Simon Wright | Updates

Disruptive HR Interview

Simon Wright — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Just wrapped a fantastic conversation with Lucy Adams at Disruptive HR. We dive deep into the art of storytelling.

The conversation took some fascinating turns, especially when we explored: "How storytelling in organizations is not just about telling, but about creating a shared experience with the audience."

Can't wait for you to hear the full episode, coming soon!

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Amazon Best Seller

Simon Wright — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hey. So, The Ancient Secret has been out for a couple of weeks now, and it was rewarding to see it top one of Amazon's Bestseller lists. Sunday Times bestseller can only be just round the corner. Any sales at all are only the result of Vickie Boff, my marketing guru, and I am indebted to her for all her efforts.

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Blog Tour

Simon Wright — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

So, it's been a week since TAS dropped and I thought I'd give you a little taste of first reviews:

'The writing was engaging, immersive & kept my attention from the beginning right through to the end. The book was full of emotion, suspense & tension. There was a good flow & an interesting pace. Great characters & a great series!' Emily Pankhurst

Thanks Emily!

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Launch

Simon Wright — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Twins became triplets this weekend as The Ancient Secret was published to complete the Red Scarf trilogy. Much red was on view at the launch event and the cake featured here was very much the star of the show. Well, that and my granddaughters, obviously. Early feedback from some of my more voracious readers suggests that there are plenty of unexpected twists and shocking events in store. Watch this space for more reaction.

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One More Sleep (again!)

Simon Wright — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Ancient Secret drops at midnight. All will be revealed.

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One Week To Go

Simon Wright — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Red Scarf trilogy concludes next Thursday with the publication of The Ancient Secret. Every beginning has an end. Every quest has an outcome. Every journey, a destination. I firmly believe that the best stories give their readers a satisfying resolution - not necessarily a happy ending, but a satisfying conclusion. Endings can be hard and this has certainly been an emotional farewell for me. Not everything turned out like I expected, but everything did turn out. A big thank you to all those who stuck with me on this journey. It's been quite a trip.

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Book 3 author copies

Simon Wright — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A boxful of secrets. Never loses its thrill. Three weeks and counting.

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Every journey's beginning must have an end

Simon Wright — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Eight months after the publication of The Twin Rings, book 2 in the Red Scarf series, the final part of the trilogy is set to drop. The Ancient Secret is already available for pre-order, and will be published in just over a month's time, on June the 5th. There are more teasers on the way, but suffice to say, everything will be resolved in book 3. Tears will be shed, blood will be spilled, questions will be answered and secrets revealed.

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Thank you

Simon Wright — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A quick thank you to everyone who is helping to create some momentum around sales for The Twin Rings. The Colossus is back up to #7 in Religious Mysteries and The Twin Rings has come in at #41. Highly respectable, apparently.

Here's a link to the latest video ad courtesy of my marketing partner Vickie.

https://www.facebook.com/61555633362388/videos/946639447300442

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Publication Day Reviews

Simon Wright — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

We all get our validation in different ways. For me, the endorsement of respected voices is right up there. Here are a couple of clips from today's reviews.

First Emily https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/123015244-emily-pankhurst, who wrote:

The writing was captivating from the beginning and kept my interest right through to the end. A lot happened, but the way that it was written meant that I could keep up with what was happening. There were 3 different timelines that together made the story. All of the timelines cleverly worked together and made for an exciting, well rounded story. I loved how everything tied up at the end, yet still left an opening ready for the next book in the series.

And now Miriam https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/35740838-miriam-smith-a-mother-s-musings:

This series is very addictive, combining edge of your seat suspenseful action, a meticulously crafted, entertaining plot and deeply layered characters, whom whether good or evil, are a joy to read. I’ve adored this series so far and I can’t wait for the third and final one. I’m not too sure how the author is going to top the first two but I’m sure he’ll pull it off in his usual talented and imaginative way and I seriously recommend fellow adventure thriller fans to read these books too, they really can’t be missed!

Thank you both very much. Hopefully both these reviews will appear in full on the Amazon site in the near future.

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One More Sleep

Simon Wright — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow The Colossus gets a brand new baby brother. Like all prospective parents all I'm hoping for is an easy birth, and pronouncements of a healthy child to rival his brother. First Blog reviews are in and are better than I could ever have dreamed of.

Rings are symbols of unification, devotion and commitment. An unbreakable bond. I continue to offer my thanks to all those that have selflessly supported me in this undertaking.

More tomorrow.

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Red Scarf Book 2 Nearly Here

Simon Wright — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hey. Been quiet here of late, but plenty going on. Book 2 in the Red Scarf Series has been polished within an inch of its life, and is now ready to go out into the big wide world.

The Twin Rings publishes on September 26 2024, and the Kindle version is already available for pre-order. Author copies (see photo) are already winging their way to prospective reviewers.

Meanwhile book 3, The Ancient Secret, nears completion of first draft manuscript. Hoping to have that out there to join its siblings in March of 2025.

