More on the comparative risk of buying a book by a new writer.

Thinking of buying a new pair of shoes? Forget it. A book by a new writer is not only cheaper, it won’t rub the skin off your heel.

In fact, as ways of investing your time and money go, buying a book by a new writer has to be one of the least risky options open to you.

Don't put it on the horses. Put it on a book. Like this one. It’s by my fellow Macmillan New Writing author Michael Stephen Fuchs. I learn from his blog that both the hardback and paperback rights of his book The Manuscript have been sold in Russia! Way to go Michael. Kind of makes you think it must be a good book, eh, especially as things are looking very promising for the American rights sale too.