If you told me a few years ago that I’d be attending a book launch of a novel I’d edited in my husband’s home town, I would not have believed you – but the last couple of years have been a wacky journey of right-place-right-time coincidences that have let to this. This week I got to celebrate with Sara Cullen at the launch of her novel, Blood Red Sky in her local Waterstones. Seeing this powerful novel, published by Arkbound, officially hit the shelves and connect with readers is an incredible milestone, and a true testament to Sara’s dedication to the message she felt she needed to share.
This novel is the first fiction book I’ve had the honour of editing with Arkbound Publishers, and I am already looking forward to celebrating the next one with them when it launches next summer. While I came to fiction editing after years in the non-fiction space, it is stories like this that convinced me to get involved. Sara and Cillian’s belief that a novelist has to drive empathy and change inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and do something new.
Aaron and the Blood Red Sky
Blood Red Sky is realist fiction at its most powerful. It takes place in Scotland and centres on Aaron Smith, the local ‘bad boy’, who is arrested after a devastating fire breaks out at the high school.
Aaron is locked up, guilty until proven innocent, yet he and his younger sister are the only two people who know the truth about what really happened. In a heartbreaking decision to protect his sister, Aaron chooses to go to prison without a trial.
Then, the world changes.
The COVID-19 pandemic hits Scotland, trials are cancelled, and Aaron finds himself trapped in a lockdown behind bars. The novel dives deep into the terrifying reality of what happens when vulnerable, care-experienced children are remanded into custody – effectively forgotten by the system when they need help the most.
It’s a gripping read that balances the dark reality of Aaron’s situation with essential elements of love, loss, humour, and hope. Sara worked hard to do justice to the deeply complex social justice issues she explores in the book.
The Craft Behind the Launch
The success of any book launch starts with the quality of the story itself. A narrative tackling such important and sensitive themes requires absolute clarity, compelling structure, and fully realised characters – the core pillars of Developmental Editing.
My role as a developmental editor is to ensure that the author’s vision, particularly one as socially conscious as Blood Red Sky, is delivered with maximum impact. A story that is structurally sound and emotionally resonant is one that reviewers praise, booksellers champion, and readers rush to buy.
Dreaming of Your Own Book Launch?
Congratulations again to the author of Blood Red Sky for a successful launch and for sharing such a vital, compelling story with the world.
If you have a fiction manuscript – be it socially conscious realist fiction like this, or genre fiction – that needs a strong developmental foundation, I offer specialised services in:
* Fiction Developmental Editing
* Author Marketing Training
Let’s work together to make your story the next one celebrated on a major bookshelf.
