Presentation by Catherine White

28th April 2008

Gatehouse Books

Gatehouse Books

• Adult beginner readers

• Written by adult learners

• For adult learners

Publishing Process• Submissions• Work with tutors• Reading circles• Editorial sessions• Re-reading & reviewing• Working with an illustrator• Piloting groups • Typically 9 months from start

First meeting

• Informal, relaxed

• Comfortable location

• Getting to know each other

• Explaining the process

Second meeting

• Initial draft

• Talking

• Listening

• Developing writing

Subsequent meetings

• One-to-one sessions

• Meeting other writers

• Meeting the illustrator

Life On The Buses Me and My Shadow

About the Author

• Introduction

• Putting the story in context

• Handling emotions

• Empowering the writer

• Protecting the writer

Cover Design

• Book title

• Colour schemes

• Style of cover

• Choice of fonts

Piloting a book

• Tried and tested

• Basic skills learners

• Highlight any problems

• Discuss feedback

• Take a detached view of the writing

Quotations

“A fantastic book that offers encouragement to anyone who is trying to improve their life.”

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Quotations

“I was caught up in and dazzled by Marie’s story.

It is truly an inspirational one and, having learned of her incredible life journey, I know that she will be a real credit and welcome addition to our nursing profession.”

Maura Buchanan, President Royal College of Nursing

Quotations

“Marie voices the hopes and ambitions of thousands of people in her inspiring account of how she has succeeded against the odds.”

Mary Hamilton, Professor of Adult Learning & Literacy, Lancaster University

Taking a story to a wider audience

Taking a story to a wider audience

Gatehouse Books

• Giving the writer a ‘voice’

• Books for adult learners

• Quality publications

• Appealing and accessible

Gatehouse Books

“A beginner reader

is not a beginner thinker!”

Gatehouse Books

• Short, simple sentences

• Line-broken

• Large print

• Illustrated

• Graded for readability

New beginner readers

Tutor Resources

In the classroom

• Reading and comprehension

• Discussion

• Sharing experiences

• Drama

• Geography

• History

Inspiring the reader

“Now I am confident to write anything.

If I can do it, you can do it too.”

Joshua Moorhouse, No Ties

"Sue Torr’s remarkable story will inspire thousands of adults and young people to find the confidence to improve their reading and writing."

The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP Prime Minister

Secrets by Sue Torr MBE

Getting Better

“Going back to education was changing all our lives. History was not going to repeat itself – I was making sure of that. Returning to education to learn to read and write, was one of the most frightening things I have done… but it was also one of the best.”

Marie McNamara

Thank you