Author Reflects on 8-Year Journey of Self-Publishing Sketchbooks Despite Setbacks

Culture 10:57 18.04.2025

An author who spent eight years compiling and self-publishing two sketch books has said at times he felt he was on a delusional "fool's errands". However, Colin Hindle does not regret sinking £22,000 into the ventures and says "investing" in his mental wellbeing was the best thing he has even done.Solitary, long rambles in the Lake District have earned Colin the nickname the "modern day monk" among locals.The 58-year-old from Penrith has spent more than 15,000 hours handwriting two, hardback sketchbooks on beauty spots and thinks he has earned the name.

He did not want to be out of pocket, so selling enough copies of his books to break even and cover the cost of publishing was always the number one goal.However, at times of self-doubt he wondered if publishing a second book was a "vanity project" after 18 publishers either rejected him or did not bother to reply.That's when you really start to question yourself and my reflections were 'I'm not prepared to wait years and years until someone finally decides to publish it'. I will have to make it happen myself.There are so many wonderful things you can do with savings, but I have learned that the best investment you can make is in yourself.

He published his first book in 2021 after being inspired by guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright.He had closed his tea shop in Pooley Bridge during the Coronvirus lockdowns and spent thousands of hours wandering the area, creating sketches and making notes.He realised that many ramblers who scaled summits often felt a sense of deflation if the view was compromised by mist or fog and his painstaking sketches were of how beauty spots looked on a good day.His hardback books were designed to be lugged around in a rucksack in all weathers and printing them was costly.
Colin was told he would be lucky to sell 500 copies of his first book - after exhausting the goodwill of friends and family who would buy the book out of loyalty.

Undeterred, he publicises his work by posting films on social media and giving talks to walking groups and other organisations.His first book, The Best Lakeland Views, focussed on Haweswater and Ullswater, had a price tag of £18 and sold 2,525 copies.He then printed 2,000 copies of book two which depicts views in Coniston and Grasmere, and was released in November retailing at £20.Released in November at £20, he has so far shifted 379 copies.

While walking many fells, it struck me that the best moments weren't necessarily when reaching the summit but on encountering a jaw-dropping view, with the word 'wow' inadvertently spilling from my lips.Many of these moments were not at the summit but on the way up, at the edge of a ridge or along a bubbling beck.This gave me the idea to document where the best views were.Alex Thompson, the managing director of Troubador Publishing which works with independent authors to produce and market their books, said there are ways to publish books for free and authors can upload them to platforms su as Amazon.But he said author's spend an average of between £1,000 to £4,000 with his firm and the figure can be as high as £10,000.

Authors can invest their time and spend less money, or the other way round.It takes time and effort to upload titles, they've got to do all the formatting and designing.Or alternatively they can employ a company to do all that [but] there is a cost no matter what an author chooses, whether it's time, monetary or both.He said many authors are not interested in sales and wanted to preserve their family's history, such as publishing their father's World War Two journals.In this case the objective is to produce 10 copies for friends and family.Some authors want to sell lots, but a lot come to us and say they are doing it as a project or life-long goal and are less interested in sales and more in a high-end, quality product.

Even though their book is available to buy, primarily they will take maybe 100 copies to give away to family and friends or sell at a writing festival.Current, best-selling genres, according to Mr Thompson, are business books which appeal to people wanting to set up on their own or have a fledgling idea and want tips to make it grow.He also said that romance and self-improvement publications also had wide appeal.

Madina Mammadova\\EDnews

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Members of the Public Council under ANAMA have visited the region
16:52 08.05.2025
The "Roots of Peace" organization will host the "Peace Walk"
16:49 08.05.2025
"Since 1948 SL Heads of State have ‘relayed’ on the Ethnic conflict"
15:32 08.05.2025
A conference on the topic "Heydar Aliyev-Independence and Glorious Victory" was held in Lachin
12:44 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan showcases tourism opportunities in Israel
12:39 08.05.2025
''Azerbaijan House'' opened in Lebanon
12:33 08.05.2025
Vietnam prioritizes strategic and political cooperation with Azerbaijan
12:27 08.05.2025
Opening of new Baku City Prosecutor's Office building held
12:23 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Morocco may organize mutual cultural days
12:15 08.05.2025
Sahiba Gafarova: Heydar Aliyev's personality is symbol of wisdom for every Azerbaijani
12:09 08.05.2025
Milli Majlis to adopt statement on Heydar Aliyev's 102nd birth anniversary
12:03 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions organized an event
11:58 08.05.2025
The 102nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was celebrated in Berlin
11:52 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended session at Antalya Diplomacy Forum
11:43 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan, Vietnam explore prospects for educational cooperation
11:37 08.05.2025
Petrovietnam aims to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan
11:32 08.05.2025
The heads of state of Azerbaijan and Vietnam made statements to the press
11:29 08.05.2025
Kamran Aliyev:' 'Heydar Aliyev had unparalleled role as founder of Azerbaijani statehood''
11:24 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Vietnamese discuss strategic partnership
11:21 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan ready for further coordination and cooperation with Syria
11:16 08.05.2025
Scientists have discovered a possible candidate for the ninth planet in the solar system
11:12 08.05.2025
Business Council to be established between Azerbaijan and Vietnam
11:08 08.05.2025
May 8 is World Thalassemia Day
11:03 08.05.2025
Special session of Milli Majlis dedicated to year of Constitution and sovereignty
10:59 08.05.2025
General Secretary of the Central Committee Of Vietnam visited the Alley of Martyrs
10:51 08.05.2025
General Secretary of the Central Committee of Vietnam visits the Old City
10:47 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan's position with China as a reliable partner is strengthening
10:43 08.05.2025
The Aztelekom flag was raised at the Heydar Aliyev Summit
10:39 08.05.2025
President: There are great prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vietnam in the defense industry
10:34 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Iraqi FMs explore regional issues
10:25 08.05.2025
Joint Statement opens new chapter in the history of Vietnam-Azerbaijan relations
10:12 08.05.2025
Leaders of Azerbaijan and Vietnam viewed exhibition of Vietnamese paintings
10:09 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister meets with Iraqi PM
10:02 08.05.2025
Rebuilding hope amid the landmines Thembisa Fakude writting...
13:45 07.05.2025
How TikTok and Instagram Became New Tools of Diplomacy?
12:44 07.05.2025
Students of one of Turkey's leading universities were informed about the legacy of the great Nizami Ganjavi
12:26 07.05.2025
Azerbaijani energy minister holds several meetings in Türkiye
12:21 07.05.2025
Azerbaijan-Iran bilateral cooperation agenda discussed in Baku
12:18 07.05.2025
Azerbaijan shows progress in banking regulatory reforms
12:17 07.05.2025
About 20 Azerbaijani citizens returned from Germany yesterday
12:13 07.05.2025
Hamısı