Just above Oti!

I trust that got your attention. A bit naughty, I know, but I want to get some eyes on this blip. Here we have a little mention in the 100th anniversary edition of Living North Magazine. We are one of their favourite things this month. There's a bit of a buzz building around Offcumdens. We've been nominated for a Saboteur Award in the category of Best Collaborative Work.

I have to admit to being a little uncomfortable about awards driven by votes made online but getting exposure for any book, especially one published by a small press, is so hard that perhaps it's not inappropriate to play the game in any way one can - because everyone else does. These awards are to give exposure to the small fish in the little pond that sits at the far corner of the vast garden that is literary publishing. Our book gives Blipfoto a shout in the acknowledgements so there's a chance your vote will help to give this site a bit of exposure. It certainly would never have come into being without my discovery of Blipping!

Click here to view the shortlist with a link to the voting form.

Please have a look and cast a few votes in other categories where you feel able. A single vote for Offcumdens is likely to be dismissed as Spam :( I know people behind the scenes at The Leeds Lit Fest and they're wonderful and put on a great program. All the short story collections and novellas are interesting and worth a dip if you want a less than traditional read.

It wouldn't be right to ask you to vote without offering a preview of the book. The Living North piece has included three of the photographs and poems (in very high resolution!) and we've just had a wonderful review published in The Yorkshire Times. I have to admit that I didn't previously know there was such an online publication. So, hoping this isn't too cheeky. It would be lovely if you could support Emma and myself, and Fairacre Press, as well as all the small publishers listed. They do it for love not money. And feel free to spread the word to any friends who also might be interested!

Thank you so much.