Stop the 'tribute' industry

For the past six years or so, the teen fiction publishing industry has been utterly corrupted by the 'tribute' phenomenon; 'tribute' meaning 'rip-off'.   When the TWILIGHT novels hit, (or rather when the films hit) suddenly the bookshops of the world were choking on any old junk featuring a tight T-shirt wearing supernatural hunk in some sort of star-crossed relationship with a misunderstood girl next door.     Anything and everything seeming to fit this format was flying onto the shelves, and to a degree, still is. 

Now, as if the FIFTY SHADES books weren't enough of a blot on the landscape (their success would be fine, if they were actually, you know, well written), the 'tributes' to these are joining them thick and fast now; IN TOO DEEP, BARED TO YOU, HAVEN OF OBEDIENCE, each with fairly shameless grey-toned cover.  And FIFTY SHADES started as a TWILIGHT fan fiction novel, God help us!  

If the printed industry doesn't start caring again about publishing only on the quality of writing, rather than whatever junk mansucript fits the latest arrow-narrow trend, it has only itself to blame for its shaky future. 

'Spem In Alieum' travesty!

My dad introduced me to classical music when I was a kid, and one of the pieces I loved straightaway was the beautiful choral piece, 'Spem In Alieum' by Thomas Tallis.  I always wanted to write it into a book of mine, and months ago, I did so in my 12th teen fiction book, THE MAN IN THE PAINTING.  I thought it a piece not too well known by the public, only classical musical enthusiasts.

Imagine my horror when, watching a Channel 4 documentary on the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY phenomenon (that's the nicest word I can think of), it was revealed this gorgeous piece of crafted musical genius is used over a sleazy S&M sex scene in that book, and THAT is the reason why it is now becoming famous around the world. 
Rightly or wrongly, I've changed the piece of music in THE MAN...,as few publishers/agents reading it will not jump to the obvious wrong conclusion.  (Let's be honest, they will.) Still, it's a tragic travesty that this secret musical joy of mine should become so famous for such a reason.

EMAIL account hacked!

I'm sorry to say my Hotmail account has been hacked, and therefore my old email, should any of my readers still have it, is no longer in use. Please contact me on andrewhawcroft1@gmail.com