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Launch Day 1324

Simon Wright — Sat, 2 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

So, following publication day on Feb 29th, we went straight into a launch event last night - date, 1324. The venue was a private room in The Northcote in Clapham, and the staff there did us proud.

I would like to thank all those who attended and made it such a special and memorable night for me. There is something amazing about how human beings want to celebrate the achievements of others. It feels both generous and selfless, and always takes my breath away. It's also very poignant, and yes, emotional. I feel humbled by the support, and thank you all again.

Here's to The Colossus and all who sail in her.

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First Reviews

Simon Wright — Fri, 1 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I talked in the previous post about reaching strangers, and the discombobulating feelings that can generate. You don't know them, and they don't know you. You are judged exclusively on the work. In fact, you're not judged at all. Only the work is. The famous Yeats quote inevitably comes to mind - Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. And yet ... you don't want to be the call center operative, requesting feedback but also making it clear that anything less than a ten just won't do. You want feedback to be considered, insightful, objective, well motivated and, above all, honest.

I said before that I have no illusions of there not being choppy water ahead, but, as The Colossus pulls out of the harbour it has sat in for so long, it is wonderfully gratifying to hear some positive early reviews. Please indulge me if I just share comments from a couple of early reviewers ...

@books_and_a_baby89 wrote ... 'I was immediately captivated by the front cover and also the tag line ... I thought this story was really well written ... I loved the dual POV in different time lines ... I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.'

Thankyou @books_and_a_baby89

And Nelli Lakatos on the Goodreads platform said ... 'it was just so intriguing, incredible and such a well written story ...I absolutely loved this book ... I teared up a little (at the end) ... This book has definitely become my new all time favourite book ... I truly want everyone to read it and experience this powerful journey on their own'

Thank you so much Nelli for your kind words. All a bit overwhelming really.

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Publication Day

Simon Wright — Fri, 1 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

So, yesterday The Colossus finally set sail. We tried to make her as shipshape as possible, but as she ventures into uncharted territory we can only wish her well. I am sure there will be some choppy water ahead, but hopefully also some periods of plain sailing.

Today I wanted to acknowledge the role that Vickie Boff, my marketing guru, has played in preparing The Colossus for its fantastic voyage. When asked, I have always said that the writing was the thing - not getting published or hitting sales targets. The journey, not the destination. But, in truth, once I'd taken the manuscript (with a lot of help) to a point where I thought it was the best I could make it ... I found that I did want to reach an audience. I did want my book to be read.

Vickie has done some amazing work to help me connect with strangers as well as the friends and family who want to support me. Here's a short example of her work. A VT sting announcing the launch of The Colossus. Play it loud! The Colossus Promo VT.mp4

Launch Event tonight. Scary and exciting in equal measure.

'The greatest adventure is what lies ahead' Tolkien

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Blog Tour kicking off on 29 Feb

Simon Wright — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

So my book is going on tour. A Blog Tour. Yes, that's a thing. Apparently. That means that during the week following release, the book will be promoted and reviewed on various Blog sites. Or something like that.

A tour sounds very rock and roll. I am currently considering Tour T-shirts.

Had some probs getting up whole image, but if you click on thumbnail you should see it. Apparently. Bet Ozzy never had these problems.

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Marketing

Simon Wright — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I've never felt comfortable with the art of selling. Or being sold to, for that matter. My philosophy has always been ... if I want something, I'll choose to buy it, on my terms and in my own good time, thank you very much. So, selling has always felt a bit ... desperate. Grubby even. Nevertheless, I understand that if I want anyone to buy my book, which currently sits in glorious anonymity on a digital shelf, on a cloud somewhere (I think - don't quote me on that), I'm going to have to find a giant red pointy thing to point at it, accompanied by some commentary that suggests how unfulfilled your lives are without owning a copy of my book. Or something like that. It also means stumbling blindly into the minefield that is social media. Fortunately my partner in (marketing) crime - Vickie - is doing all the heavy lifting. Thank you Vickie. This image is a grab from a digital poster being used to promote my book on social media (or something like that - again, don't quote me). Meanwhile I am left wondering ... with such an aversion to selling, why is my best mate a salesman?

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Simon Wright — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

First batch of author copies for The Colossus have been delivered. The arrival of a package in the post, or even from the hands of an Amazon driver, never fails to trigger some small thrill of anticipation. Maybe it's a hard-wired childhood memory of opening Christmas boxes, or possibly just the momentary mystery - my wife never fails to delay opening her packages to find out what they contain and who they are from, so she can take a moment to speculate on what the package contains, and who it might be from. It might be something mundane - a replacement kitchen sink washing up brush, something thoughtful - an unexpected gift from a distant friend, or something craved - the new Peter Gabriel album arrived on vinyl the other day - always a cause for celebration. Or it may just be ... a different story altogether. A new chapter. Just over 5 weeks to go now until launch.

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Simon Wright — Wed, 6 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hey

Latest artwork for paperback edition got loaded today. Should release on the same day as the e-publication. Very exciting.

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