awards, which set the benchmark for a celebration of UK public interest journalism, brought together more than 250 journalists from all sectors of the UK news media for a ceremony presented by ITV News’ Lucrezia Millarini and attended by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer MP. The winners are as follows:
BOB SATCHWELL AWARD Winner: Gary Younge
JUDGES' SPECIAL AWARD Winner: Dame Esther Rantzen
YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR NATIONAL Winner: Ashni Lakhani, BBC
Highly commended: Sabrina Miller, Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday
YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR REGIONAL Winner: Dolly Carter, East Anglian Times and Ipswich Star. Highly commended: Lucy John, WalesOnline
COMMENTATOR OF THE YEAR Winner: Marina Hyde, The Guardian Highly commended: Camilla Long, The Sunday Times and Sonia Sodha, The Observer
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR NATIONAL Winner: Anna Isaac, The Guardian Highly commended: Paul Morgan-Bentley, The Times and Gordon Rayner, The Daily Telegraph
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR REGIONAL Winner: Stephen Topping, Manchester Evening News Highly commended: Charles Thomson, Islington Gazette, Newham Recorder and Romford Recorder
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR - BROADCAST Winner: Piers Morgan, TalkTV. Highly commended: Stuart Ramsay, Sky News
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT OF THE YEAR Winner: Stuart Ramsay, Sky News Highly commended: Christina Lamb, The Sunday Times
POLITICAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Winner: Pippa Crerar, The Guardian Highly commended: Gabriel Pogrund, The Sunday Times and John Stevens, The Mirror
FREELANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Winner: Joshua Baker, BBC Highly commended: Tom Odula, BBC Africa Eye
PHOTO JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Winner: Simon Townsley, Telegraph Media Group Highly commended: Alessio Mamo, The Guardian
All the group awards are linked in the headline.
As always, many thanks for reading this far and please make sure to subscribe - it’ free! Wishing you a lovely week and sending hugs to those struggling in the tough industries of journalism and publishing
Nx